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  • 8/6/2019 Education July 2011 Complete PDF

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    2 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE July 14, 2011

    Students often find middleschool or high school is their first foray

    into a structured physical education

    class that requires changing into a gymuniform or workout clothing. With this

    comes the responsibility of outfitting and

    maintaining another locker on campus.

    A gym locker is different from a regular

    hallway locker in that it is often smaller

    and less frequently used. While some

    students may have gym every day of the

    week, others might have it two or three

    times a week. Even if it is visited daily,

    its only during the one gym period.

    Gym lockers can be breeding groundsfor some unsavory things, including

    bacteria, fungi and odor. Thats because

    they store clothing that is often damp

    from perspiration in tight quarters. It

    also may be easy for lice or bed bugs to

    spread through the close contact of gym

    lockers.

    Students can ensure their belongings

    are safe and secure by following a few

    safety and hygiene practices.

    Find out the wardrobe policy. Someschools require an issued uniform.

    Many others indicate the use of

    T-shirts, shorts of a specific length and

    sweatpants. There also may be require-

    ments on footwear. Stock up on these

    items so youll have a few changes of

    clothes as necessary.

    If a combination lock has not been

    issued to you, purchase one to keep

    items safe. While potential thieves

    may not be interested in dirty socks orgym shorts, they may be interested in

    the digital devices, watches, clothing,

    and other items stored in gym lockers

    while youre participating in

    gym class.

    Keep toiletries, such as antiperspirant,powder, sanitary pads, soap, shampoo

    (if there are showers), and a pair of

    water-resistant sandals handy.

    Because many microscopic organ-

    isms breed with warmth and moisture,

    something that is often in abundance in

    locker rooms, investing in some anti-

    bacterial spray, a desiccant product that

    absorbs moisture and an air freshener

    can keep your locker more sanitary.

    Depending on how dirty gym clothesbecome, youll want to bring them

    home at least once a week for laun-

    dering. Take dirty socks home daily

    because they can fester inside of

    the locker.

    A large zipper-top bag or a recycled

    grocery bag is a good way to tote home

    dirty gym clothing inside of your

    backpack.

    Be aware that the locker room floor

    may be teeming with bacteria, so avoid

    changing with bare feet on the ground.

    The locker room can dredge up feel-

    ings of inadequacy and embarrass-

    ment when changing in front of fellow

    students. Once you have all of your

    supplies set, keep in mind some locker

    room etiquette.

    Respect personal space and take turns

    so that you have adequate room for

    changing comfortably.

    Keep your eyes to yourself. Be sure

    Maintaining a Gym Lockeryour eyes are at eye level with others.

    Nothing elicits feelings of anger or

    embarrassment faster that a student

    catching another student checking out

    a naked or nearly naked body. Few

    people feel comfortable in such situa-tions, so respect privacy.

    Change clothes in stages. Take off a

    shirt and replace it with another.

    The same can be said for shorts and

    pants. Avoid prancing around in

    undergarments.

    Be quick about changing. Dont dally

    in the locker room. This way if some-

    one wants a little more privacy, most

    of the students will have cleared out.

    Keep in mind that these formative

    years are times when your body and thebodies of other students are changing

    at a great pace. Locker rooms tend to

    make even the most self-secure person

    a little modest.

    Everyyear parents spendsignificant amounts of money on schoolexpenses. While theres not much par-ents can do about tuition, there are waysto save on additional expenses, includ-ing clothing. Restocking a studentswardrobe can be costly, but savvyMoms and Dads can lessen the blowin a variety of ways.

    Although students may not yet be readyto head back to class, both parents andchildren may not be looking forward toschool shopping for a number ofreasons.

    Expenses: Statistics posted on Chiff.com indicate that $7.2 billion werespent on school clothing in 2009 forAmerican students. In Canada, sta-tistics show that nearly $450 millionwere spent on boys and girls cloth-ing and accessories in 2008. Shoppingfor school items can be a big expense,

    one thats especially tough to handleafter paying for a summer vacation orfinancing kids stays at camp.

