Kids forget stuff all of the time. Where they left their book bag. What day the next soccer game is. When Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone.

Before writing kids off as hopelessly forgetful, consider that they may have simply never been taught how to remember.

As the World Memory Champions can tell you, there are tricks—simple tricks—that everybody can use to improve memory abilities.

So what’s the secret?

When it comes to improving your memory, the most important secret is … imagination.

And luckily for forgetful students, kids have a natural abundance of imagination.

Telling stories and visualizing details improves the ability to recall details. That’s because visual memory is larger and stronger than logical memory.

The main memory technique involves making visual associations. This is where imagination comes in. The associations do not have be logical or make sense. They only need to be relevant to the individual.

For students, it might be the only instance where being illogical, nonsensical, and random pays off in school.

Here are some of the best tips that filmmaker Josh Freed learned while filming his documentary
Where Did I Put My…Memory?

1. Numbers: Imagine numbers as shapes or common images. For instance, the number 5 could be a snake, the number 8, a snowman. Then, recall numbers by crafting a story around the numbers. This technique could be very helpful in helping young children remember phone numbers.

2. Placement: Always remember where you left something by imagining it blowing up. Rather than dropping off a book bag in the front hall, pause and visualize it blowing up. Or, maybe a less violent image for younger children—perhaps the image of taking a nap would work.

3. Names: Visualize something about a person’s name. Associate the first letter of the name with an object. For instance, the name Laura could be associated with a shamrock because she was wearing green when you met her, and shamrocks are lucky. Lucky and Laura both start with the letter L.

4. Singing. There has been much success with singing instructions and repeating the chorus. The Alphabet Song has been helping preschoolers learn the alphabet for years, while teacher Alex Kajitani has become known as the Rappin’ Mathematician for using rap to teach math skills to students.

5. Making up stories. Making lists and writing things down is a tried and true way to avoid forgetting, but when these sorts of memory aids are not available, making up stories can not only help people remember important tasks and details, it can actually help make the brain stronger, and less reliant on outside tools to aid recall.

Check out the article The Secrets of Mastering Your Memory for more information and for information about how technology will help memory in the future.

1. Take Envy-Worthy Class Notes. The first step in making homework easier actually begins in class with good note taking. In order to take the kind of class notes that other classmates will ask to borrow, students have to be actively paying attention in class—texting, daydreaming, or crushing on the cutie two rows over might be fun, but certainly doesn’t work in students’ favour when it’s homework time.

2. Use Your Agenda. Schools don’t pass out agendas so that students have a place to doodle—an agenda is actually a very important tool that helps students stay organized. But, it can be used for more than just copying down daily homework assignments: it can help students prioritize their workflow, organize their time, keep track of questions to ask the teacher, and much, much more.

3. Know What Works for You. There’s a lot of differing advice about how to proceed with homework. Start with the hardest subject. Start with their easiest subject. But there is only one piece of advice that students really need: do whatever works for you. Getting the homework done is the name of the game, so whether students like to get math out of the way first, or whether they always read for English while sitting on the couch, the important thing is that they develop a routine that helps them easily get into the homework groove.

4. It’s Homework Time. If there’s one thing that we know about the brain, it’s that it can be easily trained. It’s wired to develop habits and to recognize schedules, like when it’s time to eat, and when it’s time get up. The brain can also be readily programmed to recognize when it’s homework time. In order to do this, students need to work on homework at approximately the same time every day. By being consistent about when they crack open the books, students will find themselves getting into the homework groove regularly and effortlessly.

5. Homework Habitat. The idea of having a set place to do homework and to study is not new. What is new, however, is research that says that different study locations can help students actually experience better recall. If getting up and moving around, or exploring different locations to crack open the books helps students beat the study blahs and improve recall, they should go for it! (See tip three: Know What Works For You) However, having a place where students can dump their bookbags and keep their school supplies is still a great idea—it helps them get organized, eliminates time-wasting activities such as searching for that calculator or pencil sharpener, and goes a long way to helping establish a groovy homework routine.

