Now that the first semester is over, I need to have you look back and assess the following things for both AP classes: 1) what were your strengths and weaknesses? 2) what were the strengths and weaknesses of the teacher? 3) what changes that were made over the course of the first semester had the best and least impact on you? 4) what changes would you suggest for the future to make the class run more smoothly and productively? As before, I really do need to hear from you ALL on this so that I can improve not only the delivery of the content, but also how I do things in the class so that you, the student, can get the most out of it. Your comments on the Quarter 1 reflection were very helpful, and I hope that I was responsive to the suggestions that you had made and that things improved. Now, please look back again because, like Kramer above, I implore you to help me help you!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Semester 1 Reflection - Juniors
Now that the first semester is over, I need to have you look back and assess the following things for both AP classes: 1) what were your strengths and weaknesses? 2) what were the strengths and weaknesses of the teacher? 3) what changes that were made over the course of the first semester had the best and least impact on you? 4) what changes would you suggest for the future to make the class run more smoothly and productively? As before, I really do need to hear from you ALL on this so that I can improve not only the delivery of the content, but also how I do things in the class so that you, the student, can get the most out of it. Your comments on the Quarter 1 reflection were very helpful, and I hope that I was responsive to the suggestions that you had made and that things improved. Now, please look back again because, like Kramer above, I implore you to help me help you!
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We're already half-way through the year. Wow! My strengths and weaknesses for the semester, other than my weakness for dark chocolate, and peppermint bark during the holidays (yummm...), centered mostly around the textbook. My weakness is starting to read without getting distracted, however once I start reading, it's often hard to stop. The chapters have also become more interesting as the book progresses. Once we get past the "history" history, the era before the 1800s, we start to see a lot of new inventions, cultural changes, and some really good writers. Essays are another strength for me, once I know what exactly I'm writing about and I have all of the information I'm going to include (I'll admit that my handwriting might need some work though). In English, I love reading the stories as a class, thought the retorical grammar stands somewhere in the middle for me, as I'm still trying to get used to it. As for those of Mr. Korling, his strengths lie in his presentations in History, and in his reading and after-reading discussions in English (along with a great sense of humor and a tolerance of those who get detailed about certain projects). I'm still trying to think of some, if any, weaknesses (it might take me a few days). The best change in History would be narrowing the test down to three chapters instead of the usual six or seven, allowing me to focus on just those three. The other great change was allowing a heads-up on the topic of the essay on the test, thus allowing myself to focus on writing and composing the actual essay, and not on the "surprise element", which we'll get anyways on the actual AP test.I would suggest in the future structuring all tests this way in order to be better able to focus on the details of the chapters. I would also recommend providing other options than WetPaint, as the UI (user interface) is not all too friendly, especially when saving an editor a change made (it not only looks different between the edit mode and viewing the published page, but it also looks different based on what screen resolution/monitor size the end user has, both of which can vary by user).
Coming into this school with two ap classes was something that was difficult for me. Just because this is the first time I have had one but I also wasn't doing so good at Lincoln Highschool- or should I say did't end sophomore year on a good note. I complained and for most of my highschool experience was known to be a lazy student and failed to apply myself as well as I really can. But I am glad to be here and it has actually transformed me personality- wise as well as my improving academically. I slacked off so much especially during the first quarter but I did begin to really try during second quarter. Ap classes are nothing easy. I'm simply a math freak and I don't like to read. I think I made a pretty signifigant improvement compared to me in the beginning of the year. It hit me most with Mr. Korling's talk with us in academic seminar about the children in other countries who would do so much to have the things we have. And Mr. Korling has forced a great understanding into me about not complaining and I realized I had to push my self a lot harder, because now I actually want it. I also think that this experience has really matured me, in all areas of life. Having a strong academic based new years resolution, I feel like a new person. The new class schedule we made really does help too. A chapter a week is pretty simple. The study groups have helped- when we actually do them. My only concern is that I'm so distracted, and reading is not easy to me. I felt like I somewhat accomplished something big but i have even more to criticize about myself. I'm pushing myself hard this semester and I have not got enough. I just want to do better.