    Time: Crowded stores can makeshopping stressful, especially whenkids (and adults) would rather bespending time elsewhere.

    Intimidation: Facing a store full ofstocked racks and shelves can makeeven the most avid shopper feel a littleanxious. Parents face decisions aboutchoosing clothing that is both accept-able to the school and trendy enoughfor their kids. This can put added pres-sure on shoppers.

    Cranky kids: While some childrenmay relish the idea of picking out anew wardrobe, others may becomedisgruntled by heading to the storehaving to try on different things andspend time away from friends.Whether school shopping is fun orfeared, its a necessity for parents and

    kids alike. Here are eight tips to makethe process a bit easier and help par-ents save money as well.

    1. ASSESS WHAT IS ALREADY

    ON HAND.Shopping doesnt have tomean creating an entirely new ward-robe from scratch. It often meanssupplementing existing clothing withnew pieces that can make things lookfresh. Unless a child has entirelyoutgrown pants and shirts from lastyear, chances are there will be a num-ber of pieces that are still usable andappropriate. Take a day or two to gothrough kids wardrobes and set asideitems that can be used for school.Make a list of new items to purchase.

    2. ESTABLISH A BUDGET. Set a limit asto how much will be spent on eachchild and dont stray over that limit.Around $150 to $200 may be ade-quate to pick up a few basics. Takingout cash from the bank and spending

    only what is in hand may make shop-pers less likely to overspend or turnto credit cards for purchases.

    3. STOCK UP ON THE BASICS. Newundergarments and socks will beneeded. Aim for about 10 to 12 pairsof each. This also may be a goodtime to purchase pre-adolescent girlsa training bra or sports bra to providesome support.

    4. BUY NEW SHOES. Shoes are one ele-ment of a wardrobe that may need tobe entirely new. Active children tendto wear out shoes quickly. One pairof sneakers and one pair of dressiershoes, like oxfords, or ballet flats forgirls, may be adequate.

    5. SHOP SALES. If the weather is warm,its possible to save money on clear-ance T-shirts and shorts that stores areputting on sale to make room for nextseasons items. Dont fill a studentswardrobe with heavy sweatshirts or

    8 Ways to Save on School Expenses

    SCHOOL EXPENSEScontinues on page 3

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    July 14, 2011 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE 3

    Todays kids are busier thanever before. Be it the increasingly

    competitive nature of scholastic life or

    the increase of two-income households

    where kids need something to do other

    than come directly home after school,

    children today are much busier than

    their school-aged counterparts of

    yesteryear.

    While it can be fun and beneficial for

    kids to participate in extracurricular

    activities, finding the right fit isnt as

    easy as it sounds. When helping kids

    find an extracurricular activity, its bestto consider a host of factors. Especially

    keep in mind that not all kids are the

    same with respect to interests. And what

    was enjoyed by their parents wont nec-

    essarily be enjoyed by them.

    Getting StartedThe best place to start is to speak to

    kids about their interests. Just because

    Dad loved playing football doesnt

    mean Junior is destined to be a gridiron

    great. Kids have their own interests, andthose interests can be cultivated with

    the right extracurricular activity. For

    example, a creative child might enjoy an

    after-school art class a couple of times

    per week. Parents should also consider

    extracurriculars that can help kids grow

    as people. For instance, a child whos

    shy in public but loves hamming it up

    at home might embrace an after-school

    theater program.

    Once options have been discussed withkids, take in a session or two before

    committing to anything. The shy young-

    ster might visit the local theater pro-

    gram and enjoy it thoroughly, or he or

    she might decide against it. Either way,

    a visit will give kids and parents a sense

    of what the program is like and whether

    or not its the right fit. When visiting,

    observe the nature of the program. Is it

    an encouraging, vibrant environment?

