Back to School Fall 09

[Andy]

Yes! It's everyone's favorite time of the year! :smart:

Classes, grades, etc, you can discuss it here.




My most interesting class so far is Philosophy of the Arts. The content so far is amusing, and so is the professor. He told us a joke on the first day of class.

There were two students just getting to know each other, named Ryan and Jill.
Ryan asked Jill, "Do you have any brothers?"
Jill said, "No, I'm an only child."
"Oh, " said Ryan. Later, he asked, "Do you like broccoli?"
"No. I don't really like vegetables at all."
Ryan nodded. And since he was taking a philosophy course, he was curious enough to ask Jill one last thing:
"Well, if you DID have a brother, would HE like broccoli?"

[Bowie20049]

I have to walk to another school to take physics. So after a certain amount of periods, I am let off early to go to that school, and after that class is done, I walk back to my original school to be late for my next class.

[Midsummernightsdream]

I am freaking out slightly:(. Where I live you go from a little elementary into high school directly, so no middle schools or anything like thatO_o. I am starting high school for the first time, EVER, on Tuesday, and am kinda freaklinged out. ;) But also really excited ^^!!

[Midsummernightsdream]

I have to walk to another school to take physics. So after a certain amount of periods, I am let off early to go to that school, and after that class is done, I walk back to my original school to be late for my next class.

Nice system. Very practical :P :)

[Zombified]

My classes this year are too easy for a college level.
Seriously, why are they giving homework out? Last semester the only HW we got was a 6 page essay a few times. I liked that!

Although my American Popular Music class is amusing.

[Nyx]

I am freaking out slightly:(. Where I live you go from a little elementary into high school directly, so no middle schools or anything like thatO_o. I am starting high school for the first time, EVER, on Tuesday, and am kinda freaklinged out. ;) But also really excited ^^!!

Heh that was me last year. Except I wasn't really THAT freaked out and there really isn't anything to freak out about. The only thing I can say, which is probably super cliche but since I was just in your shoes last year trust me that it's really true; in high school, be open to new friends and new things. There are a lot more people now so don't stick in a little clique afraid to meet new people, because IF you do, eventually it gets too late and you're stuck with the same three people for the next five years:p
Okay no, not really. And I'm not saying abandon your good old friends, but I felt like meeting new people was one of the highlights of my first year of high school and I felt bad for my friends who didn't take that chance.
/end of my random piece of advice.

Anyways, I am so not ready for school.We have this wacky new schedule system and we get our own schedules on Tuesday and I am so nervous because I really want to have good classes. Wish me luck people!

[Simmi]

There are a lot more people now so don't stick in a little clique afraid to meet new people, because IF you do, eventually it gets too late and you're stuck with the same three people for the next five years:p
Okay no, not really. And I'm not saying abandon your good old friends, but I felt like meeting new people was one of the highlights of my first year of high school and I felt bad for my friends who didn't take that chance.
/end of my random piece of advice.

You could call me socially inept or extremely shy, but I only meet new people when the teachers force us to do a little meet and greet or something. I'm going into my first year of high school next year so that might change. But I doubt it.

[miss_smiley]

Ah...yes. I remember those good old days when I actually had to attend school...
Enjoy them. Seriously. Gap years bore the pants off you.

[Crocolyle]

Taking second level Italian, 400-level Victorian Lit, 300-level 19th Century Fiction (with a particular focus on the effects of science on Literature--Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Pride & Prejudice, Jules Verne, etc.), History of Journalism, and a 1-credit writing colloquium.

[Iridescence]

A little nervous, myself. Starting private high school won't be easy. And since I'm only going on scholarship, I'm worried that I won't be able to relate with many people. Hopefully, they won't be a bunch of snobby rich kids who look at my tattered sneakers and scoff. My only real concern isn't the classes or the workload, because I know I can handle that; it's just getting comfortable. I'm pretty adaptable, but this will be so different.
Oh, well. Enough of my venting. Shutting up now. T-T

[Midsummernightsdream]

Iri is smart :P! You'll probably do fine... A lot of the snob stuff is probably mythical. Anyways, everyone says high school is awesome, so I hope it turns out to be true. And Nyx? You're in Grade nine?

