Tutoring: In-home or out?

Of course, I am biased for tutoring taking place outside the home. The decision is usually justified around the theme of “distraction elimination.” There is no such thing as “fewer distractions.” There will be distractions in any learning environment—the trick is how to refocus the student quickly back to the task. At home, teens, being who they are, will stay distracted longer because they think everything is about or may be about them. This possibility will keep their minds occupied. At Study Depot or any other outside venue, the distraction (car door slamming, visitor, phone ringing, etc.) the interruption is about the site--the student knows this and will return to work faster. Although in-home tutoring may be more convenient time-wise, it is not the best situation for the students' learning or the parents’ wallet.

Another issue is safety. Although many “in-home” agencies require an adult to be present during sessions, this does not always happen and, being a parent, I have concerns about that.

Any comments? Email cchristopher@studydepot.com

OMG- (text-talk) not in school:(

Students know the difference between text-talk and standard English usage and rarely confuse the two. Today’s San Diego Union-Tribune ran a story citing information garnered from a research study released Thursday involving a survey of 700 teens and parents. The significant finding was that, “65 percent of youngsters ages 12 to 17 have used emoticons (combinations of symbols that reveal facial expressions), text shortcuts and informal language in school assignments.” Big surprise, students know and use text lingo; it does not follow that they use it in serious assignments. If anything, they now have a type of shorthand they use for note taking and for the first draft of more formal assignments. The problem arises when the draft(s) haven’t been thoroughly proofed and the shortcuts and symbols slink through. Text-talk is another language and one that students have a lot of fun with and display their creativity. One parent said, “at least they’re writing.”

Have an opinion? Email cchristopher@studydepot.com

Almost the end of school--plan wisely

In just seven weeks students, parents and teachers will be swamped by end of the year work, performances, parties and summer planning. Standardized testing, AP tests, SAT, etc. are all in the next few weeks. This is the time to bring out a blank calendar where every deadline and event can be posted and even color-coded. We are doing this with every student at Study Depot, so there will be no surprises and the students will experience, first hand, the benefits of careful time management. If they are consistently reminded the management of their assignments and the due dates, it will result in much better grades on tests and final grades--this is the confidence builder all students need. I

If you have other helpful hints, please email cchristopher@studydepot.com and we can post them.

Shortcuts

“There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going to.” Beverly Sills, opera singer.

In this insanely paced world, it is almost impossible to ignore shortcuts when they appear; it always seems like a good idea and they’ll get us where we need to go much more quickly--so why not? Usually, they backfire. Speaking in the philosophical sense, knowing where you want to go, believing it is possible, visualizing it constantly and doing the necessary “grunt work” is the only way to get anywhere truly worth going to.



Please send comments to cchristopher@studydepot.com

Progress Reports-Yikes

Spring progress reports are often the worst. These reports reflect the student relaxing after the holidays, which are just prior to semester reports, and the end of the year seems really far away. Academics are often the last thing on their minds and progress reports show it.

Don’t despair. There are still enough weeks remaining to bring the grade up. How? Create a calendar (I use Publisher) for just the weeks left. Write all due dates and test dates including highlighting finals week. Include end of the year performances, rehearsals, sports activities and family events. At first, the calendar may look overwhelming, which morphs into looking manageable, especially when it’s tweaked to fit the all important academic demands. Color coding is a must for academics and can be fun for the other activities. Post the calendar in an obvious location and start checking off completed tasks . This will keep your student on track and help with lots of end-of-year planning.

Success takes courage

Congratulations Matt for getting into the schools you wanted. Well done!
Students like Matt take risks every day both academically and personally; they usually pay off but it takes courage.

Quote for today,
“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year”
Former Secretary of State, James Dulles

Same idea: I have heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Living life demands us to be creative, which means taking risks without knowing the outcome. Have a creative and successful day.

Do It!

