Procrastination And How To Defeat It

Procrastination is something that we all deal with, even your private SAT tutors! For example, I spent the last half hour procrastinating from writing this post by reading the description on all the food products in my apartment.  I have a hard time believing that Snyders Pretzels were born from "an Old World recipe."

The point is, procrastination is an issue that plagues all of us at one time or another, and in order to best overcome it, it's important to first understand it.

In every student's head live two conflicting forces that don't like each other: the Rational Young Adult (RYA) and the Bratty Little Kid (BLK). And they're always fighting. Think of it like the old angel and devil on your shoulders.  On one shoulder is the Rational Young Adult—he (or she) knows what you have to do, and knows that it'll be a lot more fun later if you just get your stuff done now. The RYA is logical, and the thing is—he's usually right. You see, the RYA isn't some joyless old hag trying to steal Christmas—he's true to his name: he's rational.

On your other shoulder is the Bratty Little Kid. The BLK doesn't really care what happens, as long as it's the exact opposite of what the RYA wants to do. He's resistant by nature, and even though the RYA part of you knows you'll have a lot more fun later that night if you just get your work done now, the BLK wants to resist.

So, back to procrastination—when you're procrastinating, the Bratty Little Kid is winning the battle. When you're being productive, the Rational Young Adult is prevailing.

Here are five ways to help the RYA win the fight (and trust me, he's the one you should be rooting for):

1) Start small. People always tell you to shoot for the sky. Well when it comes to homework, don't. If you set too lofty a goal, it's too daunting to start working toward it. Say you have a three-page paper to write—tell yourself you're going to write half a page and then do something fun. Then after 15 minutes, you have to write another half a page, and then you can take another break, etc. This way, you're giving the BLK some time and then the RYA some time. If you can't beat the BLK, accommodate him.

2) Get the easiest things done first. They'll tell you to do the exact opposite, but they're wrong. You have to do the hardest things at some point. What's easier—starting the hardest, ickiest part of the homework when you've done nothing and the whole night of work is ahead of you? Or starting the hardest stuff once everything else is done and you know it's the last hump to get over before you're free? 

3) Talk to yourself. In general, when in doubt, it's a good idea to talk to yourself like a crazy person. So when you're procrastinating, say out loud, "This isn't that hard. I'll be much happier later if I just do this now. I have to do this at some point no matter what, so I might as well get it out of the way, rather than spend the day with it hanging over my head." If it doesn't work, say it again…and again. Until you'd rather do anything other than say it, even homework.

4) Give yourself a light at the end of the tunnel. It's a lot more fun to work if there's a good reward at the end. If you start work too late, the only thing that's happening after you finish is sleep. Well, that's no good. So start earlier, and plan to watch a favorite TV show, or go to a movie, or hang out with a friend, or play with stickers or whatever kids these days do for fun—after you finish.

5) Just start. The hardest part is the first word. Or problem. Or page. Or whatever. Starting kills the morale of the BLK. Just take a deep breath, and get the very beginning out of the way. The rest will follow.

Podcasts - A Beacon of Nerdy Awesomeness

With no “disrespect” to the iPhone and Facebook, the podcast is quite possibly the greatest tech invention of the 21st century, used by many private SAT tutors to teach you online!

What is a podcast? It’s a downloadable audio snippet ranging from two minutes to an hour, on any topic from nature to talk shows to audio versions of TV shows – basically, anything that you might want to listen to, there is a podcast that caters to your interests. The podcast subscription is free, and you listen to it on your iPod, iphone, or other portable device.

Why are podcasts beyond awesome? Instead of spending idle time (e.g. driving, walking, working out, doing chores) listening to music and learning nothing, you can listen to a podcast and absorb immense amounts of information. It’s like having your favorite teacher or professor at your beck and call and getting them to tell you incredibly interesting stuff on the topic of your choice.

