On Wednesday there was an IB meeting for all of the parents and students doing IB. It was kind of lame because I knew pretty much all the stuff, but we got forms to register for the exams we want to take this year. I'm taking Math Studies SL and Psychology SL. It's like $400 for fees. And it will be more next year because I'll be taking four tests. Ouch.
I also had a math test, but I wasn't that stressed about it. I got a B. Oops. Maybe if I stress out over everything I'll get really good grades. That's how it works, right?
I had my first Psych test today, I think I did okay. I was really freaking out because we had four possible essay questions and I was only really ready to write one of them. My teacher gave us a choice of two of them though, luckily one of the choices was the one I was ready for. Phew.
I have another history test next week. I finished all of the required homework for this weekend already, now I'm going to finish the study guide for Bio and write an outline for one of the history questions.
One last thing that isn't really relevant, my boyfriend asked me to homecoming today. :) It was cute. We both turned really red because he did it in front of our whole history class. kind of. Well, he wrote it on the board. Yeah, thanks Mr. Carlisle. Even though it might have been a little awkward.
-Emily
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
I AM SO RELIEVED.
I got an A on my history test! 93%! I thought I would only get a B, but an A is way better! Yay!
I don't have very much homework this week, only a small math project due on Friday, a psych project due on Monday, and probably some history reading. So that means I'll have a lot of time to study... I guess I can type up my Bio notes to prepare for that test that is probably next week. I also have a math test on Wednesday and a psych test on Friday.
I'm nervous for the psych test because we have to write an essay and analyze stuff and I'm bad at analyzing. My teacher gave us six possible essay questions. SIX. That is so many. I guess I have to write six outlines now... Ew.
I'm also pretty bummed because my hip is hurt so my coach said I can't run all week even though we have a home meet and I'm not even on varsity. At least I'll have time to study extra for stuff.
-Emily
I don't have very much homework this week, only a small math project due on Friday, a psych project due on Monday, and probably some history reading. So that means I'll have a lot of time to study... I guess I can type up my Bio notes to prepare for that test that is probably next week. I also have a math test on Wednesday and a psych test on Friday.
I'm nervous for the psych test because we have to write an essay and analyze stuff and I'm bad at analyzing. My teacher gave us six possible essay questions. SIX. That is so many. I guess I have to write six outlines now... Ew.
I'm also pretty bummed because my hip is hurt so my coach said I can't run all week even though we have a home meet and I'm not even on varsity. At least I'll have time to study extra for stuff.
-Emily
Friday, September 23, 2011
Hey, Mr. Carlisle, Want to Tell Me My Test Grade?
My first test of the year was today! I don't know why I put an exclamation point after that, it's not exciting. It was a history test on colonial America. We had to write an essay on one out of three questions that we received a week ago. Luckily, our class got the easy one! Well it might not have been the easiest, but it was the one I had the best outline for... It was probably the easiest. But now my dilemma is that I don't get to know my grade until Monday... Boo.
Also, I'm making a brain out of pasta for psychology and I get to write stories about inappropriate things in French with the help of the T.A. Those are the only things I'm excited for so far.
Going to go watch our school kick another school's butt at football! WOOOOOOO HIGH SCHOOL!!!!
-Emily
Also, I'm making a brain out of pasta for psychology and I get to write stories about inappropriate things in French with the help of the T.A. Those are the only things I'm excited for so far.
Going to go watch our school kick another school's butt at football! WOOOOOOO HIGH SCHOOL!!!!
-Emily
Friday, September 16, 2011
The First Full Week of School
I got the IA subject I wanted! ("Assess the role of women on the Oregon trail.") Yay! That makes the project seem way more bearable if I'm actually interested in the subject. I also had to write an essay on the "deeper meaning" of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I don't think I did very well. I also forgot to sign up for a spot so my teacher can look at my outlines for the essay test that's next Friday. Ugh.
In IB bio 2 we took so many notes I didn't even learn anything, I was too busy trying to keep up with writing the notes. We also got a study guide with a lot of things covered on it. A LOT.
Math is still pretty easy because it's mostly review.
I think Psych is going to get much easier now that we're over the philosophical questions. I did learn that I do not want to be a philosopher when I grow up.
Now I'm going to an XC dinner! Yumyumyum. Bye!
-Emily
In IB bio 2 we took so many notes I didn't even learn anything, I was too busy trying to keep up with writing the notes. We also got a study guide with a lot of things covered on it. A LOT.
