Bad Grades? Here’s what to Do

If your student is getting bad grades, you want to be supportive, but you also want to ensure that their academic performance improves. While it’s natural to get upset by bad grades, your student may lack the skills they require to do a better job. You can help them to take responsibility for their academic performance and provide them with the much-needed tools to get the job done.

 

What’s the problem?

Every student has a bad test from time to time, but if you notice a marked decline in a particular subject or in overall grades, it’s time to take action. First speak with your student to try to ascertain what the problem is. Don’t be discouraged if they can’t tell you; it may be that they just don’t know why they aren’t doing as well as their fellow students. Speak with their teachers; your teachers are the best resource for finding the root of the problem. Problems may range from getting distracted in class, not being organized, lacking study skills or simply forgetting to complete assignments. You should also investigate the possibility of social issues like bullying.

 

Fixing the foundations

If your student has gaps in their knowledge, then the more their teachers build on these foundations, the less they will understand. If you suspect that this may be the issue, then get an in-home tutor to evaluate your student’s knowledge. They will be able to tell what kind of an understanding they have of the subject matter and help to fill in the gaps. In-home tutors are able to work individually with your student so that they are able to catch up and show rapid improvement. They are also able to work in a situation where your student feels comfortable and confident. As they progress, they will feel more confident, and will be more likely to ask and answer more questions. They may be too intimidated or shy to ask questions in class.

 

Study skills

Teachers don’t always have the time to teach both the course material and study skills. Your student may need help with the way they study. Start by asking your tutor or teacher to ascertain what learning style suits your student best. Then show them how to convert their course materials into a format that is more accessible to them. For example, if your student is a visual learner, they can remember material by creating a mindmap, flashcards or an inforgraphic. Ensure that your student knows how to properly study, summarize and revise and how to estimate how much time they should leave for studying.

 

Get organized

Being organized isn’t something that comes naturally for most students. If your student often forgets about assignments and tests, loses items or doesn’t hand work in, they may need help with organizational skills. Find a calendar that works best for them. This can be a diary, a smartphone app, a whiteboard; anything that helps them to member important upcoming events. Ensure that you check their calendar every day and help them to fill in the tests, exams and assignment’s they have coming up. Block out time between extramural activities when they are set to do their homework or study. Ensure that they have enough time to complete their schoolwork and help them to prioritize tasks.

Deal with Exam Stress Like A Pro

As exam season approaches, most students experience heightened anxiety. Compounded by lack of sleep and pressure to perform, exam stress can be your worst enemy and prevents you from performing at your peak. While it’s a fact that your grades will be better if you are calm during exams, this often easier said than done. If you suffer from exam stress, then here are some practical ways you can regain control. It’s all in the Planning Part of the reason you feel nervous when taking exams is because you don’t feel prepared. If you plan ahead and ensure that you have enough time to study for your exam, this won’t be a problem. Start early and give yourself tons of time to study. If you feel confident in your knowledge and abilities, you will be able to perform at your peak. Ask your teacher for previous exams so that you can practice. This means you can also get accustomed to the way in which your teacher asks questions. Ask your tutor to help with your exam preparation. Your tutor can identify gaps in your knowledge, help you to create a study schedule and go through old exam papers with you. Get enough Sleep Don’t stay up late cramming; lack of sleep will lead to poor academic performance. Getting your eight hours is the best way to ensure that you are able to use your higher cognitive functions when you are writing your exam. A good night’s sleep will mean you are able to remember more, concentrate longer and problem solve with ease. If you are having trouble sleeping, try exercise and drink lots of water. Avoid stimulants like coffee and sports drinks, and eat a healthy diet. On the Day Don’t leave home late – ensure that there is no pre-exam rushing around. This only adds stress that you don’t need. Leave home with tons of time to spare. If you arrive early, walk around and breathe deeply. You can say hi to your friends, but avoid talking about the exam. When you get your exam paper, read all of the questions and don’t worry if there are some you aren’t sure of. Decide how much time you are going to spend on each question so that you don’t run out. Now start with the easiest questions first. This will help to build your confidence and get your brain working. After the exam is over, try to forget about it. Don’t go over the answers with your friends and get worried about what you did or didn’t write. Instead, go home and relax. The exam period is a long one and you don’t want to stress yourself out about exams you have already written; focus instead on the exams that you still have to write. Relax, you’ve Got This! Your greatest enemy is often yourself. If you start thinking negatively or start to worry that you don’t have enough time, are going to fail or wish you had started earlier… Stop! I know it sounds easier than it actually is, but negative thinking will have a damaging effect on your exam results. If your brain gets on the hamster wheel of doubt and negative thoughts start going round in your head, get up and go do something fun. Take a walk, visit a friend or go for a run. Moving around and distracting yourself will help you to stop being a worry wart. Now replace that negative thought with a positive one. Every time you catch yourself thinking: “I’m not going to make it”, replace that with something positive. After all, you got this! See more here:

Eat Your Way to Academic Success

While your brain only takes up 2% of your body weight, it consumes up to 20% of the energy you eat. Whether you are studying, writing an exam or listening to a lecture, your brain needs fuel to function optimally. In fact, your brain cells need twice as much energy as any other cells in your body. That means that the better you eat, the better your brain will function. Your brain needs a constant supply of fuel. Without glucose, your memory and cognitive functioning is impaired. When your brain has no fuel to function, you will have trouble concentrating and solving problems which makes it very difficult to perform academic tasks well. Not all fuel is created equally so if your brain doesn’t get the right food, it may have the same effect as having no food at all. This means that refined carbohydrates and sugar can deprive the brain of glucose which means you will have trouble concentrating, solving problems, remembering and learning. This means that junk food, candy, donuts and fried foods won’t help to fuel your brain. You need to get the glucose and other fuel for your brain from healthy sources like whole grains, proteins, fruit and vegetables. Brains need iron which can be found in green leafy vegetables like spinach. It also needs B vitamins which can be found in grains, eggs and nuts. While vitamin supplements can help, they are no substitute for proper meals. Eating regularly helps to keep your blood sugar levels stable, so ensure you eat at least three meals a day. If you go too long between meals, you will feel tired and you will have trouble concentrating. 

For breakfasts, choose whole-wheat breads and cereals, eggs, fruit and yogurt over muffins or donuts. 

For lunches, opt for a vegetable soup, a salad, or a healthy sandwich. 

For dinner, focus on protein (fish is brain food!) and vegetables. 

If you need to snack, go for fruits and nuts rather than candy. 

Here are some foods that your brain will really love: 

Wild salmon: packed with essential fatty acids like Omega-3, salmon is a great source of protein. 
Whole grains: bran, whole wheat, oatmeal, brown rice and wheat germ all contain lots of vitamin B6 and folate which increases the flow of blood to the brain. 
Leafy greens like spinach, kale and cabbage which are filled with vitamins B6, B12, Iron and folate. 
Seeds and nuts: from peanuts and pecans to pistachios and sunflower seeds, natural nuts and grains contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which lift your mood while the thiamine and magnesium improve your memory. 
Green tea: Much better than coffee or soda, green tea is packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. Akai berries and blueberries: Berries are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins and protein. Akai berries also have omega-3 fatty acids. -

 See more at: http://tutordoctor.com

Does your student have X-Skills?

A few years ago, the ACT Company released the results of a study titled The Forgotten Middle which concluded that how a student performs by the end of 8^th grade is the best indicator of how successful they will be in college and beyond and their evidence proved this by an overwhelming margin. To some this might be a surprising revelation. Many would intuitively assume that high school academic performance would be more of a predictive factor; however, the results of The Forgotten Middle study demonstrated that, by the time a student starts high school, the die may have already been cast. 

An interesting facet of the report's conclusions was that the single greatest factor which influenced success was not academic knowledge, but academic discipline. This includes skills such as planning and organization; follow-through and action; and sustained effort. All of these X-skills fall into a category known as Executive Functions, which are described as the skills human beings develop to execute tasks independently.

