Are You an Adult Going Back to School?

Study Skills for Adults

If it’s been a while since you were in school, a return to the academic life can be a big adjustment. College classes cram a great deal of information into a semester. When was the last time you had to remember so many details? Understanding some basic tenets of adult learning theory can help you develop the study habits you need to be successful:

Adult learners need motivation to learn. As children, we are naturally curious little sponges absorbing everything we can from our environment – unless someone comes along and kills our enthusiasm for learning. By the time we reach adulthood, we’re caught up in a world of work and responsibility that leaves little energy for learning. The first thing you need to do, then, is clarify for yourself your motives for going back to school. What short- and long-term goals do you hope to achieve as a result of going to school? How will you feel when you earn that degree or certificate? How can you benefit from what you learn in a particular course? Reminding yourself of your most driving motivation is critical when you need to pull yourself out of a slump.

Adult learners need the right study environment. This is Study Skills 101. Like children, we need a regular place and time to establish the habit. The space should be well-lit and organized. Whether you prefer quiet or listening to music, do what feels best for you. Television and talk radio are not recommended because conversation pulls too much of your focus away from the material.

Adult learners need to interact with the material. Listening to lectures and reading alone are too passive. You need to involve as many senses as possible, and take a more active role. Try developing a set of questions, or reading the ones at the end of the chapter, before you start to read. As you read, stop and reflect each time you find material that may answer one of your questions. You’ll get even more out of the study session if you actually write out the questions and answers. This brings a tactile element to your learning experience. Are you studying a complex theory or required to retain a great deal of facts and data? Try organizing the information visually; that is, draw a model, illustrate the idea with pictures, or create charts and graphs to show the relationships between the details. By thinking about your material in a structured way, you reinforce higher order thinking and create a visual aid in the process.

Adult learners need practice. In order to do anything well, we need practice. You should quiz yourself regularly, or enlist the support of a study buddy to quiz you. No cheating! If you do that you won’t discover the weak areas where you need to focus more. Keep track of your performance on each “quiz”. If you are truly applying the techniques described in this article, you’ll find your performance improves significantly with repetition. This will help build your confidence for testing day. 

If you need any help building skills before you return to school or even GED prep, give A Quantum Leap a call! 1-877-295-5327

http://www.tutoringbycity.com/tutoring/adult_tutoring_florida.htm

Test-Taking Strategies to Finish Strong

Does your child often forget books or notes in their locker at school? Do you notice they do all of their homework but they just can’t pass their tests in class? Test anxiety is mainly caused by a lack of study and organizational skills. At A Quantum Leap Tutoring, we can help students with these skills and therefore help them prepare for their tests more efficiently. 

The Study Guides and Strategies website has more information on test anxiety and its common causes. Elements such as time management, confidence and comfort also play a role in a student’s test anxiety. Don’t wait until it’s too late to see how we can better prepare them for the important tests they will take now, and in the years to come.

Visit our new website today and see how we can help you or your child achieve the grade they desire on their test:

www.TutoringByCity.com 

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How To Ease Test-Taking Anxiety contributed by our guest blogger- Lori Lite

We sought out a specialist for this blog because we know everyone is preparing for some big exams throughout Florida. Whether your child is getting ready for the FCAT, ACT or SAT, these strategies will carry them (and you) through! Of course, call A Quantum Leap for all your test-taking tutoring needs!

Ease Test Taking Anxiety 

By Lori Lite / Stress Free Kids

It’s normal for kids and teens to feel a little nervous before a big test, but anxiety left unchecked can affect grades. A quiz or full blown standardized test can evoke feelings of stress, fear, and even panic. All students eventually face an SAT, ACT, ITBS, CRCT,CTBS, or CAT. Even home schoolers face the PASS test. Studies have shown that students that practice relaxation achieve higher test scores. Empowering techniques of deep breathing, visualizing, and positive statements are easy to implement. Preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, college…. It is never too soon or too late to introduce the following technique.

Here are some signs that a child is stressing or overly worried about tests:

•  Doesn’t want to go to school, especially on test day

•  Cries or has melt-downs during the days leading up to a test

•  Changes eating and sleeping patterns in the days before a test

•  Puts herself down or calls himself “stupid”

•  Has an upset stomach or a tension headache before a test

•  Performs well on practice tests but not on the real test

A powerful stress buster for test taking is positive self-talk. Anxiety can be lowered and confidence boosted with this simple technique. The following statements can be used before and during tests.

When angry or stressed, I take deep slow breaths.

I am calm, focused, and smart.

I am relaxed and alert.

I calmly trust my knowledge.

I know the answer to this question and I will look at it again in a few minutes.

I am smart and relaxed.

I am doing the best I can do, and my best is terrific.

I remember to breathe deeply during my tests.

Breathing deeply brings more oxygen to my brain.

I have enough time.

I have studied and I am prepared.

Being calm helps me to remember more.

Getting proper rest is essential to performing well at school and on tests. The Indigo Dreams CD Series introduces positive statements and 3 additional relaxation techniques for children and teens. Breathing, visualizing, progressive muscle relaxation will all help before, during and after tests.

Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. Ms. Lite’s books, CDs, and lesson plans are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. Lori is a certified children’s meditation facilitator and  Sears’ Manage My Life parenting expert. For more information visit Stress Free Kids and for daily advice follow Lori on Twitter and Facebook .