Student Success Statement

“Your future is credited by what you do today, not tomorrow.”

-Robert Kiyosaki

You need to focus on what you do today so that you can brighten your future. Every decision that you make will affect your future so you need to make sure that you choose the right ones. Don’t wait until tomorrow to start making positive choices in your life because you never know if tomorrow will even come.

 

SQ3R

SQ3R: A Great Reading and Studying Technique

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/26666.html

Improve Your Studying 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. You’ll often have to complete reading assignments in several different books for several different courses at the same time.

SQ3R helps make reading and studying purposeful and effective, so that you use your time more 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.

Student Success Statement

NEVER

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

-Ayn Rand

If you know that something is evil then why would you do it? There is no reward for evil things. You will have to suffer consequences instead of receiving rewards. Avoid the consequences by not doing anything evil.   

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 texts 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 your mental capacities more than almost anything else.

The philosopher Sir Frances 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. 

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 practice a master piece.

This rule is even more important in life than basketball. You have to apply yourself each day to become a little better. By applying yourself to the task of becoming a little better each and every day 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 try your best with everything that you do. Every day you need to show that you’re the best that you can be. Show people the best in you and try your hardest. By not trying your best you lose or waist a day which you can’t go back to so might as well try your best while you can.

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tips 3-4

Tip 3: Do Research

Literacy 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 increasing your comprehension, you’ll also be showing initiative, something teachers always like to see. 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.  

Student Success Statement

“Every time I've done something that doesn't feel right, it’s ended up not being right.”

-Mario Cuomo

(52^nd governor of NY)

When something that you do or are about to do and it doesn’t not feel right then you shouldn't do it. The moment when you don’t feel right, you know that it isn't right. Don’t do anything that does not feel right.

Reading

5 Tips for Success

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/189995.html

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 factual 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.

Student Success Statement

“The Three Don’ts”

ü Don’t whine

ü Don’t complain

ü Don’t make excuses

-John Wooden

Whining makes you look childish. There is no reason for complaining cause at the end you’re going to have to do the tasks anyway. Excuses are like lies which you will get caught up in later on. You would have to make an excuse for the excuse that you just made and it would be like a chain. Doing these three is just a waste of time and they make you look bad when you do them.

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tips 3-5

3. Set Attainable Goals

If you’re trouble writing a 25-page paper for class because it seems like such a big job, don’t focus on the final number. Break the paper down and consider each section of your paper individually.

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 and assignment or task. Take a walk, send an email, get a snack. Then move on to the next project. 

Student Success Statement

“The Three Nevers”

·      Never lie

·      Never cheat

·      Never steal

-John Wooden

These three nevers are things that people should not do throughout their lifetime. When people do these things they bring problems into their lives. When people lie they get caught up in their lie and start trouble. When people cheat, they don’t play fair or win honestly. They end up having that guilt inside them because they cheated. When people steal,  they can get in trouble with the police and even get sent to jail. It is better to avoid these things to prevent trouble in your life.

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tips 1-2

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pal/boost-your-skills/8454.html

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

The 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 that take more time and effort to accomplish are probably the ones that you’ll learn the most from.

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

Student Success Statement

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

-John Wayne

When you’re courageous you might be terrified but you do what you have to do anyway. It doesn't mean that you have no fear. It means that you have the guts to do things either way.

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

When you decide to do what is right, you feel good after. Your conscience feels good because it knows that you chose the right thing and you will have no guilt in you. You will enjoy your decision because you have nothing to worry about.

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html

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 used to make, easy to handle, are a marvelous tool to help you learn and remember anything. Punch a hole in the upper left corner of each review card and connect the stack of your 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 IN 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 Achievements

Reward yourself for hitting milestones or doing something well.

Student Success Statement

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

Davy Crockett

1786-1836

Before you even think about doing or saying something, you have to make sure that you’re right. You don’t want to make a fool out of yourself or give out the wrong information.

 

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. Doing the most important things first is being 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. Demonstrate 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 methods that work best for you. Ask your teacher for recommendations if you’re having trouble.

Beautiful Rose Flowers from Thilini

Student Success Statement

“Character is higher than intellect.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your character will always be more important to people than your intellectual ways. They care more about the way you act or present yourself than how smart you are or what your mind ability is. You need to show people what your abilities are instead of just telling them.

Take Control of Homework

So It Doesn't Control You

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/121.html

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 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 good 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. Do 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 normal routine, you’ll approach it with less dread. Also, you’ll become a pro at using time productively. 

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 prosperity.”

-Robert E. Lee

It’s better to do what’s right than doing wrong and knowing that you won’t have to suffer. Even though you know that you’re going to suffer, you should still do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. If you’re PE teacher tells you to run a mile then you have to run a mile. If you run then you get a good grade but you’ll be tired. If you don’t run then you will get a bad grade and not be tired. Doing what’s right will give you good results. It may make you suffer but at the end of it, it will be worth it.

 

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 4

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/955.html

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 the work all along.

Try out the Cornell system, but if it doesn't work for you, experiment with 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.

