When I was in high school, there were a few daily duties I had to complete everyday that I described as the “bane of my existence.”
In no particular order, here are the two I can recall as the “most annoying”:
1. Cleaning out my swim bag – including hanging up my towel, cap, and swim suit, replenishing the power bar pocket, and tossing my running shorts in the hamper
2. Studying Latin vocabulary flashcards (50 every week) and taking notes in my SAT tutoring sessions.
As an adult, this list has not changed much. Two of my least favorite chores are:
1. Doing laundry
2. Cleaning the kitchen (including vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, and wiping off the stove top)
It’s funny how certain hatreds do not change much – thankfully, relatively early on I made a discovery that changed my approach to such despised responsibilities so that now, they don’t seem so painful anymore.
Maybe the adaption was organic, but when I was sixteen my dedication to cleaning out my swim bag every night and studying flashcards was sporadic and distracted by procrastination. I rarely did these things consistently (daily), and I often found myself cramming all 50 vocabulary flashcards in to one Sunday night study marathon study session or left with only damp dirty towels since I hadn’t done a wash in days.
Let’s be honest: nobody likes to study flashcards for two hours straight. So, somewhere along the line I tried something different: one day, I studied 25 cards on Saturday and 25 on Sunday.
And then I had an idea: what if I broke down my list of 50 vocabulary words in two groups of ten and studied a set of ten for five minutes every day?
Hence, the birth of what I like to call “the just-for-five-minutes-a-day” tactic for tackling “icky” jobs. Have a kitchen that needs to be cleaned? Give it a whirl for five minutes, everyday. I promise – you will be pleasantly surprised at not only how much you can accomplish in five minutes – but also, how you’ve just turned a seemingly daunting hour-long job in to a manageable and relatively stress-less accomplishment.
This isn’t to say you won’t spend the same amount of time doing the laundry or studying, per se – but it will lighten the anticipated dread to a level that makes any task seem absolutely manageable – and you won’t be left towel-less in a dirty kitchen.
Showing posts with label study skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label study skills. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
When You Just Can't Concentrate
As I recall, getting through high school was no easy feat. Like many of you, I struggled to find time in the day for classes, homework, extra-curricular activities, a social life, and sleep. I battled fatigue, constant distractions, and the ever-present urge to procrastinate. On some days, I was victorious. I would turn off the TV, silence my phone, and sit in my orderly workspace, energized and motivated to tackle my work. But even then, I found that setting the stage for productivity wasn’t always enough. Despite my determination to complete the task at hand, my mind would sometimes wander.
What will I have for dinner? I can’t believe he said that! That was a good movie. My mom will be so upset when she finds out. Maybe I shouldn’t go this weekend…
There was always something to think about, and the fact of the matter is there always will be. Staying focused on work can be challenging at any age—in high school and beyond, which is why it is good to start SAT tutoring early. So, over the years, I’ve picked up a few strategies to help me stay on track. And if you’ve ever had a hard time concentrating, you’ll find them useful too.
Task lists: Write down everything you need to accomplish, and break large projects down into smaller, more manageable tasks. If you happen to lose focus, your task list—a sort of visual plan—will remind you of exactly what you should be working on. And the best part of making lists is the satisfaction you get every time you cross off an item.
Time boxing: This can be a very effective time-management tool. Instead of working on a task through completion, commit to working on it for a set amount of time. The idea behind time boxing a particular task is that you are excluding other tasks and unrelated thoughts from your radar during that window of time.
Breaks: Taking scheduled breaks is an important part of maintaining your concentration. A 15-minute break after an hour of studying, for example, can help keep your mind fresh and focused. Try to get a change of scenery during your break. Go outside, do stretches, walk the dog, etc. Exercise is a great way to clear your head of clutter and can even help you absorb what you’ve just studied.
Music: Sometimes noise is the best way to drown out other noise or unwanted thoughts. Be careful when listening to music while you work, though, as some types can be distracting. I recommend listening to something instrumental or even the sounds of nature, which should help relax you and aid concentration.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Raise Your Hand: So 2011
I have no qualms asking questions, so it probably doesn't surprise you that I am also an avid fan of Wikipedia, the dictionary, and the classic "Google search."
Unlike most, one of my favorite arenas for asking questions is in the restaurant. Since it's not so typical to preface an order with "I have a question..." some might say I've got quite a lot of moxie to "raise my hand."