Math is still pretty easy because it's mostly review.
I think Psych is going to get much easier now that we're over the philosophical questions. I did learn that I do not want to be a philosopher when I grow up.
Now I'm going to an XC dinner! Yumyumyum. Bye!
-Emily
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
History IA
Today in history we got the overview of the biggest project of the year (I think). It's called the Internal Assessment, basically it is a giant research paper. I guess I really have no opinion on it yet, except it seems a lot easier when you break it down. I just wanted to write this so you (whoever you are) know what I'm talking about when I say, "IA."
*Edit: I have started looking up sources I could use for many of the possible topic and I found one that sounds the most interesting to me. I really hope I get it, but my teacher said we're drawing names out of a bucket... It seems really interesting though, I don't know how many other people want it though. I'll ask before class tomorrow!
-Emily
*Edit: I have started looking up sources I could use for many of the possible topic and I found one that sounds the most interesting to me. I really hope I get it, but my teacher said we're drawing names out of a bucket... It seems really interesting though, I don't know how many other people want it though. I'll ask before class tomorrow!
-Emily
Friday, September 9, 2011
I Made it Through the Week!
One note before I start talking about classes: Don't excpect me to post every day. I'm in IB and I do cross country. We have homework. So, here we go!
History:
Yesterday we had a really good class discussion. We also had a reading quiz (which I got 10/10 on) but my teacher said it was a super easy quiz compared to the ones that will come in the future. For homework we had five pages of reading from our unnecessarily heavy textbook. Today we reviewed what we read about and then we all talked about ourselves and asked the teacher questions about himself. He has a blog on here for the class and I'm following it, but I didn't remember my profile is public so he found my blog. Then he asked me about it in front of the whole class, so, hi Mr. Carlisle (and anyone in my history class)! This weekend for homework we have more reading out of the textbook.
IB Pre-Calc:
I had math yesterday, but I thought I should mention it at least. I really love my math teacher, but I hate math and I can already tell this class will be hard. It won't be hard because I'm bad at math but I think the things we will be learning will be complicated and difficult. We got assigned a packet for homework, but we only have to do the evens and it's some stuff we learned last year in algebra 2.
IB Bio 2:
We did pretty much nothing today. We checked out textbooks and got lab drawers to put them in, then we took notes and we watched a video. What we're learning about now (Charles Darwin) is something I learned last year, so it's a little boring. I think this might be my least favorite class because there are so many people and they're all so loud the teacher has to stop every three minutes to shut them up.
French 6:
I had to work in French both yesterday and today. It's not hard, it's just building grammar details onto things I already know. The teacher gives me a folder with all of my work for the week in it and I can do it however I want to. It's pretty nice, but also lonely, I wish I had something to distract me, like people. There's a French 1 class in her classroom and I know one boy, but there are so many I usually have to go into the teacher's classroom next door while she has her prep.
Psychology:
I like psychology and I find it interesting, but I can't seem to focus and I don't know why. It might be because the teacher's voice is really loud so I try to block it out? Haha I don't think that's it. Today we got our readers and got assigned our first reading. That's the thing about IB your homework is all reading. Well, I don't know if that's completely true, but that's what it seems like now. We also did this thing called "question Friday." Every day of the week we all pick up a blue card that we can write a question on and submit anonymously if we want (I haven't yet). Then, on every Friday, the teacher reads all of the questions from all of the periods from the whole week and answers them. I actually like it a lot.
There's a home football game tonight and I'm going, we better win! :)
-Emily
History:
Yesterday we had a really good class discussion. We also had a reading quiz (which I got 10/10 on) but my teacher said it was a super easy quiz compared to the ones that will come in the future. For homework we had five pages of reading from our unnecessarily heavy textbook. Today we reviewed what we read about and then we all talked about ourselves and asked the teacher questions about himself. He has a blog on here for the class and I'm following it, but I didn't remember my profile is public so he found my blog. Then he asked me about it in front of the whole class, so, hi Mr. Carlisle (and anyone in my history class)! This weekend for homework we have more reading out of the textbook.
IB Pre-Calc:
I had math yesterday, but I thought I should mention it at least. I really love my math teacher, but I hate math and I can already tell this class will be hard. It won't be hard because I'm bad at math but I think the things we will be learning will be complicated and difficult. We got assigned a packet for homework, but we only have to do the evens and it's some stuff we learned last year in algebra 2.
