Friday, February 11, 2011

Using a Student’s Strengths for Better Studying

by: Jim Hartley

At SuperCamp, the learning and life skills academic summer camp for kids 9-18, we focus on individual’s particular learning styles. Knowing one’s own learning style, or strengths, can help when it comes time to study for a test. At SuperCamp, we make this point by telling campers the story of Slim ‘n’ Bil.




Slim ‘n’ Bil are both very smart people – smart in very different ways. Slim ‘n’ Bil both have a wide range of skills. Whenever they meet, they like to show off their talents to each other, and practice their skills to build their intelligence in different areas. The question they ask each other isn’t ‘How smart are you?’ it’s ‘How are you smart?’

When Slim ‘n’ Bil first got together, they realized that their names together spell out each of the eight different ways that we’re all smart – and they created ways to practice and improve each area. Check this out:

S – Spatial-visual read maps, create 3D art, look at hidden-shape puzzles.
L – Linguistic write stories, give speeches, play Scrabble
I – Interpersonal take on projects in groups, get to know people
M – Musical practice beats, play an instrument

N – Naturalist look for patterns, do odd-one-out puzzles

B – Bodily-kinesthetic play with a hackey, act things out, dance
I – Intrapersonal keep a journal, create goals for yourself
L – Logical-mathematical do logic puzzles, play tic-tac-toe, look for reasons

Everyone is smart in all eight ways, and we may have particular strengths. When you study, use these strengths to study in a way that will be most effective for you. When you’re not studying, try out some of these practices to improve the areas you find challenging. No two people are the same, and we’re all smart. The question is, how are you smart?

Learn More at SuperCamp

At SuperCamp, our exceptional staff go in-depth with campers from age 9 to 18 on helping them identify their own learning style and how to go with their particular strengths. Our Youth Forum is seven days long and is for students going into grades 4-5 in the fall. Junior Forum and Senior Forum are 10 days long. Junior Forum is for incoming 6-8 graders and Senior Forum is for incoming 9-12 graders. We even have a college boot camp, Quantum U, an 8-day programs for incoming college freshmen.

SuperCamp is held at eight beautiful colleges across the U.S. throughout the summer. Quantum U takes place at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. More information on our programs is available at www.supercamp.com and www.quantum-u.com.

We also offer a unique 3-day Parent Weekend at which parents of kids in SuperCamp gain an insight into what their children are learning in their programs. In the process, parents tell us they learn a lot about themselves, as well. You can view a Parent Weekend video at http://www.SuperCamp.com.


About The Author
Jim Hartley works for Quantum Learning Network, a company that focuses on children and teen education and life skills.

http://www.qln.com

Maximizing Your Study Time for Better Results

by: Roger Seip

The daily schedule for many young students today could rival that of several top-level executives. With soccer practice, dance, scouts and clarinet lessons taking up much of the evening, when do students get to focus on their studies? Too often students get overwhelmed with the amount of work left over at the end of the day. They look at study time in one big sum and get distracted and exhausted before they even begin. To solve this problem, you may not be able to adjust your child’s schedule, but they can change their study techniques.



Here are 3 study techniques that will help any student maximize their study time.
ß They should start by separating and segmenting their study time. Break it up into smaller bits. No matter how brilliant you are a concentrated attention span lasts only about 20 minutes. So break your 2 or 4 hours study sessions into groups of 15 or 20 minutes. During the break, stand-up, walk around, grab a bit to eat or something to drink and then get back to the grind for another 15 or 20 minutes. This not only helps create spaced repetition, which is crucial for retention, but helps make study sessions less stressful and daunting.
ß Another tool to help in maximizing study time is to use random practice. When reviewing lists or concepts don’t go in order. Skip around to force your brain to pull from an entire group of information. This aids in understanding the purpose or meaning behind a concept instead of merely its place in line. The simplest way to implement random practice is through the use of a study partner.
ß Use a Study Partner. When at all possible, it is very beneficial to study with another student who shares the same educational goals and motivation. A study partner can help identify areas of weakness and ensure that topics don’t get skipped. It’s also beneficial to witness how another student takes in and stores information. For this reason and others, it is better for the study partner to be another student, but parent don’t be afraid to fill this position. The progress gained from working with a partner in general is worth it.
Proper and efficient study techniques will follow a student through all levels of education and learning. Establishing good habits and skill sets, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem at the time, will prove to reap massive rewards in the long run. So while little Johnny and Suzy might need their first day planners before the third grade, don’t let it stop them from becoming the best students they can.
About The Author
Roger Seip is a nationally known memory trainer. He has helped thousands of students across the country improve their memory as well as study habits.
His new program, The Student’s Winning Edge - Memory Training, teaches students how to train their memory to study more effectively and get better grades. For more information on how your student can have a more powerful memory visit http://www.memorytrainingforstudents.com or email info@memorytrainingforstudents.com.

Custom Search