Productivity! By my calculation, I spend 1.5 hours a day doing idle tasks (commuting, running errands, etc). I listen to podcasts the entire time – so, by my calculation I will listen to 500 hours of podcasts every year. This learning time is the equivalent of about THREE MONTHS of full-time lecture in school. So, assuming I listen to “productive” podcasts (e.g. not sports related), by the end of each year it will be like I took off three months from work just to catch up on current events and learn more about my areas of interest. This delights me, and only with the practicality of podcasts would I be able to achieve this added productivity.

How Does This Apply To Students? Students’ lives are packed to the brim with school work and extra-curricular activities, which makes it extremely difficult for them to keep up with the ever-changing world around them. The biggest road block for young people becoming engaged with current events is: a) it takes time, and b) they feel like they have no idea what is going on, so they have no clue how to go about finding out more about something they don’t know much about.

Podcasts easily tackle both issues by giving students a really easy way to stay up to date with current events without having to sacrifice free-time (because they listen to them when they are otherwise doing nothing) AND they are easily obtained and updated by a quick iPod or phone sync. The ease and convenience of podcasts makes it easier to start keeping up with the world and stay caught up!

Interested in podcasts? Here are some links to help you get started:

Download iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Download Awesomely Nerdy Podcasts (here are some of my favorites):

Front Page – Basically 8 minutes every day of some guy reading you the front page of the NY Times. If you only listen to this, you will at least have a basic idea of current events.

The Economist – Discussion of random articles from The Economist – also includes “The Week Ahead” which gives a great 12 minute overview of world events for the week.

ESPN: PTI – A daily audio version of the acclaimed ESPN show – surprisingly little is lost without the visual. A great treat for the end of the day commute home.
NBC Meet the Press – The weekly audio version of the show where republicans say what republicans are supposed to say and democrats say what democrats are supposed to say. This one isn’t so much fun as “necessary torture so you know what is going on in Washington.”

NPR: It’s All Politics – Two extremely silly and amusing men give a great rapid fire breakdown of the week’s political news in about 20 minutes.

NPR: Intelligence Squared – Oxford style debate by really smart people on really interesting topics. Is Russia Friend or Foe? – good question, I’d love to know.

60 Minutes - The weekly audio version of the show - just generally cool, easy to absorb, and interesting.

TEDTalks – Incredibly smart people talking about interesting stuff.

Porque? Pourquoi? Warum?

Why? Why should you spend your time learning a foreign language when you already speak English? And everyone speaks English, right?

Wrong. According to the CIA World Fact Book, only 5.6 % of the world's total population speaks English as a primary language. That number doubles when people who speak English as a second or third language are counted. This means that well over four fifths of the world's population does not speak English!

Well that was reason enough for me to learn another language… or three. I picked up Hebrew at home, French at school, and even dabbled in some Spanish. But if the idea of connecting with people around the globe doesn't pique your interest, do read on.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, once said, “We have strong evidence today that studying a foreign language has a ripple effect, helping to improve student performance in other subjects.” Did you know that the study of another language can improve your understanding of your native language? Stronger vocabulary skills and higher reading achievement in English as well as enhanced listening and memorization skills have all been associated with extended foreign language study. In fact, several studies have revealed that with each additional year of foreign language instruction, a student’s scores on college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT improve incrementally.

This might explain why colleges look so favorably upon, and often require, the study of a foreign language for admission. Surely, my language abilities boosted my college application, but I didn’t realize just how valuable they were until I got in. My knowledge of languages gave me options: I was able to choose from a larger pool of majors and study abroad in countries in which a lot of my peers could not. I chose to spend a semester in Paris, where I blended in with the locals, regularly devoured Nutella crepes, and learned all about a culture that I might never have encountered if it weren’t for all those years I spent learning French.