Today’s quote: “No one ever excused his way to success” by Dave Del Dotto

Excuses promote procrastination, which results in a lot of anxiety. Putting a project off without any feelings of dread, guilt, fear or uneasiness doesn’t happen very often. One or more of these icky feelings are the ones most people describe when they procrastinate or make excuses for not doing a task. I know when I procrastinate, not only do I have to do the project eventually, but I have already wasted lots of time in the form worry and anxiety—it really is easier and much more time efficient to just do the work. The feeling of satisfaction that comes with the accomplishment is the outcome and that is a pretty good way to feel.

To just do it:
• Plan how you are going to accomplish the task—just make a list of what needs
to be done and what materials you need to use.
• Time-chunk so that you are only taking on parts of the task, not the whole thing
• Check completed steps off the list—it feels good!
• Honor the time you have set aside for the project; don’t let anything intrude.
• Celebrate not procrastinating!

Your ideas and comments are very welcome. Please email me at cchristopeher@studydept.com

Desire it, do it!

Anything you desire to do you can do. Anything!
Wayne Dyer


I know this can sound too good to be true. How could this be? I have a healthy amount of skepticism that regularly challenges statements like these—until I see the concept in action. I remember one student, Dylan, who had the passion to be a pilot from early childhood. He lived this passion in every way—how his room was decorated, the magazines and books he read (sometimes just looked at the pictures), the films he watched, the games he played-- all this with the absolute conviction and the detailed, sensory-rich image of one day flying for the Air Force. I knew him because he had a hard time with math and I came to have enormous respect for him as I watched his ups and downs with a subject that was critical to his dream. All I can say is he worked harder than anyone I had ever seen, He put up with the frustrations of progressing in a subject he found defeating, he put hours into doing whatever it took to be able to graduate and join the Air Force and he never quit talking about flying. He is in the Air Force. He passed the tests and is now living his dream. Not all of us have that kind of passion, determination and ability to keep a dream alive even during the most challenging times. Tutors, I and the other students, who came at the same tutoring time as Dylan, watched his progression and were inspired by it. What is your dream?

Acts of Kindness

Today's quote for the day is from Mother Teresa. She says: "We shall never know all the good a simple smile can do."

A friend gave me a compliment yesterday and, besides deeply appreciating it, I almost cried because I realized how starved I am for positive gestures of all kinds (this isn’t a plug) and it is not just me. I see the glow come over our students when they know they have done something above and beyond and we celebrate with them privately with a compliment or publicly by suggesting they write it on our “Good News Board.”

A smile given, even to a stranger, seems to lighten up my world and hopefully there’s. I can’t cite the study, but I read that serotonin levels (the feel good hormone)in our brains actually elevate when we act kindly and ALSO just by observing an act of kindness. I feel better already just thinking about it. Have a joyful day.

If you wish to respond, and I love it when you do, email cchristopher@studydepot.com.

"Mean" girls lose

Quote of the day: "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
--Michael Altshuler, personal achievement coach

This quote reminds me that there may be all kinds of negativity around me and how I respond to it is how it will affect my life. There is a lot of power in this realization.

Just this morning a parent was telling me how her 15 year old is trying to deal with other girls nastiness toward her. This is a very common complaint and excruciating to the girl. How to help? Understanding why this happens is a start. Aggression is a given as children reach adolescence, but boys and girls show it differently. Boys act it out through physical ways that are endlessly available to them, i.e. sports, shoving, even aggressive video games. Girls use some of those methods but not as much; their aggression shows up in relationships. Both genders are trying to find out who they are and where they stand in respect to their peers.

My advice to is, when someone says something mean, don’t engage, which is really hard to do when you feel compelled to defend yourself, but anything else only gives the meany more power. Not engaging can mean walking away; yes, the “meany” and friends will probably laugh but that is just empty air. Inside they may feel ashamed on some level—as they should. If you must say something, make it short such as, “that’s mean.” Then walk away.

Please email other suggestions to cchristopher@studydepot.com

Achieve the Beyond

Today's quote from Seth Godin (writer) for the day is: "You can't win by being more than average."