    Do the adults and kids involved appear

    to be having fun?

    Get the 411Parents want their kids to be as safe

    after school as they are during it. When

    looking for an extracurricular activity,

    inquire about the staff-to-child ratio

    and about the staffs professional back-

    ground. Any staff-to-child ratio that is

    greater than 12:1 likely indicates a pro-

    gram that is understaffed, which could

    mean kids wont get the attention they

    need. Also, ask for the staffs references

    and work history in the field of child

    care. If certification is necessary or rec-

    ommended, make sure the staff meets

    all requirements.Parents should also inquire about pro-

    gram costs. Though many programs are

    up front about fees, some have hidden

    fees that can add up. Such fees can be

    for uniforms, equipment, class trips, etc.

    Extra fees dont have to exclude a pro-

    gram from consideration, but its better

    to know about them in advance than

    have them come as a surprise.

    Consider a Childs Grade LevelA childs age and grade level shouldalso be considered when choosing an

    How to Help Kids Find the Right

    Extracurricular Activity

    SCHOOL EXPENSEScontinued from page 2

    extracurricular activity. Consult teach-

    ers about finding an age-appropriate

    extracurricular activity. For example,

    less competitive activities that empha-

    size fun might be more appropriate

    for kids in kindergarten and the firstgrade. For second graders, activities

    not offered at school, like learning to

    play an instrument, can help cultivate

    a childs interest in a noncompetitive

    environment. As kids reach third grade

    and beyond, consider more rules-based

    activities, including team sports, as kids

    at that age are more capable of under-

    standing rules and handling losing than

    younger kids. As children get older

    and move on to middle school, look for

    activities that reinforce learning and

    help develop a young persons char-acter, including their ability to interact

    with others.

    When looking for an extracurricular

    activity for kids, parents should con-

    sider a host of factors, including the

    childs interests and age.

    sweaters at this juncture. Layering

    options are good because students

    can adjust accordingly to feel com-

    fortable.

    6. INTERMINGLE DESIGNER WITH DIS-COUNT. Not every item in a childswardrobe has to be trendy. Layering

    items, such as T-shirts, can often be

    picked up for a discount in stores

    like Target or Walmart or Old Navy.

    Outer items, like jeans or some shirts,

    can be picked up from the trendierstores. Shop their sales and see if

    they offer coupons by signing up to

    loyalty Web sites.

    7. GO EARLY IN THE DAY.Although it may be a

    challenge get the kids up

    and dressed to visit stores

    when theyre

    in vacation mode, arriv-

    ing early means thinner

    crowds and refreshed

    children. Kids who are

    tired or hungry can be

    prone to meltdowns.

    Pack snacks and drinks

    to be on the safe side.

    Some stores offer early

    bird special sales, which

    can make shopping once

    the doors open even more

    advantageous.

    8. DO SOME ONLINE SHOP-

    PING, TOO. Once thechildren have gone to bedfor the evening, do some

    uninterrupted online

    shopping. Comparison

    shop and figure out if

    buying online is a good

    deal after factoring in

    shipping costs.

    School shopping signals the

    end of vacation time. Make

    the most of the opportunity

    to save and reduce stresswhen shopping.

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    4 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE July 14, 2011

    The world has quickly becomedigital, and the younger generations

    are leading the pack with technology

    that just may make some other items

    obsolete. As pre-teens and teenagers

    routinely turn to digital devices for

    entertainment and schoolwork, the face

    of education may change as well.

    In the past students toted notebooks (the

    paper kind), pencils, pens, and folders

    to school. Today, students carry digital

    devices like computer tablets, notebooks(the electronic kind), smart phones, and

    other digital devices to the classroom.

    Furthermore, texting and instant mes-

    saging have replaced traditional modes

    of casual conversation.

    Another item that may go the way

    of the dinosaur is the printed book.

