Before we start it is important to know that when it comes to tests and coursework, you are rewarded in the same measure you put into it in the first place. If you input zero effort into your preparations for tests, you will get zero back! My advice however, is not working harder, just working smarter! This is what these 5 tips are about. Read each tip carefully and start applying them today.
1. Know your target.
Once you determine the deadline for the test,course work or exam, work backwards. Budget a specific amount of time every day to work on it or prepare. Consider other homework, projects and time needed to study for other classes as you create your schedule.
Application: The shortest distance between point A and point B is a straight line. Once you have set your target or goal, go in a straight line towards it. If you want to do something, ask yourself; "Is this taking me closer of futher away from my goal?" If it is taking you closer, do it, if not it will only distract you and keep you from reaching your goals in the shortest time possible.
2. Get to work. (Review)
Do not wait until a test is announced to begin preparing for your test. Review a little every school night. Consider what would be easier; reviewing for 5-10 minutes a night or cramming for three hours the night before a test and only remembering a fraction of what you studied?
Application: Apply "The principle of the slight edge". All you ave to do to be better than anybody else is to do just slightly more in everything you do. If you spend 30 minutes per day on homework, increase it slightly by 5 minutes. By the end of the week you would have gained an extra 30 minutes. If your home work is to find 5 examples of child heroes, find 6.
3. Prepare.
Don't just re-read notes or the text. You learn much more when you engage with the material. How? Well, you can ask questions. Create flash-cards. Re-write your notes. Get someone to quiz you. Find websites online that review the same material. Make up questions that you think will be on the test. Create new outlines of the material by writing some specific topics and filling in the details from memory. Studying should be an active process, not just time spent re-reading something.
Application: "I hear, I forget. I see I remember. I do I understand" - Chinese proverb
4. Engage.
Ask the teacher what the format for the test will be. Will it contain multiple choice, true-false, short answer, essay, diagrams, graphs, equations, etc.? Will any information such as a periodic table or equations be provided for you on the day of the test? Do you need to bring a calculator?
Application: Being prepared lowers you stress level which in turns aids your ability to recall the information you need for the test.
5. Back-up plan.
Consider visiting your local Kip McGrath Tuition Centre in Basildon and Wickford for extra help. This can be invaluable to ensure you master all areas of your curriculum and have a structures revision system in place to ensure you reach your grades.
Application: Go to http://ping.fm/OeSag to learn more about our tutoring or call today to book a free no-obligation assessment on 01268 556700. We specialise in helping students succeed in Maths and English.
If you make these 5 steps part of your everyday work plan, you will succeed.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Is staying involved in senior school child education good or bad?
It seems that when our children are in the primary school, parental involvement in their day to day school activities is easy. Attending PTA meetings and school plays, serving as homeroom parent, and even helping with homework assignments keep us connected to school life and help us keep a close watch on our children's progress.
But for most parents, as their students progress through school the monitoring of their schoolwork and activities gets a bit more complicated. When the children reach senior or high school, they have several different teachers and the academic demands become more advanced. There are also fewer activities that draw parents into school life at this level.
Teenagers become seemingly more independent, translated they don't need (or want) us as much, they become mobile, and all of a sudden it becomes more and more difficult to keep up with what is going on in their lives, both academically and socially.
Over the years of observation I, like most educators do, witnessed varying degrees of successful parenting of high school students. Of course, there are many variables involved in each individual case. Teens are very unique creatures; what works for one may not work for another. One teen may be a very successful student despite having little, if any, parental guidance. Another might have parents doing “all the right things” and still venture into areas that are detrimental to their success.
But the one common characteristic that I observed among most successful high school students was that of continued parental involvement during the high school years. In doing some extensive research on the subject, I discovered study after study that overwhelmingly indicates that parental involvement in teen education is directly related to increased achievement.