I used to think "more than average" was a win and I wish it still was. Helping students succeed in school so that they can choose from various colleges or career paths has taught me that "not just more, but above and beyond average" is the new yardstick. But, don't despair. When our children and students "believe, they can achieve." Help your child see the achievability of their dreams in practical ways. Research what it takes to be a pilot, veterinarian, Broadway star and then make a plan. Break the plan into manageable and time appropriate chunks and then work it (until a new dream may come along). To go “beyond,” take it a step further and teach your child to visualize achieving their dream including all the steps along the way. Help them see the "A" on the algebra test that will lead them to the grade that will lead them to the GPA that will lead them to the college that will result in acheiving the goal they only once dreamed about. Most important, include all the emotions that go along with even the small successes. Just dreaming is an intellectual exercise, dreaming, seeing and feeling what we want brings the achievement closer to reality.

Budget Cuts Scaring our Kids

Throughout our state, teachers, administrators, classified personnel and students are starting to fathom the reality of the “pink slip” and what it mean. In other words, most everyone is scared. We adults understand that the pink slip frenzy is supposedly necessary to seamlessly make staff and program changes that may or may not be needed for next year. The students, on the other hand, are sure they are losing their “favorite teacher” or the sports or theatre program they have connected to with their whole heart. Their emotions are raw with fear and anger; they need help dealing with the unstable academic climate that surrounds them.

How can we help them? We can reassure them that there have been no final decisions yet and if there are changes they find devastating, we will walk through them together. They need to know that our district administrators are making decisions based on how to best benefit the students. This may not “seem” to register, but it can’t hurt. The challenge is to defuse the negativity the children and teens are hearing and feeling as they listen to news stories, overhear or hear directly about their teacher concerns or get caught up in the student rumor-mill. Whenever the subject arises, and it will often, try to empathize with them without reinforcing their fear. Like most serious subjects we talk to our children about, it is best to follow their lead as to how much detail to go into. Sometimes I find myself over-explaining because I have overestimated their concern. Given a child’s worry I might say, “Yes, Mrs. X may not be at school next year and that is sad, but no one knows if that is true so let’s just appreciate her while she is here and keep good thoughts for her in mind.” These are words that are appropriate to my family; most families have their own ways of reassuring and talking through fears. The important thing is that the talk happens and not just once. Every rumor will need to be addressed, some more seriously than others. Be sure to stay informed, write your legislators and vote.

This blog doesn’t allow reader comments, but I would appreciate hearing what other readers are thinking about the subject. Email or call with your thoughts and I can pass them along as an entry.

Reading a Textbook Assignment--and Staying Awake

Staying awake means staying active, even when reading a textbook. Here are some tips:
· Scan (skim) the reading assignments for main ideas and jot them down on a mind map or list with lots of space to add to them.

· Check off (with a light pencil mark) each paragraph that you completely understand. If you start to get lost in the reading, you will know exactly where: just after the last check!

· If a section is too difficult for you, try reading in a whisper. Hearing what we read is like reading it a second time.

· Similarly, it is good to stop regularly and summarize out loud what you have just read.

· Try to link new information with the information you already know. Ask yourself, "How do I already know this?'' Active linking creates powerful memories.

· Take a few seconds to visualize what you have just read.

· Don't forget to jot down key words and concepts. If you read, `rite, and recite ("3R''), you've got a better chance of retaining crucial information. This is a good time to use a MIND MAP.

After taking a short break from studying, and before you start again, take a few minutes to review the information you have just learned. This will give you a sense of progress and motivate you to continue.

Remember to BREATHE. Your brain needs oxygen rich blood to function optimally so, sit up and breathe deep. It will help--Honest!

