4 Time Management Tips for Finals Week

4 Time Management Tips for Finals Week With the end of the spring semester in sight, this typically means one thingfinals week is approaching. Are you ready to be tested on everything youve learned in your courses? When preparing a study plan for finals week, its key to manage your time wisely in order to promote success on your exams. Time management tips for finals week include creating a study schedule, identifying which tasks to prioritize in your prep plan, and avoiding activities that may promote procrastination. Hoping to tackle finals week with the confidence you need to succeed? Keep reading to learn four time management tips for finals week. Finals week time management tip #1: create a schedule College is a busy time in a students lifeyour days are marked by classes and extracurricular activities, as well as quality time with friends. Your busy schedule can feel even more tightly packed when you try to fit in studying during finals week. Make the most of your time by scheduling everything you need to do in order to succeed this week. Items to incorporate into your finals week schedule may include: The times and locations of each exam Designated study times for each subject, as well as how much focus you feel is necessary for each class Any personal commitments, such as scheduled work hours Creating a schedule will help you see the tasks you need to complete, give you structured study time, and provide a good overview of your planned personal activities. [RELATED: How to Make a Smart Study Routine] Finals week time management tip #2: incorporate down time into your week With everything thats on your calendar, it can be a struggle to find time to take a breath and rest. When creating your schedule, make sure to add in some time for relaxation to be spent any way you feel will best benefit you. During the busyness of finals week, you need to remember to give your brain and body time for extra rest so they can perform their best, and you can avoid burnout. Too often, students find themselves over-worked and under-rested. Its important to take time to recharge in-between studying and activities especially during finals week. Remember to give yourself time during each day just for this purpose. It could be as short as taking 20 minutes between classes to grab a coffee, or setting aside an hour in the morning for a brisk walk. [RELATED: The Finals Week Survival Guide] Finals week time management tip #3: prioritize your time wisely Creating a list of activities you need to prioritize can be a helpful tool in making a productive finals week schedule. At the end of the day, having a schedule in place for this week wont be helpful if you accidentally place an item too far down your list and miss a deadline. In order to avoid disaster, try to maintain a running list of all your projects, activities, and studying tasks that you can edit on paper, on your phone, or on your laptop. It can be helpful to change the order and add new items as often as you need to so that you can keep it up to date. Be sure to check tasks off as you complete them, as this will reassure you that youre making progress during this often stressful week. [RELATED: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated During Finals Week] Finals week time management tip #4: avoid procrastination Even if youve created a tight schedule for finals week, it can be hard to avoid time-wasting activities such as surfing the internet or scrolling through your phone. Though its good to take breaks from your studying and other finals week activities, its easy to allow social media and other platforms to consume hours of your time. If you do feel pulled to a time-wasting activity, consider turning notifications off or putting your phone on do not disturb mode so youre not tempted to become distracted. Finals week can feel intimidating. In order to promote success, its key to create a schedule for the week, organize your time, and find ways to prevent procrastination. By utilizing these techniques, you can set yourself up for success this finals week. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