    Students can now carry an entire library

    worth of reading material on a slim

    e-reader device or on the many other

    evolving tablet-type machines. There

    may be a day when one no longer

    browses the aisles of the school library

    for a book, but only downloads the text

    instantly when needed. Some textbooks

    are already offered in digital format,

    and some school systems and teachers

    may opt for the convenience of digital

    devices.

    Little data exists as to just how many

    schools have policies allowing the use

    of cell phones and other digital devices

    in class. In the United States, a 2009

    U.S. Department of Education survey

    indicates only 4 percent of public-

    school teachers say a handheld device

    is available in the classroom every day.But things can change in a short period

    of time.

    Digital AdvantagesThere are many advantages to going

    digital. Typing tends to go faster for

    adept keyboard users, which many

    youngsters have become since theyve

    essentially grown up with computers in

    the household. This makes note-taking

    easier. When notes and assignments are

    saved to a computer, theres less likeli-hood of them getting lost, especially if

    important files are routinely backed up.

    Data saved on a computer can easily be

    Pros and Cons to Learning

    in a Digital Age

    manipulated into a number of different

    formats, potentially making it easier to

    study. Bodies of text can be transformed

    into charts or pie graphs with many

    word processing programs. Students

    can cut and paste important quotes or

    examples into essays and the like, sav-

    ing time on homework.In terms of streamlining backpacks, dig-

    ital readers and other devices eliminate

    heavy books and notebooks. This can be

    seen as a big plus to students who have

    grown accustomed to carrying around

    20+ pounds on their backs from a very

    young age.

    As many teachers turn to online

    resources, such as e-mailing and post-

    ing assignments on a personal Web site,

    students almost have to keep up withthe times with some sort of tool that has

    Internet access.

    Digital DisadvantagesOn the other side of the equation, going

    digital does have some disadvantages.

    The decline of penmanship is one of

    them. In a digital era, people are less

    likely to write letters by hand or keep up

    with penmanship in other ways. Some

    children dont know what cursive hand-

    writing is and may never learn how tosign their names in script, which was a

    common lesson for other generations.

    While digital communication does pro-

    mote social interactions on some levels,

    there are some who argue that spend-

    ing too much time staring at a screen

    and keyboard compromises the social

    aspect of going to school and learning

    in a classroom. Todays youth are less

    likely to talk, choosing to LOLand

    TTYL through texting.

    Having a wealth of information avail-

    able on the Internet opens up students

    to many disreputable sources of content.

    Some common online encyclopedias

    are written and edited by regular people

    who may not have the accurate details

    of events. Also, having content that

    is easily cut and pasted opens up the

    temptation for plagiarism and blurs the

    lines of how to attribute information toa source correctly.

    Digital devices may be great learning

    tools, but they also offer a number of

    distractions to students. When a student

    is supposed to be taking notes on a lap-

    top in the classroom, he or she might

    be downloading music, updating social

    networking sites, streaming video, or

    checking celebrity gossip.

    Classrooms are evolving and so are stu-

    dents. Learning is very different fromthe way older generations may have

    learned. Whether the presence of digital

    technology helps or hinders remains

    open for debate.

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    July 14, 2011 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE 5

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    SAT Prep Specialists

    College is a period of firsts. Itsthe first time many students are away

    from home for an extended period oftime; its the first time students get to

    choose their own coursework; and its

    the first time many are left to their own

    devices with respect to taking care of

    themselves.

    College is also the first time many apply

    for a credit card. Although at this point

    in life, its important for people to begin

    building their credit histories, its just

    as important for them to carefully con-

    sider the variety of credit card optionsbefore committing to a card. All cards

    are definitely not equal, and college

    students should look for cards that will

    help them start building a solid credit

    foundation.

    So how can college kids find a card

    thats fit for them? Consider the

    following tips.

    Steer clear of cards withannual fees.Some credit cardscharge annual fees, regardless ofwhether or not a consumer ever makes

    a single purchase. Since many cards

    interest rates are similar, try to find

    one that doesnt charge annual fees.

