Upcoming 2009 Evening Guidance Series Events

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Upcoming 2009 Evening Guidance Series Events

• November 11, 2009 NCAA-Becoming a College
  Athlete Topics include the NCAAs regulations,
  deadlines, and required paperwork.
• December 9, 2009 Looking Beyond Career Planning
  for Underclassmen - Topics include how to prepare
  for the SAT/ACT, exploring careers and colleges,
  and the PSSA exams.
• January 13, 2010 Financial Aid Night Topics
  include the FAFSA form, federal deadlines and
  guidelines, scholarships, grants, and student
  loans. Note Begins at 630 PM.
• February 10, 2010 Understanding High Stakes
  Testing Topics will include test interpretation,
  methods of dealing with test anxiety, and
  strategies for increasing scores on the PSAT,
  SAT, ACT, and PSSA.
• April 14, 2010 Making The Transition Dealing
  With a Change Breakout sessions will be held for
  students moving 8th to 9th grade, 9th to 10th
  grade, and for students moving onto college/work.
  Topics will include high school transcripts,
  course selection, and strategies for success at
  NH and beyond.

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Skills for Academic Success

• Objectives
• To educate students and parents regarding methods
  which can lead to continued academic success
• To educate students and parents regarding methods
  of dealing with academic stress and test anxiety

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Opening Activity The Benefits of Education

• Students often ask adults
• Why do I have to go to school?
• Please spend a moment brainstorming with your
  parents/guardian regarding why it is important to
  attend school, especially high school.

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Benefits of an Education

• What type of reasons did you come up with?
• To pursue a valued goal? (helping people, curing
  diseases, teaching young people)
• Because you love the topic (books, medicine,
  etc)?
• To afford the things you want in life?
• To avoid unemployment?
• To be a contributing member of society?

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Benefits of Education

• These are all great reasons. While money isnt
  everything, you may be interested in these
  figures

Note These are 2008 numbers. Our economy has
suffered greatly in 2009 so they may be even
worse!
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Step 1 Know Yourself

• Lets take several minutes to examine about what
  type of student you really are. Please speak
  quietly with your parent/guardian and complete
  the handout entitled What Kind of Student Are
  You?

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What Your Score Means

• 20-15 You are a very good student. This session
  will mostly be a review for your, but it could
  raise your grades even further.
• 14-10 You are student who could be getting
  better grades. If you follow these suggestions,
  you will be able to improve your grades
  significantly.
• 9-5 You are probably not getting good grades. We
  want to help you tonight to change that. It could
  even change how you feel about school.
• 4-0 We are glad you are here. Memorize what we
  are saying!

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Step 2 Believe in Yourself

• In order for you to succeed, you have to believe
  in yourself and your abilities. Listen to this
  story as it will help to illustrate this idea.

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Step 2 Believe in Yourself

• Whether you are an athlete preparing for a
  competition or a student tackling a difficult
  subject, its important you believe in yourself.
• Recognize the talents and abilities your possess.
  
• Then decide to know and believe you will succeed.

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Step 3 Be Organized

• If you are organized, then you have what you need
  when you need it. Here are several ways in which
  to get organized
• Use an assignment book.
• Use three-ring notebooks for class notes
• Use folders for schoolwork and keep things in
  chronological order
• Keep your locker and backpack neat.
• Get organized before you go to bed.
• Color code your notebooks and folders for easy
  organization.

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Step 4 Manage Your Time Well

• With good time management, you make time for the
  things you have to do. You will then have time
  for the things that you want to do.
• Use class time and study halls
• Create your own study plan (See Handout 2).
• Prepare for sabotage.

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Step Five Practicing Success in the Classroom

• These tips may not only help you to get better
  grades, but you may even enjoy school more!
• Be in school, on time, every day.
• Learn how to adapt to different teachers.
• Be prepared for each class.
• Sit in the front if you are easily distracted.
• Be aware of your body language and non-verbal
  behavior.
• Advocate for yourself if you feel you are
  confused.