Wow halway through the year time sure goes by fast. I have definately improved throughout the year with writing DBQs which have been helping me big time with my grades. I'm still having trouble with the multiple choice test because I'm not really sure what to study there's just too much and it's overwhelming. But definately I learned how to write better. Weaknesses in the class is if we read together I get lost because it's hard to follow along when someone else is reading I also get distracted in class sometimes. History has gotten more interesting and reading chapters have been getting easier. Big impact for me during semester 1 are the essays five essays in a row I passed but least impact is multiple choice test and following along while listening to someone else read. I personally read better if I read to myself. I want to know what subjects in the book to study because I honestly don't know what to study for which is probally the big problem of failing the multiple choice test.
My weaknesses were my inability to write good DBQ s and FRQs. I felt I had enough information to do them and understood the processes that Mr. K clearly explained, but when I would take the DBQ/FRQ I just couldn’t bring in what I knew and put it into an essay. Even when Mr. K gave us what DBQ he was going to give for the test, I studied for it a lot and ended up just mentally locking up. My strength is being mentally stable enough to not commit suicide during grammar lectures. I think the teacher is doing a good job and is making an effort to do the best he can. I believe I just need to put more effort in so I don’t really have any input on these questions.
Unfortunately,I had no strengths in APUSH and AP English Language. However, I did have MANY weaknesses. In APUSH, I could never get myself to read the chapters in time for the Unit Test. I found myself attempting to read 3 or 4 chapter in one night. It didn't work out. One of Mr. Korling's biggest strengths in the class was his enthusiasm as a teacher. He REALLY loves what he teaches to us so he makes everything so much more fun. He's inspiring and has so much background knowledge about History and English. He isn't one of those TINOs who doesn't even know what they're doing. Another one of his strengths as a teacher is that he is willing to take both positive and negative feedback from the students. He is always searching for feedback on how to make our AP classes more enjoyable and find ways on how to help the students flourish in them. The only weakness Mr. Korling had all year was his inability in the 1st quarter to find a consistent "teaching strategy." We went from taking once a week quizzes to cumulative tests, to unit tests. The change that made the biggest impact over the first semester was taking cumulative tests to taking unit tests. From that time one I started to read the chapters more consistently and I found myself being able to make connections while studying. AP English Language was much of a blur the first semester. All we basically did was read slave stories from the Civil War time era. However we did read a couple of interesting stories such "Owl Creek Bridge." Overall, the AP Classes were extremely fun and exciting; however there were a couple of bumps in the road that both the students and Mr. Korling had to face. But Mr. K, being the awesome teacher that he is, found new ideas that helped the class become more successful!
I'm kind of starting to like these psychological confessions. Goodness gracious, I can't believe that half of junior year is over. Time is flying by so quickly, soon summer, senior year, then college. My strength this semester would probably be the fact that I try and do not stop until I finish something. But sometimes I don't try hard enough and the amount of effort I put into something shows, whether good or bad. My weaknesses are being easily distracted while reading the textbook and sometimes working too slow. I feel like I have to exert an extra effort not to get easily distracted because me reading requires a great amount of concentration and focus. Because of dilly-dallying it often takes me twice as long to get something done. Although I eventually finish whatever needs to be done, it would be a whole lot better finishing it in half the time. I honestly and truly believe that good study habits will take you far, but developing good ones take time and practice. Now you really can't afford to be lazy. I really thought about what Mr. Korling said about making sure you know how to study for sure by the time you get to college. I really want nothing more than to master the art of studying and accompany good study habits with that art. Mr. Korling really knows how to get to know the students. He really does his best to encourage and motivate us. He is so open-minded and he shares the things he’s learned coming from his own personal experiences. I definitely agree with all the wisdom he has given us. But sometimes we just don't do it. And if we don't implement that in our lives, well then it's our loss. You are not a TINO, Mr. Korling! A weakness would be the lack of consistency in the AP subjects. Sometimes we spend too much time in AP U.S. History and not enough in AP English. In history we went from quizzes every week, to cumulative, then to unit tests. In english, I felt like we barely did anything. I mean, we read great stories, but it was only until second semester that we started analyzing the composition and structure of the writing and the functions of each word in a sentence. I feel a lot less prepared in english. In Semester 1, I really liked changing the tests to unit tests. I felt like I could remember and analyze each chapter a little more than the cumulative tests. I feel that in the future we should move in a more consistent pace, even though it may be hard at times to keep up, we most definitely have to do our best. The teacher can only do so much. Once the reminders are given, from then on the responsibility is in our hands. After all no pain, no gain.
