Semester One

 I used to love reading. As a kid going all the way until middle school I would read for fun all the time. Now as a highschooler, reading always feels like a chore since the only time I read is when it’s required for classes. That enjoyment I once had quickly faded and made it so I couldn’t read more than 20 pages of a book at a time without feeling bored or tired, whereas I used to sit and read entire books in one night because I was so captivated. This year since we get to choose what books we can read for class, reading has become a little more interesting and enjoyable. While it is more difficult for me to self pace because reading still feels like a chore, I like reading books as a class more, but the freedom to choose what book I want to read is something I really value with the choice books. I think that we don’t necessarily need more choice reading in AP simply because I feel that it is almost a constant except for when we’re reading something as a class. One book a month when we aren’t reading another novel or piece seems like a very attainable goal. 

Something that I am so grateful for from 11 AP that carried over to this year was blogging. I really love blogging and when I saw that it was going to be done this year for 12 AP I was really excited. For me, blogging is a way to write that doesn’t have any pressure attached, and has a lot of creative freedom. I love to write, but hate to write essays. In my opinion, blogging is the perfect medium that still holds intellectual and educational value, but isn’t hindered by the stress of a grade and is open to interpretation in regard to what is written about. I would love to continue blogging as it really helps me gather my thinking and is a fantastic way to work on style and just writing in general.

Personally, I like harknesses more than regular socratic seminars. In past years for seminars with the requirement of speaking three times, people would force their three thoughts out pretty quickly and the discussion would not have any depth at all. My classmates would just do the bare minimum and then tap out since they did what they needed to get the A. I love discussions and talking things out as a group to hear others’ thoughts, so without that hindrance of a speaking minimum, the harknesses have much more valuable conversations. 

Lastly, I think the workload of 12 AP was significantly better than 11 AP. There is still work, but not significantly as much busy work which I really appreciate. The reading load was very maintainable for in class reads, and out of class as well. I also really appreciate how we get the blog prompts a week or so in advance so that we aren’t pressured with a close deadline.