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!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
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!
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!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
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.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, June 18, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, June 11, 2010
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!
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!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
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?"
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
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!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Almost Summer
Even though I am far from being of the “in school” age, I can still sense the joy and anticipation that waft through the air as kids from around the city get ready to finish school and be unleashed into summer.
Growing up, some of my favorite memories were from the warm summertime months. My parents were both working full-time, so my brother and I were encouraged to fill our days with whatever activity we wanted – so as long as whatever we chose had nothing to do with the television.
Over the years, I spent weeks backpacking with youth groups, biking, rock climbing, attending to East Bay School of the Arts (an art, sport, music, drama, and circus camp), swimming, participating in the library book club, traveling, tutoring, and babysitting. Every summer I got to do a different combination of activities that I wouldn’t otherwise get to explore during the school year – which I certainly enjoyed, but whose true value I didn’t get to fully appreciate until many years later.
Now, as an adult who (like my parents) works full-time, I look back at the summer activities of my youth and would like to thank my mom and dad for allowing me to “try out” my budding interests and pursue whichever ones I found particularly enjoyable. These days, those experiences seem not so much about the actual activity, but more about discovering my strengths, weaknesses, passions, and eclectic knack for certain things (I’m great at juggling, who would have known?)
Certainly, self-awareness often grows with age and maturity, much it nurtured with private SAT tutoring. But confidence in one’s sense of self, I’ve come to believe (and while derived from many factors) is largely dependent on experiencing and mastering new things, and learning that no matter what it is (woodcarving or hiking twenty miles with sixty pounds on your back), you will undoubtedly survive – and even more so – find yourself having become a stronger version of yourself because of it.
So parents, as you witness your kids bursting forth from the school exit bubbling with energy for the summer, remember that just because school is out, it doesn’t mean that the best time to learn is over for the year. In fact, it might have just begun…
Growing up, some of my favorite memories were from the warm summertime months. My parents were both working full-time, so my brother and I were encouraged to fill our days with whatever activity we wanted – so as long as whatever we chose had nothing to do with the television.
Over the years, I spent weeks backpacking with youth groups, biking, rock climbing, attending to East Bay School of the Arts (an art, sport, music, drama, and circus camp), swimming, participating in the library book club, traveling, tutoring, and babysitting. Every summer I got to do a different combination of activities that I wouldn’t otherwise get to explore during the school year – which I certainly enjoyed, but whose true value I didn’t get to fully appreciate until many years later.
Now, as an adult who (like my parents) works full-time, I look back at the summer activities of my youth and would like to thank my mom and dad for allowing me to “try out” my budding interests and pursue whichever ones I found particularly enjoyable. These days, those experiences seem not so much about the actual activity, but more about discovering my strengths, weaknesses, passions, and eclectic knack for certain things (I’m great at juggling, who would have known?)
Certainly, self-awareness often grows with age and maturity, much it nurtured with private SAT tutoring. But confidence in one’s sense of self, I’ve come to believe (and while derived from many factors) is largely dependent on experiencing and mastering new things, and learning that no matter what it is (woodcarving or hiking twenty miles with sixty pounds on your back), you will undoubtedly survive – and even more so – find yourself having become a stronger version of yourself because of it.
So parents, as you witness your kids bursting forth from the school exit bubbling with energy for the summer, remember that just because school is out, it doesn’t mean that the best time to learn is over for the year. In fact, it might have just begun…
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
3 Tips to Collegiate Success
I did it! I made it through the all nighters, countless pages of reading, wordy essays, SAT tutoring sessions, and finally graduated from college! In case my word wasn’t enough, I have provided visual confirmation in order to solidify my credibility. Yes, that is me, beaming with joy and basking in my 30 seconds of graduation fame on the big screen.
As a recent college graduate, I feel it is my duty to pass on some personal words of wisdom. The following are my 3 tips to collegiate success:
Go to Class
Upon entering college, I had the preconceived notions that class was optional, that no one truly checked up on you, and that if you did the reading on your own and showed up for the tests, you would have no problem succeeding. Thankfully, I had many wise people at my university advise me that this was not the case. Whether it’s a class of 400 or a class of 20, showing up matters. At LMU every class caps enrollment at 28 students...meaning attendance sign-in sheets and a lot of room for participation...sort of like high school. I soon realized that by coming to class on time, paying attention, and actively participating, I was setting myself up to succeed in college.
Sit in the Front
With the highly anticipated end of grade school seating charts, it may seem like the last place anyone would choose to sit is in the front of the classroom. However, little do most college students know, the front rows are prime classroom real estate. Not only does being close to the professor help you focus and concentrate, it also helps the professor connect with you. One of my professors told me that students tend to blur together beyond the second row, creating forgettable, faceless individuals, and being forgettable in college is no way to excel. So, stand out from the crowd, sit up front, and enjoy the high achievement that follows!!!
Introduce yourself to the Professor
The relationships you form with your professors in college are some of the most important and beneficial tools you can use to succeed. On the first day of every class, I walked up to introduce myself, extended my hand, and stated my name along with a well thought out question or comment that would make me a little more memorable than my peers. This showed my professors that I was excited about their class and the semester to come. What teacher doesn’t want to hear that from a student? Beyond the early introduction, I maintained these relationships by visiting professors during their allotted office hours to go over assignments, upcoming tests, class materials, or simply just to check in. Forming a solid relationship with a college professor is the gift that keeps on giving. For example, you will not only encounter a number of professors multiple times throughout your time in school, but you will also most likely be reaching out to these professors as you continue to develop professionally.