IB Bio 2:
We did pretty much nothing today. We checked out textbooks and got lab drawers to put them in, then we took notes and we watched a video. What we're learning about now (Charles Darwin) is something I learned last year, so it's a little boring. I think this might be my least favorite class because there are so many people and they're all so loud the teacher has to stop every three minutes to shut them up.
French 6:
I had to work in French both yesterday and today. It's not hard, it's just building grammar details onto things I already know. The teacher gives me a folder with all of my work for the week in it and I can do it however I want to. It's pretty nice, but also lonely, I wish I had something to distract me, like people. There's a French 1 class in her classroom and I know one boy, but there are so many I usually have to go into the teacher's classroom next door while she has her prep.
Psychology:
I like psychology and I find it interesting, but I can't seem to focus and I don't know why. It might be because the teacher's voice is really loud so I try to block it out? Haha I don't think that's it. Today we got our readers and got assigned our first reading. That's the thing about IB your homework is all reading. Well, I don't know if that's completely true, but that's what it seems like now. We also did this thing called "question Friday." Every day of the week we all pick up a blue card that we can write a question on and submit anonymously if we want (I haven't yet). Then, on every Friday, the teacher reads all of the questions from all of the periods from the whole week and answers them. I actually like it a lot.
There's a home football game tonight and I'm going, we better win! :)
-Emily
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
First Day of School!
I've decided I like all of my teachers. I've also decided there are way too many kids in all of my classes, the average number of students is around 40. In one classroom. A classroom designed for 28. I really learn better when I can actually hear the teacher talking. Want to have an overview of my day?! Yes.
1st Period (IB U.S. History):
We went over the syllabus and got five papers for our parents and ourselves to sign. For homework we were assigned eleven pages of reading out of our "reader" (the readers are supplements that go along with our textbooks, we haven't gotten textbooks yet.) I'm a little scared because this class has a lot of essay tests and essays are definitely NOT my strong point. Last year I got good grades on my history essays, but it wasn't an advanced class and I think the teacher graded kind of easy. My new history teacher says it's a college class (which it is), but I don't know if I'll be able to handle college grading.
2nd Period (IB Bio 2):
SO MANY NOTES. We (kind of) went over the syllabus, then we took three pages of notes. On the first day. After having avoided writing for two months. My hand hurt so bad. The teacher is pretty cool though, I've heard some bad things about her, but she seems alright to me. There are a lot of seniors in this class and they don't stop talking. Ugh.
3rd Period (French 6):
Since this class is an independent study the teacher has to fill out paperwork and write up a syllabus. I feel kind of bad for making her do that along with all of the crazy French 1 classes she has to keep control of. Today I didn't have anything to do though, so I did my history homework and then went to the other French teacher's class because it was her prep. We just hung out and talked about summer, she also gave me a Harry Potter Poster! Woot woot!
4th Period (IB Psychology):
Yet another syllabus, but hey, it's the first day, I didn't expect more. This is probably my most crowded class and the school's air conditioning turns off half way through the day so it was super hot, but the teacher is super awesome. I was having such a hard time concentrating because of all the people and the heat was lulling everyone into a sleepy stupor. We watched our first case study about a girl who had been tied to a potty chair for eleven years and the only thing I could think was, "What is wrong with her parents?!?!" The tests in this class are essays too, I'm also scared for that. I. Hate. Essays. (Because I suck at them.)
After school I went to XC and now I'm off to get my dad to sign all of the syllabi.
-Emily
1st Period (IB U.S. History):
We went over the syllabus and got five papers for our parents and ourselves to sign. For homework we were assigned eleven pages of reading out of our "reader" (the readers are supplements that go along with our textbooks, we haven't gotten textbooks yet.) I'm a little scared because this class has a lot of essay tests and essays are definitely NOT my strong point. Last year I got good grades on my history essays, but it wasn't an advanced class and I think the teacher graded kind of easy. My new history teacher says it's a college class (which it is), but I don't know if I'll be able to handle college grading.
2nd Period (IB Bio 2):
SO MANY NOTES. We (kind of) went over the syllabus, then we took three pages of notes. On the first day. After having avoided writing for two months. My hand hurt so bad. The teacher is pretty cool though, I've heard some bad things about her, but she seems alright to me. There are a lot of seniors in this class and they don't stop talking. Ugh.
3rd Period (French 6):
Since this class is an independent study the teacher has to fill out paperwork and write up a syllabus. I feel kind of bad for making her do that along with all of the crazy French 1 classes she has to keep control of. Today I didn't have anything to do though, so I did my history homework and then went to the other French teacher's class because it was her prep. We just hung out and talked about summer, she also gave me a Harry Potter Poster! Woot woot!
