ISB Junior Winter DP News
The Core
At the center of every IB Diploma Program no matter the school is what IB refers to as “The Core”. These components are mandatory for all IB Diploma candidates and are comprised of the Extended Essay, CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service and explained in our last communication) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK). At ISB, all juniors and seniors work on and complete these components.
→ CAS
All juniors have been introduced to CAS through their IB Seminar class or their AVID class. Second semester should be spent brainstorming and planning CAS projects and building a well CAS portfolio. All CAS activities need to be recorded in ManageBac. Ask your student to show your their CAS portfolio! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Cindy Dickerson at cindy_dickerson@beaverton.k12.or.us. She is our CAS coordinator and is happy to answer any questions.
→ TOK
From the beginning of second semester, all juniors will replace their IB Seminar course with Theory of Knowledge (AVID students will receive TOK as a part of their AVID course), and the 2-semester course will wrap up a year later at the end of the first semester of the senior year. The course focuses on asking students to question critically and thoughtfully what they are learning in their DP coursework by looking at five different Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): History, Human Sciences, Natural Sciences, The Arts, and Mathematics. How are these areas alike and different in terms of producing and acquiring knowledge? What is the nature of truth or credibility in each AOK? How does methodology and language help to create a shared knowledge community within each AOK? Students will learn the skills necessary to question, write, and present as they connect to their own DP learning.
→ Extended Essay
The Extended Essay (EE) is a research-based, thesis-driven essay of up to 4000 words, on a topic chosen by the student, and provides practice in skills required at university. Work on the EE begins in the fall of the junior year and is completed in the fall of the senior year. Much of this EE is completed independently but juniors take an EE support class during their 4th quarter.
At this time, all juniors have selected a subject and have each been assigned a supervisor for their EE. Students should be researching their topics, taking notes from their sources, and writing potential research questions at this time. By the end of their first semester all students should have met with their supervisors at least once. Meetings between the supervisor and student should occur as needed through the end of the school year.
Time Management/Study Tips
We sometimes assume by the time students are juniors they have study skills and time management down. However, here are a few tips that may be helpful:
Spend some time on the weekend looking over the upcoming week and planning. Counselors sometimes give students a planning sheet where they first block out all activities and other scheduled events, and then look at the spaces they have left and fill in what they need to get done, ALSO making sure they have scheduled down time and fun. It can also be helpful to schedule routine time for the EE and CAS, including recording reflections. Many kids think they have their schedules figured out, but if they are struggling with time management this can provide a new perspective.
Review some proven study strategies such as: Breaking down study sessions into 30-minute chunks with a learning goal for each session; creating note cards with key concepts and information as you go along in a class then reviewing along the way (Remember the 10-24-7 rule - Review After: 10 min, 24 hours, and 7 days); limiting distractions by turning off your phone and studying in a quiet area; and teaching or explaining a concept you are working on to another person. We also like to remind students that sleep and rest are as important as studying, as proper rest allows your brain to function and retain information at optimum levels. Staying up late to study or complete work is often counterproductive.
The week before finals we like to focus on self-care around ISB, encouraging students to take time to relax, be mindful, and move their bodies. Some of these strategies include: coloring pages or other creative activities, yoga, going outside for a walk, hike, or other exercise, mindful apps such as Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer, spending time with friends or family, or doing an activity you enjoy. Students sometimes feel like they don’t have time for these things, but it is important to remember that being adamant about self care helps us to be our best selves and ultimately be the most productive.
Junior Meetings
Each year counselors spend time in the spring talking individually with juniors to make sure they are on track for graduation and have the information they need for post-graduation planning (2-year and 4-year college, trade school, military, gap year, etc.). Counselors will begin meeting with juniors a couple of weeks into the second semester.
Ms. Hirsch (Last names A-N) - https://kathrynhirsch.youcanbook.me/
Mrs. Muilenburg (Last names O-Z) - www.tracymuilenburg.youcanbook.me
This Google Slides show goes over important information for juniors as they prepare for senior year. We very much look forward to talking with your student, learning more about their plans, and helping them prepare for life after high school.
ACTs-SATs
Before Winter Break your student received their PSAT results. We used Advisory time to go over their scores and introduce them to available resources both for score interpretation and test preparation. Here is link to a video that discusses the paper score report and complimentary tools available through the Student Scores portal on the College Board website. If you would like to review the slide show you can find it here. A link to a PDF handout can also be found here. College Board offers many free resources including personalized test prep in coordination with Khan Academy. Other free online source include CIS (log in through the BSD student tabs) and Learning Express available through WCCLS. There are many outside resources that students can use as well, but these do cost money, such as Huntington Learning Center, Saturday Academy, PCC, Stumptown Test Prep, and Sylvan Learning Center. Junior students will take the official ACT on February 25th at ISB. Almost all colleges accept either the ACT or SAT for admissions. As always, feel free to contact your student’s counselor with any questions.
Amy Schuff
IB ToK/IB Diploma Coordinator
International School of Beaverton
17770 SW Blanton Rd
Beaverton OR 97078
CONTACT AND FOLLOW US
International School of Beaverton
Jill O'Neill, Principal
Email: isb_communications@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/schools/isb/
Location: 17770 SW Blanton St, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: (503) 356-3690
Facebook: facebook.com/isbdragons
Twitter: @isb_dragons
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