College Scholarships for Middles Schoolers

Who thinks about college in 7th or 8th grade? More people than you might guess; maybe you are one of them.

I was reminded by some college students at the OSU field trip last month (with AVID) that there are scholarships available for 6th through 8th graders--and only that group--which are not always noticed in those important years; they wished they had known about these opportunities. This article offers some great links and basic information about what you can find to get a jump-start on your post-high school education.
Middle School Scholarships

Changes Coming to an SAT Near You!

As we move into college test season (SAT and ACT), there is new information about some upcoming changes in the SAT. Long criticised for irrelevant content, biased questions and skewed to affluent students whose parents can afford expensive prep courses, the revision of the format and types of questions attempts to address these problems. Beginning in 2016, scoring will revert to the 1600-top-score and an optional essay, among other changes.
Mind you, testing IS a huge profit-making industry, and SAT's competitor, ACT, has had more students opt for it in increasingly larger percentages (also known as losing market share.)
Please read this New York Times article: SAT revision coming, and see how the specific changes may affect your college goals. 

Useful information..

Among the multitude of great websites and resources, my starting point for people in the Portland metro area is Multnomah County Library (http://multcolib.bibliocommons.com). They have recently updated their website with all kinds of great features, and the libraries went back to more expanded hours. Take a look to see what they have to offer...

Spring Fever!

Many students have just finished, or are in the middle of Spring Break, and the temptation to just sleep and have fun is great. And I highly recommend a good dose of this! You must recharge every so often, lest your brain doesn't get a chance to digest all you've been doing..

Once you've caught your breath, though, it's time for the big sprint. Most of you are wrapping up a semester, or hitting mid-terms, with some big projects, plans for summer and next school year, and more! on your plate. This is a critical time to take stack of how the academic year has gone, make up work or improve grades that you still have time to do. With the promise of doing better each year due to good planning (see prior posts!), you should be in the happy position of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and solid groundwork for your next seasons of school and life.

Stay with the focus, optimism, and new connections you've made this year. You will see the value of all these things as the days get longer and the weeks til summer are fewer. Best of luck!

Test-taking success: help with test anxiety

In addition to the best way to relieve test anxiety--a solid, effective study plan to build confidence (it's surprising how many people don't do this!)--two of my top pointers are:
• meet with another student both to practice drill via memory games, and share concerns with another classmate to feel less isolated in anxiety
• discuss with the instructor if there are any options for taking tests with accomodations (e.g., after school, extended time limits, online, etc.)
Sometimes by engaging others, students can gain confidence by advocating for their needs, and build personal contacts which relieve anxiety by having understang people in their corner.

Every Moment, a Learning Moment: 

Make the World Your School!

For the month of November, I have the opportunity to travel to south India to assist a friend here on a Fulbright Scholarship, who is teaching at a women's college in south India. I'm seeing it not just as a chance to travel, but to get immerse myself in another culture and educational system.

The trip is twofold, consisting of actual touring of various parts of the country, then stay at Lady Doak College in Madurai, where I will be involved an entirely different approach to education.  I am learning first-hand about Indian foods (spicy!), very different cultures living side-by-side, the environment both lush and ravaged, multiple languages, terrifying traffic in an international adventure. I'm very excited, since I have a passion for knowledge and international understanding. 

There is so much we can gain from living life outside a school, noticing details, tapping into our natural curiosity. And in case you were wondering from the last blog--and didn't look it up:

autodidact |ˌôtōˈdīˌdakt|

noun

a self-taught person.

Each experience, sight, sound, discussion, meal, person that I interact with expands my mind and fascination with all things new. I always take the opportunity to learn more about anything that piques my interest to go deeper in understanding. 

For example, I am exploring the Hindu holiday Diwali--a festival of light in November/December. It is a celebration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, end of the monsoon season, and the beginning of the Indian fiscal year. And as any good, traditional capitalist holiday, there are...STOREWIDE SALES!! GREETING CARDS!!

I've learned to tutor many subjects--statistics, physics, classical literature--that I hadn't learned in a thorough way, if at all, when I was younger. Sometimes I had no interest in them at the time, but over time I explore more and happily share/ learn it with my students (or anyone else who will listen!) 

“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.” --J.R.R. Tolkien

Principles of tutoring: Part 3. BE YOUR OWN TEACHER.