    Find the best annualpercentage rate. While interestrates are often similar, some cards

    have a better annual percentage rate,

    or APR. As attractive as low inter-

    est rates can be especially cautious

    with cards that promise zero percent

    interest for the first six or 12 months

    after signing. Thats because such

    cards typically have very high APRs.

    This isnt a monthly fee, but rather a

    finance charge referred to as an annual

    rate. For college kids, whom history

    suggests struggle to pay their balances

    in full each month, a high APR could

    add considerably to the cost of having

    a credit card.

    Dont overdo it with creditcards. A 2009 report from Sallie Maetitled How Undergraduate Students

    Use Credit Cards found that half of

    college undergraduates had four or

    more credit cards in 2008. No college

    student needs that many credit cards.

    If at all possible, college kids should

    stick to one card and one card only.

    The card should only be used to help

    build a credit history and in the case of

    an emergency. Students who need four

    cards are either finding themselves in

    far too many emergency situations or

    harming themselves by charging toomany purchases to plastic.

    Be skeptical of reward cards.In theory, reward cards are excel-

    lent. The more a consumer purchases,

    the more rewards points they accrue.

    Those reward points can then be used

    toward a host of things, including air-

    line miles. However, college kids typi-

    cally do not make much money, and

    reward cards are really only beneficial

    to people who charge a lot of theirpurchases. Such people can typically

    afford to do so, whereas the average

    college kid cannot. Reward cards are

    better suited for men and women with

    full-time jobs and not so ideal for col-

    lege kids without steady streams of

    income.

    Dont be late. If payments are notmade online, they should be mailed

    at least a week in advance of the due

    date. A history of late payments can

    quickly mar a credit report. Even if

    only the minimum payment is pos-

    sible, make sure that payment is made

    on time.

    Borrow from Mom and Dad, notthe credit card company. Creditcard companies will lend cash to their

    customers. These loans are called

    cash advances. But unlike borrowing

    from Mom and Dad, accepting a cash

    advance from a credit card company

    typically comes with a heavy interest

    rate, making it much more worthwhile

    Credit Card Pointers forTodays College Kids

    to call home instead of taking a cash

    advance.

    Getting a credit card is an important

    step for young people. Students should

    just be careful the credit card ends

    up building a solid credit foundation

    instead of digging a significant

    financial hole.

    You want 21 percent risk free? Pay off your credit cards.

    ANDREW TOBIAS

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    6 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE July 14, 2011

    A

    recent study by The Sudikoff

    Family Institute for Educationand New Media at the UCLA

    Graduate School of Education and

    Information Studies confirms what

    many educational professionals have

    known for years: that graduates of

    all-girls schools have an edge over

    female graduates of co-educational

    high schools. The findings, evaluated

    by Linda J. Sax, Ph.D., found that

    girls school graduates rank higher

    than their co-ed peers in the

    following areas:

    Higher SAT scores

    Greater interest in pursuing

    graduate school and using

    college as a stepping stone to

    graduate school

    Higher academic self-

    confidence in academic

    ability, intellect, writing

    ability and public speaking

    Schools in our area like Villa Victoria

    Academy, an all-girls Pre-K-12

    college preparatory school in Ewing,NJ, embrace these findings of the

    advantage of single-sex education for

    young women. Villa Victoria offers

    a curriculum based on the specific

    learning styles of young women

    which includes an environment that

    allows students to:

    Express themselves freely

    and frequently

    Have more opportunities for

    public speaking

    Have an abundance

    of opportunities to be

    independent and to assume

    leadership responsibilities

    Succeed in the predominantly

    male-dominated fields of

    math, science and technology

    Realize and respect the

    dignity of themselves and

    others

    Appreciate the beauty

    inhuman culture, the

    arts, the sciences, and

    athletics

    Develop an

    awareness of

    their place and

    responsibility in the

    global community

    Source: Women

    Graduates of Single-Sex

    and Coeducational High

    Schools: Differences

    in their Characteristics

    and the Transition to

    College by Linda J.

