Textbook Tutor

I've been spending some time tutoring a 3rd grader who is struggling with basic math facts.  For weeks, I was trying to use flash cards to hammer home basic multiplication and addition, and it just wasn't working.  When I saw him yawning repeatedly, I knew that the technique was simply too darned boring. I decided to spice things up a bit by making a game out of things.  Here are some games that seemed to work well: Flash card train ride (3 out of 5 stars): Place several flash cards in a row and have the kid pick a destination where he'd like to travel.  Have him complete the row of flash cards with no mistakes to travel to the destination.  Of course, you should then tell him it's a round trip, so he needs to also complete the flash cards quickly in reverse order. Blackjack (5 out of 5 stars): Hopefully, his parents will not get mad at me, but I actually taught their kid blackjack.  Then, I dealt the cards, and we had a friendly competition.  ...

In order to ace your tests and succeed in school, you obviously need to study. Studying can sometimes be a grind, so in order to be both efficient and effective with your time, you need to be ultra-focused in your study habits.  Unfocused studying can be nearly as bad as no studying at all.  Here are some best practices for how to stay focused while studying: Find a quiet study environment : It's hard to concentrate and absorb your study materials if there's loud music, a television, or talking friends and family in the background. Establish a clean workspace : It may be hard to believe, but having a clean desk is a simple way to get yourself comfortable and into a good frame of mind for studying. Avoid the computer and cell phone : You will learn at a faster pace when you can focus for a reasonable period of time without distraction.  Don't break up your thinking by continually checking your text messages or status updates on your favorite social network. Take perio...

Final exam season is upon us.  Here are some techniques to embrace both prior to and during the actual exam: If your teacher offers exam prep sessions, be sure to attend them.  At the very least, you're likely to learn about the format of the exam or the topics that the teacher wants to emphasize during the test.  Moreover, you may even get a flavor for the specific questions that will be asked. Try to get some practice exams from previous years.  Again, you'll see the types of questions that are likely to be asked, and it's often the case that teachers will recycle questions from prior years. Develop a study schedule that is steady and well-paced, but don't be afraid to do some last minute cramming.  Cramming is not great for long-term comprehension, but short-term regurgitation is more important in the case of final exams. That said, don't overdo the cramming.  Get a good night's sleep, so your mind works well on the day of the exam. Eat a decent b...

One of the easiest ways to improve your grades is by participating more in class.  If you embrace even a few of these techniques, you'll find that your performance in school will improve rapidly: Ask Questions : This is perhaps the easiest technique, since there really are no stupid questions, and teachers will never evaluate a question as being wrong or right.  Asking questions whenever you don't comprehend something will ensure that you do not fall behind the rest of the class, and your classmates will probably also be grateful when they have the same confusion. Raise Your Hand : Don't be shy when you know the answer to a question.  Raise your hand and show off your knowledge.  Your teacher will appreciate your participation and often improve your grade as a result, especially if your grade includes classroom participation.  By the way, be strategic about trying to answer the easy questions that often come first.  Your teacher will make a mental note ...

Here are some tips that are certain to help you or your student at home: Stay organized .  Believe it or not, a big reason why students drop a letter grade or bring home poor scores is simply because they forget to complete assignments, forget about announced quizzes and tests, or worse yet, complete assignments and forget to turn them in.  Use a daily planner to keep track of assignments and upcoming tests, and before going to bed at night, review the planner for each class to be sure you’re ready for the next day. Take good notes .  There are several benefits to taking good notes in class.  First of all, taking notes helps you pay attention in class, rather than dozing or allowing your mind to drift.  Second, good notes are incredibly valuable when preparing for exams, because they should summarize the key lessons and make your studying more efficient. Find a quiet place to study .  Many kids study in loud areas, including in front of the TV.  Those ...