Many families with older teens will be having conversations about next school year. That may mean courses like the UK A levels, US Advanced Placement Courses, or the IB Diploma. Each of these pathways are “pre-university”. In other words, they are designed to get your teen into university or college.
Each of these pathways is different. In this article I will be looking at just one of them. So, if you are an IB Diploma programme family here are 8 ways that we can help your teenager to have a great start:
IB is a Partnership – Work closely with your teenager’s school to be guided on IB courses and level choices for university or college courses and or possible careers. It can look quite complicated at first so work with the school to make sure you understand all the possibilities available to your child.
Get ‘IB Ready’ – There is often a change in expectations when a student first starts the IB. Work with your child’s teachers to figure out what needs to be done so that your teen has the best chance to successfully start the IB.
Stay on the IB Track – The IB Diploma is a two-year programme which requires well developed study habits. Do you know when your teenager’s most productive study time is? Are they regularly practicing and maximising this time for study? Do family routines support this time? Learning to plan ahead is an invaluable IB skill that will help your teen to develop their time management skills. Staying on track in the IB needs the whole family to be organised!
Commit to Well Being – This is true no matter what the pre-university program. Be sure to value your teens’ need for quality sleep, regular exercise and time to relax as you value their commitment to hard work.
Get IB Support – There are many IB study guides to support your teen. If your teenager prefers hard copies it may be a good idea for your teen to ask the school for recommendations before the start of the IBDP, especially if they need to purchase hard copies in another country.
Get IB Organized! – Know the school calendar for the year ahead and avoid planning holidays during the semester. The pace of new learning, especially in the first semester of the IB, is fast. A few missed days of school for an extended family holiday can quickly overwhelm an IB student who may get behind with their studies. Ensure, where possible, that your teenager will be rested and fully prepared to start school on the first day of the semester. Support a strong start and a sustained commitment.
Speak IB – Before you know it your teenager will be talking about their EE (Extended Essay), IAs (Internal Assessments), CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service), ToK (Theory of Knowledge), HLs (Higher Levels) and SLs (Standard Levels). Here is a great place to start your learning in English, French and Spanish!
There is so much that you can do as a parent to prepare the ground for your teen to be successful – and to stay successful over the two years of the programme. Please reach out if you would like any further support and guidance.
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