Student Success Resolution #6: Get Help When Needed
By Meaghan Montrose | March 9, 2010
Here is the last and final student success resolution of this series. (Trying to make too many changes at once can backfire) Today’s tip is to seek out help when you need it. If you follow the first 5 tips you will be making some great changes in your study habits, however, you might still have some difficulty.
There are many different ways to get help:
1. Office Hours- Many teachers offer time for extra help before or after school. This is a great opportunity to meet with the teacher and ask any questions you have about the topics you are learning. You can also use the time to get study suggestions directly from the teacher or go over a draft of a paper you are writing.
2. Peer Tutor- Many schools and local libraries have programs where other students offer free tutoring. This is a great service to take advantage of.
3. Study Groups- Instead of finding a peer tutor, you can just turn to your friends. Make small study groups of other students in your class. Study groups are helpful because it makes the studying a social experience so you are more likely to do it.
4. Search the Web- There are tons of internet resources on every topic imaginable. Do a search for the topic you are studying and you are sure to find explanations and videos to assist you.
5. Invest in a Tutor- Sometimes you may need one-on-one specialized help. Though it isn’t free, a professional tutor can help you make great strides in the subjects that you find challenging. A tutor will allow you flexibility in your schedule- you can have many sessions at first to get you on track but then cut back as you improve.
Stick with the resolutions and you will be sure to see success! Happy Studying! And remember when you are having trouble, seek out help and do it early before it’s too late.
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | No Comments »
Student Success Resolution #5: Answer Every Question
By Meaghan Montrose | February 21, 2010
If you have been keeping up with the first four student success tips, you should be experiencing academic achievement! So why stop now? Let’s keep it going with resolution #5: Answer Every Question!
This tip can apply in a few different situations. For one, this means you should be prepared and attempt to answer every question that your teacher asks in class…even if it is not directly asked to you! Any time a question is asked (by the teacher or a fellow student) you should try to answer it. Doing this will keep you engaged and focused during class. Playing an active role in the class will make the material more meaningful to you and thus you will have an easier time understanding it.
In addition, if you try to answer every question you will be able to constantly assess your understanding. It is like giving yourself pop quizzes. If you get an answer correct, then you know you understand the topic and won’t have to worry about it when you are studying later. If you get an answer wrong, you have an opportunity right away to figure out the answer and ask follow up questions to ensure you understand.
Besides attempting to answer all the questions asked during class, this tip is also suggesting that you answer all questions provided for you. Many textbooks have follow-up questions at the end of a section. Even if these are not officially assigned by the teacher it is a good idea to check your understanding by answering them. Also, take advantage of any additional practice worksheets or assignments that your teacher may provide. Doing actual problems and answer questions is a much better way to study and check for understanding than simply just reading your notes or the text.
Using this tip will give you instant feedback on your level of understanding and it will also save you time later on. The more actively engaged you are in class, the more you will remember. Therefore, the time you need to study will be less.
Have you missed the previous tips? Start from the beginning with Student Success Resolution #1: Write it Down.
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | No Comments »
Winter Olympics 2010: A Learning Experience for Your Kids
By Meaghan Montrose | February 16, 2010
The 2010 Winter Olympics are in full swing in Vancouver. What an exciting time across the world! The best athletes competing in a wide variety of events…simply amazing! It would be difficult for anyone not to become swept up in the excitement. This includes your children.
I can remember (many, many years ago) “figure skating” in my socks on the kitchen floor and “bobsledding” down a hill with my brothers during the Winter Olympics. As a parent, this is the perfect opportunity to turn your child’s interest into an educational experience.
As you watch the Olympic Games together, pay attention to the events and athletes that capture your child’s attention. Use this enthusiasm to encourage your child to read and/or research the topic. The learning possibilities are endless: history, culture, biographies, physics, etc… (Additionally, the Olympics can also be a great way to spark an interest in sports. Participating in sports is an excellent way for your child to development physically and socially.)
The HomeSchoolBytes.com blog has some great ideas on how to make the Winter Olympics a learning experience. One of the posts includes a list of books about Winter Olympic topics. Check out their Winter Olympic Book Reviews.
