Strategies to support ACS students through the IB Diploma An overview of challenges and best practices

Quarter 1: Perceptions & Realities The program seems not as challenging as anticipated !!! The program seems not as challenging as anticipated !!! The first reality check. I studied for the test but why did I get a C and not a B+ or an A in the first test? The first reality check. I studied for the test but why did I get a C and not a B+ or an A in the first test? Understanding the assessment criteria for IB courses is one of the first quarter challenges. Understanding the assessment criteria for IB courses is one of the first quarter challenges.

Quarter 2: Realities Why do homework assignments seem so much harder now? Why do homework assignments seem so much harder now? Demands for deeper understanding of course content is now apparent to students. Demands for deeper understanding of course content is now apparent to students. WHY due dates for homework assignments or test fall during the same day or week? WHY due dates for homework assignments or test fall during the same day or week? Proper Planning and organizing tasks is one of the challenges. Need to ask for help. Proper Planning and organizing tasks is one of the challenges. Need to ask for help.

Quarter 3: Feeling Stronger! January (Semester) exams are over. Time to reflect and evaluate student performance. January (Semester) exams are over. Time to reflect and evaluate student performance. Hard decisions about continuing into the program or changing status must be made. Hard decisions about continuing into the program or changing status must be made. On the positive side students know their strengths and weakness and their potential to improve. On the positive side students know their strengths and weakness and their potential to improve.

Quarter 3: New challenges Internal assessment is the new challenge. Students are asked to apply their knowledge for each subject! Internal assessment is the new challenge. Students are asked to apply their knowledge for each subject! Time and organize tasks. Use Educational Planning class on Wednesdays and Thursdays to ask for assistance in planning work. Time and organize tasks. Use Educational Planning class on Wednesdays and Thursdays to ask for assistance in planning work. Share concerns and anxiety with counselors, parents and friends. Confront challenges early on not the day before. Share concerns and anxiety with counselors, parents and friends. Confront challenges early on not the day before. Teachers can help!! Teachers can help!!

Quarter 3: everything seems more difficult!! Extended Essay. The challenge to show research skills. Extended Essay. The challenge to show research skills. More and more homework and not enough time to go out for a coffee with friends…. More and more homework and not enough time to go out for a coffee with friends…. Students are monitored with respect to completing tasks according to deadlines. Students realize that it is hard to slack off their duties. Students are monitored with respect to completing tasks according to deadlines. Students realize that it is hard to slack off their duties. The IB office informs parents in writing at the end of the month. The IB office informs parents in writing at the end of the month. Need assistance to relief stress. Need assistance to relief stress.

Quarter 4 I worked so hard to rewrite my essay and my teacher says that it still is mediocre!! I worked so hard to rewrite my essay and my teacher says that it still is mediocre!! Need encouragement to continue the hard work. Need to understand that revising, editing, rewriting is required in order to achieve the best performance. Need encouragement to continue the hard work. Need to understand that revising, editing, rewriting is required in order to achieve the best performance. Encourage to use class time effectively. Encourage to use class time effectively.

Quarter 4- prepare for the mock exams in June How will I be ready for the mock exams. If I fail I will lose my status as an IB diploma student. I will not be able to enter the HL classes for the courses I need for my college applications. How will I be ready for the mock exams. If I fail I will lose my status as an IB diploma student. I will not be able to enter the HL classes for the courses I need for my college applications. Use time effectively, organize work, use Spring break to get ahead and prepare for the mock exams. Use time effectively, organize work, use Spring break to get ahead and prepare for the mock exams. Share concerns/anxieties with parents, teachers, counselors. They can help. Share concerns/anxieties with parents, teachers, counselors. They can help.

After the mocks- Holidays!?? Dealing with the results, rethinking of options for applications. Identify opportunities and challenges. Dealing with the results, rethinking of options for applications. Identify opportunities and challenges. Need help to reflect and evaluate mock exam results focusing on academic plans. Do academic plans fit student profile and personality? Need help to reflect and evaluate mock exam results focusing on academic plans. Do academic plans fit student profile and personality?

Summer Homework!!!! A pile of unfinished work if any. Additional work that must be completed before September. Extended Essay, TOK essay, a commentary in Economics or the world literature paper A pile of unfinished work if any. Additional work that must be completed before September. Extended Essay, TOK essay, a commentary in Economics or the world literature paper Help students plan their work in parts. Efficient organization will give them more time for holidays. Help students plan their work in parts. Efficient organization will give them more time for holidays.

Year 2: A hard beginning Must submit all summer work. Must write mock exams in class before the end of the first quarter. Must complete their college applications. And why is that teachers are so hard and do not give to students the benefit of the doubt with the predictions? Must submit all summer work. Must write mock exams in class before the end of the first quarter. Must complete their college applications. And why is that teachers are so hard and do not give to students the benefit of the doubt with the predictions?

Year 2- Now I need support Students need assistance to accept and cope with possible changes in academic plans. Meanwhile they must remain motivated to continue their hard work academically. Students need assistance to accept and cope with possible changes in academic plans. Meanwhile they must remain motivated to continue their hard work academically. Students experience the consequences of not doing the summer homework.!! Students experience the consequences of not doing the summer homework.!! Monitoring during the EP class, counseling and letters going to parents can motivate students to keep focused on task.? Parental support is very important at this point. Parents can help students maintain a long run perspective. Monitoring during the EP class, counseling and letters going to parents can motivate students to keep focused on task.? Parental support is very important at this point. Parents can help students maintain a long run perspective.

My last Christmas as a high- school student! Let me enjoy it please.!! WORK, work, work….Can I please have the Christmas day to enjoy the season? WORK, work, work….Can I please have the Christmas day to enjoy the season? Spend this break in listening to complaints, reading your child’s essay, check with what must be completed for the Internal Assessment. Spend this break in listening to complaints, reading your child’s essay, check with what must be completed for the Internal Assessment. Students need to work around the clock. EE, TOK essay and English written tasks and world literature papers must be completed before the end of February. This is an External Deadline. Students need to work around the clock. EE, TOK essay and English written tasks and world literature papers must be completed before the end of February. This is an External Deadline. The rest of the IA work must be completed before the end of March. Do not leave things for the last minute. The rest of the IA work must be completed before the end of March. Do not leave things for the last minute.

The last quarter…. All IB requirements but the exam are completed. Bravo. Now, focus on the exam. All IB requirements but the exam are completed. Bravo. Now, focus on the exam. Develop an effective strategy to prepare for the exams. Need help? Ask teachers, counselors, parents. All will be happy to help….. Develop an effective strategy to prepare for the exams. Need help? Ask teachers, counselors, parents. All will be happy to help…..