Junior Devon Winchester askes German instructor Christine GIldner about the rigors of next year's AP German course. PHOTO/ Annie Magee
Junior Devon Winchester askes German instructor Christine GIldner about the rigors of next year’s AP German course. PHOTO/ Annie Magee

      On Wednesday, Jan. 29, students and teachers participated in a school-wide Curriculum Day. Students who will continue their education at Timber Creek next year were able to discuss class choices for the 2014-2015 school year.

   While many students have a clear course progression for their classes in core subjects (such as English or math), those tracks often do not extend past sophomore or junior level classes. Then a variety of classes at different levels of rigor and areas of interest becomes available. Picking these classes can be confusing or overwhelming.

   However, teachers believe students may already know what choices suit them best, even if they are nervous. By talking out their options in class, teachers gave students the peace of mind knowing they approved of their choices. Math teacher Philip Bradford said, “It reassures them of the decisions they’ve already made.”

   Some teachers discussed requirements outside of their subject areas. Science teacher Minerva Rauback explained not only course offerings to her students, but also class prerequisites, graduation requirements, and what it takes to receive a Scholar Diploma. “It seems as though I always get asked a lot if Chemistry is required,” said Rauback.

   What seemed to be the most frequent questions were concerning Advanced Placement (AP) classes. German instructor Christine Gildner felt that talking to her upper-level students helped them make prudent choices regarding whether they should continue to the AP German class next year. “Knowing what they’re doing in the next year of German, that makes a big difference in their decision.”

    Students worked to balance their schedules and not overwhelm themselves with advanced, high-rigor coursework. Gildner noted that sometimes even high-performing students who are interested in continuing her program decide to not take the class due to the time-consuming nature of their other AP classes.

   Elective classes had the option of advertising their programs at A and B Lunch during Curriculum Day, hoping to recruit current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Additionally, “Middle School Nights” for these programs to advertise to incoming freshmen from Avalon Middle School and Discovery Middle School were held on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, respectively.

   “It’s more effective when parents are involved,” said art teacher Kathleen Shannon concerning recruiting incoming freshmen.

   Overall, teachers explained the power of communicating with other students. Gildner said that many of her first-year students have older siblings in the German program, and Shannon has often had students from her Sculpture classes continue on to her AP Portfolio courses.

   “Word of mouth and peer counseling is probably the greatest avenue students use to select their courses,” said Rauback. Bradford added that “talk[ing] to their like-minded students about what they liked and disliked” would help students make wise course choices.