My eye-opening time abroad sparked a passion for travel and all things international, and speaking several languages made my newfound hobby more feasible and more fun. Language barriers can be frustrating at best, but when you know the native tongue, you have the comfort of being able to navigate all sorts of situations. Thanks to my language skills, I successfully ordered meals in Barcelona, negotiated lower prices in Tel Aviv, and somehow explained to a pharmacist in Rome that I needed drops for an eye infection (and yes, it healed just fine).

But the benefits didn’t end overseas. Having graduated from college without a clue about what I wanted to do professionally, I dove into the workforce and began exploring my options. SAT tutoring and translating gigs eventually turned into job offers from a research company, a law firm, several financial corporations, and even an entertainment group—all international businesses and all competing in the global marketplace. Whatever your career goals may be, speaking another language will increase your employability by giving you an edge over your monolingual competitors.

As you can see, the study of foreign languages has advantages that go well beyond the school setting in which it starts. So while that Spanish, French or German class may feel like a burden now, it can open all kinds of doors down the line. I’m not saying that learning another language is easy—I’m just saying it’s worth it!

Summer Fun with the Documentary

Summer vacation is one of the most anticipated times of the year and can provide kids with a much needed break from the classroom and SAT tutoring. Sunny days filled with friends, vacations, and beach time can be a great way to rejuvenate any child for the next school year. Along with the traditional summer doings, there are also a number of fun and educational activities that children can take part in which may help fight the summer “brain drain.” Viewing a documentary film may be the perfect way to keep your kids entertained while introducing them to something new. The films listed below can inspire and educate kids of all ages and may even provide a necessary break from watching the Twilight series for the 5th time this month.

Spellbound (2002) – This documentary follows 8 competitors from the 1999 National Spelling Bee. It shows the hard work and dedication that these kids put in to pursuing their dreams of doing their best and being the best. Apart from motivating kids, this documentary will expand your vocabulary and teach you how to spell some extremely difficult words!

Paper Clips (2004) – This heart-warming and inspirational documentary tells the story of middle school students from the rural community of Whitwell, Tennessee. What began as a lesson in tolerance, turned into a project that consisted of collecting 6 million paper clips as a way to commemorate the 6 million Jewish people who were killed during the Holocaust. This film has the power to show how even the smallest groups have the ability to make a difference.

March of the Penguins (2005) – This film depicts the yearly journey of the Empire Penguins of Antarctica. The harsh climate provides a treacherous backdrop for the penguin’s journey, which is captured like never before. This educational film is entertaining to watch and will leave you in awe of these fascinating animals!

In the Shadow of the Moon (2007) – A documentary film about NASA’s moon missions and the astronauts who were a part of the historic events. Great interviews with the astronauts, coupled with archival footage, helps to bring these momentous journeys to life.

Quantum Hoops (2007) – A story about the Caltech men’s basketball team and their record breaking losing streak. They may not be the most athletic or best basketball players at the collegiate level, but they may be the smartest. Their continued dedication to their studies on top of their tedious basketball schedule is something to be commended. The will and determination these men have to come out victorious provides an inspirational message for all ages.

Discovery Channel’s Life (2010) – This series of documentaries captures some of the most spectacular wonders of the world. Incredible footage depicts plants, mammals, fish, birds, and more in their natural habitats. Oprah is the film’s narrator and provides a plethora of insightful information on the topics illustrated on screen. These documentaries will not only “wow” but also educate.

Race to Nowhere (coming soon) - Keep a look out for this documentary that will be released this fall. The film takes an in depth and honest look at the pressures faced by American schoolchildren and the consequences that occur when students and educators are pushed to the brink.

Happy viewing!

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Imagine a penny. It’s an everyday object that we’ve seen countless times in our lives. If I asked you to draw it, could you? Most people would say yes, but take a look at the picture below and see if you can find the real penny…

Did you find it? If you think so (and you didn’t cheat!), how sure are you that you’ve picked the right one? How, after years of interactions with pennies, is it possible that we still don’t know what a penny looks like? (The answer is A - and yes, I had to pull one out of my piggy bank to be sure.)