How to Help Your Child Read

How to Help Your Child Read Reading is something that many children begin to gravitate toward naturally once they reach a certain age. While your childs kindergarten class will help set up the basics for a solid reading foundation, there are many things that parents can do at home to encourage a reading-friendly environment. Ways to help your child read can include setting a good example, understanding his or her learning style, and encouraging consistent reading habits. Looking for ways to support your student, but not sure where to begin? Follow these steps to foster a learning environment at home that can help your child learn to read: Help your child read by setting a positive example At the age that many children begin reading, they are also very aware of the habits and practices of their parents. Children may repeat phrases or actions done by Mom, Dad, or other adults. Creating a reading-friendly atmosphere starts with the things you do as a role model. Let your student see you reading from sources like: Magazine articles Newspapers Novels. When applicable, explain to your child what it is you are learning or reading about, so your student can begin to connect the words on the page with the ideas and thoughts that they symbolize. For example, when putting together a meal while your child is nearby, reference a cookbook and show him or her that the recipe you are using comes from the words in the book. This is something that can begin while your student is still becoming comfortable with the alphabet and its sounds. Help your child read by stocking your home with age-appropriate books Aside from keeping the books that youre reading in your home, this is a great time to ensure that there are also plenty of child-friendly books in your living space. Your student may gravitate toward books with pictures and topics that he or she is interested in. Outside of the public library, there are second-hand bookstores that offer an alternative to buying new books for your child to read. Your local librarian can likely make some good title suggestions too. [RELATED: How to Enhance Your Student's Experience With Literature] Help your child read by understanding his or her learning style Once you have set up a home environment that exposes your student to books, you can begin working with your child on basic reading skills. Children will approach reading with different levels of enthusiasm, so its important to meet your student where he or she is. For a child who doesnt seem very interested, make it a habit to read together daily. While reading out loud, encourage your student to sit with you and to follow each word with your finger. Once your child gets the hang of following along, encourage him or her to use his or her own finger. This method works well with every level of reader, but it can be the first step in showing a disengaged student how to get involved. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help with Elementary Homework Challenges] Help your child read by reading together After your child has expressed interest in following along with a story, its time to start reading together. One great way to help your student gain confidence while reading is to simply have your child fill in words he or she already knows, such as short sight words. These words appear frequently enough in stories that you can simply pause and have your student sound out terms like is and it. Soon, your child will get the hang of sounding out a word within the context of a sentence. As your student gets older and familiar with more words, you can go longer and longer stretches of a sentence without reading, as your child fills in the blanks. Rather than discouraging him or her from taking a long time to sound out words, be patient! Once your student has finished the sentence, you can go back and read the whole thing from beginning to end. Help your child read by encouraging continual practice Now theres just one step left: practice, practice, practice! Make reading a priority using incentives when necessary. It helps to schedule reading into a regular part of the day, because this can help even disengaged children see how theyre progressing. If your student expresses interest in certain topics, visit a public library to look for books together. Always congratulate your child for successes, no matter how big or small. Before you know it, youll have a little reader on your hands! [RELATED: How to Create a Summer Reading Program for You and Your Child] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Amy Winehouse Listening Exercise and lessons

Amy Winehouse Listening Exercise and lessons A new movie about Amy Winehouse will be  released in July. Are you interested in seeing the movie? I loved her music but Im not sure if Ill go see the movie. Its just so sad when someone with so  much talent self destructs. Do talented musicians in your country often die too early from drugs? Why do you think this is? The movie looks beautiful and emotional. Ill let you know if I decide to see it. Try our listening exercise in which the director talks  about a particular scene within the movie:Answer the questions below in comments and well respond.1. Where is the filming at during this scene? 2. Why is this one of his favorite scenes from the movie? 3. Why is Amy being filmed in this particular footage? 4. Why does he decide to put the lyrics for Amys songs on screen? 5. How does he describe Amy and her relationship to recording her music? 6. Amy says, OhIts a bit _______ at the end, isnt it? 7. How does he describe her physical appearance? 8. Like I said, its one of my favorite ___ __ in the movie.Also here is the official trailer:Here we have a lesson about Amy Winehouse. We have several lessons created by our teachers Isaac and Kate about famous musicians so any of you music lovers that want to practice your English too are in luck.

Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success

Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success December 7, 2015 Too Small To Fail conducted a QA with Deborah J. Stipek, dean of Stanford Graduate School of Education, on the importance of introducing children to math concepts early. Read that interview here, which includes tips and resources for parents. The importance of early, hands-on experiences with numbers helps explain why Heart’s intervention is necessary and gives the rationale for some aspects of the program. “Children learn best during playful, everyday activities, like counting their toes, the buttons on their shirt, the steps they walk up. They can be asked to count out how many forks are needed to help set the table. Shape hunts through the house can be fun (the clock is a circle; the TV is a rectangle). Children can learn about the importance of numbers by doing a number hunt, with a discussion of how the numbers on the telephone, clock, or elevator are useful.” â€" Deborah J. Stipek Many Heart students did not have the hands-on experiences with numbers described above. Heart uses tutoring manipulates (Connecting Cubes, dice, cards) to create “playful, everyday activities.” We ask tutors to make sure students are the ones touching and moving the objects, even if it takes more time and patience on the tutor’s part. This way, students’ time in Heart attempts to compensate for some of the lack of hands-on experiences with numbers in early ages and at home. As Heart prepares hosts eight holiday events for parents through Dec. 18, the research and ideas cited in the QA with Stipek are a reminder that math can be practiced at home in everyday situations. The article goes on to further emphasize the importance of reducing math anxiety through “playful opportunities to develop math skills.” Heart lessons add elements of surprise, competition, or tracking points to keep an element of FUN in simple tasks! Billingsville teacher Amanda Saunders remarked that sometimes students enjoy the time with Heart tutors so much that they don’t even realize they are practicing math skills that have been very difficult for them in the past. “Some of the biggest needs that I see from the kids is not necessarily even always academic but sometimes it’s just that moral support or having someone that they know is going to be there for them consistently a couple of times a week. A lot of times the kids don’t even pick up on the fact that they really are working on things academically that they need.” â€" Amanda Saunders, second grade teacher, Billingsville Leadership Academy A 2013 study by University of California-Irvine found that “math knowledge at the beginning of elementary school was the single most powerful predictor determining whether a student would graduate from high school and attend college. This 3 -minute NPR audio clip also mentions that meta-cognition (thinking about your thinking) and asking students to explain their reasoning strengthens students’ verbal skills. “We talk a lot about literacy, but not nearly as much about math.… Several studies show that children’s math skills when they enter school are very strong predictors of their academic success later on. One study showed that math skills upon kindergarten entry predicted children’s reading abilities in third grade as well as their reading skills at kindergarten entry. While children can learn beginning math skills after they enter kindergarten, they will be at a disadvantage.” â€" Deborah J. Stipek The achievement gap begins before kindergarten not only in reading but in math, as well, and early math skills predict later academic success. Blog post by Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring.

The Time is Now Mike Matousek On Founding Flashnotes In College

The Time is Now Mike Matousek On Founding Flashnotes In College Photo via http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikematousek Matousek  eventually graduated from Kent State University in 2010 with a degree in finance and entrepreneurship, but not before he founded Flashnotes, a Boston-based online marketplace where students can buy and sell their notes and other class materials. To date, the company has acquired NoteUtopia and Moolaguides, and has raised  Series A funding amounting to 3.6 million. Matousek retold the birth of the idea for Flashnotes, reminiscing on a statistics class he really didnt understand, and consequently took copious detailed notes. The idea took hold when he sold his first batch of those notes with the notion that, maybe, other students didnt or couldnt take such detailed notes and would benefit from the sharing of his. And so the mission of Flashnotes, powering the student-to-student exchange of high quality academic materials to help supplement and complement the learning experience by harnessing commerce and the latest technologies, was conceived. Matousek  admitted that in the early stages of Flashnotes (while he was a senior at Kent State) he knew little of how to turn his idea into an actual business, and that the unknown and unexpected were some of the mental obstacles he and many entrepreneurs have tackled when first starting out. You know, I think problem solving is one of the best qualities because there will always be unexpected situations, he said. You just have to keep pushing. Indeed, the ability to accept that there is a distinct learning curve when it comes to building and launching a new business is well founded. “Founders need to be adaptable   not only because it takes a certain level of mental flexibility to understand what users want, but because the plan will probably change,  said Jessica Livingston, author of the book  Founders at Work, in an article via the 16th letter. Speaking of change, Flashnotes now not only facilitates hand-written notes (although Matousek  said this is still the most-used format), but has also expanded to include multimedia and video tutorials. Students set their own prices and earn up to 70 percent on their sales, and since the content is crowd sourced, poor notes subsequently do not get purchased and are filtered out. The site also highlights competitive earners, showing the top five student earning amounts (note the top seller has sold over $11,000 worth of study material). This expansion, after an initial startup of eight months, shows that it is indeed possible to take a simple concept the concept of sharing and turn it into a profitable business. After a few short years, Flashnotes is now using investor funds to expand services to around 300 institutions. Photo via http://dfk0oft9nprzr.cloudfront.net I learned more about life in six months than ten years of school, Matousek  said as he touched on the founding stages of Flashnotes. His story reiterates the idea that waiting until you graduate college isnt a necessity, and that if you stay committed to an idea, you can bring it to fruition. In fact, getting started in entrepreneurship early is going to leave you, at the very least, with more business knowledge than a large percentage of college students, and at most, a profitable business upon graduation. If youre grasping at ideas for a business venture and coming up blank, try to stay close to home. That is, remember how Matousek  developed the idea for Flashnotes; he was struggling in a class along with many others, and so decided to sell his notes to students with the same problem. He was directly involved in the process leading to the idea; after all, who better to create a marketplace for student study materials than a student? Some of the best ideas and startups come from the notion that if youre struggling with something, or that if you wish you had something, chances are someone else is and does too, so keep your eyes and ears open. The same idea goes for any aspect of life, not just the student side. If youre a fitness buff, for example, what can you bring to the fitness community? Think niche and look for opportunities others havent seen. Jon Taffer, host of the TV show Bar Rescue, said in an interview with Entrepreneuer.com, Years ago when I was very young, a VP of Hyatt looked at me and said, You look, but you don’t see. Taffer learned to look not just at the big picture, but also at every place setting, light fixture, and customer exchange, Entrepreneur.com emphasized. See every crack, every detail, Taffer said. I learned to really see and not just look at my business. Matousek  mentioned that the right time to make strides toward your goals and start a business is in the present, today. When I asked if he had any advice to other college students wanting to start a business, he reminds all of us that, The right time to risk is now. Post your notes and study guides for sale today on Flashnotes. To learn more about Flashnotes, click here.