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Step Five Be Successful in the Classroom
(Continued)

• Always do you homework. There is a point to it!
• Participate in class.
• Be a good group member.
• Treat others with courtesy and respect.
• Involve your parents.

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Step 6 Take Good Notes

• Tests usually cover materials that have been
  presented in class. It is therefore important to
  have good notes from which to study.
• Be an active listener.
• Take notes to help you pay attention.
• Recognize important information.
• Review your notes as soon as possible.
• Get copies of class notes, turn in assignments,
  and make up assignments if you have been absent.

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Taking Notes IN CLASS

• 1. Dont try to write everything down. Listen
  for key words
• Listen for clues such as the 4 causes were or
  to sum it up.
• 3. If your class discusses the topic, note any
  major conclusions.
• 4. If your teacher emphasizes a point by writing
  it on the board or repeating it, put it in your
  notes.

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Taking Notes from BOOKS

• 1. Get the big picture first. Glance through
  chapter headings and subheadings
• 2. Read summary paragraphs at the end of each
  section or chapter to get a general idea.
• 3. Then read the entire chapter looking for the
  key points of each paragraph.
• 4. Taking notes on the chapter including
  questions that arise as you read the chapter and
  highlighting key points.

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Step Seven Study Smart

• Students who study smart find they spend less
  time studying and yet the get better grades.
• Find a good quiet place to study with no
  distractions.
• Get started! Dont put it off!
• Know your learning style. (Visual, Auditory,
  Kinesthetic)
• Organize your study time
• Make a plan
• Prioritize (Least favorite subject first!)
• Break large projects down
• Alternate types of assignments
• Know when to take breaks

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Step Seven Studying Smart

• Know what the test will cover.
• Pay attention the day before a test.
• Know the answers to review questions at the end
  of chapters.
• Write down names, dates, or formulas on an index
  cards and take it around with your during the day
  of test. Review when you can.

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Studying Smart Get Psyched!

• After every study session, tell yourself you are
  going to pass this exam. Offer yourself rewards
  for studying.
• Give yourself something to look forward to after
  studying and after the exam, so you can feel as
  if you have accomplished something. Often the
  time you spend doing this is just as important as
  the studying itself.
• Schedule your study sessions before pleasant
  times of the day, like mealtimes or a favorite
  activity or tv program.
• Have a set time schedule for studying so that you
  can tell yourself, "just one more hour," and
  there seems to be an end to the studying
  sessions.

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Studying Smart Get Psyched!

• Study during times of high energy. If you are a
  morning person, study early. If you are an
  evening person, study in the evening.
• When studying, have a snack on hand. Keeping your
  blood sugar high can help you stay alert and
  concentrate.
• Plan something special after your exam. Make sure
  you give yourself a higher reward for actually
  finishing the exam than you did for studying.
• Don't worry about the outcome of the exam after
  you take it, there's nothing you can do about it
  now. If you did the best you could, you have
  nothing to worry about!

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Step Eight Use Test-Taking Strategies

• In order to do well on a test, you must study
  hard and be prepared.
• Read the directions carefully.
• Budget your test taking time.
• Change positions to help you relax.
• If you go blank, skip the question and go on .
• If you're taking an essay test and you go blank
  on the whole test, pick a question and start
  writing. It may trigger the answer in your mind.
• Don't panic when students start handing in their
  papers. There's no reward for being the first
  done first.

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Step Eight Test Taking Strategies

• Relax! Don't think about the fear think about
  the next step and keep on task, step by step
• Use positive reinforcement for yourself
  Acknowledge that you have done, and are doing,
  your best
• Expect some anxiety. It's a reminder that you
  want to do your best and can provide energy just
  keep it manageable
• Realize that anxiety can be a "habit" and that it
  takes practice to use it as a tool to succeed
• You are in control. Take slow, deep breaths.

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After the test

• List what worked, and hold onto these strategies.
  It does not matter how small the items are They
  are building blocks to success.
• List what did not work for improvement.
• Celebrate that you are on the road to overcoming
  this obstacle.