6. Remove Distractions. TVs. Cellphones. iPods, Computers: when it comes to homework procrastination, these are all tried-and-true tools of the trade. A student sits down to do homework and on the second question needs to Google something. Suddenly it’s an hour later and question three hasn’t been started. It’s a scenario that all students—young and old alike—are more than familiar with. If getting the homework done quickly and correctly is the name of the game, then removing distractions is key. Turn the TV off. Take the earbuds out. Step away from the laptop. If certain questions require online support, save them until the rest of the homework has been completed.

That being said, if students work better with a little background noise, then put the radio on at a low volume, (see Tip 3) and be sure that any rockin’ out isn’t distracting from the task at hand.

Report cards are stressful. Report cards can be confusing. And, like it or not, they will be here before you know it.

Now that families everywhere have settled back into their school year routine, it’s time to start thinking about report cards. Too often, after the back-to-school rush is over, families relax into the school groove. Then the first report card arrives, and BLAM! Bad news: things are not going as smoothly as they should be.

Luckily, there are plenty of stay-in-the-loop tricks that parents can use to prevent a report card sneak attack.

5 Easy Tips to Take The ‘Uh-Oh’ Out of Report Cards:

1. Take five minutes to communicate with the teacher every week, via phone, email, or in person to ask how your child is doing in math/ reading/spelling/ listening, etc.

2. Go online. The Internet is a wonderful tool to keep informed. If your child’s class has a web page, log on and get involved.

3. Review past report cards. Chances are that school issues from last year will re-appear, so review previous report cards and keep your eye out for repeat problems.

4. Follow up when tests and assignments are returned to your child. How did it go? Were the results what you were expecting?

5. Don’t wait. If there are any issues, seek help as soon as you learn of them. The earlier that problems are addressed, the easier it becomes to fix those problems for the whole year through.

Parents don’t need a report card to know how their child is doing in school—staying involved every step of the way helps avoid report card stress, and gets school problems taken care of before they get out of hand.

After all, the only thing that should surprise you about report cards is how quickly they arrive.

One very important thing that you should know about high school is that if you don’t care what your marks are, it’s very likely that your teachers are not going to care either.

And why should they? They teach three to four classes a day with at least twenty students in a class. It is rare for a teacher to ask you to stay after class to discuss your bad marks, or help you better understand what you are learning.

 This year I was struggling in two of my classes: French and math.

In math class, I didn’t ask for any extra help, and my teacher didn’t offer any—even when my grades started to drop. But, my French teacher was great. She allowed me to stay after class for help, gave me tips on how to better take tests, and she even said she would allow me to take my written tests orally.

My point is that high school is very different from elementary school. You are given more freedom, and teachers start treating you more like an adult. If you are getting low grades, it is up to you to improve them. You have to learn to help yourself. You are guaranteed to succeed as soon as you learn this fact.

My Mistake: Rushing.
It is common to rush during a test, exam, or a project. All I can say is: DON’T! This causes your work to get sloppy and inaccurate. You can loose marks very fast. Just take your time and, whatever you do, do not rush!

About me: I go to South Secondary School in London, ON and I have two younger siblings. I have always been a movie guy. But movies aren’t the only thing I enjoy. In the summer I love to bike with my friends down to the Thames River and ride along the trails. The sights and the entire ride are always beautiful. Anyway, hopefully you’ll enjoy my  posts! Remember to leave feedback and comments at the bottom! – Dylan.

Stop daydreaming about summer! There’s work to be done!

Midterms have come and gone. Spring Break is over. The days are getting warmer, and what’s left of the school year can be counted in weeks.

Students have a tendency to drift as spring arrives. After spending months indoors, the warmer temperatures and shining sun become major distractions, which make it more challenging to focus on schoolwork.

While the school year may be winding down, this is not the time to slack off!

The school year may be coming to close, but there is still time to get better grades. There’s time to study harder. There’s time to complete an extra credit project. There’s time to develop better study skills. And most importantly, there’s still time to make a big difference on the final report card.

If grades need improving, the time to get started is right now! Slacking off now is NOT a good idea. In fact, can be downright dangerous to grades. Students who have worked very hard the entire year, can actually lose their academic footing if they let their focus slip from school.

That’s why it’s important to remain motivated. After all, there are still end-of-year projects, group work, and final exams on the horizon.

