<p>DS1, home from college, is leading a study session for ds2 and two others in pre-cal as I type. I’m not sure he’s a pre-cal expert, but he knows enough to help the kids talk and think about what they’re doing. Tomorrow, ds2 has an English and chem final. Pre-cal and Latin aren’t until Thursday.</p>
<p>One thing I’ve learned from both kids is that they simply don’t know how to organize a study group. The moms kind of engineered this one. I bought pizza, and they’re working through problems while laughing so I think it’s pretty painless for them. I hope this will become the first of many for ds2! Isn’t it funny the kinds of no-brainer skills you still have to teach? If you’ve never asked someone over to study before, I guess it can be intimidating.</p>
<p>“are there kids who are NMS level who don’t already know it? Those who “have it” already know it, and so do the counselors. I don’t really see how waiting until January disrupts the college search…what am I missing here?”</p>
<p>At least in my experience, yes, there are some kids/families who have no clue until the PSAT score wakes them up (good or bad). Some are looking in all the wrong places. I doubt that there are that many families who were going to visit schools over break and would rethink their strategy if they knew the score, but it doesn’t surprise me that there are some.</p>
<p>Remember that thread about tutoring for top students?
I think we have just succumbed to this one.
And I am not going to say anything else. PM me if you want more info… ;)</p>
<p>Mine is studying via scype for his APUSH test tomorrow. It is slowly becoming a habit to do it in this way…
Also AP Bio test tomorrow…
But he seems to be in control so I try to intervene as little as possible…
Better to have a glass of chardonnay;)</p>
<p>As for the morning commute - they also anticipate a storm here. Can’t help in any way - will be stuck with my patients for 12 hours.
DH and carpool dad will have to deal with driving the kids. </p>
<p>DS13 had a final in his college class last week. He is still absolutely disoriented as to how to find his grades. I just tell him to e-mail the profossor, he still waits. For what?
BUT - he is working very hard on organizing the physics olympiad at his school.</p>
<p>We got our PSAT scores yesterday. Math was quite out of whack compared to the other sections. I was thrilled with his CR and W.</p>
<p>RobD – Definitely agree that it is a good dry run. My kid didn’t realize guessing on portions of the Math wouldn’t penalize, so he omitted instead.</p>
<p>I think there are plenty of kids who are National Merit level who don’t know it. </p>
<p>My kid had no idea different cut-offs in different states. He now wants to move to some of those states with the lower cut-off. To him this is much easier than actually studying for the test this summer. He needs a jump to make the historical cut-off for his state.</p>
<p>He turns 15 today Leaving work now to go home and have his favorite meal prepared by grandmom and cake.</p>
<p>Busy week at school for all my kids. Friday begins break and it seems every teacher has a mini project or test in the next 2 days coupled with parties for the younger kids.</p>
<p>Well, our district started school on time today, but ended up dismissing at noon due to the impending ice storm. Ended up that they would have been fine running to the regular time, but we are on this dicey edge of the storm where it could have gone either way so I’m happy that they erred on the side of caution. So instead of having two exams today, they only had one; instead of having two tomorrow, they will have three (including the monster AP Euro.) I am SOOOO happy that D2 won’t have anything hanging over her during winter break. She really needs some serious chillax time.</p>
<p>Came home to find her PSAT scores on the kitchen table. She & her crew stopped in guidance; they asked if the scores were in and her GC looked through the English class piles for them. I am pleased but she wasn’t. She scored higher than D1 did as a sophomore but to her dismay her score was lower than the NMSF cutoff. Which doesn’t matter of course since she’s only a sophomore. I think she will be beside herself next year if she doesn’t make the cut, which is ridiculous of course. So I’m trying to figure out how to balance expectations. She has accused DH & I of asking her to become a “slacker” when we have suggested that she puts too much pressure on herself.</p>
<p>My D’13 is like that too, RobD. Soph PSAT scores were very good, but she’ll need a boost next year to make the SF cutoff. It’s very likely that she will, with another year and a little prep, but we already had the talk that making NMSF doesn’t really mean much except bragging rights. It won’t mean much at many of the schools she will likely apply to.</p>
<p>Sounds like a great score, RobD! Longhaul, looks like you’re pretty happy, too.</p>
