January
Insider’s Guide to Studying
Study secrets that teachers wished they had time to teach
Let’s face it: teaching students the secrets to acing tests isn’t on the curriculum. In fact, there’s barely time for teachers to cover the basics, let alone spend extra time teaching solid study skills. So, it’s no wonder that students struggle when it comes to study time!
Without solid study skills, students are left to figure it out on their own. However, The Oxford Learning Insider’s Guide To Studying gives students the tips that the pros use. These are the tips that teachers wished that they had known when they were students.
Insider Tip 1: Review with a Pen and Paper
Before beginning to study, students need to know WHAT to study. So, the first step is to grab a pen and paper and read over all notes, writing down subject headings, subheadings, and bolded words. This helps to give a clear picture of the study material.
As studying progresses, students should continue to write down any and all meaningful keywords. This creates study notes, which can then be used as reference material during the study process. Rather than continually looking through a textbook, or flipping through notes, students can just refer to their own study notes.
Get an Edge: Focus on writing down the ideas or concepts that are the most challenging, or that are the most difficult to remember.
Bonus! The physical act of holding the pen and writing makes study time active rather than passive. Reading over notes is passive; writing down keywords is active. Active studying is good studying!
Stay tuned…tip 2 is next.
Related: Study Tips for Exam Success
Read More »
Tips for Stress-Free College and University Application
No matter what the date on the calendar says, one thing is always true: university application deadlines are approaching, and they are approaching FAST. There may be various application processes and deadlines across Canada and the US, but one thing is always the same—applying to college or university is competitive and stressful! So, with that in mind, we’ve complied 8 tips for stress-free college and university application.
1. Don’t know what you want to study? Don’t worry! A general arts and sciences program is a great way to get a better feel for what your interests are. Colleges and universities have departments in place to help you make the best decisions for you. Be sure to take advantage of these resources—that’s what they’re there for.
2. Pick up the phone. Haven’t heard anything yet? Wondering if your application was received? If possible, find out the expected date when acceptance letters will be sent out to reduce waiting-related stress. Call the registrar’s office. Remember that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Getting answers is better than the stress of wondering.
3. Submit before deadline. Different schools have different regulations and deadlines, but applying before the deadline never hurts.
4. Have a plan/Do your research. Talk to guidance counselors and friends. Request catalogues, visit campuses, and join university and college social media groups. Even after you’ve applied, keep researching and continue to find out as much about the school, the campus, and the departments as possible.
5. Be realistic. If you have a 70% average, applying to schools that have an 85% acceptance averages is not the best strategy. If you know the school’s acceptance averages beforehand, and applied to schools in your range, your acceptance chances increase, which decreases stress levels.
6. Be organized. Keep track of submission dates and expected offer dates. Use an agenda or wall calendar. That way, you’ll know when to start watching for those big envelopes in the mail! Keep all your required submission materials such as student records, essays, and other forms in one place in case you need to refer to them later.
7. Have a back up plan in place. This is not negative—it’s realistic. Didn’t get in? Money fell through? What’s your plan B?
8. Breathe! Once the forms are submitted, relax. Take a deep breath. Take a night off. Then get back to work! High School isn’t over yet and there’s still time to pull up your average and increase your chance of admission!
Read More »
Foolproof Guide To Setting Goals For Students Of All Ages
It’s a new year, which means that it’s resolution time! 99.99% of resolutions are lifestyle resolutions: I’d like to eat better; I’m going to exercise more. But what about academic resolutions? The New Year is a chance to examine the areas of our life that need improving, and academics are no exception.
More likely than not, school is the one area that needs an overhaul the most.
By this point in the school year, students are in a pretty comfortable routine. They know their teachers; they know their classmates. They’re in a groove…but there is such a thing as being TOO comfortable, a fact that high school students can certainly attest to. Just as high schoolers are becoming familiar with their school routine, end-of-semester exams arrive. The arrival of exams calls for a change of tactics—a new way of thinking.
It’s time to re-energize the learning momentum.
It’s time to put down that Wii controller, step away from Facebook, and write down some academic goals for the New School Year!
However, setting goals isn’t typically a strong point for students. So, with that in mind, we compiled our Foolproof Guide to Setting Goals That Stick For Students of All Ages.
The first thing to know is that there is such a thing as a wrong way and a right way to set goals. Setting goals the wrong way sets students up for disappointment. Setting them the right way keeps student on track for success.
With that in mind, there is one simple rule to follow when setting goals:
- Don’t make broad goal statements
- Keep goals realistic
- Set goals with milestones
Here’s an example of a math-based goal that a student might make:
The wrong way to set a goal: I want to improve my math grade.
The right way to set a goal: I want to bring up my math grade from a C-minus to a C-plus for the next test.
By putting milestones in place, students can track where they began, where they are now, and where they are heading. This is a system that tracks success in a given timeline. And we all know that the more success we see, the more motivated we are to stick to the program.
The next step? Write down your goal in your own handwriting and put it someplace where the whole family can see it. This keeps us accountable for our goals.
Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you aren’t reaching your milestone. Did that test come and go and the grade stayed the same? Maybe it’s time to call Oxford Learning.
After all, built in to all of our programs is a system that helps students stay on top of their goals, and keep working towards better grades.
Oh, and one last thing: celebrate!
We can’t think of a better way to start the New Year.
Read More »