Here’s another scenario. How many times have you gone to class to take a test feeling pretty confident, only to receive a grade lower than you thought you deserved? I know it’s happened to me a few times, even after going over a subject with my private SAT tutor. I thought I understood the material because when I studied, it sounded familiar and made sense, yet my score didn’t reflect my “knowledge.” In both of these examples, we see the same mistake being made. People are just not good at knowing how much they know.

So, how can we avoid these common misjudgments of our learning?

First, we have to know why they happen. Most often, we misjudge how much we know because we don’t realize that attention plays a huge role in learning. Even though we see pennies all the time, it doesn’t mean we ever really look closely and pay them enough attention to be able to select the correct one from a line-up. Similarly, if we just passively review information while studying, we are not focusing enough attention on the task and end up with a surprisingly low grade.

In order to remember valuable information and perform better on tests, we have to monitor our learning better. Studying is difficult because it requires attention, so you have to actively focus on what you want to learn. Instead of simply re-reading information to try and learn it, try testing yourself. Just the act of generating the answer yourself will help you retain it better. Another way to understand the material better is to teach. If you can explain it to someone else, and they can understand it too, then you know that you understand it really well.

Another thing that trips us up when studying is that if we think that something is easy to understand or process, we assume that we know it and that we will remember it. However, the nature of learning and memory isn’t that simple. The level at which we process information is one of the main things that affects how we learn and remember. If you only memorize facts, you are processing the information at a shallow level, but if you understand the meaning and implications of that information, you are processing it at a much deeper level which in turn helps you remember it better. By making associations between the things you want to remember, you are giving them deeper meaning. If you can actively learn and relate material to your life or try to make a story out of facts, you are guaranteed to remember information a lot better.

I’m not saying you should go study a penny, but as you can see it’s too easy to “not learn” something you see every day. If you really want to remember something or understand it completely, the key is to monitor your attention level and focus on active learning. Good luck studying!

*This week's blog was contributed by Launch's intern Alicia Bullock!

Poor Handwriting and Disorganized?

Executive functions (EF) and their connection with learning and behavior have been researched extensively in recent years. In 2010, Rosenblum et. al. explored the relationship between organizational abilities, a component of EF, and handwriting performance, a required academic task. This study investigated handwriting and organizational abilities in children with dysgrphia compared to proficient handwriters.

Handwriting is a required academic task, and it is important to academic performance because illegible handwriting can lead to lower marks on handwritten assignments. Since 10-34% of children have poor handwriting and are identified as dysgraphic, the researchers wanted to learn more about the relationship between dysgraphia and organizational abilities.

The researchers used a performance-based measure and two questionnaires to assess handwriting performance and organizational abilities in 58 males aged 7-8 years recruited from the 1st and 2nd grades in regular public schools in northern Israel. All of the students were native Israelis, and Hebrew was their primary language. The researchers found that children with dysgraphia performed lower on measures of handwriting performance, organizational ability, and time management than students who were proficient at handwriting. The researchers also noted that while other studies claim motor functions are the underlying mechanism affecting handwriting performance, this study shows that organizational ability, a component of executive functions, is a factor in handwriting performance.

This study has implications for tutors who work with students with dysgraphia at all ages. Since this study demonstrated a correlation between an academic task, handwriting, and a component of EF, organization, it seems reasonable to conclude that students with dysgraphia should be taught executive function strategies to help them plan their ideas before writing. Students should also be given a computer to type their work to reduce motor demands and increase the readability of their written work. By teaching students executive function skills and decreasing motor demands and illegibility, I think overall student performance would improve on matters involving the production of written language reinforced with private SAT tutoring. 

Reference:

Rosenblum, S., Aloni, T., & Josman, N. (2010). Relationships between handwriting performance and organizational abilities among children with and without dysgraphia: A preliminary study. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31 (2), 502-509.