However, I find that I learn some of the most interesting things from the simple act of asking anyone, my teacher, my SAT tutor, my mentors. The other day, I got my notion confirmed by a pastry chef that Boston Cream Pie is indeed not a pie, per se, but a sponge cake. Who knew!
Subsequently, a majority of my adult friends would probably be surprised to know that as a child, I was not the kid who easily raised my hand in class . Looking back, I believe I was afraid to ask a question because I was embarrassed and thought everyone else would think I was stupid. I have the sense (probably due to the uncomfortable looks I get when I inquire about the method to make, say, bacon foam)- that I am/was not alone in this assumption.
Recently, I read Aristotle’s quote “the more you know, the more you know you don’t know” – and it made me wonder: all those years I kept my hand at my side for fear of being called “dumb” – maybe, just maybe - I was wrong?
Being an adult, I took my quandary to the streets and asked a few of my teacher friends for their perspective on the classroom dynamic as it pertains to hand-raising.
A pal who is a 7th grade math teacher says that he has never had a “dumb” question come from a student raising their hand in class. In fact, “the types of problems that students ask the most questions about out loud are usually the ones every student in that class ends up acing on the exam.”
Coincidence? Hardly.
Taking the matter to an 11th grade English teacher, I was informed that her daily lesson plan includes a 5 minute “question and answer” block right before the end of class. Initially, she had her students vote on how they wanted to use the time: to do homework, to study for other classes, or to “clarify” what they had gone over that day via peer-generated questions.
Impressively, each of her six periods voted to use the time to ask her questions as a group – instead of through personal email or individually, after class. She claims that group "Q & A" allows everyone to benefit from her answers – and not-so-surprisingly, the classes that ask the most questions per day tend to have the highest class average on exams and essays in comparison to the classes that use the time for study or other homework.
It would appear that Aristotle was on to something. So, if you pledge to do anything this semester, promise to seek an answer when you are curious, and if you are feeling bold – ask a question out loud for the rest of us.
Unlike most, one of my favorite arenas for asking questions is in the restaurant. Since it's not so typical to preface an order with "I have a question..." some might say I've got quite a lot of moxie to "raise my hand."
However, I find that I learn some of the most interesting things from the simple act of asking anyone, my teacher, my SAT tutor, my mentors. The other day, I got my notion confirmed by a pastry chef that Boston Cream Pie is indeed not a pie, per se, but a sponge cake. Who knew!
Subsequently, a majority of my adult friends would probably be surprised to know that as a child, I was not the kid who easily raised my hand in class . Looking back, I believe I was afraid to ask a question because I was embarrassed and thought everyone else would think I was stupid. I have the sense (probably due to the uncomfortable looks I get when I inquire about the method to make, say, bacon foam)- that I am/was not alone in this assumption.
Recently, I read Aristotle’s quote “the more you know, the more you know you don’t know” – and it made me wonder: all those years I kept my hand at my side for fear of being called “dumb” – maybe, just maybe - I was wrong?
Being an adult, I took my quandary to the streets and asked a few of my teacher friends for their perspective on the classroom dynamic as it pertains to hand-raising.
A pal who is a 7th grade math teacher says that he has never had a “dumb” question come from a student raising their hand in class. In fact, “the types of problems that students ask the most questions about out loud are usually the ones every student in that class ends up acing on the exam.”
Coincidence? Hardly.
Taking the matter to an 11th grade English teacher, I was informed that her daily lesson plan includes a 5 minute “question and answer” block right before the end of class. Initially, she had her students vote on how they wanted to use the time: to do homework, to study for other classes, or to “clarify” what they had gone over that day via peer-generated questions.
Impressively, each of her six periods voted to use the time to ask her questions as a group – instead of through personal email or individually, after class. She claims that group "Q & A" allows everyone to benefit from her answers – and not-so-surprisingly, the classes that ask the most questions per day tend to have the highest class average on exams and essays in comparison to the classes that use the time for study or other homework.
It would appear that Aristotle was on to something. So, if you pledge to do anything this semester, promise to seek an answer when you are curious, and if you are feeling bold – ask a question out loud for the rest of us.
Friday, December 17, 2010
7 iPhone Apps to Make You a Better Student
There’s no denying that, for many of us, the iPhone has turned into a highly entertaining and virtually indispensable gadget, especially when taking notes from your private SAT tutor. There are even a number of very useful educational tools designed to help you become a more efficient student. But with hundreds of thousands of applications out there, finding the ones that are right for you can seem overwhelming. Here are a few that I’ve found to be pretty nifty.