4th Period (IB Psychology):
Yet another syllabus, but hey, it's the first day, I didn't expect more. This is probably my most crowded class and the school's air conditioning turns off half way through the day so it was super hot, but the teacher is super awesome. I was having such a hard time concentrating because of all the people and the heat was lulling everyone into a sleepy stupor. We watched our first case study about a girl who had been tied to a potty chair for eleven years and the only thing I could think was, "What is wrong with her parents?!?!" The tests in this class are essays too, I'm also scared for that. I. Hate. Essays. (Because I suck at them.)
After school I went to XC and now I'm off to get my dad to sign all of the syllabi.
-Emily
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thoughts I Need to Get Out Before School Starts.
So, before I go to school tomorrow and get buried in homework and cross country practices, I'm going to sum up my plans for this year. By plans I mean things I'm testing in, classes I'm taking, etc.
Classes I'm taking:
-Emily
Classes I'm taking:
- IB Junior English
- IB Biology 2
- IB US History/History of the Americas
- IB Pre-Calulus
- IB French 5
- IB French 6 (Independent study, my school only offers up to French 5.)
- IB Psychology 1
- PSAT (Practice SAT)
- SAT
- ACT
- Standard level IB math test
- Standard level IB psych test
-Emily
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Hello there!
School starts in three days and I'm going to be a junior, so I decided to create this masterpiece of a blog (masterpiece? Haha, right.) On this blog I'm going to be recording my progress to my IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma and through all of the application processes for college. Even if no one reads this I still want to be able to look back and see how far I got.
Anyway, right now I have a few worries for junior year. Everyone says it's the hardest year of high school and I can understand how that would be true, but that's not really what worries me. I'm more worried about specific classes than about the year as a whole. My biggest fears are IB junior English, IB pre-calc, and IB biology 2.
All of the upperclassmen that I've talked to have told me that IB jr. English is the hardest class at my school. I like reading the books, but I suck at writing essays and most of your grade for English classes are essays. I also got the "hard" teacher, which doesn't worry me as much, but it's still a little scary. But I have it second semester, so I have a little time to ease myself back into school.
I'm worried about pre-calc because math is not at all my strong point. I'm excited about the class because I got (in my opinion) the best math teacher in the school (I had her for geometry my freshman year), and a lot of my friends are in it. But I truly am awful at taking math tests and then retaining the information from the previous unit. It's like my brain holds on to the information until the test and then it says "I don't need this crap anymore!" and throws it all out. I'm also worried what my friends will think when they see how much I suck at math.
And last but not least, IB biology 2! Okay, I really love biology and I'm pretty good at it, but last year I only took regular biology. What I mean to say is, I'm skipping IB biology 1. I'm worried that by skipping IB bio 1 I won't know a lot of the stuff that we need to know. I know that IB bio 1 class has a unit on viruses and I don't know anything about them. I think IB bio 2 is the class I will have to try the hardest to understand in.
-Emily
Anyway, right now I have a few worries for junior year. Everyone says it's the hardest year of high school and I can understand how that would be true, but that's not really what worries me. I'm more worried about specific classes than about the year as a whole. My biggest fears are IB junior English, IB pre-calc, and IB biology 2.
All of the upperclassmen that I've talked to have told me that IB jr. English is the hardest class at my school. I like reading the books, but I suck at writing essays and most of your grade for English classes are essays. I also got the "hard" teacher, which doesn't worry me as much, but it's still a little scary. But I have it second semester, so I have a little time to ease myself back into school.
I'm worried about pre-calc because math is not at all my strong point. I'm excited about the class because I got (in my opinion) the best math teacher in the school (I had her for geometry my freshman year), and a lot of my friends are in it. But I truly am awful at taking math tests and then retaining the information from the previous unit. It's like my brain holds on to the information until the test and then it says "I don't need this crap anymore!" and throws it all out. I'm also worried what my friends will think when they see how much I suck at math.
And last but not least, IB biology 2! Okay, I really love biology and I'm pretty good at it, but last year I only took regular biology. What I mean to say is, I'm skipping IB biology 1. I'm worried that by skipping IB bio 1 I won't know a lot of the stuff that we need to know. I know that IB bio 1 class has a unit on viruses and I don't know anything about them. I think IB bio 2 is the class I will have to try the hardest to understand in.
-Emily
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