Transforming Elementary Education
Madison International School - Mérida Elevates InquiryBased Learning and Community Engagement with Seesaw
Dual Language Classes
Offered (English/Spanish) 100%
Students born in more than 26 countries
850 Students PreK-12 schools in Mexico that offer the IB PYP Programme 1 of 62 different countries
Teachers from
16
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Madison International School (MIS) in Mérida, Mexico, is dedicated to fostering “a community of internationally-minded lifelong learners.” Central to their mission is the PYP framework, which promotes student agency and inquiry. However, MIS faced a significant challenge: finding a platform that could truly capture their dynamic, student-led approach, support a multilingual community, and create a strong partnership between the classroom and home.
From Paper Portfolios to a Dynamic Digital Learning Environment
Before Seesaw, documenting student growth was a cumbersome, paper-based process. This not only created logistical headaches but also fell short of capturing the authentic learning experiences central to the IB philosophy.
“We used to do those portfolios on paper,” explains Ms. Jessica Robertson, the school’s PYP Coordinator. “It was tons of paper, tons of time, tons of sorting. And it relied on our youngest students successfully bringing binders and folders back and forth from home to school. Not only is this a challenge for younger kids in general, but we live in a very tropical place, so papers would get wet, and student work would get damaged by the humidity.”
Beyond the logistical challenges, the school aspired to move beyond static displays of work. The IB framework called for rich student reflection, but this was difficult to capture meaningfully on paper. MIS needed a more durable and dynamic solution—one that could authentically represent each student’s learning journey and make their thinking visible.
A Unified Platform for Inquiry, Accessibility, and Connection
Seesaw provided an intuitive solution that aligned perfectly with the school’s student-centered model. It transformed how MIS approached teaching, assessment, and communication, becoming the hub for their learning community.
Fostering Student Agency and Inquiry
With Seesaw, learning became a visible, interactive process. Teachers use the platform to guide students through every stage of the IB inquiry cycle.
The use of Seesaw might look a little bit different for each part of the inquiry cycle. If you’re working on ‘tuning in,’ it gives the teachers the possibility to present a lot of provocative material.”
Ms. Robertson notes. “When ‘finding out,’ the teacher can present different resources... and when students are ‘sorting out, ’ ‘going further,’ and ‘making conclusions,’ you can share graphic organizers and other ways for students to organize and expand upon their thinking... It becomes a really nice back-and-forth.”
This interactive process is especially powerful for literacy. Ms. Maria Elisa Aguilar, the school’s literacy coach, adapts phonics lessons for English language learners by recording herself reading stories and words. Students then record themselves in return. “The possibility that it gives the teacher to assess where each student is... is priceless,” she says. “In a classroom, you’ve got 25 students, and that opportunity to one-on-one listen to them— maybe those opportunities are few and far between. With Seesaw, you’ve got that instantly.”
Building a Stronger Learning Community
Seesaw created a powerful, transparent connection between school and home. Parents gained a clear window into their child’s daily learning, moving beyond simple announcements to active engagement. “Seesaw helps us create the perfect triangle of parent, student, and teacher working together,” says Ms. Patricia Flores, Spanish Coordinator. “As a parent at the school as well, it’s very clear for us to use. It’s very visible for the parent to see the activities their kid has done and what he or she is missing.”
The platform’s multimodal tools also empower every student to show what they know, fostering confidence and celebrating diverse strengths. “I have a student... who struggles a lot with reading and writing, but he’s fantastic with verbal skills,” shares Ms. Aguilar. “Knowing that he has this ability to... share his learning through a video or with verbal skills has been life-changing for him.”
A Perfect Parallel to the IB Philosophy
For Madison International School, Seesaw is more than just a tool; it’s a partner in fulfilling its educational mission. The platform’s core principles directly reflect the IB framework’s emphasis on student agency, inquiry, differentiation, and building a collaborative learning community.
When asked what she would tell another IB school considering Seesaw, Ms. Flores’s response is simple and enthusiastic:
Do it. Just do it. I highly recommend it. You’ll see improvements in all areas...it has been really good for everybody.”
Patricia Flores, Spanish Coordinator
Ms. Robertson agrees, highlighting the deep philosophical alignment. “It’s not designed to be used only at IB schools, but the philosophy behind Seesaw’s design is very aligned to the philosophy behind the IB,” she concludes. “It’s assessment-driven, it’s collaborative, it’s student-centered, and it’s differentiated and accessible for everybody. Those parallels really make it a platform that’s effective in our school.”