Save $$$$ (thousands) with "Smart" Tutoring

Students are starting the year strong with all the best intentions of keeping grades up and, at the same time, facing standardized tests, AP tests and "Spring Fever." That is a lot to expect and achieve. The best way to use tutoring is proactively--not reacting to a poor test score and/or a falling grade. Staying out of an academic “hole” is much easier than crawling out of one while trying to stay on top of current assignments. Some students and parents still mistakenly believe that tutoring is only for students who are failing; preventing failure is the best reason to invest in tutoring. The current academic environment demands much more from students than even five years ago. The resultant stress is experienced as negative feelings for students and parents. For many families the only communications they have with one another are arguments about homework and grades. Even the best students need support; consider that Tiger Woods has a coach as does almost every successful athlete. Consider getting tutoring before a problem arises and think of it as an investment now that can save thousands later. How? Avoid remedial college classes. Unprepared students are placed in these classes-- they do not count towards graduation and can prolong the college education one or even two years. Now is the time to learn to work smarter, not harder and still have time for friends and family.

Postpone College?

Parents are often wary about their student not transitioning immediately into a major college or even a community college. the fear is that their student may never continue their education. The reality is that most students who take a year off (a gap year) are often more motivated when they resume their education, usually the following year. The following article is one I found enlightening.



4 Reasons Why It Might Be A Good Idea To Postpone College by Deanna Mascle

Every high school junior and senior understands the pressure well. It seems everyone is asking that all-important question -- "Where are you going to college?" For some students the answer is easy. They know what they want to study and where they want to do it, but there are a number of students that the search for a college is made all the more difficult because they simply do not have a clear plan for their future. How can you choose a college when you aren't sure of your major or future career? There are four good reasons why it might be a good idea to postpone college.

Every year, first-year students in colleges around the country struggle and sometimes fail at their first foray into college. Often the cause of this failure is not lack of preparation or lack of ability, but quite simply lack of focus. College campuses are filled with temptations for youngsters away from home for the first time, but many students manage to withstand these temptations without greatly damaging their future prospects. The advantage these students have is often as simple as a clear-cut goal for their future. If a student does not have a plan for their future then it is easy to be distracted from possibilities by present temptations. Waiting to start college until you have a definite goal can give you greater focus.

Another benefit of waiting can also give you greater confidence because you will have developed skills in the workplace before returning to the classroom. Sometimes these skills might contribute to your future plans and education, but even if you worked in an unrelated field you will gain time management skills and a work ethic which will stand you in good stead in college.
College is expensive and tuition rises almost every year. If you take off a year to work and manage to bank a good amount of what you earn then you will have a nice way to offset those college expenses. If you play your cards right then your pre-college employer will be happy to welcome you back during college breaks and summers.

Taking a year off and working in your community might also be a great way to build up your college application. Perhaps you did not get into the college of your dreams the first-time around, then take some time to boost your resume through work or volunteer effort. Or you could take a few classes at a local college to demonstrate that you do have what it takes for your dream school.

Postponing college does not mean you will never go. You can take off one or two years and find it offers many more benefits to you as an individual. In fact, you might choose to stay home and while you are thinking and planning for the future you can still take some general education classes so it is not a wasted year. Even if you do not take classes, postponing college can reap the benefits of greater focus, increased confidence, more savings, and a stronger application.

About the Author
Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more education articles at http://ezinesbydawggone.com/

New Semester--Recipe for Success

Starting a new semester is like opening the first page of a journal--it is blank and waiting for your contributions. It is a new beginning for every class, even if your first semester work carries over. To get all "As" just do the work. It is sooooo much easier to stay on top of your classes than it is to fall behind and then try to catch up, while staying current with the new material. The best way to stay up to date with assignments, which usually translates into high test scores, is to think: "Layered Learning." This simply means going quickly over the information a few times. How? Spend 30-minutes every weekend organizing your papers and binder. Every time you touch a piece of paper, look at it briefly, remembering how it was presented, who you were sitting next to, and anything else that might pop into your mind as you glance at that paper. This should only take a moment. Then, put the paper where it belongs, feeling confident that your brain stored the information--again.

Colleen's-Corner Blog

Thank you for visiting the first blog post (I think that is the right term). As I write this I am realizing that there is a lot to learn about how to use a blog--I'm very excited to explore yet another totally unknown skill; feel free to offer advice.