[Andy]

Iri is smart :P! You'll probably do fine... A lot of the snob stuff is probably mythical. Anyways, everyone says high school is awesome, so I hope it turns out to be true. And Nyx? You're in Grade nine?
High school is awesome!

...until senior year. That's when they get you with PAPERWORK and ADVANCED TESTS to ensure you know basic writing and math skills! :O

[Starry]

Yeah seniors! Senior year is like, ridiculously intense, because I'm IB (International Baccalaureate) which means we have all these extra tests and projects and ridiculously difficult and complicated stuff. On the other hand, all of my teachers are absolutely amazing. I'm taking a formal theatre class for the first time, and I am super excited despite the fact that it's such an intense class.

Today after school we had the first drama meeting for the year, and it was so much fun to see everyone I haven't seen all summer and our play is going to be awesome (The Crucible--Arthur Miller :)) and oh my god my generation is in charge now. Like, what?

[Midsummernightsdream]

Sounds really awesome. And you are part of Baccalaureate. My parents are considering putting me in that program, but might not. :)

[Mercy]

I've been in school for a little over two weeks now. I'm taking seven classes during the school day, algebra II honors, chemistry honors, English III AP British Lit and English Composition, independent study German/study hall (only my friend and I have this), world history honors, advanced art, and world religions. Being that my GPA is 4.0+, I got a chance to take a dual-enrollment psychology class as an independent study outside of school. It's only for a semester, though. x.x

We've also got other things to do, like finding a college, preparing to take the ACTs/SATs and school functions like Spirit Week. >.>

So, this is why I haven't been critting as much lately. ^^;

[Alex]

My problem is less my history-intensive courseload, but all the other stuff I'm doing.

Classes are:
A - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1: Literature & Philosophy / S2: Understanding Modern Man
B - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1/S2: Honors Calculus (same textbook/speed as AP Calc AB, but our teacher is so lenient that its kind of a joke. Someone last year didn't get one question on a test completley right but got a B+ because of all the extra credit)
C - 1/3 Block) S1/S2: Study Hall
C - 2/4 Block) S1/S2: S.W.A.T
D - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1/S2: Honors English 12
E - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1: AP Microeconomics / S2: AP Macroeconomics
F - 1/3 Block) S1/S2: Study Hall
F - 2/4 Block) S1: Morals, Ethics, & Values / S2: Study Hall
G - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1: AP Comparative Government / S2: AP American Government
H - 1/2/3/4 Block) S1/S2: AP Modern European History

And my laundry list regarding extracirriculars in no particular order:
1) Model United Nations
2) Robotics Club
3) President - Philosophy Club
4) Co-Vice President - Investment Club
5) S.W.A.T
6) Teen Court
7) Prefect (we're pretty much the deans' bitches who tell them when people do petty things wrong.)
8) Sports Analysis Club
9) Football/Baseball Game Announcer

I don't devote too much time to any one of these things, so its not like being dedicated to a sport or something along those lines. Oh, and yeah, I know its a wierd combination of stuff.

I actually would love to do some literature stuff, and my school actually has a writing center, which is pretty much where students go to get there works critiqued. I suppose that I'm not a good enough critiquer to do that though. Who knew? Maybe I'm not qualified to roam around here either (sarcastic.. and yes, I'm bitter). The same teacher who runs the writing center is the guy who is head of The Phoenix (our literary magazine), and he was also my teacher last year. There is a good amount of bad blood between us, and I think his views on literature are stupid, quite frankly. So, thats why you don't see any writing stuff.

*end of rant* I really should go do some Gov GRQs o.0

[Bowie20049]

swat?