This 14-Year-Old Has a Dream of Working in the National Hockey League

This 14-Year-Old Has a Dream of Working in the National Hockey League This 14-Year-Old Has a Dream of Working in the National Hockey League Isaac, 14-years-old, Level M  Math   Isaac loves watching sports. One of his favorite things  to do  is watch his beloved Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in  Canada!  He enjoys  hockey so much that he has a dream of becoming a general manager of a hockey team  someday.   If that doesn’t work out, he’s also considering becoming an engineer because of his love for math. In fact, at just 14-years-old, he’s  studying three years above his grade level in the  Kumon Math Program.     Isaac shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe “Isaac is a superior and independent student. His perseverance and love of learning has helped him study math at a very high level,” said Ben  Giami, Kumon Instructor. “But it’s not Isaac’s academic ability that impresses me. It’s who he is as a person and his involvement in his community.”   Isaac participates yearly in the  Samaritan Purse Shoebox Operation  collecting aid for families in need around the world. He’s also an active member of his church, volunteers at  his  local elementary school and has been chosen  to attend the  Tim Horton’s Youth Development Program  multiple times.   Because of Isaac’s accomplishments both in-and-out of the classroom, he was one of 56 students selected out of thousands to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference.  He talks about his journey with Kumon.         How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has helped me with my confidence, self-esteem and has taught me to be independent. I’ve also learned from Kumon the importance of being a compassionate person and helping someone in the time of need.   What keeps you motivated in Kumon?     The discipline that Kumon teaches students around the world keeps me motivated. I’ve seen that the routine has helped lead people on the path of success and I know that if I stick with it, I too will be successful. Kumon has helped me with my self-esteem  and  also keeps me motivated. I am motivated to succeed and be the best version of myself.   What was your favorite part of the Kumon Student Conference?   The educational games and activities were a lot of fun. I really enjoyed getting to know  all of  the other students and working together to complete the challenges. I’d say my favorite part of the day was hearing from the panel of four Kumon Program completers. Hearing their journeys, struggles and learning about what they are doing now has inspired me to  continue on  to complete the Kumon Math Program.   Discover even more Kumon success stories.       You might also be interested in: Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Advancing Beyond Grade Level Helped this Student Become a Member of the National Elementary Honor Society How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon Kumon of West Chester Students to Compete in the First Lego League World Championship This 14-Year-Old Has a Dream of Working in the National Hockey League This 14-Year-Old Has a Dream of Working in the National Hockey League Isaac, 14-years-old, Level M  Math   Isaac loves watching sports. One of his favorite things  to do  is watch his beloved Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in  Canada!  He enjoys  hockey so much that he has a dream of becoming a general manager of a hockey team  someday.   If that doesn’t work out, he’s also considering becoming an engineer because of his love for math. In fact, at just 14-years-old, he’s  studying three years above his grade level in the  Kumon Math Program.     Isaac shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe “Isaac is a superior and independent student. His perseverance and love of learning has helped him study math at a very high level,” said Ben  Giami, Kumon Instructor. “But it’s not Isaac’s academic ability that impresses me. It’s who he is as a person and his involvement in his community.”   Isaac participates yearly in the  Samaritan Purse Shoebox Operation  collecting aid for families in need around the world. He’s also an active member of his church, volunteers at  his  local elementary school and has been chosen  to attend the  Tim Horton’s Youth Development Program  multiple times.   Because of Isaac’s accomplishments both in-and-out of the classroom, he was one of 56 students selected out of thousands to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference.  He talks about his journey with Kumon.         How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has helped me with my confidence, self-esteem and has taught me to be independent. I’ve also learned from Kumon the importance of being a compassionate person and helping someone in the time of need.   What keeps you motivated in Kumon?     The discipline that Kumon teaches students around the world keeps me motivated. I’ve seen that the routine has helped lead people on the path of success and I know that if I stick with it, I too will be successful. Kumon has helped me with my self-esteem  and  also keeps me motivated. I am motivated to succeed and be the best version of myself.   What was your favorite part of the Kumon Student Conference?   The educational games and activities were a lot of fun. I really enjoyed getting to know  all of  the other students and working together to complete the challenges. I’d say my favorite part of the day was hearing from the panel of four Kumon Program completers. Hearing their journeys, struggles and learning about what they are doing now has inspired me to  continue on  to complete the Kumon Math Program.   Discover even more Kumon success stories.       You might also be interested in: Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Advancing Beyond Grade Level Helped this Student Become a Member of the National Elementary Honor Society How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon Kumon of West Chester Students to Compete in the First Lego League World Championship