How - To: Brew A Reading Habit

As a ten year old girl with a mild obsession with sugary breakfast cereal, my mother opted to let me try a new flavor or brand every few weeks in hopes that I would “get it out of my system." To this day (and to my amusement), I can still recall fads from the past like Blueberry Morning, Rice Krispy Treat Cereal, Cracklin’ Oat Bran, and Count Chocula. And while my mornings for the good part of year each tasted different, there was one thing that remained the same: Peet’s Coffee.

Don’t cry out, it’s not like I took in the bitter brew at the young age when my bones were tender to the possible ramifications of caffeine (stunted development, etc.) The only thing I knew of coffee was the warm yet sharp scent of my fresh beans being ground every morning and the monotone whir of the ancient grinder splicing each bean into a fine ground espresso.

After years of smelling coffee in the morning, it became part of my life. Now, I am as notorious with my morning cup of coffee as I was as that little girl eating sweet cereal every morning. And while I cannot imagine life without coffee (well, I can, but I’d rather not), I’ve also realized the type of impact that a consistent, omnipresent environment can have on the shaping of one’s values and priorities.

As adamant as my mother was about letting me get my interest in sugar cereals out of my system (it pseudo-worked), she was even more invested in making sure that my brother and I were life-long readers. To the extent that she read to us every single night until we could read ourselves, lugged us back and forth to the local library and bookstore, modeled reading the newspaper every day, and filled each bookshelf in the house with National Geographic, novels, and short stories that were of our interests - boggles my mind.

But it worked. Today, my brother and I are obsessed with reading, and even our private SAT tutor brought us numerous books. We read books until the spines split and peel, we scour the news every morning and generally would not be happy without always having a book ready to read on the night stand.

While making reading a part of your family life may seem like a lot of work, think of it as a coffee habit, or the formation of any other habit. Remember to make the topic appealing, easily accessible, and inescapable. How else do you think I became a die-hard fan for some of the most pungent coffee in all the land? It’s in my blood. And, like reading, because it was made part of my life for as long as I can recall - it’s there. For life.

Do What You Love - Every Day After School

In life, you have work, and you have play. Yes, at any stage in the human experience, your time is divided between things you have to do and things you want to do. Part-time we are prisoners, and part-time we are free.

It's simple.  Right?

Well, not quite.

First of all, if it were that simple, this blog post would be over—and what kind of blog post would that be?

No, if we are going to simplify life into categories, we will need to clear room for a third category, somewhere in between work and play—something I call “Passionate Pursuits.”

Work, whether you’re an adult (your job) or a student (your classes and homework), takes a lot of time—typically somewhere between 40 and 60 hours a week.

But if people are awake for about 16 hours a day, that leaves…carry the 4…50-70 remaining hours.

So even the really busy people have about 50 free hours each week outside of their work.

Now, we mustn’t disregard play. Play is the time you spend with your friends and family, the time you listen to music, go hiking, play pickup basketball, watch TV, play video games, go to parties, eat candy, and whatever the devil else Americans do with their free time.

But 50-70 hours of play? Not necessary. You can have a rich social and leisure life and still have some solid hours left over. Right?

In my humble opinion, these key hours are best spent undertaking “passionate pursuits”—activities you care about and take seriously outside of your work. At the minimum, a passionate pursuit is a hobby; at the maximum, it’s a part-time career.

In the adult world, some people are great at dedicating time to one or more passionate pursuits—others are less so.

But in the student world, passionate pursuits are called “extra-curricular activities,” and you need to have them in your life and take them seriously. Why? Because they are critical to the college admissions process. Colleges want to accept interesting, passionate, involved students, and the best way for them to judge this is by looking at how each student uses those key hours outside of work and play.

At this point, you’re thinking, “So extra-curriculars are important. I already…knew…that.”

Right. But I want to change the way you think about extra-curriculars.

