Teaching Listening Skills

The best way to teach good listening skills is to model them yourself. Here are some tips to help you:
Be interested and attentive. Children can tell whether they have a parent´s interest and attention by the way the parent replies or does not reply. Forget about the telephone and other distractions. Maintain eye contact to show that you really are with the child.
Encourage talking. Some children need an invitation to start talking. You might begin with, "Tell me about your day at school." Children are more likely to share their ideas and feelings when others think them important.
Listen patiently. People think faster than they speak. With limited vocabulary and experience in talking, children often take longer than adults to find the right word. Listen as though you have plenty of time.
Hear children out. Avoid cutting children off before they have finished speaking. It is easy to form an opinion or reject children´s views before they finish what they have to say. It may be difficult to listen respectfully and not correct misconceptions, but respect their right to have and express their opinions.
Listen to nonverbal messages. Many messages children send are communicated nonverbally by their tone of voice, their facial expressions, their energy level, their posture, or changes in their behavior patterns. You can often tell more from the way a child says something than from what is said. When a child comes in obviously upset, be sure to find a quiet time then or sometime.

Study Halls

Some schools allow students freedom to socialize during study halls. Socializing is great, but students should spend the largest portion of that time doing homework, reviewing for a test, or just reviewing notes from the previous day. Spending time in this manner will help to improve your grades, and studying for an exam will take that much less time.

Studying for Multiple Choice Tests

To get a better grip on all the details that are thrown at you in a history course, create a list that organizes key terms and concepts, people, dates and events that are mentioned in a particular section or chapter.

If you´re studying Moslem history, for example, one of your lists might include the following items:

TERMS
Islam - monotheistic, Arabic religion
Kaaba - shrine in Mecca
Koran - Muslim holy book
rasiah - raid

PEOPLE
Muhammad - founder of Islam who united Arab tribes
Khadija - wife of Muhammad

PLACES
Mecca - Arabian trade center, birthplace of Muhammad
Medina - city north of Mecca to which Muhammad fled in 622
A.D. & first stronghold of Muhammad´s power

Test your recall by placing the definition on the flip side of a page or index card. Once you´ve got a good grasp of the details, you´re ready to tackle problems of analysis and interpretation. Any multiple-choice quiz will be snap.

Source: CyberTip of the Day, 2000

Location, location, location

If you´re serious about getting work done, find a quiet place -- one that is free from distractions. Establish guidelines with roommates for quiet times. Also, use the libraries, study rooms, or empty classrooms.

Relaxing!

A natural way to relax before tests and exams is to drink camomile tea.

What to do when all goes sour?

Sometimes, the harder we try, the more it seems we digress. If you feel that you´re at a standstill in achieving your goals, remember that trying harder doesn´t always work. Sometimes we need to do something radically different to achieve greater levels of success. Take a hard look at your course of study.

How (and why) to make exercise part of your routine?

THE 10-MINUTE EXERCISE PLAN FOR BUSY STUDENTS

A little bit of exercise can go a long way toward helping you stay fit and energized.

If you feel you "just don´t have the time" to exercise, take a closer look at your schedule. There´s probably at least one half hour every day during which you´re just staring at the wall. That´s not a waste of time, of course: your subconscious is working away on some problem or issue of importance to you. It can do the same while you´re exercising, though. You will probably even sleep better, making up the half hour you "lost."

Exercise should be a routine like eating or brushing your teeth. If exercising is a habit that you perform automatically, you don´t have the feeling that you´re stealing time from some other, more important activity. Start with ten-minute chunks: jog around the block, maybe, at the start of each day before breakfast. Go for a swim just before dinner time. Or simply find a staircase to run up and down.

If you get discouraged, just remember: the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single lap around the pool.

Online Learning - Make A Schedule

Set aside a regularly scheduled time for study. To help you fit studying into your schedule, keep a record for a week of how you spend your time, and then decide what you are willing to give up. Schedule your studies for a time when you are mentally fresh and able to devote at least one hour to your work. Think of the hour as "reserved time."

Rewrite to Remember

Re-write your notes to peak your memory before a test.
This helps you to remember the information.

Multiple Choice Tests

When taking the SAT, the best method for scoring well is to get as many questions right as you can. Leave those that you can´t solve quickly until the end. On this test, if you don´t know, then don´t guess. Wrong counts more against you than blank.

The ACT does not work the same way. You must answer all the questions on the ACT. On this test, blank counts more against you than wrong.

Remembering the Great Lakes

To remember the Great Lakes, think of the acronym "HOMES" - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. You can use this technique for other things, too.

How can I locate an out-of-print non-fiction?

Under the guidance of an advisory board of distinguished scholars, Cyberedition´s goal is to make high-quality out-of-print nonfiction books available at a reasonable cost as both HTML files and, using print-on-demand technology, as paperbound books. No details on pricing are available as yet.
Cybereditions
http://www.cybereditions.com/

How to read safely

Remember when mom told you to stop reading with such poor light? Too much work for the eyes isn´t good.
Here are some reading tips:
* When reading, always have adequate light.
* Besides finding a good lamp, keep your reading material at least 12 inches away from your eyes.
* Take a break from reading every 20 minutes or so to give your eyes a rest.
* Simply blinking keeps your eyes wet and clears away dust. Try to blink more often when you feel your eyes getting tired.

What to bring to the exam room with you?

Make a habit of taking more than you need into the classroom and the examination room.
* Bring two calculators.
* Bring your textbook to every exam.
* Bring extra paper to each exam. Bring two pencils and two pens.
* Bring an extra blank notebook with you to your classes.

Make It a Habit: Work Every Day

Avoid all-night cram sessions. You won´t understand or retain large amounts of information. Instead, spend time on your studies every day; You will stay on top of your courses and still have time for fun. Use even small blocks of time - you´ll be amazed what you can get done between classes.

Online Learning - Reading From A Computer Screen

You must comprehend and retain what you read for real learning to take place. Reading skills can be developed by concentrating on what you read and by taking frequent pauses to organize and review the material in your mind. At the end of a study session, review everything you have read, making special notes of important points. Reading a computer screen can be hard on your eyes; it may be necessary to download hard copies of reading assignments and communications from your instructor and co-workers.
Source: Petersons.com

How can I locate an out-of-print non-fiction?

Under the guidance of an advisory board of distinguished scholars, Cyberedition´s goal is to make high-quality out-of-print nonfiction books available at a reasonable cost as both HTML files and, using print-on-demand technology, as paperbound books. No details on pricing are available as yet.

Notetaking tips

Be Alert - so you are aware of and prepared for the lecture content and situation.
Be Orderly - so you can process the lecture now and for review later.
Be Systematic - so you can establish a habit pattern and won´t miss anything important.
Be Up To Date - so that your well-designed notetaking system gets done.

SAT II

The SAT II is a test specializing in one subject. Selective colleges, many in California, demand 3 SAT II´s taken.

When taking Subject Tests, you may opt for what ETS calls "Score Choice" which allows you to decide whether or not to send your scores on each Subject Test to colleges after you find out how you did. You should definitely take advantage of this by checking off the Score Choice option when you register for the exam. If you are a senior applying for early decision, you should be aware that opting for Score Choice may cause a delay and you might miss application deadlines.