Topics: Parenting | No Comments »
Student Success Resolution #4: Turn Off Technology
By Meaghan Montrose | February 11, 2010
By now you should already be reaping the benefits of the first three resolutions for academic success. Keep up the good work and focus on incorporating today’s tip into your study habits.
Technology is a great thing- computers, cell phones, MP3 players, Kindles, video games, etc… The problem: these devices can become huge distractions when you are trying to do your work. The solution: put away the technology while you are studying.
Although it seems like a skill, multi-tasking is not a good thing. Trying to do multiple things at once will make you less effective and less productive than if you did each task separately. With this in mind, it is not a good idea to check your email, watch television, or text with friends while you are also doing homework.
Here is the plan- turn off all of the distracting pieces of technology and keep them out of sight when you are ready to study and do your schoolwork. You can incorporate these fun distractions as rewards in your study plan. (Refer to Student Success Resolution #2: Less is More) After studying for a small chunk of focused time, take a quick break to do something fun like send an email, listen to a song, or play a video game. This will give your mind a little break and allow you to come back to your work refreshed!
Bottom line: turn off the T.V., cell phone, computer, and iPod if you want to be successful and efficient with your studying. (Hey, you might be losing them anyway if you don’t keep your grades up!)
Did you miss the last tip? Check out Student Success Resolution #3!
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | No Comments »
Kindles and other eReaders: Are They Worth the Expense?
By Meaghan Montrose | February 8, 2010
Devices for displaying e-books are the latest craze in technology. Some of the popular options include the Amazon Kindle, Sony PRS-700, and Barnes & Noble Nook. These devices allow you to read a book electronically. The sizes of the devices vary but are generally slightly larger in length and width than a traditional paperback, but much less in thickness.
There are many obvious advantages to an eReader such as the portability and decrease in volume. (How great to be a college student with all of your textbooks available on one small device!) However, even with this in mind, is the cost of the devices really worth it?
The SavingAdvice.com blog has posted an article about the cost-effectiveness of these devices. The author of Is an eReader a Wise Purchase? weighs the pros and cons of an eReader. Check out the post for the answer!
Topics: College Preparation and Advice, Money and Business Advice, Parenting | No Comments »
Student Success Resolution #3: Find a Work Space
By Meaghan Montrose | January 31, 2010
It is time for step 3 in your quest for academic success! The key for this resolution is to find space for yourself to study and do homework. Knowing how to study is important, but first you need a place to do it.
The goal here is to find an area in your home that can be your safe study haven. A place that is all your own. A space free of noise, free of disturbing siblings, free of clutter, and ideal for working. This doesn’t need to be an entire room in the house (very few of us have that much spare space). Instead, you just need a desk or a portion of a table that can be considered your work area. Having an established will keep you from attempting to do your schoolwork in an area full of distractions. In addition, having a designated area for work will mentally prepare you to get down to business when you sit down to work.
The main criteria for your personal work space:
1. Quiet
2. Low traffic area (not right by a door where people will constantly be walking back and forth)
3. Includes an appropriate surface to write on (a desk or table)
4. Available when you need it (maybe it is used to fold laundry during the day, but the area should be free when you want to use it after school)
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | 2 Comments »
Saving Money for College in a 529 College Savings Plan
By Meaghan Montrose | January 26, 2010
College- most parents want their child to go there, but how do they afford it? The cost of college is getting higher and higher each year. In order to save enough money parents need to start considering a savings plan as soon as the child’s first birthday (or maybe even earlier!). So, what’s a parent (or Aunt or Uncle or Grandparent or Godparent) to do?
One answer, the Smarter Wallet recommends using a 529 college savings plan. According to the post, one of the main benefits to the plan is the flexibility of the investment. Check out the entire post on 529 College Savings Plan As A Child’s Gift.
Related posts you may have missed:
How to Maximize College Savings for Your Child- Read about tips to make the most of child’s college savings.
UPromise: Saving Money for Your Child’s College Education- Find out more about this college savings service. UPromise allows everyone in the family to contribute to the savings account.