    Sax, Ph.D., Principal

    Investigator for The

    Sudikoff Family

    Institute for Education

    and New Media and the

    UCLA Graduate Schoolof Education and

    Information Studies.

    Commissioned by the

    National Coalition of

    Girls Schools. www.

    ncgs.org; www.geis.

    ucla.edu/sudikoff..

    Villa Victoria Academy

    information can

    be found at www.

    villavictoria.org.

    All-Girls School Give Girls an Edge

    Thoughsome professional edu-cators debate the use of standardized

    tests, students of all ages can expect

    such tests to continue to play a role in

    their education. Younger students might

    take standardized tests to help deter-

    mine the class level that best suits their

    abilities, while high school students will

    need to take certain standardized tests in

    order to gain admission to a college or

    university.

    Since standardized tests are likely

    going nowhere anytime soon, students

    can take several steps to improve their

    scores.

    While a professional tutoring service

    might be a worthwhile investment for

    students concerned with their college

    admissions, other steps can work for

    students regardless of which standard-

    ized test theyre preparing to take.

    Maintain healthy sleeppatterns. Healthy sleep restoresand renews the body, both mentally

    and physically. When a person suf-

    fers from sleep deprivation, the

    negative side effects are numerous.

    These include memory and cognitive

    impairment, making it difficult for

    people think and process information.

    That said, a student preparing to take

    a standardized test who is struggling

    to sleep at night is much less likelyto succeed on the test than a student

    who is getting adequate sleep. Parents

    and students should examine sleeping

    patterns months in advance of the test,

    and work to address any problems as

    soon as possible. The sooner the issue

    is resolved, the sooner a studentsmemory is likely to improve, which

    can help his or her test scores as well.

    Practice. Practice tests can be avery valuable tool when attempting

    to improve standardized test scores.

    Sample tests are available on a handful

    of Web sites, and tutors hired to help

    kids improve scores often bring practice

    tests with them. Such practice tests are

    often very similar to the actual tests and

    will help kids be more comfortable withthe tests when it comes time to take the

    real ones. When taking practice tests,

    time them just as you would the actual

    tests. This, too, can improve a students

    comfort level and will decrease the like-

    lihood that a student will feel like he or

    she is racing against the clock when the

    time comes to take the real test.

    Learn the test. Learning the testinvolves figuring how a score is

    determined. Some standardized testsplace greater emphasis on certain

    questions and tabulate scores based

    on this weighting system. Learn that

    weighting system if it exists, and in

    the months leading up to the test help

    students concentrate on those sec-

    tions that weigh more heavily than

    others. Another thing to learn is if the

    test weighs wrong answers more than

    skipped questions. On such tests, a

    student might actually be better off

    leaving a question blank than guess-ing and risking a wrong answer. Many

    tutors specialize in a particular test and

    might be able to help students learn

    about the test theyre taking and, in so

    doing, improve their scores.

    Tips to Improve Standardized

    Test Scores

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    July 14, 2011 BucksLocalNews.com/Education EDUCATION GUIDE 7

    USE AN ASSISTANCE DEVICE.Students who are prone to zoningout may want to ask permission touse a voice recorder. This way if keyelements of the lesson are missed,

    they can be played back. This methodalso helps students fill in gaps whentaking or studying notes.

    Keys To Note-takingOnce listening skills have improved,students can go onto to other note-taking pointers.

    Sequencing material is important, sonotes should be dated and numbered.If references are made to chapters thatcorrelate to the textbook, jot thosedown so they can strengthen the notes.

    Charles Kettering, an American engi-neer and inventor, said, There is agreat difference between knowing athing and understanding it. Whenjotting down notes, a student who dis-covers that something seems unclearcan ask for clarification or make apoint to research that component fur-ther.

