Wildwood IB World Magnet School

Schools That Work

Wildwood IB World Magnet School

Public, Urban

Grades K-8

Chicago, IL

As an International Baccalaureate school, Wildwood was already using inquiry-based strategies. But after an “inquiry fair” inspired the staff about where this could lead, the school embraced inquiry as one of its core values and now guides students toward driving their own learning.

Outperformed state in reading, math, and science since 2003
#1 rating on Effective Leaders and Involved Families (University of Chicago 5 Essentials Frameworks)
2014 Breakthrough Schools Grant Recipient (Next Generation Learning Challenges)

Student Engagement
Student-Led Conferences: Empowerment and Ownership
Putting students in the driver's seat of their parent-teacher conferences creates opportunities for reflection, engagement, and agency.
Teacher Collaboration
Teacher Collaboration: Matching Complementary Strengths
At Wildwood IB World Magnet School, teacher collaboration fosters a supportive professional culture, lessens teacher conflict, and provides students with schoolwide best practices.
Student Engagement
Having Students Lead Parent Conferences
When students guide the parent-teacher conference, they take ownership of their learning.
Teacher Collaboration
Keeping the Door Open to Collaboration
Intentional teacher collaboration creates a strong professional culture and spreads good ideas room to room.
Emelina Minero
Inquiry-Based Learning
Harnessing Students’ Curiosity to Drive Learning
The inquiry-based model calls on students to develop questions to investigate and connect to other content.
Administration & Leadership
Prioritizing Student Learning: Rethinking Time, Space, and Money
Wildwood IB World Magnet School rises above extraordinary conditions and demands through creative ways to extend its resources without compromising student needs and learning outcomes.
Mary Beth Cunat
Inquiry-Based Learning
International Baccalaureate: Identifying and Encouraging Genius
The IB's Primary and Middle Years Programs let students pursue their interests and develop their collaborative, thinking, and problem-solving skills within a rigorous academic framework.
Monica Balen
Inquiry-Based Learning
Inquiry-Based Learning: The Power of Asking the Right Questions
An inquiry-based curriculum requires both planning and flexibility, as well as a teacher knowing the students well enough to anticipate their interests and limits.
Georgia K. Mathis