Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
The calendar has turned to May so you know that the end of the school year is coming. That’s the good news. The bad news is that to get there you must travel through the hell week known as FINAL EXAMS.
Learning how to deal with the stress of final exams is a critical part of success in high school and college. Hopefully, each semester you get better at it, but it is never a cakewalk. Remember that finals week is not supposed to be fun – it is worth months of school work – so sacrifices have to be made. Try to visualize how happy you will be when you are done! It will be well worth the effort. Here are some tips:
Gather all of the materials you will need to study – knowing what you need to know and having those materials is the first step: review sheets, class notes, books, returned tests, quizzes, and papers. If you don’t have something, ask a friend if s/he has it.
Prioritize – figure out what is the most important subject for which you need to prepare. Be honest with your assessment and determine which scores you need in order to reach the grade you desire.
Make a schedule – starting early and actually writing out a study schedule in your assignment notebook helps in juggling the various subjects for which you need to prepare. Be realistic in how much time you will need to prepare for each class. The challenging part is sticking to the schedule.
Limit your use of electronic devices – cut your texting down to 100/day instead of 500! Unplug the X-box. Take a break from Facebook. Record your TV shows and watch them after finals.
Get help – see a teacher, study with a classmate, go in for tutoring, or work in a study group (make sure it is a real study group – not just a social group).
Find a quiet place to study – You need to FOCUS this week. A library will not have the same distractions as your home. At least, study at a desk or table, not in your bed. Find that special place where you can get your work done efficiently. Work smarter…not harder.
Set goals and take breaks – setting goals are important throughout the year, especially during finals week. When you reach a study goal, take a break. Reward yourself with something fun. Recharge!
Health and Wellness – this is perhaps the most important thing to do because if your brain isn’t working well, then all the studying is for not. Eat well, get sleep (do not pull all-nighters), exercise, and stay hydrated. If you’re exhausted, stop. You’re just wasting your time. Above all, do not get so stressed out that you can’t think.
These tips, as well as many other ways to work on your executive functioning skills are taught in our Ideal Student Workshops. Check out the details on our website. Good luck on your Final Exams!
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Many parents of children at private elementary schools consider Selective Enrollment High Schools as an option for their children. These Selective Enrollment High Schools are the top nine public high schools in the city of Chicago, and include schools like: Walter Payton College Prep; North Side College Prep; Whitney Young; Jones College Prep; and Lane Tech. The competition is fierce and admittance to these schools requires near perfect scores.
So what do I need to know?
3 components make up the 900 point score that determines admittance:
- 7th grade standardized test
- 7th grade grades
- 8th grade selective enrollment exam
Scoring:
Each of the three components listed above is scored according to the CPS scoring rubric.
Which test do students take in the 7th grade?
Acceptable 7th grade standardized tests for CPS can change year to year. For 2011-2012, the list of acceptable tests included the following: California Achievement Tests (CAT) – 6th Edition; Terra Nova; Stanford Achievement Test 10; Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS); Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement 2; Woodcock Johnson Test; or Wechsler Individual Achievement Test 2. If your school is offering one of these tests, encourage your child to do their best!
For 2012-2013, CPS will determine and release the list of acceptable standardized tests in October of 2012. CPS also offers a limited opportunity in October for eighth-graders to obtain a comparable test score at their local elementary school. Contact your neighborhood CPS school in the fall of 2012 to arrange for testing. Going to your local school will be the most affordable way to take a qualifying 7th grade test.
However, if your private school does not offer a qualifying test, we recommend the following:
Stanford 10 test
- Overview: Computer-based test
- Contact: Charnell Thomas: (312. 261-3359 or charnell.thomas@nl.edu)
- Where: National Lewis University
- When: Summer
- Cost $75
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement
- Overview: A low stress, no time limit exam that will test math and reading comprehension. A good test to point out gaps in your child’s academic knowledge.
- Contact: Cheryl Lind (office: 847.901.0173; cell: 847.970.8074 or cheryllind@yahoo.com)
- Where: Center for Gifted in Evanston
- Cheryl Lind, School Psychologist recognized by Gifted Office at CPS
- When: Available by appointment
- Cost: $250
Important to know: Students can take more than one type of exam and submit their highest score. So you may want your child to take a couple tests to try and get into the 99%!
Which test do students take in the 8th grade?
In the 8th grade, all students take the same exam – the Selective Enrollment Exam. Official applications for the Selective Enrollment Exam are submitted in the fall. Last year, the deadline was December 16th. The application can be downloaded here. There will be four or five different dates when students can take the exam. (Hint: if you want more time to prep for the exam – sign up near the deadline and they will have to give you a test date in January). Note: Your current school will have to provide your 7th grade grades – so they will know your intentions.
If you are curious to see the score your child needs to receive on the 8th grade selective enrollment exam, you can use the online calculator.
Finally, if you have any questions, you can call:
CPS Office of Access and Enrollment: 773.553.2060
Educational Endeavors has been assisting students prepare for the CPS Selective Enrollment exam for years. The test evaluates math, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling skills. While we do not know the exact questions, EE has a vast amount of experience in teaching test strategies, and in the key subject areas students will be responsible to know. We have gleaned valuable knowledge from helping students prepare for the exam, and by collecting important information during exit interviews. Our results have been outstanding, and we have helped many students get into the top Selective Enrollment Schools.
To sign up for a workshop, check out our Ideal Student Workshops today!
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
It is a new year and a great time for setting goals. We work with students all the time in the area of “Executive Functioning” skills development. A fancy word popular today not only at work, but in school. Of course you know what it means – getting organized! Developing these skills as a student will make you more efficient and productive at school.
When we teach our Study Skills 101 workshop we stress ten different core skills: organization; time management; note taking; discussion skills; self-advocacy; exam-prep; goal-setting; focusing; peer review; and research fundamentals.
Perhaps the most important of these skills is goal-setting. Whether it is in athletics, running a business, or trying to get into a great college, goal-setting is a key component to success. It is what drives you to succeed, and how you can judge your progress. In almost all of the group sessions we lead, we ask students to set “goals for the day.” It is just a micro-lesson in how bigger goals can be achieved by setting smaller goals, and reflecting on how you did, or did not, accomplish what you set out to do. We encourage students to make S.M.A.R.T. goals. It is a really nifty acronym that has been used for years in encouraging effective goal-setting. What does it mean?
- S = Specific. A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. If the goal is too broadly conceived, then you may always be able to rationalize that you achieved it.
- M = Measurable. You must be able to measure whether you accomplished the goal or not. With measureable goals you can also see along the way if you are on track, or falling behind.
- A = Attainable. Can you come up with a game plan to achieve this goal? Which skills and abilities can you develop to make this goal a reality?
- R = Realistic. Are you actually capable of doing what you have to do to achieve this goal? Also, based upon your experience, is this something that is reachable? We encourage you to think big, and dream high, but don’t set goals that are unrealistic. However, don’t shoot too low either. Only you can make this decision.
- T = Timely. You should have a deadline for this goal. We all work better with a set time to accomplish tasks. With the commitment of a deadline, your efforts will increase as the due date draws closer.
We also sometimes say that “T” can stand for “talk about it.” It is useful to tell your friends, your parents, or post it on your wall (Facebook or literally – on your wall) as you will gain additional motivation from others by making your goals public.
Goal-setting is key! In answer to the question at the top: What is a goal without a plan? Answer: A WISH.