<p>Ds still doesn’t have his score, but we talked about it today. I have a tradition of taking each son out to lunch on the last day of finals, where we talk about how the semester went, lessons learned, and turn an eye toward the future, be it next semester or whatever. I told him this time next year, he’ll be in the thick of preparing for AP tests, SATs, etc., so enjoy this time while he can. We agreed this has been the toughest semester ever and likely will be the worst of his HS career. The way his school is structured, fall of sophomore year is full of major projects. He’s looking forward to a more leisurely pace next semester.</p>
<p>One of the things he learned this semester is that he really liked studying about Roman culture in Latin. And, of course, he loved Model UN, but that’s not surprising. He couldn’t decide what he wants to take next year, apart from the core courses. All in all, a productive lunch.`We ate today because I already had a lunch scheduled for tomorrow, the last day of finals. He still has two tests to go, including the dreaded precal. Wish him luck!</p>
<p>YDS – Your traditional finals lunch sounds so nice! </p>
<p>I took tomorrow off to wrap and hide the kids gifts out of sight. Plus, since youngest just added a gift to her Santa list, I have the urge to run around like a maniac and get another gift. I think this is the last year for Santa in my house and her list only had 1 item before today. I just need to be careful - ever time I walk in the stores with all these sales I just have the urge to buy. I am a classic case for Suze Orman – I buy out of fear I won’t be able to afford stuff when I need it.</p>
<p>Jealous of those whose kids are wrapping up the semester and then a relaxing break. Even my 5th grader has a project looming over break!</p>
<p>Youdont say points out AP test prep…My D13 is taking two AP’s this year (english, and world). Aside from her assignments, class work, tests, she has not put any time into studying these tests yet. I was planning to pick up a prep test for her for world over break because that is a “study” test, but not sure about the english one. Not sure how she would study this? Her essays in class and HW so far are tracking to 4’s. Personally, I think the goal should be 5’s. </p>
<p>This question is for those who have been through APs before…How did your children prepare?</p>
<p>Longhaul, food is a motivator for my boys. I can get them to talk about these things as long as a meal is involved. ;)</p>
<p>nellie, I am a hopeless optimist. Studying for APs is most likely a pipe dream on my part. Ds1 went to study groups with the teacher a few times before the AP test. Despite buying the books he said he wanted (stats, APUSH, APES), he never opened them that I can tell. I felt confident about BC Cal his junior year because the teacher does a great job of preparing them. For ds2, I now know which teachers’ classes align well with the AP tests.</p>
<p>nellieh: my older D ended up taking 6 AP exams; her scores ranged from a 3-5. At our school the teachers are aware of the need to prep for the exam and they usually will recommend a particular test prep book. At least the last week (usually 2) before the exam is devoted to a review of the year plus the kids cram on their own. </p>
<p>While I may have bought the prep books at the beginning of the year, I can assure you that they didn’t get looked at until April at the earliest. I know the school looks at how scores come back for particular teachers/classes so the teachers do their best to get the kids ready. An email to the teacher on a recommendation for a particular book & their ideas on studying for the test could be helpful. I wouldn’t suggest doing any studying for it over winter break. May is a long way away.</p>
<p>D2 is off to her three exam day, including AP Euro. She figured out last night that she has to make an 80 on it to keep her A for the semester; this class grades hard on tests but D has made over an 80 on all but 1 test and I know the teacher takes into consideration that she can’t offset the exam grade with a unit review grade; there have been a couple of tests where a lot of D’s friends have failed.</p>
<p>Good luck to your S, YDS! I said to D2 as she was walking out the door “what are you going to do tonight when you don’t have Euro?” She gave me a woeful look & said “study for Algebra II & English.” I will be so happy tomorrow night when she is done. She needs some serious down time! And cookies :)</p>
<p>PSATs are in. DD13 did great. Not NMSF range, but that is just fine. I can see where she is going to do very well on the PSATs and the SATs by the time they come around. </p>
