Time Management

8 of 10

Master the moments and you may be a real pro when it comes to juggling the many demands on your time – classes, homework and activities – with some family help. College gives you an even bigger chance to sharpen your time management skills by doing it all on your own. And that’s a good thing since most jobs require multitasking. You might need to take care of current clients while attracting new ones, respond to e-mails while working on a major presentation, or order tomorrow’s produce while planning next week’s menu.

Someone said, “Wherever, you are, be there.” Focus on the present moment and give it all your attention. Don’t let your mind drift and wander here and there when you need to be thinking and concentrating on the moment at hand. You can’t go back and recapture this moment, so make the most of it while it NOW. Master the present and you will master the future. Work smart by mastering the present moment.

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Attention to Detail

7 of 10

When you double-check your calculations for a math problem or cite sources carefully in a research paper, you’re paying close attention to detail. That skill comes in handy in any workplace, whether you maintain a database, keep a log of the hours you spend with clients or write e-mails.

          John Wooden, UCLA’s former great basketball coach who lead his team to ten consecutive national championships, was asked what he attributed his success to. Among a number of things, he mentioned that paying attention to details was one of the most important qualities for successful coaching and for high achievement in any worthwhile pursuit. He even paid attention to how his players would lace up and tie their shoe strings. If they didn’t tie them correctly, he would teach them how.

          Details may be small, but from small things come great things; therefore, pay attention to details and you will experience substantial progress in your overall education attainment.

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Cool Under Pressure

6 of 10

Very few students enjoy taking tests. Yet functioning well under pressure is crucial to your future success. Try thinking of the pressure of testing as practice for the work world’s own explosive situations. You could someday find yourself meting tight deadlines, speaking with irate customers, wielding a scalpel or handling dangerous chemicals.

The best way to curtail pressure and to even eliminate it is to prepare. Applying the motto “Be Prepared” holds true first time and every time. Prepare for that test, and you won’t worry about it. In fact, it will be your chance to shine, to reveal the hard work you have put into preparing for the test. You will be rewarded for the effort you have thrust into your studies. Preparation removes fear. When you are prepared, you will not fear. Preparation helps you maintain your cool under pressure. Preparation generates energy and enthusiasm; therefore, prepare and your coolness under pressure is sure to abound.

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Initiative

5 of 10

Initiative is creativity, inventiveness, originality, ingenuity, imagination. Every time you respond in class, every time you choose your own research topic, every time you put together your own interpretation of a piece of literature, you take initiative. And future employers value can-do professionals who come up with new ideas and chart their own course through projects, employees who are self-reliant. Self-reliant people are self-starters who don’t procrastinate on getting the job done. They know what is required to do and do it. They don’t wait to be told many times. Succeeding in high school, college, and in the career world is taking the initiative.

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Problem-Solving Skills

4 of 10

Problem solving goes far beyond your math textbook. Every assignment is an opportunity to weigh all possible solutions carefully and choose the one you think is best. As a working professional, you’ll be solving problems regularly, whether it’s fixing a bug in a computer program or overcoming budget shortfalls. Problem solving situations occur extensively and frequently, therefore, be ready when they come. When problems or challenges occur, some people look at them at negative experiences, as a crisis. These people are the ones who live day by day with gloom and negativism in their attitudes, but the really successful people, those who look at problems as opportunities to learn, grow, expand their horizons, and make new discoveries. They look on the bright side of things and live happy lives.

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Teamwork Skills

3 or 10

Every time your class gets into groups to tackle a challenge, you build teamwork skills. In college, you’ll continue to have these opportunities to practice voicing your opinions, listening and responding to others, and reaching compromises. By the time you leave college, you can be an expert in this important workplace skill.

Together

Everyone

Achieves

More

Individually you can achieve so much, but when you work with others for a common cause, the same objectives, you can accomplish a tremendous amount more. You synergize your talents, knowledge, and skills with those whom you work. All members of the team are edified together, a type of edification you can’t obtain by working alone.

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Speaking Skills

2 of 10

When you’re assigned a class presentation, think twice before dismissing it as an unimportant part of your education. Employers look for speaking skills in job applicants, who may have to give presentations to clients or represent their organization in the field. It’s never too soon to practice good eye contact and other public speaking techniques.

According to The Book of Lists, the fear of public speaking ranks number one in the minds of the majority of the people. Far above the fear of death and disease, comes the fear of standing in front of a crowd. Joel Weiner noted author and public speaker wants to help people overcome that fear.

“The biggest fear is public speaking, with 15 percent of American experiencing a dramatic fear of it,” said Dr. Michael Telch of the Laboratory for the study of Anxiety Disorders (LSAD) in the Department of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. “People have had to turn down jobs, and certainly students have dropped classes because of it.”

Regardless of your occupation, your success depends a great deal upon your ability to communicate effectively! Whether you’re running a meeting, selling a product, making a presentation, motivating co-workers or just communicating one-on-one with others, you’ll get far better results if you can speak persuasively, smoothly and intelligently.

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Student Success Statement

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Taken will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

-Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States

Nothing can make you do anything you don’t want to do. If you try, then you are persistent. You can be the smartest person in the world, but if you do not TRY to pass the test, then you will fail…

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/students/plan/high-school/50432.html

Part 2

The Benefits of Study Groups

Group study offers other advantages in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of class material. These include the opportunity to;

Reinforce note taking. If your AP Biology notes are unclear, you can ask a member of your study group to help you fill in the gaps.

Share talents. Each person brings different strengths, such as organizational skills, the ability to stick to a task or a capacity for memorization.

Cover more ground. Group members may be able to solve a calculus problem together that none would have solved alone.

