Kevin Davy
kevind@isb.ac.th
Grade 9
This week in Freshman Seminar our class of 2020 had 2 sessions. The first session involved the introduction of Naviance. This is an online tool used for educational resources such as inventories, career exploration, and university research and application. Once students created their account they proceeded to complete a learning style inventory. From this they added to their personal portfolio their results / report, discussed points of interest and strategies to potentially use in their future learning. In the second session we focused on creating an electronic Personal Portfolio that will store information about the student – who they are as a person and as a learner. Many of the items we create in Freshman Seminar are stored there and will hopefully be added to over the course of the next 4 years. This is a great website for a student to share with a new teacher at the beginning for the school year; it will give the teacher some early insight.
Grade 10
This week the sophomores finished an individual school and career plan. The students have assessed their strengths and what they like doing, and have explored what people with those same strengths and interests tend to do in university and beyond. The next step will be to think about what courses in 11th and 12th grade will help them on the path to further studies. Ask your son or daughter what people like him/her do for a living!
Grade 11
Welcome back from the October break. Hopefully your student took some time to relax, get some rest, read for pleasure, and spend important time with family. With 6 weeks left in the semester, it’s a good time to reinforce skills that help students reach success.
- Time management (completing assignments as soon as they’re assigned)
- Self advocacy (seeking help or clarification from teachers)
- Pursuing personal interests (not letting academics solely dominate and finding time to exercise, read, and remain committed to extra-curriculars)
At this point and moving into next semester, the challenge of IB courses will most likely increase for students using more higher order thinking skills. These aren’t necessarily skills that tutoring will assist with. It’s important that students reach out to teachers first.
Finally, express trust and confidence (even if in doubt) in your student that they have the tools around them to handle challenges. Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. Here’s a great article with advice from Michael Thompson, Ph.D. on how to manage this.
Grade 12
Several students worked diligently on their college applications over the break so that they could submit their Early Action and Early Decision applications earlier this week. Now that the November 1 deadline has come and gone, students are working on Regular Decision applications.
Just a reminder that November 21 is the last day for students to submit Transcript Request Forms for schools with deadlines in January. In addition, students must submit their first university application or two with their counselor.
Test scores such as the ACT, SAT, IELTS, and TOEFL are sent directly to the university by the student. Universities will not accept scores from ISB. It is important that students remember to send their test scores when they apply to each university.
College Visits
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