Student Success Statement

“Your future is created by what you do today; not tomorrow”

Robert Kiyosaki

If you eat a lot of candy today, you will get cavities in the future; not at the moment you’re eating it. If you choose the wrong now, you will get punished for it later…

SQ3R

SQ3R: A great Reading and Studying Technique

Improve Your Study Skills

SQ3R stands for:

                   Survey

                   Question

                   Read

                   Recite

                   Review

It is a proven technique to sharpen your study skills. In college, you’ll be required to do lots of reading assignments in several different courses at the same time.

SQ3R help make reading and studying purposeful and effective, so that you use your time most efficiently. Here’s how this strategy works.

 

Survey

Let’s say your assignment is to read one chapter. First, get an idea of what the chapter is about by reviewing the highlights:

·         Read the title, headings and subheadings.

·         Notice words that are italicized or bold.

·         Look at charts, graphs, pictures, maps and other visual material.

·         Read captions

·         Read the very beginning and end of the chapter.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

Never

“There is no justification ever for choosing any part of what you know to be evil.”

Ayn Rand

If it is evil or wrong in ANY way, then there’s nothing to prove that what you did was right…

 

 

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tip 5

Tip 5: Keep a List of Questions

When you feel confused about something you’re reading, write down any questions you have. Sometimes your questions are answered as you read further. If not, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember, teachers create assignments; they’ve read the teats and are familiar with them. When you have specific questions your teachers can provide answers that will help you better understand the material.  Learning is rooted in questions developed and asked by the learner.

Asking questions to yourself, to the teacher, and to others, is a great learning method. When you cease to ask questions, you cease to exist to a great extent. Read actively by silently asking questions as you read. Questioning immerses you into the material you are reading and therefore will expand will expand your mental capacities more than anything else.

The philosopher Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” Improving your reading comprehension is the key to gaining important knowledge and making the most of your education. So pick up a book… and a pen.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

 

Student Success Statement

“When I was teaching basketball, I urged my players to try their hardest to improve on that very day, to make that day a masterpiece. This rule is even more important in life than basketball. You have to apply yourself each day to become a little better over a period of time, you will become a lot better. Only then will you be able to approach being the best you can be. It begins by trying to make each day count and knowing you can never make up for a lost day.”

-John Wooden

You should always try your best at everything. You may be bad at something now, but if you strive for the better and practice each day, then you will be better…

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tips 3-4

Tip 3: Do Research

Literary critics have written vast numbers of analytical and critical pieces on countless books. If you’re having trouble understanding a particular text, do some research and see what knowledgeable sources have to say about it. In addition to increase your comprehension, you’ll also be showing initiative, something teachers always like to se. always use legitimate and scholarly sources, not condensed study guides. Going the extra mile in your research elevates your achievement 10-fold.

 

Tip 4: Use a Dictionary

Make sure you have access to a dictionary when you’re reading. You can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, but sometimes you can’t. Rather than simply skipping over the words you don’t know, take the time to look them up. The results are well worth the effort. Your comprehension will increase greatly, and you’ll build your vocabulary at the same time.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tips 3-4

Tip 3: Do Research

Literary critics have written vast numbers of analytical and critical pieces on countless books. If you’re having trouble understanding a particular text, do some research and see what knowledgeable sources have to say about it. In addition to increase your comprehension, you’ll also be showing initiative, something teachers always like to se. always use legitimate and scholarly sources, not condensed study guides. Going the extra mile in your research elevates your achievement 10-fold.

 

Tip 4: Use a Dictionary

Make sure you have access to a dictionary when you’re reading. You can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, but sometimes you can’t. Rather than simply skipping over the words you don’t know, take the time to look them up. The results are well worth the effort. Your comprehension will increase greatly, and you’ll build your vocabulary at the same time.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Reading and writing go hand in hand. The better you understand a text, the more likely you are to successfully communicate your thoughts about it in writing. So it’s important to develop strong skills in both areas. With that in mind, here’s how to improve your reading comprehension.

Tips 1-2

Tip 1: Annotate

Be an active reader. Instead of passively reading a text, take notes about important story elements, key functional information and significant ideas in the text.

Tip 2: Note the Author’s Writing Style

Every author writes with a purpose, using deliberate methods to successfully relate specific information to the audience. When you’re reading, look for patterns in the author’s writing. For example, you may notice a repetition of key words, phrases or symbols – or the use of a distinct type of sentence structure. Authors employ these writing strategies to help readers comprehend a central argument or theme, so be sure to explore how these techniques create meaning.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

The Three Don’ts:

ü      Don’t whine

ü      Don’t complain

ü      Don’t make excuses

-John Wooden

You should never whine or complain about anything because you don’t have the worst life or the worst grades or the worst problems. There IS someone that has is worse and you should be grateful for what you have and don’t make up excuses…

 

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tips 3-5

3. Set Attainable Goals

If you’re having trouble writing a 25-page paper for class because it seems like such a big job, don’t focus on that final number. Break the paper down and consider each section of your paper individually. You can handle any project in small chunks.

