MERCY MOUNTHAWK

Second Year Subject Choice 2016

M. O’ Mahony: Guidance Counsellor

Students coming to the end of their first year Made new friends and developed new interests Adapted to how the school works, rules etc. Studied new subjects for the first time The future….2nd year….SUBJECT CHOICES?

REVIEW of 1ST YEAR

1st years have studied the full core curriculum of 11 subjects:

• Irish*• English• Maths• History• Geography• Civic Social and Political Education (C.S.P.E.)• Social Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E)• Religious Education• Physical Education• Science• A language

Core Curriculum

In addition to the core curriculum above students have taken additional optional subjects

◦ French or German or Spanish• Art and Design• Music• Business Studies• Music• Home Economics, • Design & Communication Graphics, • Materials Technology (Wood), • Metalwork (Materials & Tech)

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

• Core Curriculum (9): All students study:• Irish*• English• Maths• History• Geography• Civic Social and Political Education (C.S.P.E.)• Religious Education. • Social, Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E)• Physical Education (P.E.)

NON-EXAM SUBJECTS: P.E. and S.P.H.E.

Subjects to be studied in 2nd year

From the following list students do 4 subjects.

• Modern Languages: French, German or Spanish• Science. • Business Studies. • Art and Design• Music• Home Economics• Technical Graphics• Materials Technology (Wood)• Metalwork (Materials & Tech)

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

9 core subjects + 4 optional =13. Doing 14 in 1st year = They are dropping 1 subject going into 2nd

yr.

Student must have studied a subject in 1st year in order to take it up in 2ND year.

How do you decide?

SUMMARY

Choose subjects you found interesting and enjoyable What are your strengths? Think about a future career. Do NOT choose a subject because your friend is

doing it….

Deciding on Subject Choice

Don’t be a sheep!!

A Modern European Language is required for entry to any N.U.I. college: e.g.

U.C.C., U.C.D., N.U.I. Maynooth & Galway.

Non-N.U.I. colleges: modern language not required e.g. U.L. or any I.T.

Exceptions: Do not need a modern language to study in the areas of Science, Engineering, Food Science, Ag. Science and Nursing.

THINK ABOUT 3RD LEVEL

Science

Most Science, Engineering, Medicine and Para-medical honours degree courses require students to have at least one Science subject.

L.C. Science Subjects: = Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ag. Science.

THINK ABOUT 3RD LEVEL

Not a required subject but very helpful for certain courses:Home Economics: Food Science, Nutritionist, Catering, Dietician.Art and Design:Art college, Fashion/Product/Graphic Design, Primary teaching, Manufacturing, Web development, ArchitectureTechnical Graphics: Architecture, Engineering, Product Design Business Studies: Commerce, Accounting, Teaching

OTHER USEFUL SUBJECTS

Ideally the subjects you choose for your Leaving Cert. should be in the area of subjects you studied for your Junior Cert.

From Junior Cert Leaving Cert.

SCIENCE

Chemistry Physics Biology……………………………………………………………………………..

METALWORK Engineering

WOODWORK Construction Studies

TECHNICAL GRAPHICS Design Communications Graphics

ART, CRAFT & DESIGN Art & Art History

From Junior Cert Leaving Cert.

BUSINESS

Accounting Economics Business

Non-exam year…..

BUT….

STUDYING

Junior Cycle programme is 3 years long: e.g. HISTORY 1st year: up to the Renaissance 2nd year: Middle Ages 3rd year: 20th century Ireland/Europe

All 3 years will be examined in the Junior Cert.

STUDYING

MARCH - JUNEREVISION

As well as doing nightly homework, revision for Summer exams must be taking place also.

Success in the summer exams is very important for 2nd year

e.g.Higher vs. Ordinary level for J.C.

From March – June: Revision

Regular review of work done in classShort vs. Long Term memory

HOW DO I REVISE?

SHORT TERM MEMORY

LONG TERM MEMORY

The brain needs to see a thing 5 times, briefly but frequently, to transfer it from short to long term memory

1. Balance work with leisure. 2. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water

Water Fizzy drinks Caffeine

HEALTHY BODY HEALTHY MIND

Get plenty of sleep

Recommended: 8-10 hours A majority of adolescents report sleep durations of fewer than 7 hours a night.

"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of careThe death of each day's life, sore labour's bathBalm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,Chief nourisher in life's feast."-William Shakespeare, Macbeth

IMPORTANCE of SLEEP

You are: Tired unfocused Don’t listen well Grades will suffer“Students who earned C’s, D’s and E’s in exams reported 25 minutes less sleep, on school-nights and went to bed later on school nights, than students who earned A’s and B’s”. (Dehmler, 2009)

If you don’t sleep properly…

Technology in your bedroom

Laptopmobile phone t.v.computer gamesSocial Media websites

What Affects Sleep?

Students who had a t.v., computer or mobile phone in their bedroom: go to bed later, spend less time sleeping, wake up later

on weekends and are more tired than other children. 35% of the adolescents who reported being “very tired”

were using a mobile phone after lights out. Text messages woke 25% of the youngest and almost

50% of the eldest adolescents during the night.

Technology in the Bedroom

THE FUTURE: Participants who watched three or more hours of

television per night during adolescence were at significantly elevated risk for frequent sleep problems during early adulthood

Time spent on Social Media website can cost

students up to 100 points in the Leaving Cert.

Technology in the Bedroom

Subject Teacher

Guidance Counsellors Ms. Farrell: 1.1…1.2…1.3…1.4Ms. O’ Mahony: 1.5…1.6…1.7…1.8

Text Books & Exam Questions College Prospectuses and websites e.g. www.qualifax.ie www.careersportal.ie School website: www.mercymounthawk.ie

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AIM FOR: Organised study and revision Fresh air, fruit & veg., water. Technology free time before & during sleep

My wish for you: Health and happiness on your journey.

CONCLUSION