Benefit from a support system. Members often have common goals, such as good grades. Each person’s work affects the other members, which results in making members supportive of one another.

Socialize. It’s more fun to study with others; the give-and-take makes it more interesting. And because it’s more fun, you spend more time studying!

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Students

Habit 7

Part 1

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Teens should never get too busy living to take time to renew themselves. When teens “sharpen the saw” they are keeping their personal self sharp so that they can better deal with life. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four key dimension of life – body, mind, heart, and soul.

1)  Body. Eat wholesome foods, fruits, vegetables, legumes. Avoid illegal drugs, smoking, alcohol, tobacco products, tattooing. Exercise regularly and effectively. Get plenty of rest at night. Get to bed early at night and get up early each morning. “Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

2)  Mind. Think positively. Read. Study. Think. Analyze. Seek to read a good book each month. Then each week. Ask intelligent questions. Observe. Develop your mind through positive “self-talk.”

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7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Habit 4

4. Think Win- Win

Your teen will learn to celebrate the accomplishment of others instead of being threatened by them. Win-Win is a belief that everyone can win. Win-Win is abundant. It’s a belief that there’s plenty of success to go around. It’s not either you or me. It’s both of us. It’s not the matter of who gets the biggest piece of the pie. There’s more than enough food for everyone. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

       Win-win always creates more. Perhaps the most surprising benefit of thinking Win-Win is the good feelings it brings on. The true test of whether or not you are thinking Win-Win or one of the alternatives is how you feel. Win-Lose and Lose-Win thinking will cloud your judgment and fill you with negative feelings.

       Win-Win will fill your heart with happy and serene thoughts. It will give you confidence. Even fill you with light. Think Win-Win or no deal.

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

Habit 3

Habit 3: Put Things First

Habit three is about Will and Will Not power. This power helps teens prioritize and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important things in their lives. Putting first things first also means learning to overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It’s living life according to what matters most. Putting first things first deals with things that are:

Important or not important, urgent or not urgent. Let’s look at the four quadrants of time management.

Quadrant 1: Things that are Important and Urgent

Quadrant 2: Things that are Important but not Urgent

Quadrant 3: Things that are Not Important but are Urgent

Quadrant 4: Things that are not Important and Not Urgent

1.   Important and Urgent	2.   Important but not Urgent
3.   Not Important but are Urgent	4.   Not Important and Not Urgent

 

Quadrant 2 is the ideal place to spend our time, doing things that are important but not urgent. Here’s where priorities come into play. The results for living Quadrant 2 are:

1.    Control of your life

2.   Balance

3.   High Performance

 

So, in what quadrant are you spending most of your time? The key is to shift as much time into Quadrant 2 and this is accomplished by planning. Spend more time planning and incorporating the most important things first, things that matter most. Keep your eyes on the prize and reach for it.

 

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

Habit 2

Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind

I

f teens aren’t clear about where they want to end up in life, about their values, goals, and what they stand for, they will wander, waste time, and be tossed to and fro by the options of others. Help your teen create a personal mission statement which will act as a road map and direct and guide his decision-making process.

“Keep your eyes on the prize.” Determine your desired prize and don’t quit until you have realized the achievement of your prize. Then set another prize, another goal or desire that you would really like to achieve. Begin with the achievement of your prize in mind. Visualize and then realize. Start by having a target in mind; know where you are going.

One prize or goal you definitely need to establish for yourself is the prize of an honorable graduation from high school – that you will receive your diploma honestly and with integrity – that you earned it with perfect honesty.

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

Habit 1

By: Sean covey (but modified)

Habit 1: Be Proactive.

Being proactive is the key to unlocking the other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for her life. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their own happiness or unhappiness. They don’t blame others for their own actions or feelings. Proactive people realize that the ball is in their court, that they are the captain for their own ship; that they are in control, control of their decisions, thoughts, choices, goals, actions, and priorities. Proactive people are self-starters; they don’t wait to be told what to do, they press forward with enthusiasm towards the achievement of their assignment, their duties, their responsibilities, their obligations. Choosing to do what is right is proactive decision. Obey the rules. Obey the law. Obey the coach. Obey the school policies. Obey your parents. Obey with exactness, all great things will come to you. Be proactive and take initiative.

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

By Sean Covey

F

or teens, life is not a playground, it’s a jungle. And, being the parent of a teenage isn’t any walk in the park, either. In his book, The Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey attempts to provide “a compass to help teens and their parents navigate the problems they encounter daily.”

How will they deal with peer pressure? Motivation? Success or lack thereof? The life of a teenager is full of tough issues and life-changing decisions. As a parent, you are responsible to help them learn the principles and ethics that will help them to reach their goals and live a successful life.

 

While it’s all well and good to tell kids how to live their lives, “teens watch what you do more than they listen to what you say,” Covey says. So practice what you preach. Your example can be very influential.

Covey himself has done well by following a parent’s example. His dad, Stephen Covey, wrote the book The Habits of Highly Successful People, which sold over 15 million copies. Sean’s a chip of the old block, and no slacker. His own book has rung in a more than respectable 2 million copies sold. Here are seven habits, and some ideas for helping your teen understand and apply them.

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Profile of a Successful Student

Part 3

… owns or has easy access to a computer with Internet access and e-mail

Y

ou don’t have to be a computer expert to be successful in online learning – but you must have access to a personal computer with reliable Internet access, as well as a basic level of competency in using them. Owning a computer with Internet access from your home is ideal but many students use the computer labs on campus or at their offices to complete their work.

… has basic computer skills and is willing and open to learning new ones

 We said you don’t have to be a computer expert to be successful in online learning. However, there are some basic technical skills you should have mastered prior to enrolling in an online course.

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