So, what exactly do we mean by parental involvement? What form does it take during the high school years? Actually, it can take many forms. Attending school functions, frequent communication with teachers, monitoring of schoolwork, responding to requests from the school for interaction, and taking an active part in your teen’s preparation for the transition to life after high school are integral components of what parental involvement should include at the high school level.
The structure of most education systems seems to be constantly changing, sometimes with good results and sometimes not so good. This instability deems it almost necessary that parents take charge of their children’s education. Even the best of schools may have overloaded teachers and too few resources.
Parents must take a pro-active role if they want their child to be a successful student. Not surprisingly, this is just as important during the high school years as it is at the elementary level.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Friday, 8 January 2010
Thursday, 7 January 2010
The Curse Of The Easy A
I heard a friends say: "I am going easy on my children because I want to give them space to explore things for themselves.", which was immediately followed by "I do not understand why they cannot just sit down and do their homework when I tell them to do it." This conversation was in the context of what we expected from our children.
My experience tells me that children need and function best when they have clear guidance or boundaries and know what you expect from them. Far from being restrictive, boundaries are the walls of protection which we as parents and educators can place around children to make them feel save. Once a child feel save, they start to explore.
However, boundaries without expectation brings about frustration or even stress. Why? If boundaries constantly change, a child will become pre-occupied with testing the boundaries to see if they've changed rather then relax and starting to explore.
Try the following plan and see what it brings out in your children
1) Choose ONLY ONE area which you want to address. (doing homework or going to bed on time etc)
2) Set out and communicate the boundary clearly to all people in the household (Bed time is at 7pm)
3) Declare the consequence (if they comply: When you ready for bed at 7pm I will read you ONE story or 3 pages. If they don't comply: If you are not ready at 7pm I will take away 10 minutes away from your TV or Computer time.)
4) Your task is to stick with this boundary and commit to not move it under any circumstances (not even for favorite soap on TV or watching the news etc.)
5) Your child's task is to tell you what they need to help them meet your expectation
6) Once you established stability in one area (about 1 - 3 weeks depending on the child's age) you can start focusing on the next area you need to address.
Please notice that a child is not rewarded for doing the things they should be doing, rather the child knows what will happen when they comply. The focus is not on waiting for the child to fail, but rather on us as adults to enable our children to succeed and give them the tools and assistance to meet the expectations we place on them.
I read this interesting article on the Education News Archive :: The Curse Of The Easy A. This teacher discovered something amazing happen when he changed the expectation be placed on his students.
To your success.
From My Crazy Pencil
http://www.kipmcgratheducation.co.uk
My experience tells me that children need and function best when they have clear guidance or boundaries and know what you expect from them. Far from being restrictive, boundaries are the walls of protection which we as parents and educators can place around children to make them feel save. Once a child feel save, they start to explore.
However, boundaries without expectation brings about frustration or even stress. Why? If boundaries constantly change, a child will become pre-occupied with testing the boundaries to see if they've changed rather then relax and starting to explore.
Try the following plan and see what it brings out in your children
1) Choose ONLY ONE area which you want to address. (doing homework or going to bed on time etc)
2) Set out and communicate the boundary clearly to all people in the household (Bed time is at 7pm)
3) Declare the consequence (if they comply: When you ready for bed at 7pm I will read you ONE story or 3 pages. If they don't comply: If you are not ready at 7pm I will take away 10 minutes away from your TV or Computer time.)
4) Your task is to stick with this boundary and commit to not move it under any circumstances (not even for favorite soap on TV or watching the news etc.)
5) Your child's task is to tell you what they need to help them meet your expectation
6) Once you established stability in one area (about 1 - 3 weeks depending on the child's age) you can start focusing on the next area you need to address.
Please notice that a child is not rewarded for doing the things they should be doing, rather the child knows what will happen when they comply. The focus is not on waiting for the child to fail, but rather on us as adults to enable our children to succeed and give them the tools and assistance to meet the expectations we place on them.