4. Find a Social Support Network

Create a group of people around you who want to help you succeed. Mentors can be teachers or family friends who can give you guidance and help you develop new skills. Counselors can help you with planning your courses and starting to explore colleges. You can also reach out to friends and peers who can motivate you by listening and sharing ideas.

5. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Give yourself a quick reward when you complete an assignment or task. Take a walk, send a email, get a snack. Then move on to the next project.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

 

Student Success Statement

“The Three Nevers”

Never lie

Never cheat

Never steal

-John Wooden

 

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tips 1-2

To succeed in high school and college, you have to do your best at all times. But sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated, even when you really care about the work you’re doing. Here are five ways to stay on the right track.

1.   Focus on High-Impact Activities

They key to success in school is staying focused on your course work. Make a list to get an overall picture of your workload before you start to tackle any of it. Then, make a plan. Although it’s tempting to do the simplest assignments first, those take the most time and effort to accomplish are probably the ones you’ll learn the most from.

To determine what your priorities are, rank your assignments to the order of their importance. Then, rearrange your time and devote more energy toward those that have the greatest impact on your course work grades. For example, even all homework assignments are important, studying for a midterm exam takes priority over writing a paragraph for English class. As you completed each task, think of it as another step on your way to college success.

2.   Creating New Challenges

Changing your approach can help you stay interested in what you’re doing. If you’ve been given an assignment similar to one you’ve done in the past, think about it in a different way. If you wrote an essay for a creative writing assignment last year, try a poem this time. For book reports, pick a history book instead of another biography.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”

John Wayne

Courage does not mean that you are stronger or better than anyone else, it’s when someone has the guts to do something, no matter how terrifying it might seem.

Student Success Statement

“You have only always to do what is right. It will become easier by practice, and you enjoy in the midst of your trials the pleasure of an approving conscience.”

Robert E. Lee

http://rebelyell1.com/Biographies/BioLee.htm 

Take Control of Homework

So It Doesn’t Control You

Part 3

Take Advantage of Any Free Time

If you have a study period or a long bus ride, use the time to review notes, prepare for an upcoming class or start your homework. Flash cards are a great learning tool. They are easy to make, easy to handle, and are a marvelous tool to help you learn and remember anything.

Punch a hole in the upper left corner of each index card and connect the stack of flash cards with a ring. Then the cards are bound and not flopping around. Flash cards bound like this act like a small book with pages. You can even have separate ring stacks for each subject. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO REMEMBER PUT IT ON A CARD.

Study with a Friend

Get together with friends and classmates to quiz each other, compare notes and predict test questions. Consider joining a study group.

Communicate

If you have any concerns about the amount or type of homework you have, you may want to talk to your family, teachers or counselor. They can help you understand how much time you need to allot for homework and how to manage your tasks.

 

Celebrate Your Achievement

 

Reward yourself for hitting milestones or doing something well.

 

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“Be always sure you’re right, then go ahead.”

Davy Crockett

If you’re not 100% sure you’re right, then check again. If you are right, then keep moving forward…

Take Control of Homework

So It Doesn’t Control You

Part 2

Keep Things in Perspective

Know how much weight each assignment or test carries, and use your time accordingly. Don’t waste time, but be wise and smart.

Get More Involved

Keep your mind from wandering by taking notes, underlining sections, discussing topics with others or relating your homework to something you’re studying in another class. Learn actively and not passively. Be anxiously engaged in your studies and you will have a great experience. Demonstrating a good attitude toward home assignments, and you will begin to love doing it.

Organize the Information

People process information in different ways. Some people like to draw pictures or charts to digest information, others prefer to read out loud or make detailed outlines. Try to find the methods that work best for you. Ask your teacher for recommendations if you’re having trouble.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Creative and funny pictures from Ainslie Gracen

 

Student Success Statement

“Character is higher than intellect.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you are a generally mean person, then no one will care for how smart you are. If you are the smartest person in the class, then no one will care if you are ALSO the class bully… If you have the nicest personality, then a lot of people will respect you no matter how uneducated you are.

Take Control of Homework

So I Doesn’t Control You

Part 1

Although very few students love homework, it does serve a purpose. Homework helps you:

·        Reinforce what you’ve learned during the day.

·        Build study habits that are essential in college.

·        Prepare you for your classes.

·        Get a sense of progress.

Here are some tips to help you deal with homework more efficiently and effectively.

Set the Mood

Create a god study area with everything you need (for example, a calculator). If you don’t have a quiet place at home, try your school or local library.

Know Where to Begin

Make a list of everything you need to do, and note all deadlines. DEo the more difficult assignments first, so you don’t have to face them at the end.

Study at the Same Time Every Day

Even if you don’t have homework every night, use the time to review notes. If sitting down to work is part of your routine, you’ll approach it with less dread. Also, you’ll become a pro at using time productively.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Funny Kids from Mr frogncat

Funny Pictures from Lena

Student Success Statement

“I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.”

Robert E. Lee

If it is the right thing to do, then do it, because it is what is right. That is all that is to be said because the statement says it all. To be right is to be right, and that is that…

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 4

For Review

Once you’ve done all of the above, you’ll find you’ve created your own personalized study guide. Cover the main section of the page and use the key words and questions in the left margin as a quiz.