[Nyx]

You could call me socially inept or extremely shy, but I only meet new people when the teachers force us to do a little meet and greet or something. I'm going into my first year of high school next year so that might change. But I doubt it.
I'm kind of like that, or atleast I was. It changed for me in highschool so maybe it will for you too ^^
Iri is smart :P! You'll probably do fine... A lot of the snob stuff is probably mythical. Anyways, everyone says high school is awesome, so I hope it turns out to be true. And Nyx? You're in Grade nine?
Yes I am.

7) Prefect (we're pretty much the deans' bitches who tell them when people do petty things wrong.)

Hahah :laugh:
p.s. I hate people like you who actually do extracurricular stuff.

[Alex]

swat?

Students Working Towards Advancements in Technology.

My school is a laptop school. I work in the help desk during free periods and fix computers, pretty much.

[Bowie20049]

Oh, I thought you meant the OTHER SWAT... :P

[Rouge]

-didn't read previous conversations-

My favorite class so far is my Music in Human Imagination class. :D
Mostly because the homework is listening to videos that the teacher put on blackboard.
Classicalllllllllmusic<3homework.

[Shaun]

Well, I'm having an interesting first year at the University of Florida. Why? Because I'm a graduate student, rather than a regular college student...and that means new things! I'm studying science fiction, postcolonialism, the human/Other dichotomy, and I'm tossing a little fantasy in there because I need some variety.

So, as far as what classes I'm taking:
--Posthumanities/Postmodern Animal -- It's a strange course. We're reading Derrida, Deleuze and Guatarri, Donna Haraway, and many others. The point of it is to get us to consider in a deeper level issues of animality in literature, culture, etc. So far...kind of brain draining, but we'll see where it goes.
--Pedagogy Course -- Not sure what to call it, but it's a required course regarding issues of teaching. It's kind of dull, but I'm learning some things from it. And this is important because the really new thing this year is:

TEACHING!
I'm teaching two classes this semester, and next semester, and the two semesters following that. They are:
--Intro to College Argument (generic name) -- I'm doing this one in a mentor group, so there are two other new teachers and a really experienced one, and we're all sort of learning from one another, etc. My lecture section will be discussing civil rights, which I've adjusted to include talking about animals, robots, androids, and such things.
--Technical Communication for Engineers -- I'm studying English, but I have to teach this course. It's more or less teaching kids how to write memos, resumes, and writing things to audiences that are not in their fields. It's useful stuff that I actually have experience doing, so it's not as out there as the title sounds.

Honestly, though, I am not enjoying all my classes all that much. I kind of like tech writing, but only because some of the students I have are really great, and it's a joy to teach them stuff because they take notes and follow the damned format. But then there are those that sleep, etc.

But I'm done rambling. I'm also writing stuff to apply to conferences with and working on my M.A. thesis, which currently has no theme because I have no idea what I'm doing it on.

[Alex]

TEACHING!
I'm teaching two classes this semester, and next semester, and the two semesters following that. They are:
--Intro to College Argument (generic name) -- I'm doing this one in a mentor group, so there are two other new teachers and a really experienced one, and we're all sort of learning from one another, etc. My lecture section will be discussing civil rights, which I've adjusted to include talking about animals, robots, androids, and such things.
--Technical Communication for Engineers -- I'm studying English, but I have to teach this course. It's more or less teaching kids how to write memos, resumes, and writing things to audiences that are not in their fields. It's useful stuff that I actually have experience doing, so it's not as out there as the title sounds.

Honestly, though, I am not enjoying all my classes all that much. I kind of like tech writing, but only because some of the students I have are really great, and it's a joy to teach them stuff because they take notes and follow the damned format. But then there are those that sleep, etc.

But I'm done rambling. I'm also writing stuff to apply to conferences with and working on my M.A. thesis, which currently has no theme because I have no idea what I'm doing it on.

This is why I'm not a fan of UF. I'm smarter than you Shaun, how could you possible teach me anything I don't already know. =p (I hope you catch the sarcasm, but the point as well)

Oh, I thought you meant the OTHER SWAT... :P

I'm unathletic, as you can tell by my activites. Also, I know people who want to go into the actual SWAT team and they don't like 4chan so... well.. it is not a generalization when I say they all suck =p

[Bowie20049]

What does 4chan have to do with Swat?

