WORDS TO THE WISE: Sage Advice from the Class of 2019 to a NEW Generation of IB Language and Literature Scholars

Well, it is hard to believe, but we are almost to the close of another year at Odyssey.  Soon, we will be blowing a kiss and waving a tearful farewell to the Class of 2019.  As we gear up for a summer assessment for year 2 OR our very first year of DP Language and Literature, they will be zipping up their gowns, donning their cords, and looking forward to the next phase of their exciting life journey: college, career, military service...wherever their dreams take them...

This is a tough goodbye for me.  Not only is one of my own children among this group, but also,

many of them were in my very first 5th-grade class at Odyssey.   I had the honor and privilege of teaching them Language and Literature (and, for one year, History) in 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, and 12th grade!   They have, no doubt, learned a great deal over these past four-plus years; not just academically, mind you, but also in the realms of life skills, cultivating and nurturing relationships, and through both their trials and tribulations.

It is for this reason that great reflection is in order; reflection that can help our next generation of upperclassmen--juniors and seniors--as they navigate through similar waters and build upon their knowledge as IB scholars.   So, here it is, advice from your seniors to you:  those who have successfully reached the summit of IB Language and Literature in the DP program will give you pieces of the map and a compass to guide YOU on your journey.  They have officially and successfully finished both years of study, so really take their words to heart!  And to you seniors who are quoted here, please know that I have learned just as much, if not more, from working with you as you did in this classroom.  I don't know what I will do without you after all these years, but I am ALWAYS and FOREVER in your corner, cheering you on, through all of life's challenges and celebrations!  LOTS of love, gratitude, prayer and pride to YOU from me!

Buckle up, here we go...

Do your best to turn your work in on time, it’s easy to fall behind or get overwhelmed.

You may not always like your FOA group, but just listen and try to work together as a team.

Use critical friends, they honestly see the flaws you can’t.

Ask for help when you need it! Don’t be embarrassed, your teachers are literally there to help

you with whatever you may need, even if it seems stupid!

Keep your notebooks from both years. YOU WILL NEED THEM! and....Oh my God, do the blog! Set a reminder for blogs, they really impact your grade and you will forget.

Be creative and have fun with the Written Task 1’s!

Actually take the time to read the books and texts...you might be surprised at how much you enjoy them!

Don’t be afraid to voice your ideas

Go to the plays, they are great and SO worth your time

If you’re sick, facetime someone in the class

If you aren’t enjoying the class, THEN YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

Listen to every lecture with curiosity. View them as your chance to learn something new or to reflect on how it pertains to your prior knowledge. Soak up all of that information! -Grace Bronder

Enjoy the moment. High school goes by very quickly, so, take time to live in the present or else you’ll miss it.

Keep up with the reading assignments. It will help you with your assessments and your DP exam. However, if you have trouble reading quickly, find an audiobook and listen along as you annotate the novel.

Have a supportive friend group - Kassie

If I’ve learned anything today, it’s that anything is possible and you should always follow your dreams. - Thomas Cooke

Don’t put off your written task, the critical friends really helps and as much as you can bring to it, it will help your grade out. Mrs. Caraway appreciates it when you type up your papers in Times New Roman, pt. 12 font.

Stay attentive. The most regretful thing you could do is not to pay attention in class. Year 2 is incredibly fun and interesting. The topics that we talk about are things you bring home and talk about with anyone that just so happens to be next to you. So, do take my advice and pay attention.

Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say....and don't overthink things TOO much.

Always show up!!!!! Don’t wait until the last minute to do your Written Tasks you will instantly regret it… Trust me. Don’t be afraid to be outspoken. Pay attention to the outcomes for each part. Invest time into the books you read, you’ll like them more and won’t feel like written tasks are a drag.

I HIGHLY recommend actually buying the physical books, versus online! It’s so much easier to follow along, and remember valuable quotes if you have the book in your hand.

ANNOTATE YOUR BOOK. Mark where the quotes are with something so you won't be digging for them for the summative, or as Mrs. Caraway calls it: The Great Quote Hunt of 2019.

Do your share on the FOA or you’ll be hated by groupmates forever. Just put in some effort.

This course has taught me how to look at the plots and characters included in these pieces of literature in many different ways, and has taught me the importance of stepping outside of myself to analyze a situation.  I have found a love for tearing apart texts and trying to understand what the author is telling me, the reader, through going through the list of important stylistic elements. Because of this, I am now able to understand the importance of identifying the author’s intentions, but also how these intentions affect the reader and his or her interpretation of the text. 

Don’t panic about the IOC, it’s not as bad as you think!

Try to keep your notebook organized, you will get a lot of excerpts and papers you could use for the test or other things in class.

If you plan to go on a field trip, or miss class for ANY reason, talk to her first.

If you are planning Senior Ditch Day, or know when it is going to happen, TELL HER. She won't be mad if you give her a week's notice, so she can plan your class accordingly. EVERYTHING she plans in this class is honestly and totally FOR YOU!!

Be nice to each other and maintain a positive environment!!! Mean people make high school sad :(

HAVE A FANTASTIC YEAR!! You will LOVE this class...I guarantee, it will be a favorite. Mrs. Caraway is passionate about the literature and the language. You will get so much out of it if you put in the time and energy, I promise. :)

Okay, now it's time to reflect and respond!

Future Year 2 scholars: What piece of advice above really resonates with you? What advice or words of reflection would you like to add?

Year 1 Scholars: WELCOME!! What words of advice do you find most helpful? The most interesting? What do you see as your greatest challenges and fears, AND your greatest source of anticipation and excitement? Why are you here, and what do you hope to get out of this course?