Evernote (Free)
Use this app to remember anything and everything that happens in class. Evernote allows you to create text, photo and audio notes, all of which can be synchronized to your computer and accessed later. You can organize, tag, and search through notes—even the text within snapshots is searchable!
Dictionary.com (Free/$3.99 for No-ads version)
There’s no need to lug around a big, heavy dictionary when this app gives you access to nearly one million definitions and over 90 thousand synonyms and antonyms. It also offers audio pronunciation, word origin, example sentences, and—you guessed it—Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day.
myHomework (Free)
This app offers an easy way to track your homework, projects, and tests. Assignments are color-coded by due date in a simple, notebook-like design. Past and upcoming deadlines will be numbered on your application icon, so you’ll be sure not to miss any.
iStudiezPro ($2.99)
This highly-efficient and colorful app helps you organize every aspect of school life. You can input and manage all the details of your classes and activities, including schedule, location, and instructor information. iStudiezPro also enables you to track assignments and tests and can even calculate your GPA for past and current semesters. And you can count on the integrated alarms to remind you of your tasks, classes and events.
The Chemical Touch ($0.99/Lite Edition is free)
This app is a goldmine for chemistry students. The touch-sensitive periodic table gives lets you explore the properties of the elements, such as atomic mass, density, melting and boiling points, etc. It even provides information about standard amino acids and nucleobases. And if you find yourself thirsty for knowledge still, The Chemical Touch’s internet button links directly to the Wikipedia page of the selected element, amino acid, or nucleobase.
FREE Spanish Tutor (Free)
Download this app if you’re looking for a fun way to practice your language skills and pick up new words and phrases. It offers a number of interactive study tools like flash cards, multiple choice and fill-in quizzes, and a puzzle game. FREE Spanish Tutor even has an audio feature so you can learn how to pronounce words like a native speaker! This app is also available in French, Italian and German.
Graphing Calculator ($1.99)
If you ever misplace your TI-83, this app will come in as a handy back-up. It’s a user-friendly scientific calculator that supports most commonly-used functions and allows you to graph multiple equations on the same screen. And one of the advantages of using a graphing calculator on your iPhone is that you can take screenshots and email them to yourself for reference.
Evernote (Free)
Use this app to remember anything and everything that happens in class. Evernote allows you to create text, photo and audio notes, all of which can be synchronized to your computer and accessed later. You can organize, tag, and search through notes—even the text within snapshots is searchable!
Dictionary.com (Free/$3.99 for No-ads version)
There’s no need to lug around a big, heavy dictionary when this app gives you access to nearly one million definitions and over 90 thousand synonyms and antonyms. It also offers audio pronunciation, word origin, example sentences, and—you guessed it—Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day.
myHomework (Free)
This app offers an easy way to track your homework, projects, and tests. Assignments are color-coded by due date in a simple, notebook-like design. Past and upcoming deadlines will be numbered on your application icon, so you’ll be sure not to miss any.
iStudiezPro ($2.99)
This highly-efficient and colorful app helps you organize every aspect of school life. You can input and manage all the details of your classes and activities, including schedule, location, and instructor information. iStudiezPro also enables you to track assignments and tests and can even calculate your GPA for past and current semesters. And you can count on the integrated alarms to remind you of your tasks, classes and events.
The Chemical Touch ($0.99/Lite Edition is free)
This app is a goldmine for chemistry students. The touch-sensitive periodic table gives lets you explore the properties of the elements, such as atomic mass, density, melting and boiling points, etc. It even provides information about standard amino acids and nucleobases. And if you find yourself thirsty for knowledge still, The Chemical Touch’s internet button links directly to the Wikipedia page of the selected element, amino acid, or nucleobase.
FREE Spanish Tutor (Free)
Download this app if you’re looking for a fun way to practice your language skills and pick up new words and phrases. It offers a number of interactive study tools like flash cards, multiple choice and fill-in quizzes, and a puzzle game. FREE Spanish Tutor even has an audio feature so you can learn how to pronounce words like a native speaker! This app is also available in French, Italian and German.
Graphing Calculator ($1.99)
If you ever misplace your TI-83, this app will come in as a handy back-up. It’s a user-friendly scientific calculator that supports most commonly-used functions and allows you to graph multiple equations on the same screen. And one of the advantages of using a graphing calculator on your iPhone is that you can take screenshots and email them to yourself for reference.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Nailing Your Final Exams
The Christmas songs are playing. Everywhere. It’s that time of year.