At our recent Speaker Series, Tim Urban reinforced these methods for success.
It is easy to see how these tips are applicable at nearly every level of the educational process. Therefore, I encourage all students to heed this advice and use it to take full advantage of their time in school because these truly are some of the best years of your life!!
As a recent college graduate, I feel it is my duty to pass on some personal words of wisdom. The following are my 3 tips to collegiate success:Go to Class
Upon entering college, I had the preconceived notions that class was optional, that no one truly checked up on you, and that if you did the reading on your own and showed up for the tests, you would have no problem succeeding. Thankfully, I had many wise people at my university advise me that this was not the case. Whether it’s a class of 400 or a class of 20, showing up matters. At LMU every class caps enrollment at 28 students...meaning attendance sign-in sheets and a lot of room for participation...sort of like high school. I soon realized that by coming to class on time, paying attention, and actively participating, I was setting myself up to succeed in college.
Sit in the Front
With the highly anticipated end of grade school seating charts, it may seem like the last place anyone would choose to sit is in the front of the classroom. However, little do most college students know, the front rows are prime classroom real estate. Not only does being close to the professor help you focus and concentrate, it also helps the professor connect with you. One of my professors told me that students tend to blur together beyond the second row, creating forgettable, faceless individuals, and being forgettable in college is no way to excel. So, stand out from the crowd, sit up front, and enjoy the high achievement that follows!!!
Introduce yourself to the Professor
The relationships you form with your professors in college are some of the most important and beneficial tools you can use to succeed. On the first day of every class, I walked up to introduce myself, extended my hand, and stated my name along with a well thought out question or comment that would make me a little more memorable than my peers. This showed my professors that I was excited about their class and the semester to come. What teacher doesn’t want to hear that from a student? Beyond the early introduction, I maintained these relationships by visiting professors during their allotted office hours to go over assignments, upcoming tests, class materials, or simply just to check in. Forming a solid relationship with a college professor is the gift that keeps on giving. For example, you will not only encounter a number of professors multiple times throughout your time in school, but you will also most likely be reaching out to these professors as you continue to develop professionally.
At our recent Speaker Series, Tim Urban reinforced these methods for success.
It is easy to see how these tips are applicable at nearly every level of the educational process. Therefore, I encourage all students to heed this advice and use it to take full advantage of their time in school because these truly are some of the best years of your life!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
From Z’s to A’s
There I was, sitting in class, front row center, pretending to listen to my teacher’s analysis of a Marcel Proust passage. Every minute that passed felt like an hour, and with every blink, it became harder to reopen my eyes; the same could be said in my SAT tutoring sessions... I could hear my teacher speaking, but eventually the sounds became indistinguishable. I stared at her, fighting the desire to shut my fluttering eyelids, until her image was just a blur. I wanted nothing more than to lay my heavy head on the desk and sleep. I was a typical sleep-deprived teenager.
A common misconception is that kids require less sleep as they get older. In truth, as they move through their teenage years and undergo a number of physiological changes, adolescents require an increasing amount of sleep. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t getting the nine recommended hours and end up as I did—struggling to stay awake. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement revealed that 20% of all high school students fall asleep in school. And that’s not the worst of it. Sleep-deprived teens are prone to a laundry list of mental and physical symptoms that can have a serious impact on their academic performance. Sleep debt can lead to memory deficits, delayed responses, and a decreased ability to concentrate and be creative, not to mention irritability, anxiety and even depression. Yikes! High school is hard enough without having to deal with all of this. Solution: more sleep.
I know it’s not easy to adjust your sleep schedule, especially when you’re juggling school, homework, extracurricular activities, and a social life, but getting enough snooze time is essential to keeping your academic performance at its peak. You can’t get A’s if you don’t get your Z’s!
Here are a few suggestions from the experts on how to get the most of your slumber
A common misconception is that kids require less sleep as they get older. In truth, as they move through their teenage years and undergo a number of physiological changes, adolescents require an increasing amount of sleep. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t getting the nine recommended hours and end up as I did—struggling to stay awake. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement revealed that 20% of all high school students fall asleep in school. And that’s not the worst of it. Sleep-deprived teens are prone to a laundry list of mental and physical symptoms that can have a serious impact on their academic performance. Sleep debt can lead to memory deficits, delayed responses, and a decreased ability to concentrate and be creative, not to mention irritability, anxiety and even depression. Yikes! High school is hard enough without having to deal with all of this. Solution: more sleep.
I know it’s not easy to adjust your sleep schedule, especially when you’re juggling school, homework, extracurricular activities, and a social life, but getting enough snooze time is essential to keeping your academic performance at its peak. You can’t get A’s if you don’t get your Z’s!
Here are a few suggestions from the experts on how to get the most of your slumber
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Unfortunately, sleeping in on weekends does not allow you to fully recover from the sleep debt you’ve acquired throughout the week.
- Adopt a relaxing routine to unwind from the activities of your day. Try meditating or taking a hot bath.
- Avoid stimulants at bedtime that can delay the onset of sleep like violent or scary movies/books.
- Steer clear of caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
- Exercise regularly. This will energize you during the day and help you sleep at night.
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