[miss_smiley]

-didn't read previous conversations-

My favorite class so far is my Music in Human Imagination class. :D
Mostly because the homework is listening to videos that the teacher put on blackboard.
Classicalllllllllmusic<3homework.


I love you. A million times a trillion.

Can I marry you when we get older? xP

[Bowie20049]

I love you. A million times a trillion.

Can I marry you when we get older? xP

D: Noooooooo!

[Rouge]

I love you. A million times a trillion.

Can I marry you when we get older? xP

xD Man, so many people want to marry me on the interwebs. xD

Okay so my full schedule is this at the University of North Texas:

Monday: Music in Human Imagination from 9-9:50 then US History up to 1865 from 10-10:50 then Statistics xPP from 12-12:50
Then I have work from 1-4 in the Advising office for the School of Journalism.

Tuesday: Work from 9-5

Wednesday: same three classes as Monday plus General Psychology I from 6-8:50P.M.

Thursday: Work from 8-4 plus General Psychology II from 6:30-9:20 P.M.

Friday: Same classes as Monday.

Yay college.

[miss_smiley]

O.o? Just cos I'm married doesn't mean I can't hide in the closet, Bowie... >.>
<.<

[Ichigo]

I have the worst year ever!
Socials, which is all about war and how people have been tortured and all that.
Math, mostly geometry this year. Which I can't do.
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
English, YAY!
Spanish
Family Studies. I have no idea why I'm taking this course.
And then of course Chamber Choir/ Musical Production.


:(

[Simmi]

My classes are pretty awesome; the day goes by pretty fast.

First period: P.E. (It doesn't even really seem like a class, so I like that.)

Second period: Algebra Honors (I really don't like algebra.)

Third period: Physical Science (I think that I have an I.P. class, but I don't know what it stands for. I really like this class.)

Fourth period: Language Arts Advanced (Awesome class.)
Fifth period: History Honors (The teacher always gives lectures and uses Power Point to tell us when to take notes.)

Sixth period: Orchestra Advanced (The best class for last.)

I'm always getting homework from at least three teachers every night...

[Shaun]

Alex: They teach us in orientation how to deal with students like you :P

[Starry]

I guess we're giving our full schedules right now? I'm too lazy to keep writing it out, but all of my classes are IB (International Baccalaureate), which is like AP but harder and more intense. And has some stupid requirements.

Pd. 1: Theatre 1--yay! We analyze theatre junk, we perform stuff, we play theatre games. Really fun except that I'm testing in it after one year, when you're supposed to do two (scheduling issues) which is like immensely difficult.
Pd. 2: Theory of Knowledge 2--I really have no idea how to explain this class to people unfamiliar to IB. It's kind of a total BS philosophy class centered around the ideas of what is knowledge and how to we seek/attain it, etc. At least it's only one semester this year (and then I get to take creative writing!)
Pd. 3: French 6--theoretically I'm fluent by now. Theoretically.
Pd. 4: Physics 2--Awesome teacher, like the subject, but my teacher last year was so terrible I learned absolutely nothing I was supposed to. This should be interesting.
Pd. 5: English 2--Super duper intense but interesting.
Pd. 6: History 2--The "International" means European. The second year starts at WWI, which means our course of study is essentially Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, and Mao (for fun, I guess). This class is actually IB Dictators.
Pd. 7: Higher Level Math--Another weird IB one. It's essentially going over a lot of stuff you learn all the way from IM7 (which I think corresponds to 8th grade) through BC Calculus/Calculus II, and then going way more in depth. We're doing number theory right now. This is my easy class (how sad).

I also have an EE (Extended Essay) which is like a mini college thesis--mine is on constructed languages in fantasy/sci-fi.