I have found that Mr. Korling's teaching style, as well as the varying teaching styles from the other teachers at this school, have helped me to recognize and develop my own learning style. Mr Korling's introduction of his "students-devise-their-own-teaching-methods-based-on-how-how-they-best-learn" strategy has greatly helped me, contrary to what I thought it would do. The freedom of thought, of how I choose to learn, while being given a rough outline of the required materials is how I best learn. My greatest weakness when it comes to testing is in multiple choice. Learning the various intricate details of every chapter of history required for the multiple choice is difficult for me. But Mr Korling's addition of a rough outline for the materials we need to know for the multiple choice has been greatly beneficial. I would just suggest that Mr. Korling continue on the path which he is on, taking our input on the ways we best learn, and outlining, to some extent at least the materials needed for the multiple choice tests. Good job Mr. K!
I can't believe how the time flies! Well, at the beginning of the semester I had a ton of motivation to do well and start fresh at a new school. I have never taken an AP class, and I have to confess, the first semester was harder than I expected and was a BIG wake up call to me. Mr. Korling is one of the best History and English teachers I have had, and his teaching style is great because he compromises with his lesson plan to fit the needs of his students. I like how he made us comfortable with him, and hes a very approachable guy. I felt like anything I needed, he had some way to fill the need academically. What would help me next semester isn't really anything that Mr. K needs to change, it's my own study habits that needs help. You're awesome Mr. K!!
The Last semester has been on the most part, satisfactory. My strengths were asking questions. I'm very good at that. It helped me better understand the material. However my weakness was not paying attention to the lectures and taking notes. I often zone out or just get lazy and daydream. I need to work on staying focused and on task. The teachers strong points were keeping class interesting ( I know a little contradictory to my previous statement but it was interesting I just was lazy) and paying attention to individual needs his weaknesses were not letting me sit next to certain people whose company I enjoy though I enjoy everybody in the classes company theses people I especially enjoy. It helped when we started reviewing the essay content and what things will be asked on the test. And then testing on only three chapters allowed me to really study those in depth and the more frequent tests actually help prepare me for the ap test. The only changes I would suggest are doing some projects
Well I can't say that there are any strengths that I can think at the moment but I could name a few of my weaknesses. To start I find it hard preparing myself for the test. It seems as if I understand the material quite well but have a difficult time relating that to the actual test. Second, I'm finding it a bit hard relating the schemes and tropes to the literature we're going over in class. Not so much seeing them when they are pointed out but actually finding the best answer for a single sentence(meaning some of the time there is more than one right answer). Other than that I thought I did fairly well first semester. One thing I wish we would have done more of last semester is watching a film(related to the material of course) and have Mr. Korling explain it the entire way through. It helped support my comprehensive knowledge while at the same time backing it up with understanding it visually. To be honest I also liked it when we did those big exams covering everything we've learned up until that point. It not only motivated me to review all previous chapters over and over but also allowed me to go back and pick up on anything that I missed from them. I wish we could do a few more of those but I know it is only wishful thinking with the way this class votes. Now I can't recall any weaknesses Mr. Korling has. He makes sure everyone understands and relates the information in such a way that everyone can understand and retain it. The only thing I would change is teaching us how to apply the information you give us to the actual test answers. It is one thing knowing the material but it is entirely different applying it. Other than that, the first semester was difficult but I was able to pull through it. Going into the second semester, I'm excited to see what Mr. K has in store for us.
