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Strategies to support ACSStrategies to support ACS

students through the IBstudents through the IB

DiplomaDiploma

An overview of challenges andAn overview of challenges and

best practicesbest practices

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Quarter 1: Perceptions &Quarter 1: Perceptions &

RealitiesRealities

The program seems not asThe program seems not aschallenging as anticipated !!!challenging as anticipated !!!

The first reality check. I studiedThe first reality check. I studiedfor the test but why did I get a Cfor the test but why did I get a Cand not a B+ or an A in the firstand not a B+ or an A in the firsttest?test?

Understanding the assessmentUnderstanding the assessmentcriteria for IB courses is one ofcriteria for IB courses is one ofthe first quarter challenges.the first quarter challenges.

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Quarter 2: RealitiesQuarter 2: Realities

Why do homework assignmentsWhy do homework assignmentsseem so much harder now?seem so much harder now?

Demands for deeper understandingDemands for deeper understandingof course content is now apparent toof course content is now apparent tostudents.students.

WHY due dates for homeworkWHY due dates for homeworkassignments or test fall during theassignments or test fall during thesame day or week?same day or week?

Proper Planning and organizingProper Planning and organizingtasks is one of the challenges.tasks is one of the challenges. NeedNeedto ask for help.to ask for help.

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Quarter 3: Feeling Stronger!Quarter 3: Feeling Stronger!

January (Semester) exams are over.January (Semester) exams are over.

Time to reflect and evaluate studentTime to reflect and evaluate student

performance.performance.

Hard decisions about continuing intoHard decisions about continuing into

the program or changing status mustthe program or changing status must

be made.be made.

On the positive side students knowOn the positive side students knowtheir strengths and weakness andtheir strengths and weakness and

their potential to improve.their potential to improve.

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Quarter 3: New challengesQuarter 3: New challenges

Internal assessment is the new challenge.Internal assessment is the new challenge.Students are asked to apply theirStudents are asked to apply theirknowledge for each subject!knowledge for each subject!

Time and organize tasks. Use EducationalTime and organize tasks. Use EducationalPlanning class on Wednesdays andPlanning class on Wednesdays andThursdays to ask for assistance in planningThursdays to ask for assistance in planningwork.work.

Share concerns and anxiety withShare concerns and anxiety withcounselors, parents and friends. Confrontcounselors, parents and friends. Confrontchallenges early on not the day before.challenges early on not the day before.

Teachers can help!!Teachers can help!!

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Quarter 3: everything seemsQuarter 3: everything seems

more difficult!!more difficult!!

Extended Essay. The challenge to showExtended Essay. The challenge to showresearch skills.research skills.

More and more homework and not enoughMore and more homework and not enoughtime to go out for a coffee with friends.time to go out for a coffee with friends.

Students are monitored with respect toStudents are monitored with respect tocompleting tasks according to deadlines.completing tasks according to deadlines.Students realize that it is hard to slack offStudents realize that it is hard to slack offtheir duties.their duties.

The IB office informs parents in writing atThe IB office informs parents in writing atthe end of the month.the end of the month.

Need assistance to relief stress.Need assistance to relief stress.

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Quarter 4Quarter 4

I worked so hard to rewrite myI worked so hard to rewrite myessay and my teacher says that itessay and my teacher says that itstill is mediocre!!still is mediocre!!

Need encouragement to continueNeed encouragement to continuethe hard work. Need to understandthe hard work. Need to understandthat revising, editing, rewriting isthat revising, editing, rewriting isrequired in order to achieve the bestrequired in order to achieve the best

performance.performance. Encourage to use class timeEncourage to use class time

effectively.effectively.

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Quarter 4Quarter 4-- prepare for theprepare for the

mock exams in Junemock exams in June

How will I be ready for the mockHow will I be ready for the mockexams. If I fail I will lose my statusexams. If I fail I will lose my statusas an IB diploma student. I will notas an IB diploma student. I will notbe able to enter the HL classes forbe able to enter the HL classes for

the courses I need for my collegethe courses I need for my collegeapplications.applications.