    How can you make education your own? Tutoring is an important piece of this equation. When you begin to think of learning as an ongoing part of your life, that infinite opportunities exist to expand your knowledge and intellectual curiosity, you move into an entirely different way of thinking about the world. Everyone and everything around can be your school in a way that brings much more meaning to life.
     I found, for example, that I was not only able, but very interested in learning the subtleties of algebra (yes, algebra) when I comandeered my own education and went about studying math. Not only did it come more easily than it had when I was younger (the wiring in our brains becomes more intricate and effective as we get older), I appreciated the theoretical level of math that I hadn't before. I'm sure it had a lot to do with choice, i.e., learning for its own sake instead of being told what to do. I also made use of resources such as peer-learning/tutoring, and finding ways to work that suited my own style.
   There is a term for one who learns things this way: autodidact. (Isn't that a great word?) It simply means a self-taught person; not necessarily one who has learned completely alone, but has followed her or his own interests and pace. Many brilliant people fit this term, and if you remain fascinated by the world, and undaunted by traditional schooling, you will find yourself creating your own brilliance in life-long growth.

have a look at the STES FB page..

[a brief break from this series] I keep a Facebook page for Susan Turner Educational Services. A bit more fun, opinionated, a few other things I like to share there. Have a look and tell me what you think.
Now back to our regular posts...

One to One: Part 2, Principles of Tutoring

I've always held that it's the personal aspect of tutoring, real tutoring, that makes it work.
There was a time, prior to free public education, that only truly wealthy folk could have tutors. This they did almost exclusively for an education. [Of course, you could get a doctorate in 4 years back then, too..just sayin'..]
Since then, we've had, and continue to have, the factory model of education: large, regimented groups of passive recipients of knowledge. This has been proven in endless studies to be one of the least effective ways to learn, as well as a wellspring of ADD problems, misunderstanding, and frustration for both teachers and students.
I don't wish to expound on the weaknesses of the mass-class system, nor do I disparage any of the hard-working people who do their best to make it effective. Heck, I grew up in a family of teachers, principals, and other public school workers. You all have my admiration, students, teachers, and administrators for making the best of an often-difficult arrangement.
I only wish to take this moment to strongly endorse an idea of individualized learning. This has been explored and practiced in various forms from time immemorial. My own high school experience was with a Carl Rogers-based curriculum which was way ahead of its time, and I found it inspiring.
On a more practical level, our present times call for more creativity within the confines of prevailing educational theory, budgets, and politics, just to name a few of the strictures.
This is where I believe professional tutoring can play a tremendous role. Professional tutors are very flexible, soundly based in learning theory, and can offer one of the key elements missing in standard education: human contact.
Though robots, online beings, self-teaching packets, etc. have been suggested as replacement teachers, an actual human being who can listen and guide and question specifically for the student, has no substitute.
Think about it: how you and people you know learn things, understand and think analytically (and with feeling) is the strongest foundation to the growth of your mind and being.

Tests, tests, and more tests

How do you prepare for a test? DO you prepare for a test? I'm still surprised by some students who don't have a fundamental plan for test and quiz prep. My theory is that they either think that if they done the homework they are ready. Or better yet, if they don't bring it up, the teacher will forget to give you the test. Well, of course these never happens, and all a passive approach will do is decrease the chances of doing well on a test. Using your time wisely will save you from rushed mistakes and peressure. Here are my top five test preparation strategies:

• Ask the teacher WHEN the test will be before they bring it up (unless they gave out syllabus which I find many high school teachers don't do)

• Ask WHAT will be on the test. Get as many specifics as possible. A study guide or practice test is ideal, but those aren't always offered either

• Ask HOW Long the test will be, and WHAT TYPE of questions (e.g., multiple choice, short answer, etc.) it will have.

• Set up a plan to study for the test, and not by just reading your notes. Include re-writing your notes, memory drills--a study partner is great for this), reviewing handouts and previous assignments.If you find there's something you didn't understand in the first place, get some help from the teacher or your tutor. It's way better to figure this out before you are sitting in front of the test staring blankly at the page!

• Spend at least 20-30 minutes a day for three or four days reviewing your materials, and make up some practice questions to quiz yourself. This should be enough time if you've kept up, since "cramming" doesn't work anyway.

You'll arrive rested and ready for your test if you follow these simple steps. Since tests often heavily weight your grade, you will see an improvement when you score well because your effective study plan. Good luck!