College Admissions 5 Reasons to Love Your Second Choice

College Admissions 5 Reasons to Love Your Second Choice Coping with college admissions issues: 5 reasons to love your second choice Its that time of year already; students are finding out which colleges they were accepted to and which ones they werent. Some students will be thrilled about the options they have while others might be a little bit disappointed at first. However, students who will be choosing from a list of their second choice schools have a lot to be excited about. They are likely to be a great fit academically and will have a better chance of handling assignments handed out by professors. Students may have had one-second choice school or a list of several, so its important they make the right choice and have a great four-year college experience our private Los Angeles college admissions consultants have a 97% success rate. 1.   Finding the right fit The first thing students need to do is take a look at the schools they were accepted to and start to find the right fit. This will include some factors such as choice of major, social opportunities, the living situation, and academic expectations. Students might also look at the teaching staff before they make their final choice. For instance, are they most likely going to be interacting with a TA, a professor, or an adjunct instructor? Theres no perfect school, but theres a perfect fit for each student (READ: Tips From an Irvine Admissions Consultant: 5 Reasons to Love Your Target School). 2.   The benefits of a target school Students who choose to attend one of their target schools are quite lucky in that they are going to be academically challenged but not overwhelmed in every aspect of their college experience. The university felt that this particular student was a good fit for their campus and expect them to do well based on their test scores and grades that theyve already earned in high school. Being academically challenged, but not overcome with stress, is a great thing that can help students enjoy all aspects of their academic career. 3.   Celebrating your new adventure Some students may have had their heart set on their dream school and, as a result, havent really spent a lot of time thinking about the benefits of their target schools. Students might be choosing between three or four schools and should think about the new adventure they get to go on. Are they going to be staying close to home near family and friends? Will they be moving to a new state for the first time in their life? What will they choose for their major field of study and their eventual career? Going on this exciting new adventure is something students should celebrate. 4.   Exploring potential majors Many students apply to university as an ‘undecided’ major which means they now get to start exploring all of the different possibilities for their future. Students are encouraged to take a variety of classes during their freshman year so they can decide which topics theyre really interested in and which ones they can cross off the list. Additionally, students are encouraged to go over the practical elements of potential choices with an academic counselor. Its important to know if a student needs a four-year degree or Masters degree to enter a particular field and how much theyre going to be making as a recent grad. 5.   Social life on campus Another thing students should think about as they make their final college admissions decision is what their social situation will be like once theyre living on campus. Will they be living in a dorm or off campus? What sort of opportunities will they have to join in on social clubs or organizations? Will they want to join a sorority or fraternity once they become a sophomore? There are so many options for students to social network and enjoy a well-rounded college experience, and its something they should consider before making their final decision. Still applying to college? Our private in-home Los Angeles college admissions consultants are here to help. Call TutorNerds today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.