I feel that my main weaknesses this 1st semester were my lack of motivation to study and my procrastination, not just in Mr. K's classes but in all my classes. My strengths so far are my ability to retain a lot of information when I did study and the large pool of useable outside information that I have at my disposal. The change in test styles from cumulative to accumulative didn't really seem to have to big of an impact on me. The best change was Mr. K's use of jeopardy to help us study. I am very competitive so this helped me immensely on the multiple choice section of the tests. In my opinion one of Mr. K's biggest strength is the fact that he wants each and every one of us to succeed, he is not one of the teachers who focuses most of his attention on the "4.0 students". I have been to many different schools in my life and this quality is hard to find in a teacher. His biggest weakness was, as Chad said, his inability to stick with a specific teaching game plan in the beginning of the year. This weakness could, however, also be translated as a strength in the sense that his flexibility in his teaching style is able to fit a majority of the needs of his students. The only changes I would make would be that we could put a little more focus into our AP English Language class because I feel unprepared for the end of the year AP test.
My strengths this semester, besides being really, really, ridiculously good looking, is probably being able to remember relevant information that helps in multiple choice and essays in APUSH, as well as gaining a greater idea of the focus of AP Language. My weaknesses were incorporating all necessary elements into the DBQ, and a lack of understanding of what to know for the AP Language test (which I assume we are going into more detail this semester). Mr. Korling did great in providing the necessary information for the tests, as well as directing us toward the main points of focus for each assessment. I can't see any weaknesses in teaching, as all the information is given, but would like to see more opportunities to review test material beforehand as a class. I think that the most effective change was shrinking the range of the assessments to focus more on each time period. The change I would make as said above is having an improved class review before each test.
I would have to say that all in all I did pretty well the first semester considering the difficulty of the curriculum. I would have to say that my biggest weaknesses were multiple choice and schemes and tropes. Studying massive amounts of information for the multiple choice was hard for me, especially when sometimes all of the answers seemed correct! Schemes and tropes are still a struggle for me, but I am certain that I will improve before the exam in may. My strengths were the DBQ essays. I am proud of myself for continuously doing well and I have Mr. K to thank for teaching us how to write a thesis so well. I really thought that the changes we made to the class towards the beginning of the year were very helpful and beneficial. Adding projects to our class was a great way to learn in different ways and add some fun to the subject. I don't feel that there were any changes to the class that impaired me in any way, but I would like to see more practice for the A.P. Language exam as we have been doing lately. The practice exam was sure a wake up call for me! I enjoy our class discussions and the way we are able to make so many connections to the world today, and I look forward to Semester 2. A.P. tests here I come! Yay....
My strengths from the last quarter was that i actually started reading the full chapter and taking notes while reading. And my weaknesses are that i need to take the time to ask questions and do the study guides. And to improve I need to not cram reading all the chapters in at the last second and plan out all the studying beforehand.