While for most people, these songs are the sound of holiday spirit, for us at Launch Education Group, Christmas songs are the sound of upcoming final exams.
Festive, huh?
Now don’t look so sad—even though it’s not quite “the most wonderful time of the year” for students, finals and private SAT tutoring don’t have to be that bad, as long as you approach them with the right mindset and the right strategies. Here are some tips to keep in mind as finals get near:
Pace yourself. Studying for final exams takes a lot of time! It’s a huge mistake to wait until the day before a final to begin studying. Get started as early as two weeks before the exams, and don’t plan on having much of a social life the weekend before exams.
Pay close attention to any final exam review sheet or topic list your teacher gives out. This will help you know exactly what you should and should not spend time studying, and you can use it as your study checklist. You should also absolutely go to any and all review sessions held by your teacher.
Use previous tests, quizzes, and other assignments to your advantage. Especially in math, science, and foreign language classes, if you know how to do every problem on every previous test or quiz, you’re likely to do very well on your final exam. When you go through old tests and quizzes, take special note of any low scores you received, and plan to spend extra time studying those topics.
Get ready to memorize. Memorization is generally a key component of successful final exam studying. Since everyone’s best strategies for memorization are different, think about what has and has not worked for you in the past when memorizing, and pick your techniques accoringly.
Find the right balance of solo versus group studying. Some people actually learn a lot when studying with friends. Others learn much better on their own. Again, think about what has really worked for you in the past. Just because it’s more fun to study with friends does not necessarily mean it’s a smart choice for you.
Remember, final exams count for a lot and they can make or break your report card. You’ve put in countless hours of hard work this semester—don’t let your effort drop now! Rather, this is the time to sprint to the finish. Nothing is better than relaxing at the end of the semester knowing you gave finals your all.
While for most people, these songs are the sound of holiday spirit, for us at Launch Education Group, Christmas songs are the sound of upcoming final exams.
Festive, huh?
Now don’t look so sad—even though it’s not quite “the most wonderful time of the year” for students, finals and private SAT tutoring don’t have to be that bad, as long as you approach them with the right mindset and the right strategies. Here are some tips to keep in mind as finals get near:
Pace yourself. Studying for final exams takes a lot of time! It’s a huge mistake to wait until the day before a final to begin studying. Get started as early as two weeks before the exams, and don’t plan on having much of a social life the weekend before exams.
Pay close attention to any final exam review sheet or topic list your teacher gives out. This will help you know exactly what you should and should not spend time studying, and you can use it as your study checklist. You should also absolutely go to any and all review sessions held by your teacher.
Use previous tests, quizzes, and other assignments to your advantage. Especially in math, science, and foreign language classes, if you know how to do every problem on every previous test or quiz, you’re likely to do very well on your final exam. When you go through old tests and quizzes, take special note of any low scores you received, and plan to spend extra time studying those topics.
Get ready to memorize. Memorization is generally a key component of successful final exam studying. Since everyone’s best strategies for memorization are different, think about what has and has not worked for you in the past when memorizing, and pick your techniques accoringly.
Find the right balance of solo versus group studying. Some people actually learn a lot when studying with friends. Others learn much better on their own. Again, think about what has really worked for you in the past. Just because it’s more fun to study with friends does not necessarily mean it’s a smart choice for you.
Remember, final exams count for a lot and they can make or break your report card. You’ve put in countless hours of hard work this semester—don’t let your effort drop now! Rather, this is the time to sprint to the finish. Nothing is better than relaxing at the end of the semester knowing you gave finals your all.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Crosswords Galore
In a recent attempt to catch up on the latest news headlines, I found myself hopping from webpage to webpage reading all sorts of interesting articles. About a dozen clicks later, I landed on an article about the vast and hybrid nature of the English language. That’s when I stumbled upon what ended up occupying me for the next several hours: crossword puzzles. I started with one about ‘borrowed’ words in the English language and then went on to discover a plethora of others —all for students and all about different educational topics like SAT test prep. It turns out that the New York Times' Learning Network has crossword puzzles on everything from Shakespeare to genetics to the stock market.
Crosswords are a great way to review a topic you’ve studied in school or learn something new. And in my book, anything that combines learning and fun is time well-spent. Check out the Student Crossword Archive, find the one (or many) that piques your interest, and start solving!
Crosswords are a great way to review a topic you’ve studied in school or learn something new. And in my book, anything that combines learning and fun is time well-spent. Check out the Student Crossword Archive, find the one (or many) that piques your interest, and start solving!
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