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!

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:

• 7^th grade standardized test
• 7^th grade grades
• 8^th 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 7^th grade?

Acceptable 7^th 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 7^th 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 8^th grade?

In the 8^th 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 16^th. 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 7^th grade grades – so they will know your intentions.

If you are curious to see the score your child needs to receive on the 8^th 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!

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.

At EE, we have worked with hundreds, if not thousands of 7^th and 8^th grade students over the years prepping them for the various standardized tests required for the high school application process. Whether it has been the ISEE, SSAT, Stanford 10, Terra Nova, ISAT, HSPT (Catholic Schools), IB test or Selective Enrollment Exam for Chicago Public Schools, there have been certain strategies to live by that can help students score higher. Some people (teachers included) will advise that students not prep for these exams. Some educators would add, “You should have been ‘studying’ for the last 8 years in school.” Well, that may be the case, but should a student just go in cold? This seems silly to me. While I will agree that it is hard to “study” for such exams (can you really learn thousands of vocabulary words or an entire math course in just a few months?) there is merit in practicing and reflecting on some tried and true virtues of test taking.

• Read the questions carefully! I say this at least ten times in every class. If I could be a bobble-head on the desk of a student taking the test, I would just keep repeating those words.
• All the questions are worth 1 point, so don’t linger. Circle and move on if you don’t know the answer. There are easier questions ahead perhaps that you won’t get to if you are derailed.
• Use all of the time that you are given. Double check all answers, and remember that the four minutes that you spend on checking your work could affect four years of your life.
• Practice! Identify and address what you don’t know, not what you do know. Practice sections will let you know where you need to improve, and also the pace at which you have to move on tests.

A lot of what we teach kids are what I call “Duh” rules (like, “Duh, I get it!), but these are some of the hardest things for students to remember. Little things like:

• Listen to directions
• Use scratch paper
• Wear a watch
• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam
• Eat a healthy and hearty breakfast the day of the exam

Finally, what test preparation workshops can also help alleviate is S-T-R-E-S-S. Simulating the test environment and experiencing the types of questions expected on an exam will decrease the element of surprise, and give students more confidence when they sit down on test day. There are no magical secrets to test preparation for standardized tests. There are no guarantees of raised scores. There is, however, truth in the statement that practice makes perfect, or if not perfect, will certainly improve your chances of maximizing potential.

Check out the following sites for practice and more information:

• Free Rice – Vocabulary
• Khan Academy – Math
• ISEE
• SSAT

If you are interested in test preparation with Educational Endeavors, sign up for one of our workshops, or request a tutor today.

College essays have become an increasingly important facet of the application process.  With so many qualified applicants applying to top schools, it is the opportunities for uniqueness that help applicants earn their spots.  Below are some key concepts to remember to help you write a strong essay.

1. What’s Missing? Generally, the college essay is designed to offer applicants an opportunity to fill in the gaps.  When choosing your topic, there are two main questions that should guide your selection.  First, when you review your application, what are you most worried is missing?  Think in terms of personality especially.  Are you funny, kind, intellectual, driven, conscientious?  Figure out the key characteristics that colleges must know to know you well.  Question two, then comes out of that: what is a moment in your life that best showcases those characteristics?  Start by writing a narrative about that experience, then explain both what that experience meant to you and how that meaning will make you a strong candidate for college.
2. How Big? People make the mistaken assumption that their college essay has to reveal some major life-changing moment or survived tragedy.  Remember that these colleges want to know the real you—the everyday you.  Your narrative need not cover some grandiose topic.  In fact, it probably shouldn’t.  The larger the narrative, the harder it will be for you to focus on yourself and not the conditions of your experience.  Write about something constant and steady in your life instead.
3. Who’s Reading? Don’t forget to keep in mind who is reading this essay.  Most college admissions counselors are recent alums who have a strong affinity for the college they attended—so strong in fact, that they couldn’t imagine leaving when they graduated.  While these people certainly care about your academic qualifications, they are also preserving the social dynamics of a school.  They want to know that you will fit into the social structure they enjoyed so much.
4. How Many? Don’t forget that these readers are also reading way too many of these essays.  Imagine that is your job for a second.  Imagine that, crammed into a too-short period, you are tasked with reading hundreds of essays on the same prompt.  How much would you appreciate a clever and original essay?

Check out Yale’s College Application Essay Video Advice!

Keep these four things in mind when writing your essay, and you should end up with a pretty solid application.  If you need further advice, considering hiring Educational Endeavors for some one-on-one tutoring.  Written by: Greg Wright, EE Tutor

These little things can make a huge difference at the end of a semester.

1. Clearly label homework at the top of your homework with section, pages, problems, and date – this will help with organization in your folder as well.
2. Be NEAT! In algebra, go for the “V-shape.” If you are drawing graphs, shapes, or number lines, then use a ruler.
3. NEVER use a pen. Always use a pencil.
4. Give yourself space to work– you can recycle your homework at the end of the year
5. Show all of your steps, and model your answers after the book.
6. Use graph paper when required.
7. Always, box or circle your answer.
8. Listen to what your teacher wants (they are the ones grading it) and showing all your work, circling your answers, and putting it in the correct final form (fraction, decimal, etc.) is critical
9. Finally, check your answer. Do this yourself, or look for help from the book – worked out problems and answers in the back.
10. Got it wrong? Look back at the examples and follow the same steps. Still no help? Call a friend, ask your teacher, or go on-line for other examples

A few words on calculators…

Most teachers will let you use calculators for your homework, and on exams. This doesn’t mean that you have to use a calculator for EVERYTHING! Use a calculator only for large, complex calculations. Do not use a calculator for algebra, ever, even if you can program it to do it.  If you do multiplication and division on paper it will help you down the road.  Be Careful! Always ask, “Does that make sense?” when you get an answer. It is easy to make mistakes when using a calculator. Don’t blindly trust the result.