[Ichigo]

I'm going to miss PE. I don't have it anymore... it's like...the best class... :(

[Carraka]

In order:

TOK - epistomology, like Starry said. Except it's the first week, and apparently bullshit is among one of my deepest interests
Physics 1 - Got the good teacher this semester. But the next semester ... -prays-
Psychology - fascinated by subject material, not fascinated by teaching methods. Disappointing, but at least I'm not falling asleep.
English - same teacher that teaches Creative Writing, is very nice - so I look forward to telling her it's against my religion to write fanfic when she assigns it. Also, first week gave us opportunity to do some creative exercises. Only for completion, but it feels like a good omen. Yeah. I'm probably going to be inactive for the rest of the year, crying over my homework.
Creative Writing - same as my English teacher. Sometimes afraid that the class will be too broad when all I really want is an excuse to edit EC. If I could turn EC into a metaphor for writing, maybe that will fulfill the requirements of my next assignment ... Yeah. She teaches a summer camp for 8-11 year olds writing science fiction and fantasy, and she enjoys Gaiman, so I should have no trouble like with those awful people who claim fantasy is a fake genre, thank goodness. And this means I'm going to have a class with Starry next semester! Yay! First time ever!
French - Lessons are cooler this year, if only because we're no longer just doing exercises, and then writing them on the board, and doing more exercises. On the other hand, the lessons are entirely in French, so I have to give 100% attention and get 70-80% back.
History - Very saddening. I wish it weren't so European-centric, but maybe otherwise that would be too much to teach in two years. They should have forced us to take more history classes to supplement. I keep falling asleep. Yesterday I finally managed to figure out that I was going to have to write (novel) and take notes at the same time, or multitask in some way, to keep my attention.

I'm overall very happy with my classes. Even in the boring ones, I think I'm interested enough in the material that the class will still feel worth taking while I'm reading the textbook ... at four in the morning. And the best thing is -- I'M NOT TAKING MATH WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I'll take that Higher Level (see Starry's post) next year. I hope it's as easy as she says it is.

[jordanisonfire]

Not school anymore, sixth form. And I hate it. Catholic fundamentalist pricks, all of them.

[Starry]

Carr, why aren't you taking MV Calc? Apparently the class is like deserted because everyone's taking HL instead.

And I still need to switch into Creative Writing. Right now I'm signed up for Mads, except for the part where I'm not being let in...whoops. The good news is I can probably convince my counselor to let me custom-design my schedule for next semester. :)

[Nyx]

I'm going to miss PE. I don't have it anymore... it's like...the best class... :(

How can you say that? PE is torture.

[Ichigo]

I was in Band Geek PE though. Most people in my class was also in band, so no one really knew how to do anything and it was loads of fun.
I realize that's a horrible stereotype, but it was a fun class. :)

[Carraka]

Carr, why aren't you taking MV Calc? Apparently the class is like deserted because everyone's taking HL instead.

Because I don't like math. Sure, I get good grades, and it looks great on my transcript, but I have better things to do with my time. MV Calc ... just like Higher Level ... will have zero application on my real-life aspirations.

[Starry]

Nothing you do in high school has any application on real life. It's high school.

[miss_smiley]

Well...I wouldn't say that. I'd say a LOT of the stuff you do in high school has no application, but quite a fair bit of what's considered "trivial" is actually required. ^_*

[Carraka]

I think history and psychology have application to my novel. And I don't need to say anything about creative writing. The jury's out on the rest of my classes, which are probably the ones I will enjoy more this year, ironically. -blink-

[miss_smiley]

Noice. ^_* And History's also really good for perception and stuff. ^_*

[Starry]

I think my history class this year is essentially "How to fail at being an evil dictator" class, which would be applicable to my novel, actually.

[Banana]

So, I was originally going to take Chem. Physics, two maths, English, religion (mandatory), and some other stuff that was the opposite of interesting.
But last year I took grade 12 Bio so I wouldn't have to do it this year, but, I realized in that class just how much I hated science, and I constantly found myself writing out daydreams, and other random goodness during my teacher's lectures.
But now I'm looking forward to school because I'm taking Drama Production (the course code is ADD, lol), Writer's craft, philosophy, Canadian and World Issues, History, English, and some other stuff I can't remember.
I’m excited. :)