Burton Magnet Elementary School is an authorized Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate North America. The Primary Years Program emphasizes the development of the whole child with the aim of developing an international person.

An international person is one who is an inquirer, a thinker, a communicator, a risk-taker, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced, and reflective. There is a commitment to structured inquiry as a method for learning major concepts.

Acknowledging that our world is a global community, Burton Geo-World Elementary Magnet School develops in its students an understanding of and an appreciation for people around the world and their cultures. Students gain basic skills through an enriched curriculum which is integrated into all learning activities and taught using an inquiry approach.

In addition to the skills required by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, students develop

* listening, speaking, and beginning writing skills in French, German, or Spanish

*Foreign language is taught in an interactive manner for 30 minutes every day. A student completing the curriculum at Burton has an excellent listening and speaking knowledge of the language studied and a solid background for the more formal foreign language instruction at the middle school level.
*an understanding of and appreciation for world cultures

Countries from around the world are studied and cultural activities are planned to enhance student appreciation and understanding of the diversity of people and places.
*a love for reading and strong literacy skills through instruction based on individual needs

*The Balanced Literacy Initiative provides the framework for literacy instruction and for integration of the curriculum. Teachers determine each child's literacy level and provide instruction based on that level allowing for maximum academic gains. Much attention is given to inquiry and higher level thinking skills.
*Oral language development and public speaking are introduced in preparation for more extensive training at Shepard Magnet School.

*WGEO is the student broadcast system which provided opportunities for students to produce and broadcast a news program to the entire school community.
*a knowledge of physical and human geography developing the ability to read and interpret maps and globes


North Carolina Standard Course Of Study