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Watch our ABIS students being RISK-TAKERS

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Watch our ABIS students being RISK-TAKERS

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Please share photos or tell us about your child demonstrating the Learner Profile Risk-taker by either adding it in the comment section underneath this post or by clicking on the + in the right hand corner of this padlet or by sending an email to sam.lyke@antonbruckner-is.at.

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Key Benefits of Being a Responsible Risk-Taker

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Key Benefits of Being a Responsible Risk-Taker

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builds resilience and persistence

understand their potential and ability

makes appropriate judgement

understand there are positive and negative consequences to their action

develops independence and confidence in children

develops resourceful and creative

increases curiosity and problem-solving skills

makes responsible choices

interpersonal and collaboration skills

(by Kirsten, the Children's Library Lady)

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Characteristics of a Responsible Risk-Taker (depending on their age)

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Characteristics of a Responsible Risk-Taker (depending on their age)

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challenging their own fear to take a risk

trying something new despite their fears

making new friends

showing curiosity

reflecting on how it felt to try something new

experimenting with solving problems in different ways

wanting to try new things despite any fears

stepping into the unknown

confronting difficult situations

standing up for their beliefs

exploring new environments and ideas

(by Kirsten, the Children's Library Lady)

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Resources to promote risk-taking and confidence in children

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Resources to promote risk-taking and confidence in children

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Including videos that can be used as discussion starters for talking about risk-taking and confidence.

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What is a risk-taker and how can we help our students take appropriate risks? According to the IB, risk-taking students "approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; [they] work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. [They] are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change."

Risk-taking and trying something new is a daunting prospect for many children. These resources focus on promoting confidence in children and for them to understand they are not alone in their anxieties. On the other hand, we want those children who take dangerous risks to understand the balance of being more mindful before taking negative risks.

All your students will seek risk in different ways and at different levels. A classroom is a safe place for them to experiment with taking safe risks without any judgement.

Check out the post 28 of the Best Books about Confidence and Risk-Taking for a wonderful selection of picture books.

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Resources to Promote Risk-Taking and Confidence in Children

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What is a risk-taker and how can we help our students take appropriate risks? According to the IB, risk-taking students "approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; [they] work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. [They] are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change."

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Looking for RISK-TAKING books to read with your children?

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Looking for RISK-TAKING books to read with your children?

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Picture Books about Risk-Taking and Courage

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These books about risk-taking follow characters approaching unfamiliar situations, seeking new ideas and standing up for their beliefs.

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Browse through this inspiring collection of books and videos. Click on each book or picture to find out more.

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Browse through this inspiring collection of books and videos. Click on each book or picture to find out more.

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Put together by Rebecca Mattingly

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To make a difference we must be a risk-taker that uses strength and courage to face challenges.

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To make a difference we must be a risk-taker that uses strength and courage to face challenges.

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MALALA'S MAGIC PENCIL by Malala Yousafzai

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Don't be afraid to be wrong.

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Habits of Mind Animations: Taking Responsible Risks

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Famous trail blazers have demonstrated the Learner Profile RISK-TAKER in a positive way.

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Famous trail blazers have demonstrated the Learner Profile RISK-TAKER in a positive way.

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If you've never failed, you've never lived.

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How can parents help to develop students who are Risk-Takers at home

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What does risk-taking mean to you?

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IB World magazine asks teachers how they encourage students to become confident in taking risks and students share how this has helped them develop lifelong skills
The IB Learner Profile aims to develop students who are risk-takers. This means guiding students to explore new ideas and innovative strategies, challenging their ways of thinking and encouraging them to be confident in those decisions. This lifelong skill requires students to step out of their comfort zone and become courageous in their choices and actions. But, there is a hint of uncertainty and failure attached to the idea. How can teachers successfully encourage students to take risks and be resilient in the face of challenges?

Brian Kerekes, IB mathematics HL teacher at Celebration High School in Florida, US, believes risk-taking is crucial to academic success and development. He says: "We need to encourage students to be exposed to ideas and concepts they might never have known about. Risk-taking can expose a student to different ideas or different cultures; it develops their problem solving abilities."

However, encouraging students to participate in risk-taking activities or behaviour is not always easy, both from the perspective of a student encouraging themselves and their peers, or a teacher encouraging their pupils.