I read this interesting article on the Education News Archive :: The Curse Of The Easy A. This teacher discovered something amazing happen when he changed the expectation be placed on his students.
To your success.
From My Crazy Pencil
http://www.kipmcgratheducation.co.uk
Wickford Centre closed tonight due to access issues and severe weather forecast http://ping.fm/SWbQ2
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Tutor shortage? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8439947.stm, My Tuition Centre helps more than 150 students per week and we have space for 350 more.
Monday, 4 January 2010
"If you think you are too small to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." -BR
It is amazing how quickly one can get off track if you allow yourself to slip. The holiday season is a great time for relaxing and slowing down. One can easily fool yourself in believing that everything stood still. (As if the world revolves around me!)
At the start of the 2nd decade of this millennium, we soon find life still moves on. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by it I choose today to embrace it!
In fact I am taking the bull by the horns and shout: “Bring it on!”
We all have a common enemy whose sole purpose is to prevent us from reaching our highest potential.
Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve this year will help you stay clear of the pitfalls on the road to getting what you want out of 2010.
Pitfall #1) Doubt - If you allow DOUBT in your life, you start to question your self worth or what you as a person can do to bring about change.
Pitfall #2) Discouragement - You look at the size of your problems. With every “victory” you achieve, set up a “monument” (write it down, celebrate it with a meal, reward yourself with a present). When DISCOURAGEMENT comes knocking on your door you can then remember all the previous “victories” and get on with it!
Pitfall #3) Diversion - If you have a clearly defined vision of where you are going DIVERSION will be a thing of the past. Evaluate everything you do by asking one question. “Is this taking me closer to or further away from my goal?”.
Pitfall #4) Defeat - Loosing the battle is not the same as loosing the war. Having a clearly defined vision allows you perspective. But most of the time DEFEAT’s job is to make you feel like a failure so that you do not even try! Do not allow it to happen with you.
Pitfall #5) Delay - When all else fails to stop you in your tracks, DELAY kicks in. Putting something off to do tomorrow what can be done today is the robbing you of what you want in life.
If you have not written down your vision for the 2010 make time for it in the next 24 hours and let me know how you are getting on.
Make sure you watch this video please
It is amazing how quickly one can get off track if you allow yourself to slip. The holiday season is a great time for relaxing and slowing down. One can easily fool yourself in believing that everything stood still. (As if the world revolves around me!)
At the start of the 2nd decade of this millennium, we soon find life still moves on. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by it I choose today to embrace it!
In fact I am taking the bull by the horns and shout: “Bring it on!”
We all have a common enemy whose sole purpose is to prevent us from reaching our highest potential.
Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve this year will help you stay clear of the pitfalls on the road to getting what you want out of 2010.
Pitfall #1) Doubt - If you allow DOUBT in your life, you start to question your self worth or what you as a person can do to bring about change.
Pitfall #2) Discouragement - You look at the size of your problems. With every “victory” you achieve, set up a “monument” (write it down, celebrate it with a meal, reward yourself with a present). When DISCOURAGEMENT comes knocking on your door you can then remember all the previous “victories” and get on with it!
Pitfall #3) Diversion - If you have a clearly defined vision of where you are going DIVERSION will be a thing of the past. Evaluate everything you do by asking one question. “Is this taking me closer to or further away from my goal?”.
Pitfall #4) Defeat - Loosing the battle is not the same as loosing the war. Having a clearly defined vision allows you perspective. But most of the time DEFEAT’s job is to make you feel like a failure so that you do not even try! Do not allow it to happen with you.
Pitfall #5) Delay - When all else fails to stop you in your tracks, DELAY kicks in. Putting something off to do tomorrow what can be done today is the robbing you of what you want in life.
If you have not written down your vision for the 2010 make time for it in the next 24 hours and let me know how you are getting on.
Make sure you watch this video please
Sunday, 3 January 2010
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