Understanding Tutoring 101

Principles of Tutoring: First in a Series

What is unique about tutoring?
How is it different from teaching?
If someone knows how to teach, they can tutor, too, right?
I often hear these questions--or assumptions based upon on them--and I like to have the opportunity to answer them.
A very common misconception is that tutoring and teaching are interchangeable. Actually, tutoring is very different from teaching. Teaching is more focused on instruction and presenting new information to students. Tutoring, on the other hand, uses the one-to-one relationship of the tutor and tutee (hey, that's a great word!) to guide the learner to full understanding and interaction with what has been taught. It is more like apprenticeship or coaching in that the individual's pace and learning style are fully incorporated into the process. Further, skills such as critical thinking and study habits are emphasized in a way that is difficult to do in a classroom setting. With the distractions of others in the group, competition, challenge of authority, and inattention to individual needs removed, a student can focus in a very different way on learning.
This is not meant to be a criticism of classroom teaching, either, just to be clear. Tutoring and teaching can be very complimentary in development of successful education. And each role, that of a teacher and of a tutor, requires specialized training to be highly skilled in either practice. Students who make the most of access both teachers and tutors find greater benefits for their education.

Write, write, write!

I've encountered more students than not who haven't had the pleasure of creative writing guidance. I say this because among a number of "superfluous" school classes, writing to simply express oneself (as opposed to persuasive essays, book reports, etc.) has been dropped or at least given short shrift in its importance.
So I urge everyone, regardless of whether you think you have anything worth writing, or can't spell, or whatever stops you, to get to the keyboard or pen and have at it. A journal, 2-paragraph rant, blog, cartoon word balloon, whatever format you want: jump in! The water may seem cold, or filled with Ghosts of Writing Assignments Past (reference Charles Dickens), but will soon become your own. Your experiences, ideas, passions, humor, anything you want can be put into words; and believe me, once you really get going, you'll find a voice you never knew.
I look forward to reading your future work!

Mapping your College Plan

Spring comes along, and your school year seems to pick up momentum. A little over 3 months may seem like a long time until summer, but if you're as busy as most high school students are, those months move by pretty quickly.

It's important to not get too caught up in the swoon of spring fever, and keep your eyes on your road to post high-school plans. There are a plethora (look it up!) of options including colleges and universities, community colleges, gap-year programs (a year off before going on to higher ed.), military enlistment, to name a few.

Most juniors gearing up for a four-year college should have their game plans laid out, with the help of parents, guidance counselors, and plenty of research (check out http://www.collegeboard.org if you haven't already.) Considerations for early admissions, familiarity with credit requirements and a number of other basics can make your process smooth and organized.

Seniors should be well on the way to having applications in and plans for financial aid. Final college visits can be helpful if there are still choices to be made.

This can be a nerve-wracking, but also exciting time of life: you have a the big Move ahead, but with planning it will be one of the most fulfilling times of our life! Best of luck!

Happy Winter Break!

After all the parties, last minute quizzes, perfomances, and general anticipation of a couple of weeks off from school, everyone is pretty darn ready for Winter Break. You may be travelling, spending time with family or just sleeping in a lot. This is a good thing! In his book Seven Habits of Highly Succesful Teens, Sean Covey would call this "Sharpening the Saw." That is, giving your brain a rest so you can be ready to go when January rolls around.
So enjoy your time off, have some good time with yourself and those close to you, find a new book to read, and maybe a new mini-adventure of some kind. Happy holidays!

Already we're past mid-quarter and coming up on the first grade period of school.
How naturally we dive into the accomplishments, expectations, and shortcomings of a new school year.
Is this one different from the last? Are you getting your homework/ tests/ papers done? How does your GPA look so far?
These are not insignificant questions, but what if the questions were: Are you learning new things? Do they interest you? Have you explored beyond the parameters of assignments, just because you want to know more? Is your future taking shape in your mind?
Yes, your perfomance in school will impact what comes next, and your GPA can influence where you might go to college. But what is going to stick with you? The teachers, classes, disoveries; allies, mentors and resources you find along the way; they will be the foundation of your further ventures.
Keep your eyes and mind open. This is YOUR life, your education. It will serve you in ways you may not imagine, at times that seem unlikely. Take it all in, don't settle for mediocre when the richness of your knowledge and imagination are the fuel for your life to come.