The truth is that this is the perfect time to renew a sense of school dedication. Because even though the school year is coming to a close, a lot can be accomplished in the time left.

So stop daydreaming about summer! There’s work to be done! Here’s how to stay motivated (and even pull up grades) in the time left:

1. Dust Off That Agenda. Agendas have kept students organized throughout the school year and now’s not the time to leave them forgotten in lockers or at the bottom of a school bag. Need to renew the drive to succeed? Flip through the agenda for a reminder of everything that has been achieved so far this year.

2. Work Towards a Goal. It’s easy to coast for the rest of the year, but rather than slacking, set a goal and work towards it. Whether it is by fine-tuning study skills or pulling up a math grade, having a goal to work towards makes staying motivated easy.

3. Take On Extra Credit Projects. Students that need a leg up (whether to pull up grades or to secure a university admission) can really benefit from extra credit projects. Talk to teachers about bonus projects or assignments. Teachers look favourably on students who make an effort, and this is especially important when it comes to creating final report cards.

4. Make Better Grades Your Mantra. To get better grades you have to do the work. To do the work, you have to be motivated, which is challenging this time of year. Create daily reminders of what the goal is—write “I want better grades” in your agenda, put it on post its by your bed, and repeat it to yourself while walking the dog. The more you say it, the more you’ll believe it!

5. Get Extra Help. End-of-year projects and exams can stress even the most organized students. Enlist the help of a professional tutor to help manage current workload and learn helpful tips to make studying for finals stress-free. Oxford Learning has many great programs that help students make the rest of this year as successful as possible. Call today and make the rest of this year count!

Hannah McGregor is your average 17-year-old high school student. She goes to class and has an active social life. She even has extra-curricular activities. There’s one difference though: Hannah’s main extra-curricular activity is skating with Nexxice, the 2009 World Junior Silver Medalist Synchronized Figure Skating Team.

It goes without saying that Hannah has a pretty packed schedule. She has regular practices 3-4 times a week for 3-4 hours at a time, as well as a 1.5 hour commute to and from the arena. She has competed internationally in Italy and Switzerland and is preparing to head to France for an international competition, as well as readying herself for the 2010 World Juniors in Sweden this March.

So how does Hannah balance an active amateur skating career with the life of a full-time student?

In one word: organization.

On Studying

Fresh from writing her last exam of the semester, Hannah says that when it comes to studying and homework she likes to find a place to study and stay there as long as possible. During commutes to and from practices, she creates study notes so that she can use the drive time to complete homework and prepare for tests.

Hannah says that she has learned the art of prioritizing, which is essentially a juggling act. Keeping her marks up in all of her subjects sometimes requires her to postpone or push back certain subjects so that she can direct her attention to the subjects that she struggles in.

On Teachers

While teachers are flexible, Hannah says that she isn’t often given extended deadlines, which means that she has to use her time wisely. But, when it comes to missing tests or assignments due to competitions, she works with teachers to find a compromise that works for everybody. Hannah finds that having good grades works in her favour when asking for extended deadlines. Smiling, she adds that it never hurts to be nice to your teachers!

On Essays and Exams

After the highs of a competition, it can be challenging to switch into an essay-writing mindset, so Hannah is careful to recognize when and where she can get her work done and use that time wisely. The key is don’t waste time!

Hannah is sure to not let missed class time or assignments catch up with her when it comes time for exams. She keeps up-to-date study notes throughout the semester and tries to listen actively in class at all times. Both of these things mean less effort when it comes time to study.

On Parental Support

While Hannah is super-organized and works hard to maintain a healthy school/life/skating balance she says that with such a busy schedule, good parental support isn’t just necessary—it’s essential!

Oxford Learning congratulates Hannah on all her success and wishes Nexxice the best of luck this week when they compete in France, and in March at the World Juniors in Sweden!

Good Luck Hannah! We’ll be cheering you on!

Everyone has changed, according to two Canadian authors of the book called The Ego Boom: Why the World Really Does Revolve Around You.

Steve Maich and Lianne George argue that today we think much differently than we used to. Once upon a time we would ask for help from others. That morphed into the individual wanting, wanting, wanting products. Today, that too, has changed to where we all think we’re experts. We are so “special” that we think we know more than others, and this has led to today’s economic meltdown. For example, many young people have bought homes with huge mortgages, not because they could afford to, but because they are “special” and want everyone to see that, say the authors. We all want to be seen by others. The result is social media such as Facebook.