-Sheridan
First semester done with, now the reflection of the time invested into my advanced placement high scohol courses. Firstly an assessment of my own personal strengths and weaknesses in the areas of United States history and English, though I might be a slightly biased source in assessing my own abilities. Weaknesses if inquired by a peer the answer would be none, but on reflection I would conclude that an Achilles heel would be overconfidence or a false belief in my own ability far exceeding the before mentioned ability. The problem with these self-inflicted delusions is that they leave me with a sense of elitism which ultimately be my downfall, my slippery slope from which it is so easy to descend upon. At a regular school, where the academic competition is ever present and there is always someone locked in the sights another target to be overtaken, these beliefs remain dormant but when allowed to culture in the mind of someone who already has a slight egocentric tendency they become ensconced as part of your identity, a face beneath the smile on the outside. Another weakness is a lack of patience for those who hinder my ambition, the frustration of an advanced placement class being lamed by a lack of students that do not share my ambition, those less motivated or less academically inclined wear upon me, but all you can do is smile. One more weakness to add to the list is my intelligence is sadly inadequate for such an undertaking so much so that I have yet to actually receive a legitimate “A” on any test I have taken in both classes. My last weakness, at least for this list is a lack of proper study habits thus leaving me ill prepared for the class assessments. Now onto my strengths I have an innate ability to verbalize what is on my mind even if it is committing social suicide. I am able to perform decently under pressure and now my greatest strength is my ability to fictionalize when my knowledge comes up sadly lacking. The strengths of the teacher are so vastly overshadowing the weaknesses that I can hardly seem to find the words that will do him justice, though I will say he could be more “Talso-like” in his teaching. The changes in the first semester that had the most impact upon my education were the adoption of the assessment only policy thus making homework a completely optional pastime. The one that had the least impact was the presidents quizzes which I view as a complete waste of time. A change I would suggest for the future would be different classes ( social suicide) dividing the academically inclined from those with other priorities than school into separate classes, one advanced placement the other regular, this would eliminate the frustration both of those that are being restrained by the pace and scope of the class and the frustration of those that are so lost by the assessments that it reads similar to hieroglyphs, this solution would thus fell two birds with a single stone.
I also think there should be "the Korling Family "Favorite" Student Award" in the future.
At the begining of the 1st semester I thought that it was gonna be just like last years AP classes, just a little more difficult dealing with 2 AP classes. But it was deffinatly an eye opener that I have to be constantly working. I can never get myself to read directly from the book itself and maintain my attention on this subject. I still struggle with me study habits and need to find other ways to conprehend all of the information we learn both in class and at home. Which would have to be one of my weeknesses, along with DBQ's. I dont have any strengths but hope to improve in second semester. Mr. K's strengths would have to be how he enthusiastic he is about the subjects he teaches & how interesting he makes his classes, except for the long lectures we go through from the book. But we all know it has to be done. Along with Mr. K's enthusiasm for teaching, I came to conclusions that he WANTS us to succeed. Most teachers could care less and not help their students pass their classes but he genuinly cares and is on our (the students) side. I can think of any weaknesses but all I can say is this semester im ready to actually buckle down and work hard.
First of all, I am just super surprised that I have lasted an entire semester of 2 ap classes. Before coming here, I was used to quickly doing the homework assigned, barely learning it and passing the tests which would all earn me an A. But here, it's study hard the way you study best and then take the tests. I admit, it is a lot more detailed work than I am used to and it has taken some time to learn how I best study but it has made me realize how capable I am to actually LEARN the material and not just get through and done with it. I have not done the greatest on the tests, and sometimes I feel like my hard work hasn't paid off, so I guess I am still trying to figure how how I study harder. I think a great thing that we have started is the 3 chapter tests. It is easier to focus more detailed on the 3 chapters and I feel like I retain more information than when we had to do more. Overall, I think it has been a pretty good school year(
First semester is finally done! So far Junior year has been challenging but exciting at the same time. Going through school day by day and just learning so much in what seems like just a short amount of time gets me excited for the newer activities in the second semester. My greatest weakness throughout first semester was FACEBOOK and just doing random/irrelevant things on the internet. Gah! I spent so much time and energy into checking in with friends and family when really I should have exerted my time and energy into reading my textbook. Which I did later on. I took Mr.K's advice about "unplugging" from my social life and distractions to get better grades. Removing myself from all social networks was not easy, but I realized that most of my friends from other high schools were ranting about drama and high school in general. Sure I was kind of jumpy and hyper after not being on the internet but the results were amazing! Not only did I have more time to study but I actually learned rather than memorizing facts that have no significance whatsoever other than they might be on the next unit exam. I also saw the time I studied reflect in my other classes as well and I am sure that it is directly related to me being off of FACEBOOK. Although it saddened me not to be able to check in with friends I realized that my goals within school cannot be accomplished if I am being distracted. I am so glad I realized what was holding me back during first semester. Thank you Mr. Korling for giving me that advice. While focusing on school rather than being on the internet, I learned how to study. I used to think that it was the amount of time reading and rereading the text that determined the quality of how I studied. It may be like that for other people but I learned to understand where and where not to focus my time. I am still working on my studying abilities. Studying is after all something that requires discipline and practice. Throughout second semester I hope to make studying one of my strengths within my AP classes. I like how the class switched to unit exams and I hope it stays that way because it gives me a chance to look deeper into the chapters we are assigned. More frequent exams but less chapters makes me feel like I am constantly in test mode. My hope is that the more frequent exams will take away some of the jitters on real AP exam. Although I see improvement in APUSH, I am concerned as to whether I am going to do well in AP English. I feel less prepared in English. Could our class maybe go the same pace in both AP classes?
