Inquiry Learning @ TBC

Today is a special day for the Inquiry Class; It is the day that we meet next year’s Year 9 Inquiry Class for the first time as a group.  We would like to welcome you and let you know that we are excited what lies ahead for us all next year.

We hope that today helps you get more of a sense of what it is like to be a student in the Inquiry Learning Class and at Tauranga Boys’ College.

One of the things that you will do next year is keep a regular blog.  You will use this to reflect on your learning and plan your day to ensure that you produce quality work.  Today, with the help of current Inquiry students, you will setup your blog and write your first post. Click on this link and follow the simple instructions of how to set up your blog and what to do once you have set it up.

After you have set up your blog we will discuss what you could write about in your first post.

Have a great day and get ready to bring it in 2012.

The junior exams are on the 21st and 22nd of November.  All Year 9 and 10 students in the school, including Inquiry, sit the same exams.  The outcome of these exams is used to determine Year 10 students’ placement into NCEA classes next year and Year 9′s progress.  The exam of one of the useful tools that we have to compare the progress of Inquiry students verses the mainstream.

The junior exams are on the 21 and 22nd of November.

Students sit two hour exams in:
English
Maths
Science
Social studies

The English exam comprises three sections.
1.  Response to text – Year 9 students write an essay in response to The Outsiders.  Year 10 write a response Slide the Corner.  There are some possible questions below.

2.  Grammar and Punctuation – there is a Grammar and Punctuation booklet on the resources page of the blog.  Please use it to      revise.  The questions in the exam will be similar to the format of the ones in the booklet.

3.  Reading Comprehension.

Possible Response to Text Questions

1.     Describe how a character in a text you have studied changes.
Explain what you learn from this change.

2.     Describe an important character in a text you have studied.
Explain why that character is important.

3.     Describe an important event in a text you have studied.
Explain why this event is important.

4.     Describe a turning point in a text you have studied.
Explain why this turning point is important.

Social Studies

Year 9 click here for an outline of the exam.  Year 10 click here for an outline of your Social Studied exam.

The maths exam covers the whole year’s course.

Mr Nash has been working through sections of the Science exam with you.  The end of unit tests that you have been working on are in a very similar format to the exam.

One of the inquiries looks at the implications of drilling for oil in NZ

Today is the last day to submit your final inquiry for 2011.  After this inquiry the focus will shift to exam preparation.

Year 9 upload your report here.

Year 10 upload your report here.

Remember to be preparing yourself and your maths group well for the end of Term maths test.  The test is two periods and covers algebra from this term as well as all the other topics that have been covered this year.  Year 9 you went from 6% better than the mainstream in Term 1 to 20% better in Term 2; What can you pull out this term?

Semi Finalists: Ethan, Brad and Dean (from left to right)

Once again Inquiry Learning students have made a strong showing in the School Speech Competition.  With three students competing in the Junior semi finals and an old boy competing in the Senior semi final. Brad Hemingway, Ethan Pilgrim and Dean van Niekerk all displayed the ability to structure ideas effectively and engage the audience with their speeches on issues that they have investigated through their inquiries.  Old boy, Hadyn Reardon made it through to the Senior semi final after gaining Excellence for NCEA Level 1 speech.

Brad Hemingway was the most successful of our boys and is competing in the Final tonight. He will attempt to make it two in a row for the Inquiry Class after Reece took it out in 2010. His speech is a powerful presentation of how to reduce sea lettuce in Tauranga Habour.

If you would like to see Brad and the other outstanding orators present their speeches come along to the Graham Young Youth Theatre tonight. Speeches start 7:00pm and entry is free.

Go Brad!

This term Year 9 and 10 will be doing inquiries aimed at preparing students for the End-of year exam.

Year 9 click here to view your social studies inquiry.

Year 10 click here

Year 9 your Social Studies inquiry are due on the 22nd of August.  Please upload your report here.  Be prepared to present to the class first thing on Monday morning.