<p>No midterms here that I know of anyway. However, the semester ends after winter break, so maybe Jan will be difficult here in Geohome. DS12 took AP World last year. They use one of the AP books as a study guide for their class during the entire year. The teacher preps them after school as well. It’s really about reviewing the material that they should have been studying all year. AP tests during the year are usually based on actual AP test questions used in previous years. Before the actual test the teachers stay after school and run study sessions. DD13 will only have the one AP this year. DS12 will have 3, so I’m not sure how he will be able to attend every study session for every AP. I’ll let you know! </p>
<p>DD is a future scientist or engineer. She loves theater and art though. Her talent level is not high enough to consider either of these as potential professions. She knows this, but she is trying to come to terms with the fact that she would much rather sing and dance her way through life than do math and science. The fun factor is so much higher in the arts! Not sure what to tell her except she can always do community theater.</p>
<p>D studied all afternoon and evening yesterday for her AP World exam only to have school cancelled today because of snow. Makeup day is January 5. The two exams scheduled for tomorrow will be made up January 6 if school is cancelled again. That is four exams to look forward to right after winter break. Joy to the World!</p>
<p>S took five AP’s and never studied for any of them. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction and a natural test taker. He never studied for the SAT either and was happy to be one and done.
His performance in school was a whole other story! Don’t know how my D tests yet as she took the PSAT for the first time this year and has not received her scores as of now. I plan on purchasing her a book for AP World closer to the time of the test. I know she will utilize it where it would have been a waste of money to purchase any AP books for my S. </p>
<p>YDS, good luck to your S on the precal exam! That is one of the three my D completed before the snow. Good luck to all the rest taking exams especially those dreaded AP ones! Let’s hope school will be in session tomorrow so my D will only have the two after break.</p>
<p>We don’t have midterms here either - those usually hit at the end of 2nd quarter. No PSATs yet either but hopefully soon. D’s school doesn’t believe in having them do work over breaks but to actually get a break so she is definitely looking forward to the break! She’ll actually miss the 1st week of school back since we’ll be on vacation but she’s certainly not concerned about that either - can you tell she is my laid back kid? :)</p>
<p>Oh Blueshoe, that stinks about the rescheduled exams. I really thought that was going to happen here. </p>
<p>Does anyone remember which SATII exam matches up with AP Euro? I think it’s SAT II World. I was looking at dates for the testing this morning and they only have dates up through June. June 4th we will be returning home from Disney so that testing date is out. Hoping there’s an early Fall date so she can get that done.</p>
<p>RobD–There is no SAT II exam that matches up well with AP Euro. SAT II World has a certain percentage of questions on European History; you might want to check out the exact percentage on the College Board thread to confirm, but last year when my daughter had the highest grade in the class in AP Euro, we decided that too much additional self-study would be necessary to make it worth taking the SAT II World test.</p>
<p>My son got his PSAT scores back on Monday. He did much better than least year and relatively well percentage wise compared to other 10th graders, but nothing even close to making me think he’ll be NMSF. I already told him that I’m going to have him do the study plan that the collegeboard site laid out for him. His school doesn’t do midterms or finals at all…no AP classes to study for either. I love the lack of stress now but in about a year…
I don’t even want to think about it :(</p>
<p>One more day of school and I’m in a Christmas quandry! My son’s major gift was going to be a letter jacket and the store called last night and said that the supplier had not sent his jacket with the last shipment and that we wouldn’t be getting it until January. S won’t be disappointed as he didn’t know he was getting one (we told him we couldn’t afford it) but now I don’t know whether to get him something else (smaller) or just put an IOU under the tree. Traditionally, my kids only get 3 presents: something they want, something they need and a surprise. So, he’s getting an electric razor (need) and midi composing software (want). Maybe his surprise will be “surprise - no gift!” D is also getting an IOU for one of her gifts. This seems to be the year of low inventories!</p>
Leaving work now to go home and have his favorite meal prepared by grandmom and cake.</p>
The two exams scheduled for tomorrow will be made up January 6 if school is cancelled again. That is four exams to look forward to right after winter break. Joy to the World!</p>