Tony Farmer

Tony Farmer is one of the most highly-recruited high school basketball payers but on Tuesday he was sentenced to three years in jail. He received those three years for kidnapping his girlfriend. He sent her threatening text messages and voice mails  He chose to make a bad decision and is now suffering. He could have been on the basketball court but ended up in jail for doing something bad. He is now spending wasting three years of his life in jail when he could have used those three years playing basketball.

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 3

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/955.html

After Class

As soon as 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 your classmates.

After you've reviewed 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 of the material for the long term and tests down the road. 

Student Success Statement

“He listens well who takes notes.”

-Dante Alighieri

In order to take good notes you have to be a good listener so that you can hear what is being said to you by your teacher. You can write everything down and listen at the same time. 

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 2

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/955.html

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 your 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 fresh in your mind.

Student Success Statement

“When you believe you can- you can”

-Dr. Maxwell Maltz

In order to accomplish something you have to believe that you can do it. When you believe in yourself you push yourself to do things and it gives you confidence and courage to achieve your goals. You just have to believe in yourself and tell yourself that you can.

 

Note-Taking Strategies

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/955.html

How to Get Your Class Notes into Shape

Getting the most out 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.

Student Success Statement

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

-Woodrow Wilson

What Woodrow Wilson means is not to fight physically but to stand up for what you believe is right. Physically fighting will just bring more problems or make the situation wore but standing up for your beliefs will solve the situation. It is only okay when you do this type of fighting.

 

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 string writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual learning may not be the best educational opinions 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 with reliable equipment. If your Internet communications at home isn't working, you can’t do online education from home and will 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 may 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 is right for you. 

Student Success Statement

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

-Reverend Robert Craig

You have to focus on what you’re doing at the moment instead of worrying about what you might do later on. In order to succeed in your future you have to make sure that your present is successful.

 

Student Success Statement

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

What’s within you is what matters most. Your inner self is what determines your identity and how people look at you. You need to make sure you present yourself positively. What is around you does not matter as much as your inner self does. 

Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 2

Positive Aspects of Distance Education

·      Independence and time management: Take courses online lets you hone your ability to work on your own. You also gain experiences in managing your time efficiently.

·      A flexible schedule: Schools can only provide a certain number of class periods in a single school day, and there may not be enough time for you to take everything you want. Because distance education lets you take classes outside regular school hours, it gives you the flexibility to explore all your areas of interest.

·      Advanced and specialized classes: Some schools can’t provide advanced or specialized classes. Distance education gives you the chance to gain experience in areas that would otherwise remain out of reach.

Alex Schwazer Uses Dope

Alex Schwazer was kicked out of the London Games for using dope. He was a good race walker and won many medals and awards. He made the record of walking for 3:37:09. He couldn't take it anymore. He felt the weight of guilt. He was happy when he got caught. He was not playing honestly and cheated. 

                                                                      

Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/47337.html

You may want to take a class that your high school doesn’t offer. Under some circumstances, you can still enroll in the class – through distance learning.

Distance education means taking a class without being physically present where it is being taught. Internet-based technology lets students participate in lectures and class sessions online from almost anywhere.

Some high schools agree to recognize distance-learning credits when they don’t have the resources to offer a course themselves. Distance education is often used to increase options in rural areas and for AP courses.

For you, it might mean doing self-tutorial at home in the evening or participating in a class that it 1,000 miles away, along with other high school students. Check with your school counselor to see what’s available.

Student Success Statement

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”

-Rosa Parks

If you are doing the right thing then there is no need to be scared. You should have nothing to worry about. If you are fearful then you must be doing something wrong.

Balancing High School and Part- Time Work

Part 5

Additional Tips

Although working and going to school challenging, it can be a rewarding experience if you use some foresight. These tips can help you handle the situation and make the most of your time:

·      Discuss your plans with your family. Balancing the demands of school and work is easier with their support.

·      Start slowly; don’t commit to working a lot of hours immediately.

·      Avoid time conflicts by planning your class and work schedules as far ahead of time as possible.

·      Use your time efficiently. You can use 10 minutes waiting in a line to go over a few pages of assigned reading. If your job has a lot of downtown and your boss has no objection, you can use slow periods to do schoolwork.

·      If you commute to your job on public transportation, bring your schoolwork with you so you can work along the way.

·      Be flexible and willing to make sacrifices. You may have to cut down on some other things you’d like to do because of your schoolwork and more commitments.

·      If you have too much on your plate, admit it. Then cut back as needed.

·      Schedule relaxation time. Everyone needs some downtime to stay happy and healthy.

Marion Jones Olympic Cheater

Marion Jones was in the Olympics and the sport that she was in was track and field. She won many medals and got awards for her achievement. Her achievement was not accomplished honestly and truthfully. She lied. She took steroids which would help her win all of these medals and awards. Basically she cheated and now she has so much regret in her. She denied it for years but finally admitted it. 

Balancing High School and Part-time Work

Part 4

He reminds student that “the activities and courses students choose vary considerably, so it’s important for young people to keep their individual situations clearly in mind.” MacGowan continues, “For example, student actors should allow for the fact that they won’t have as much time during performance seasons. Student athletes need to remember the times of the year that they’ll be tied up with games and practices. Other students who are in classes that make considerable demands outside of the classroom must keep that reality in mind.”