Personal statements and admissions essays can be overwhelming, but Stephenie Lee has helped her students brainstorm compelling topics, compose and organize a memorable essay without stress for years. Her approach leaves the student in charge of the essay, so that student gets to the heart of the story and produces an essay that's attention-grabbing and authentic. All the years of guidance, experience and strategies are now compiled into a new easy-to-follow workbook for students to use on their own. Stop procrastinating and write that college essay now!
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"Teaching is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" - William Butler Yeats
Last week, while I was working with a student, I realized that for the last 16 years, the majority of my students and clients have always assumed during their tutoring sessions, they were to only listen and take notes. However, this particular student I was working did something that I was thrilled about - She challenged what I was telling her, and this sparked an engaging learning process where we discussed and went over myths and facts together. Then we used the internet to look up more resources and to find pictures and videos online proving the theory and known fact. I strongly encourage all students to understand that teachers are there to guide them, and to provide knowledge and learning growth, but there is a point when all students should never hesitate to question, or ask for more. It's alright if the teacher doesn't know everything about the reproductive system or how to grow an avocado plant, but it is the student's responsibility to find out and to continue to learn and grow. Learning is forever. It's not over after the teacher is done teaching. Follow our very own, Stephenie, on the Homeschool website, as a guest blogger this week at Educational Adventures. In the article blog titled, "Technically Homeschooled," Stephenie shares what it was like growing up in two diverse cultures, and becoming the Educator that she is today; with the drive to keep learning and educating herself. "With my mother’s sacrifices and encouragement in education and learning, I have technically homeschooled myself in many ways."
With school vacations around the corner, families are packing up the car for road trips and campus tours. If you have a sophomore or junior in high school, now is the time to visit! College is the second largest investment you will make in life, next to your home. So, here are some answers you should uncover when you are on campus: What percentage of students graduate in 4 years? And with cutbacks, many students are finding it difficult to secure all the required courses in order to graduate in 4 years. So, ask about graduation rates and access to courses.
What percentage of students return for sophomore year? Junior year? This speaks to how happy students are with the college and also the support that they are given to succeed. If fewer than 80% of students return for sophomore year, it raises a red flag that you should dig deeper to understand why. Campus visits can be overwhelming, but leaving without all the information is a mistake that can cost you dearly. So, take the time to uncover the real story behind the pretty presentation and marketing materials. You will make better decisions academically and financially if you know all the facts. For more questions to ask, contact Lee Academia for a short session or workshop on campus visits. SAT Subject Tests are the only national admission tests that measure students' knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, and their ability to apply that knowledge. They are closely linked to the high school curriculum and have a proven track record of providing colleges with a highly reliable, objective assessment of student readiness for college-level work.
What are the best ways to prepare for the SAT subject tests? Start early and read! It is a test that takes strategy, clear thinking, critical thinking and test taking skills that need to be learned over time. Do not start preparing one week before the exam! • Read, read, read! (novels, not comics)
• Get a set of flash cards (SAT/ACT Vocabulary) and start on them early. • Read the newspaper. • Visit a news website such as NY Times, CNN and read the top stories. • Do crossword puzzles. • Write in a journal or as much as possible. • Solve logic puzzles. • Answer the SAT question of the day on-line. • Take the practice tests offered on-line or at your school . We've all been there, right? You forgot about a test (or procrastinated) and realized that you had less than an hour to cram in as much knowledge as you could. Learn how to cram for a test efficiently, and study for your test even if you only have minutes.
NOTE: These techniques will not work for tests like the SAT, or ACT. If you need help studying for those, contact Lee Academia. 1. Go somewhere quiet. Head to the library if you're in school. If you're studying at home right before the test, turn off the TV, shut off your cell and computer. Tell your friends and family to leave you alone. You have less than an hour to cram, so you're going to need 100% of your focus. 2. Learn your study guide. Most teachers pass out study guides for a major test. If your teacher is one of them, use it now. If you have to cram for a test, it is the only resource you have time to use. Memorize everything on it. Don't bother making flashcards at this point – you'll just be wasting time if you only have minutes. 3. Head to the book Read the first two pages of every chapter that's being covered on the test, looking for major ideas, vocabulary, and concepts. Read the last page of every chapter, too, answering the review questions in your head. If you can't find an answer to a review question, then look it up in the book. It's probably a question on the test. 4. Review your notes/quizzes/assignments Your teacher probably created your exam based on the notes, quizzes and assignments he or she gave out during the unit. Read through everything you can, memorizing the info on the pages. 5. Quiz yourself. Now is NOT the time to hunt down your best friend and have him or her quiz you. This is a cram session! You'll waste time! Cover up the answers on the study guide and quiz yourself, instead. Cram Tips
Strategies to Become a Better Students Sometimes, it’s not enough just to work harder to improve your grades. Instead, you have to learn how to work smarter—that is, to find ways to work in a more organized and efficient manner that helps you remember what you learned.
Here are five tips to becoming a better junior high or high school student in the fall: Tip #1: Read actively. Read with a pencil, pen, or highlighter in hand, and underline the key points of what you are reading. Skim the passage before reading to get the main idea and the overall context for the passage. As you read, underline the main details, and then summarize what you’ve read. If you write down your summary, it will help you recall your reading without re-reading the entire passage. As you read, look up any unfamiliar vocabulary words. Building your vocabulary will also help you with admissions tests, such as ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, COOP, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and other admissions tests for college. Keep a list of new vocabulary words and review them for 10 minutes each day. Tip #2: Study word roots. You can easily and quickly build your vocabulary by studying common Latin and Greek word roots and prefixes. You can expand your vocabulary by recognizing common roots. Studying Latin also helps you learn new roots and improve your vocabulary. Tip #3: Get organized. If you don’t have a way to organize and keep track of nightly and long-term assignments, find one now—before school starts. You can use a traditional planner or any other device that keeps you on track. Practice putting your assignments into your planner and checking it regularly. For long-term assignments such as research papers, you should break down the work so that you put each mini-task in your planner. For example, write down the days you plan to go to the library to do research, the days you will work on your outline and rough draft, and the days you will complete your final draft. Leave time for revision and rewriting. Find out more ways to get organized from Steph. Tip #4: Learn how to take notes. You may want to organize your notebook by writing the major ideas in each lecture on the left-hand side of your page and writing the details related to the main idea on the right-hand side. Each lecture tends to have a major theme or themes, and these are the types of ideas that teachers like to ask about on tests. You should identify the main idea of each lecture to prepare for tests. Review your notes after taking them and think about how you can organize the material more efficiently. Tip #5: Learn about your teachers. Before the year starts, speak to older or other students who’ve had your teacher or teachers, and ask them how the teacher works. What does the teacher want, and what is he or she looking for in assignments? The better you understand your teachers, the better prepared you will be for tests and other assignments. Carefully read the information your teacher gives you on the first day of class, as it usually spells out the expectations the teacher has and how you will be graded. If you have any questions, ask them before the school year starts so you will understand exactly what you need to do to have a successful year. |
Stephenie Lee
Stephenie, having been a tutor/instructor/mentor since 1996, discovered her passion and founded Lee Academia Educational Consulting, LLC. after she left the dental and medical field. She loves teaching/mentoring and counseling her students. Her passion lies in educating others and helping them pursue their educational path. Today, certified in College Counseling and with more than 10 years of experience, Stephenie and her team continues to blog about current updated educational news and events. Archives
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