Use time effectively, organize work,Use time effectively, organize work,use Spring break to get ahead anduse Spring break to get ahead and

prepare for the mock exams.prepare for the mock exams. Share concerns/anxieties withShare concerns/anxieties with

parents, teachers, counselors. Theyparents, teachers, counselors. Theycan help.can help.

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After the mocksAfter the mocks-- Holidays!??Holidays!??

Dealing with the results,Dealing with the results,rethinking of options forrethinking of options forapplications. Identifyapplications. Identify

opportunities and challenges.opportunities and challenges. Need help to reflect andNeed help to reflect and

evaluate mock exam resultsevaluate mock exam results

focusing on academic plans. Dofocusing on academic plans. Doacademic plans fit studentacademic plans fit studentprofile and personality?profile and personality?

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Summer Homework!!!!Summer Homework!!!!

A pile of unfinished work if any.A pile of unfinished work if any.

Additional work that must beAdditional work that must be

completed before September.completed before September.

Extended Essay, TOK essay, aExtended Essay, TOK essay, acommentary in Economics or thecommentary in Economics or the

world literature paper......world literature paper......

Help students plan their work inHelp students plan their work in

parts. Efficient organization will giveparts. Efficient organization will give

them more time for holidays.them more time for holidays.

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Year 2: A hard beginningYear 2: A hard beginning

Must submit all summer work.Must submit all summer work.

Must write mock exams in classMust write mock exams in class

before the end of the firstbefore the end of the first

quarter. Must complete theirquarter. Must complete their

college applications. And why iscollege applications. And why is

that teachers are so hard and dothat teachers are so hard and do

not give to students the benefitnot give to students the benefitof the doubt with theof the doubt with the

predictions?predictions?

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Year 2Year 2-- Now I need supportNow I need support

Students need assistance to accept andStudents need assistance to accept andcope with possible changes in academiccope with possible changes in academicplans. Meanwhile they must remainplans. Meanwhile they must remainmotivated to continue their hard workmotivated to continue their hard workacademically.academically.

Students experience the consequences ofStudents experience the consequences ofnot doing the summer homework.!!not doing the summer homework.!!

Monitoring during the EP class, counselingMonitoring during the EP class, counselingand letters going to parents can motivateand letters going to parents can motivatestudents to keep focused on task.?students to keep focused on task.?

Parental support is very important at thisParental support is very important at thispoint. Parents can help students maintain apoint. Parents can help students maintain along run perspective.long run perspective.

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My last Christmas as a highMy last Christmas as a high--

school student! Let me enjoy itschool student! Let me enjoy it

please.!!please.!! WORK, work, work.Can I please haveWORK, work, work.Can I please have

the Christmas day to enjoy the season?the Christmas day to enjoy the season?

Spend this break in listening to complaints,Spend this break in listening to complaints,reading your childs essay, check withreading your childs essay, check with

what must be completed for the Internalwhat must be completed for the InternalAssessment.Assessment.

Students need to work around the clock.Students need to work around the clock.EE, TOK essay and English written tasksEE, TOK essay and English written tasksand world literature papers must beand world literature papers must becompleted before the end of February.completed before the end of February.

This is an External Deadline.This is an External Deadline. The rest of the IA work must be completedThe rest of the IA work must be completed

before the end of March. Do not leavebefore the end of March. Do not leavethings for the last minute.things for the last minute.

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The last quarter.The last quarter.

All IB requirements but theAll IB requirements but the

exam are completed. Bravo.exam are completed. Bravo.

Now, focus on the exam.Now, focus on the exam.

Develop an effective strategy toDevelop an effective strategy to

prepare for the exams. Needprepare for the exams. Need

help? Ask teachers, counselors,help? Ask teachers, counselors,

parents. All will be happy toparents. All will be happy tohelp..help..