    Students should consider writing noteson one side of the page so that they

    can each be laid out side-by-side.Looseleaf paper works well, or notescan be typed and printed out.

    Students should devel-op their own method ofabbreviations and sym-bols to cut down onthe amount of writingneeded. Notes needntbe in full sentences;phrases are equallyeffective.

    If a professor writessomething on a chalk-board, puts text up ona projector or repeatssomething severaltimes, it should defi-nitely be written down.There is a good chancethat information willbe on the test.

    Students may wantto review note-takingstrategies with oneanother. Maybe thereis a successful methodemployed by one stu-dent that he or she canshare with classmates.

    Rewriting or typingnotes helps ingrainthe information in thebrain more than simply

    rereading it. Note-taking is an important

    skill many students should make theeffort to learn. Improved test scorescan lead to a higher grade pointaverage.

    This, in turn, can help with success in

    school and beyond.

    A students success in school is mea-sured by the assignments completed andtests he takes. The students who garnerthe best grades and do well in class areoften those who are effective listenersand note-takers.

    Professor Dennis Jertz of Seton HallUniversity has said that taking lecturenotes effectively is one of the skillsstudents must learn to make the transi-tion from high school to college careers.Note-taking is also necessary in thebusiness world, making it a worthwhileskill to learn.

    Despite its importance in higher learn-ing, not much study has gone into thecorrelation between note-taking andperformance improvement. As a result,

    statistics supporting the importance ofeffective note-taking do not exist. Butit stands to reason that the student whotakes good notes, and studies well fromthem, has a sporting chance to improvehis or her grades over others with poornotes.

    Learning Note-takingIt may not seem as such, but note-taking can almost be a lesson all itsown. If only students could enroll in

    Note-Taking 101. Some elementary andhigh-school teachers attempt to teachstrategies for taking notes, includingdeveloping outlines, but many studentsstill struggle to maintain the essentialsas they move through school. It can beconfusing knowing just how much towrite down without creating a novel orhaving notes so scant that they providelittle information when it comes timeto study.

    There are many systems of note-taking

    that a student can learn. These includeusing graphic representations to mapout interconnected concepts. Outlines or

    charts can group terminology togetherwith related ideas. There are othertechniques that use cue words to trig-ger recollection of facts and dates.Mnemonic devices help recall informa-tion. Students can experiment with dif-

    ferent methods until they find a systemthat works well and offers measurablesuccess.

    Improving Listening SkillsNo matter what method of note-takingis used, adequate listening skills arenecessary to take effective notes. Thishelps students transfer what the profes-sor is saying into ideas that can be putdown on paper. Staring off into spaceor having your mind drift can cause astudent to miss out on key parts of a

    lecture. To improve note-taking skills,a student must first improve listeningskills.

    SIT UP CLOSER TO THE TEACHER OR

    PROFESSOR. This enables eye-to-eyecontact that may help a student focus.It may also trigger visual clues to aprofessor to gauge whether the classis catching on or missing whats beingtaught. Its also advantageous froma practical standpoint. It enables stu-dents to better hear whats going on.

    If the professor is garbled or inaudiblewhen sitting far away, moving closeris essential, especially in a large lec-ture hall.

    REMOVE DISTRACTIONS. When astudent enters the classroom, he or sheshould be ready to learn. That meanssilencing mobile devices and gearingthe mind toward the lessons. Not everylecture will be exhilarating, so stu-dents should make a conscious effortto pay attention. Limiting distractions

    can help.

    How to Take Effective Notes

    Abrams ofers students the highest quality secular and Jewisheducation, as well as award winning arts and physical education

    rograms. In todays uncertain economy, the best and only stablenvestment is your childs education.

    31 West College AvenueYardley, Pennsylvania 19067

    www.abramsonline.orgFor more information, call (215) 493-1800 x21

    Your childs future.

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    investment you can make?

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