Coming into this year, I thought it was going to be exactly like the APWH class last year. Only to realize that I would need to put a lot more effort into school this year. I honestly started this school year thinking it could not possibly be harder than last year so I would need the same effort to pass. Which I quickly found out it was not. I was very lazy last semester, especially in the first quarter but after all the talks with Mr. Korling, I decided it was time to buckle down and take class more seriously. Studying is still tough for me only because it is so tedious but I realized I can't get through school anymore without touching my book all semester, as my past experiences. The DBQs are definitely not what I expected them to be, but now that I kind of get the jest of them, they are quite simple... if you know what you're talking about. The way that Mr. Korling teaches makes it so much easier to pay attention, and it helps to develop kind of your own learning strategies, strengths and weaknesses. Many of my friends and I get distracted easily but I think we're all starting to finally buckle down and finish junior year on a good note.
The above comment is great! Who said that?
So, it is really hard to believe that I am still alive with having to deal with two AP classes. When it comes down to it, I think that my strength really is shown with the presidents quizzes. My weaknesses have proven to be my tendency with distractions while I study or read. Also, I do not believe I am ready at all for the AP English exam. The focus has been mainly History and I am not yet convinced that my writing skills are to the point at which are expected of me. I highly appreciate Mr. Korling's ability to be very open and transparent with the class, along with the flexibility with schedules. One of the changes that was made over the course of the first semester that had a positive turnout for me would have to be the seating arrangements. At this point in time I do not have any suggestion for the class that would help, but I will definitely present them if they come up. Thanks for the support and great entertainment that comes with our many classes together.
Some of my strengths through the first semester were continuous from my first couple years of high school. I was very self-motivated, and was able to get through the reading easily, but I just assumed that I could just retake the tests and not care the first time around. My major weakness in the first semester was that I didn't want to take notes. I didn't think that they helped me learn, but I learned very quickly that they did.
Mr. K's strengths were that he could teach a subject, and not just teach it in a way that was surface level but connect it to other events to help memorize it. His only weakness was that we went through the jeopardy and review games only the last week of class.
The changes that we made through the semester that had the most impact on me was when we switched the tests from cumulative to simple sections every 3 or 4 weeks. it helped to consolidate the information that we needed to know then. There wasn't really any changes other than that that had a significant impact on me or not.
Focusing more on English rather than APUSH would help, it feels like we're only taking one AP class rather than two.
Ruth Bozhko
I am very glad that semester one is over, this APUSH course has been a very challenging one for me. Some of weaknesses for this semester were holding assignments for the last minute and the DBQ’s. Those are the worst! But I really appreciate the time you put into making this environment more likeable for the juniors. Trusting us in helping set up the style of this class was pretty cool. I learned how manage my time and different study techniques throughout this semester, and am proud to say that my test grades are slowly but surely improving.
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