Topics: College Preparation and Advice, Money and Business Advice | 1 Comment »
Student Success Resolution #2: Less is More
By Meaghan Montrose | January 20, 2010
2010 is quickly moving along. Hopefully by now you have mastered the Student Success Resolution #1 of writing everything down. So, now you know what you HAVE to do, what do you do next?
Resolution #2: Less is More
The focus of this tip is the concept of less is more. This has to do with the amount of work you do each night and the length of time you study at once.
The first idea is to break all of your larger assignments, projects, and reports into smaller chunks. It is less daunting and more manageable to deal with small tasks rather than trying to tackle the assignment at once. When you have a large assignment, try to break it into parts that make sense. For instance, if you are writing an essay about a book you can make a list of all the things you need to do to complete the assignment such as develop a thesis statement, make an outline of your thoughts, locate supporting quotes from the text, write an introductory paragraph, write a rough draft, and revise your draft.
By doing this you have taken an overwhelming assignment and turned it into six smaller assignments instead. Based on the overall due date of the essay, you can designate times on a planner to complete each of the individual tasks. This technique will keep you on track for your due date and lessen the chances of you procrastinating and cramming in the assignment at the last minute. Consequently your final product will be of a higher quality than if you tried to do it all at once. This also gives you the opportunity to seek help from the teacher if you need before it is too late.
In addition to breaking big assignments into smaller ones, it is also a good idea to limit the overall time you spend studying and doing schoolwork. It is best to work in short, uninterrupted periods of time. Once you are prepared to study, you should work (without distractions) for about 30-40 min. After that time has passed, take a break! The break shouldn’t be too long (especially if you have a lot of work to do). A break of 10-15 min is a good idea. During this time you can check email, get a snack, go for a walk, listen to some music, etc… It doesn’t matter exactly what you do. The key is that you are taking a break and giving yourself a chance to get away. When you come back to study/work you will feel refreshed and prepared to work. These little breaks are also great rewards to look forward to after putting in a solid time period of work.
Good luck with this student success resolution. Check back soon for the next tip!
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | 2 Comments »
Attention College Students: Signs Your College Major is Wrong
By Meaghan Montrose | January 17, 2010
The purpose of college is to gain an education to pursue a career. The problem: how do you know you have chosen the correct career to pursue? In truth, you don’t at first. Leaving high school as a 17 or 18-year-old and heading off to college involves many new experiences and adjustments. And during this time you are expected to make a decision about the rest of your life!
Declaring a major is a big task and should not be taken lightly. On the other hand, keep in mind that your decision is not set in stone. It is unfair to assume you know exactly what you want to do before you even have experience. Deciding on a major when you first enter college will help you gain a sense of direction that you can tweak as you continue your education. Perhaps you will start off as a pharmacy major because you are interested in chemistry but find out that you would much rather become a chemistry teacher.
The GoCollege.com blog has put together a post of Warning Signs You Chose the Wrong Major. The first sign discussed in the blog is that you find the classes you are taking boring. Clearly if you don’t enjoy the classes you are taking you won’t enjoy using that information for the rest of your life! The answer: change your major!
Check out the complete post for the other warning signs.
Topics: College Preparation and Advice | 1 Comment »
Literacy Websites and Blogs for All Ages
By Meaghan Montrose | January 13, 2010
I found a great list of literacy resources put together by the Dynamite Lesson Plan blog. The post includes a list of 20 websites and blogs that are focused on reading and literacy. Many of the sites are appropriate for all ages.
These sites are an excellent way to feed your reading passion and encourage reading in your students and/or children. Many of the sites include questions and discussions about books. There were two sites that I found particularly interesting:
Kids Lit – The Kids Lit blog provides you with information on the best books for everyone from toddlers to teenagers. This site has information on audio books, authors, book reviews, chapter books, easy readers, new books, picture books, publishers, and more.
Growing Readers for Life! – Within the Growing Readers for Life! site you will find tools, ideas, and resources for encouraging reading and learning in children. Just a few of the topics found in this blog include reading comprehension, reading ideas, family reading, and more.
Go to DynamiteLessonPlan.com and check out the full list of 20 Great Literacy Sites and Blogs.
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | 1 Comment »