"For many students there is almost an inherent fear of failure," Kerekes explains. "As educators, we have a duty to challenge our students as much as possible, and give them the required support and feedback if they fail."

Nnenna Umelloh, an IB Diploma Programme graduate of Plano East Senior High School in Texas, US, agrees. She says: "Risk-taking is challenging yourself to do hard things. It's admitting that you just might fail, but you try it anyway and you work harder to succeed. Failure is an intimidating idea and, unfortunately, the fear of failure prevents many people from challenging themselves to do difficult things. But in order to be truly successful, there must be a possibility of failure. This fear can motivate people to work harder."

Nnenna leads by example. She took a risk when it came to selecting her IB Diploma Programme subjects: "A risk is taking a challenging class in an area that is not your strong suit. For example, mathematics and science are not my strongest subjects. I consider myself to be a liberal arts student, but I decided to take HL biology in my junior year as I truly enjoyed biology at high school. I had to invest a lot more personal effort to be successful in that class."

"It was gratifying in the end," adds Nnenna. "I proved to myself that I can do difficult things. The class forced me to be more resourceful than I normally would be. Taking risks puts you in a situation where you can develop new skills and find new resources you would not have done otherwise. In addition, it teaches your mind to think and analyse material in a different way. It adds more exposure to what and how to learn."

Teacher Nathalie Delgado, PYP Coordinator at Concordian International School in Bangkok, Thailand, agrees that risk taking produces a positive outcome and explains how she encourages students to take risks:

"When a student has tried something new in class - whether participating in a group discussion or solving a problem in front of the class - I do not praise the result but praise the effort behind the action. I often link this positive praise with the word 'courageous' or 'risk-taker'."

Back in Florida, Kerekes discusses the idea that risk-taking can enhance creativity too, "In my opinion, the greatest risk-takers are the students who select the most unique topics, or candidates whose topics may require more background research in order to fully understand what they are analysing," he says.

Risk-taking may go further than subject-specific study or academic fields. The IB programmes may by their very nature be a good example of risk-taking within education, as Kerekes explains:

"It's is an integral part of the IB Learner Profile. I believe some students take a risk by choosing the IB. But it's a risk I promote and encourage in all my classes because I believe the IB incorporates risk-taking in order to develop well-rounded students."

For both teacher and student, the role of risk-taker and the nurturing of these skills is important to continued success. Risk-taking is something that students can take away with them, far beyond passing exams; it gives students something far more valuable and long lasting.

Kerekes says: "If our students can learn to take risks without fear of consequence they would be more inclined to take risks in the future, which would undoubtedly expose them to more of the world around them."

Nnnena agrees and believes that taking risks is a form of personal development: "It's an opportunity to prove to yourself that you can do difficult things. When you take risks, you are constantly in a state of growth and are propelling yourself further to achieve more. You are actively challenging yourself to become the best version of yourself," she says.
How do you encourage your students to become risk-takers? Let us know: email editor@ibo.org
"The best thing about taking risks is that eventually it becomes second nature. You develop skills in assessing the best type of risks to take and when to take them."

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IB World magazine asks teachers how they encourage students to become confident in taking risks and students share how this has helped them develop lifelong skills The IB Learner Profile aims to develop students who are risk-takers. This means guiding students to explore new ideas and innovative strategies, challenging their ways of thinking and encouraging them to be confident in those decisions.

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A child with a growth mindset has the ability to take risks.

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A child with a growth mindset has the ability to take risks.

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Growth mindset is a valuable attitude that encourages children to have perseverance, to approach difficult tasks with confidence, and to focus on what is achievable with hard work. Below are some fun activities to encourage growth mindset and risk-taking.

Turn a negative into a positive- "I can't do that!" vs."I can't do that...YET!"

Famous Fails- Research famous people in history that failed, but came back even stronger!

Character Counts- Read stories about characters that have faced obstacles and overcame them.

Grow-ya- Growth set yoga that's linked with positive affirmations https://www.kidsyogastories.com/growth-mindset/

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The IB Learner Profile aims to develop students who are risk-takers. Students who are risk-takers are able to approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought. They have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. Risk-takers are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

According to the IB, risk-taking students “approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; [they] work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. [They] are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.”

IB students transition well to challenging university settings and show resilience and determination in their work. In academics, they have the confidence to approach new or unfamiliar subjects or material.

IBO.org