Rather than think, “What does my school offer?” and pick something, try asking yourself, “What do I love to do?” and “What would I love to get good at?” and “What’s important to me?” and then figure out how to work those things into your life as your extra-curricular activities—because those are your passionate pursuits. And if you’re not passionate about your extra-curricular activities, you won’t have as much fun doing them, you won’t excel as much doing them, and colleges will not see you for the passionate person you are.

Sounds simple, but students approach this the wrong way all the time. Some people really love playing sports, so sports are a perfect passionate pursuit for them. Others don’t love it as much, but think, “Well, I’m pretty good at this sport, and that’s what everyone else is doing, and that’s what you’re supposed to do in high school, right?” Some people love running for class office and governing their class. Others think, “Private SAT tutoring isn't very fun, but it’ll definitely help me get into college.” Some feel passionate about a cause in their community and they want to get involved and help. Others think, “community service looks good on a college resume.”

If you don’t love your extra-curricular activities, you’re doing the wrong extra-curricular activities.

So get creative.  Think about what you really love or what you would really love to try, and then do the following:

1) Figure out if this activity is already offered at your school
2) If not, start a club. There’s no way you’re the only one interested in it.

Your life will be a lot more fun and rewarding, and it’ll be a breeze to tell your real story to colleges because you will have lived it.

Life and Music

I’ve always been told: “If you do well in school and attend SAT tutoring, you’ll get into a good college. If you graduate from college, you’ll get a good job. If you work hard at your job, you’ll move up and make a big difference or big money or both.” So here I am, on the path that so many of us are on, with my eye on the prize: this undefined thing that people call success. But the closer I get and the older I get, the more I realize that my life is not about this destination—whatever it may be—it’s about the journey.

I was recently reminded of this when I stumbled upon this video called “Life and Music,” in which renowned philosopher Alan Watts compares the pursuit of happiness to a musical composition.



So boys and girls, as you make your way through school, or any other part of your life-long musical production, make the best of it—listen to the music, and sing and dance along the way!

What is Reading?

As I was getting out of the pool after teaching one of my 2-year-old swimmers to swim last weekend, his mom said, "What if he has a hard time learning to read like my husband and I did?"

The reality is, he might struggle to read since his parents struggled. Research shows that he has a 50% greater chance of having dyslexia if either of his parents had dyslexia, and he isn't alone. Since 92% of students with learning disabilities have reading problems, it’s important to come up with a workable definition of reading so that we know what it is and how to teach it.

What is Reading?
Reading has been defined differently throughout history. In the 19th century, the focus was on oral fluency and accuracy. In the early 20th century, the focus shifted toward reading for meaning and comprehension, especially in SAT tutoring. Given the transitional definition throughout history, we see that reading is difficult to define. In my opinion, reading is made up of a variety of tasks that are influenced by social context, the reader’s purpose, and background knowledge, and that the definition of reading lies somewhere on the continuum of decoding and comprehension.

What Causes Reading Difficulties?We don’t know. Similar to many diseases, we don’t know what causes the problem, but we know how to treat it. Research shows that students with reading difficulties respond best to specific and intensive reading instruction. If you know a student who is not responding to reading instruction, it’s time to question the quality of instruction and consider working with someone trained in reading interventions such as an educational therapist, reading specialist, or special education teacher.

What Skills Are Involved in Reading?Efficient readers have usually mastered the following skills:

• Phonological awareness
• Word identification
• Fluency
• Comprehension
• Vocabulary

Reading assessments help us figure out which skills are deficit in a struggling reader. Once we can identify the deficit skills, we teach them! Teaching reading isn't easy, but the combination of the right specialist and the right research based intervention will lead to success for almost all struggling readers.

Now that we have defined reading, looked at the skills involved in reading, and addressed the purpose of reading assessments and interventions, we have a more solid foundation from which to approach struggling readers.

Happy Reading!