I use Facebook and sometimes I see a “friend” say “YES, I just washed my hair.” Who cares? Today, the cell phone seems to be the best friend of young people because the phones can be customized with a special ring, a special color, a special type—all special because I’m special.

Employers today report that many potential employees won’t stay on the job, won’t agree change their outlook.

Universities report that students argue, ferociously, to have their grades increased. I know of one case where the students and parents showed up at the door of the professor, along with their lawyer. This philosophy also has led many people to have little if any trust in the institutions of the courts, schools, medicine and more.

A few years ago Time Magazine featured its Person of the Year. No, it wasn’t Bill Gates or the Pope or Gandhi. It was YOU. You and I are so special we can hardly stand it. And yet, how will that attitude work when our young people have to enter the workforce in an economy that is rapidly being transformed? Our children need to learn how to think, how to adjust as the changes come in their future.

Thanks to contributing author John Storm, Center Director of Oxford Learning St. Catharines.

• The Ego Boom: Why the World Really Does Revolve Around You
  By Steve Maich and Lianne George

Reading, writing, and spelling go hand-in hand. The more you read and write the more that spelling improves; the more that spelling improves, the easier it is to read and write!

Pick up a pen and write. Write about anything or nothing at all. Look up a challenging word and write it over and over until it is ingrained in your brain. Then pick a book and read. The more that you read and write, the more that spelling will improve. After all, research has shown the interdependence of reading, writing, and spelling. It’s win-win-win!

Has homework reached critical mass in Toronto?

Families across the greater Toronto Area will be on the edge of their seats in the upcoming weeks as they wait to hear whether or not Toronto District School Board trustees will make the groundbreaking decision to ban or restrict homework.

The fact that homework could be on the legislative chopping block at all is not that much of a surprise. Homework has been a thorn in the collective sides of parents for some time now as the sheer amount of homework that children face each night has been wrecking havoc in otherwise happy households.

Kids are stressed by the volume of homework they face every night, and parents aren’t too happy about it either.

Homework amounts seem to increase in direct relation to teacher cutbacks and classroom sizes. School boards are expected to do more with fewer resources and classroom sizes are rapidly expanding giving teachers less time to teach materials during class, which means that in order to meet grade standards, more and more homework is assigned to the student. Unable to teach the curriculum in class, teachers send it home as homework. Now legislators want to eliminate homework entirely.

Something’s gotta give.

No single set amount of time for homework will work either because kids still need some measure of individualized attention. They still need to learn how to prioritize tasks, how to be organized, and how to make sense of the work that they’ve been assigned.

How do you feel about the potential homework ban?

Throughout the past year we’ve taken a close look at the educational topics that tie directly into the hot topics of the school year. Each month we looked at one topic that was relevant to what was going on in your child’s academic life—because even when school is out, learning continues.

From Back-to-school to final exams and summer learning, regardless of where you are located, these are some of common school themes and distinct benchmarks in the academic calendar.

Take a look:

• January: Start the year off right with strong academic resolutions for the rest of the school year.
• February: Stay focused. The winter blahs are in full swing by mid February. Here’s how to help kids stay focused and on track on during a slump month.
• March: March is synonymous with Spring Break. The tips help you to keep your child academically on track with fun games.
• April: For teens in high school, the push towards final exams can begin as early as April. The best tip to ace exams is to start early and be organized.
• May: Be prepared is not only the scouting motto, it’s a great motto for parents to adopt. Spring has arrived, but it’s time to think ahead to summer.
• June: Graduation is a major transition in the life of a student. Here are some tips to help your child make it a smooth transition.
• July: Kids need to keep learning all summer long to prevent the aptly named “summer brain slide.” Make learning fun all summer long.
• August: Help your household prepare for back to school.
• September: Help your child ease back into a happy homework routine.
• October: Help kids prepare for the first big test of the year with surefire study skills.
• November: The first report card of the school year is here. Do you know what to expect? These tips help you have a happy report card experience.
• December: Get organized and stay focused this holiday season by practicing time management.