Stick to It

Review your notes the day you take them and all your notes once a week. That way, you won’t need to study as much when it’s test time. You’ve been doing all the work all along. Try out the Cornell system, but if it doesn’t work for you, experiment with your other methods. Ask your classmates how they take notes or ask a teacher for advice. Taking good notes requires practice, like any other skill. And the more you work at it now, the more prepared you’ll be to take notes in college.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Story

Tony Farmer was so upset and regretful of having kidnapped his girlfriend because as the judge was adding all the felonies and years (which were 3 years in jail), Tony collapsed.

Reflection:

If he was disappointed in himself for EARNING all these years in jail, then he shouldn’t have kidnapped her in the first place…

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 3

After Class

As soon as a class ends, review your notes and fill in any blanks. Underline, highlight and use symbols to sort through the information. If you don’t understand something, get help from your teacher or classmates.

After you’ve received all your notes from class, in the left-hand area of the page write down key words and questions your teacher might ask on a test.

At the bottom of each page, write a summary of the notes. This helps you digest what you’ve learned. It also improves your memory for the long term and for tests down the road.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“He listens well who takes notes.”

Dante Alighieri

If you take notes, you are much more likely to understand what you are learning. If you do not take notes, then you are more likely to get worse grades on tests because you more than likely had nothing to study with…

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 2

During Class

One approach that has been proven effective is called the Cornell Note-Taking System. Here are some of its methods.

Start by using the main section of your page to take down your notes during class. Be sure to leave space on the left side of the page and the bottom. Things to keep in mind:

1.    Get the speaker’s main points. Don’t write down every word you hear.

2.    Leave blanks in your notes to add explanations later.

3.    Organize as you write. Pay attention to cues such as repetition and emphasis.

4.    Indicate main and supporting points as you go.

5.    Jot down key vocabulary, important facts and formulas.

6.    Ask questions. If you’re confused, it’s better to ask while the material is still fresh in your mind.

 

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“When you believe you can – you can.”

Dr. Maxwell Maltz

If you put your mind to do something right, then you can strive for the better. When you feel down and think you might not be able to do something right the first time, you can try again if you just believe in yourself.

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 1

How to Get Your Class Notes into Shape

Getting the most out of high school and college means studying hard and using your time in class wisely. An effective note-taking strategy can help you do both. Here are the basics.

Stay Organized

It may seem obvious, but your class notes can only help you if you can find them. When you’re taking notes be sure to:

·       Keep all your notes in one place.

·       Date and number pages; keeping them in order makes it easier to understand them later.

 

Before Class

Review the materials assigned for that class period thoroughly. Bring a list of any questions you may have.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“Tell me what is right and I will fight for it.”

Woodrow Wilson

If you fight for what is right, they you will get rewarded. If you fight for what is wrong you will most likely to go to jail…

Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 4 of 4

Emphasis on the Written Word

Most of the communication, as well as the course work, in distance-learning classes is written. That’s a plus, because the focus on the written word gives you the opportunity to develop as a writer – and strong writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual education may not be the best educational option until you improve your skills. Yes, most of distance education is the written word; therefore, you need to be a good reader, love to read, and love writing also. Most of your assignments will be written and submitted to the instructor in the written format. Your penmanship needs to be excellent, spelling great, sentence structure above average, vocabulary extraordinary. You need to have online access and have reliable equipment. If your Internet communication isn’t working, you can’t do online education from home and you need to go to someplace where you do have access to the Internet.

 

Decide Whether It’s Right for You

Distance education isn’t for everyone, but it just might be for you. You really should seek it out and give it a try. You never know until you try. You might even fall in love with distance education. While distance education might be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and give distance education a try; then, decide if it’s right for you.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 4 of 4

Emphasis on the Written Word

Most of the communication, as well as the course work, in distance-learning classes is written. That’s a plus, because the focus on the written word gives you the opportunity to develop as a writer – and strong writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual education may not be the best educational option until you improve your skills. Yes, most of distance education is the written word; therefore, you need to be a good reader, love to read, and love writing also. Most of your assignments will be written and submitted to the instructor in the written format. Your penmanship needs to be excellent, spelling great, sentence structure above average, vocabulary extraordinary. You need to have online access and have reliable equipment. If your Internet communication isn’t working, you can’t do online education from home and you need to go to someplace where you do have access to the Internet.

 

Decide Whether It’s Right for You

Distance education isn’t for everyone, but it just might be for you. You really should seek it out and give it a try. You never know until you try. You might even fall in love with distance education. While distance education might be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and give distance education a try; then, decide if it’s right for you.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Student Success Statement

“You must live in the present to secure your future.”

Reverend Robert Craig

If you live in the past, you will never learn to move on with your live and you will be stuck in the past until one day you will regret not living in the present. If you focus on the present, then you will be able to get things done and look forward… If you live in the future then you will never be able to do things right… ”Don’t count your eggs before they are hatched…”