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Step Nine Learn to Reduce Your Stress
Stress is the condition that results when
person-environment transactions lead the
individual to perceive a discrepancy, between
the demands of a situation and the resources of
the person. In medical terms, stress is the
disruption of homeostasis through physical or
psychological stimuli.
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Is Stress Bad?

• NO! In fact it is general stress that helps
  motivate us to succeed. Take for example that
  football or hockey game you saw last weekend. If
  the players did not feel somewhat anxious about
  the outcome of the game, they may not have worked
  to their full potential.
• Stress only becomes our enemy when it becomes an
  end in itself. When the focus of our energy turns
  to anxiety rather than the task at hand, it
  becomes detrimental to your efforts.

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Stress How to Handle It

• The key to reducing stress is to prevent it.
  Getting enough sleep, a proper diet, avoiding
  excess caffeine and other stimulants and taking
  time out to relax. Different approaches can
  achieve the same results.
• Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life.
  There are some stresses that you can't avoid and
  others that you can prevent or influence. Devote
  your time and talent to areas where you can make
  a difference.
• You may have heard this common invocation "Grant
  me the courage to change the things I can change,
  the serenity to accept the things I can't change,
  and the wisdom to know the difference."

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Strategies to Deal with Success

• 1. Try deep breaths or even breathing techniques.
• 2. Give exercise, meditation, or Yoga a try!
• 3. Soothing things Classical music, warm baths,
  etc.
• 4. Simplifying life. Identify burdens you can lay
  down.
• 5. Learn to put you first and say no.
• 6. Eat healthy, getting plenty of rest and
  exercise.
• 7. Avoiding unhealthy habits.
• 8. Share your feelings, even if it is with a
  diary.

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Test Taking Anxiety

• It is normal to feel nervous about an exam. In
  fact, it is beneficial to be moderately stressed
  right before the exam. It can heighten your
  awareness and sharpen your reflexes, allowing you
  to perform more quickly. It can even help you
  recall information you may not have otherwise
  remembered.
• However, if your level of stress rises too high,
  it can result in insomnia, loss of appetite, and
  sometimes even hair loss! This can obviously
  affect your performance on the exam.

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Step Ten Get Help When You Need It!

• When you have a problem, do something to resolve
  it.
• Congrats! Coming here was a great decision!
• See your teachers or go to morning tutoring on
  Mondays through Thursdays from 720- 800
• English Tutoring B239 and C251
• Math Tutoring B137
• Social Studies Tutoring B223
• Reading Tutoring B323
• Physics Tutoring B327
• Biology Tutoring C333
• Chemistry Library (M, W, and F)

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Tips for Parents

• Be interested. Your attendance here is awesome!
• Set goals and discuss expectations. Be clear
  about what you expect.
• Be available to help.
• Encourage involvement in activities, but monitor
  effect upon grades.
• Work with the school.

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Final Thoughts

• We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then,
  is not an act, but a habit.
  Aristotle
• The whole world steps aside for the person who
  know where he is going. Anonymous
• You are never a loser until you quit trying.
  Mike Ditka

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Thank you for attending!

• November 11, 2009 NCAA-Becoming a College
  Athlete Topics include the NCAAs regulations,
  deadlines, and required paperwork.
• December 9, 2009 Looking Beyond Career Planning
  for Underclassmen - Topics include how to prepare
  for the SAT/ACT, exploring careers and colleges,
  and the PSSA exams.
• January 13, 2010 Financial Aid Night Topics
  include the FAFSA form, federal deadlines and
  guidelines, scholarships, grants, and student
  loans. Note Begins at 630 PM.
• February 10, 2010 Understanding High Stakes
  Testing Topics will include test interpretation,
  methods of dealing with test anxiety, and
  strategies for increasing scores on the PSAT,
  SAT, ACT, and PSSA.
• April 14, 2010 Making The Transition Dealing
  With a Change Breakout sessions will be held for
  students moving 8th to 9th grade, 9th to 10th
  grade, and for students moving onto college/work.
  Topics will include high school transcripts,
  course selection, and strategies for success at
  NH and beyond.