Within this context, it is not surprising that 8^th grade performance provides an early-warning system for post-secondary college or career readiness. If a student is not well on their way to developing the skills necessary to organize, prioritize and execute a multitude of competing tasks at the middle school level, they may find themselves falling further behind in high school and less prepared for the rigor of college or establishing a career.

Of course, students with limited or fragile academic foundations will feel the effects of this more than students who have established strong academic foundations prior to 8^th grade. However, even those students who have been very successful in their academics through middle school may find that they need to work on their organizational and prioritization skills to sustain that high level of academic performance while pursuing an advanced high school curriculum. In particular, they may find that they need to focus more effort on their prioritization and time-management skills.

For the most part, students can be coached to improve the skills which contribute to strong academic discipline. In order to be effective though, this type of coaching does require the willing participation of the student, as well as, the participation of a mentor or parent to provide accountability. For parents who are interested in learning more about how to develop their students' executive skill set, they can call Tutor Doctor of the Hamptons for a FREE consultation.

Source: Rob Rosedale

Handling ADHD: Tips from Teachers

What do Howie Mandel, Justin Timberlake, Richard Branson, Michael Phelps and Jim Carey have in common? They have all been diagnosed with ADHD. Knowing that successful people not only cope with ADHD, but use all that energy and enthusiasm to fuel their careers can be a wonderful motivator for students and parents. With a few tips from the experts, you can find an academic solution that helps your students to shine.

Talk to your teachers
This is the most important step in the process. Your teachers will have experience dealing with ADHD students and they can help to set up a routine at school and communicate with your student in a way that they both find helpful.

Speak to your teacher about where to place your student in the classroom to minimize distraction.

Communication is key for your student to get the most out of every class so make sure that you speak with your teachers regularly to discuss issues or upcoming assignments and tests.

Routine
Try to perform daily tasks at the same time as this helps to focus energy and gives a pattern to the day that will help you and your student to stay organized and on top of homework.

Communication
Students may seem willful but often they just get distracted when you are speaking with them. When giving instructions or directions, use concise language and keep it short. Ask your student to repeat instructions to ensure that they have heard you.

Visible Schedules
Make sure homework tasks, assignments and upcoming tests and exams are listed on a schedule that is very accessible. Use a white board in the kitchen, or a smartphone app or a calendar in the bedroom; anything to help remind your student of the tasks that need to be completed.

Homework space
Ensure that the space where your student studies is well lit, quiet and free from distraction. Ensure that other siblings don’t offer additional distractions and that there is an environment conducive to learning.

Regular bedtimes
Ensure that your student gets enough sleep or they may have trouble concentrating in class.

Break it down
When students begin to feel overwhelmed by a particularly big task or when they feel like they have too much to do, help them to break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. Set out a schedule with each small task written down to show that it’s manageable. Focusing on small short term goals will help to keep them focused and involved.

See more at: http://tutordoctor.com

How Social Media makes Social Learning more Effective

Social learning has around since the 1970’s when Albert Bandura suggested that learning is a social activity. Social learning theory postulates that learning occurs when students observe behaviors and mimic them. This includes the observation of rewards and punishments for behaviors. When harnessing this theory to effect change in the classroom, teachers can use social media to create a wider conversation and include other influential players. If used correctly, social media can be a real asset when teaching through social learning.

As parents you have already experienced social learning as your young students mimic your behavior and learn from your actions. Now with social media, you can augment the social learning opportunities at home and in the classroom by introducing your students to a wider audience of influencers. What this means is that our educators and tutors are still mentors and models, but they are required to relinquish some of their authority to the community of learners as students learn from each other.

With social media, this community is not restricted to the students in the classroom, but can also include students from around the world and all the resources that the Internet makes available. Now we have an entire network of teachers, tutors and learners all contributing to our body of knowledge and sharing their experiences. While social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest can provide a wealth of learning opportunities, they can also serve as distractions that eat up an enormous amount of time without contributing anything to your student’s body of knowledge. This means that social media can be a blessing or a curse and needs to be managed effective to achieve the desired results. Teachers and tutors need to outline lesson plans, goals and guidelines to direct social media actions and continually enforce these guidelines to add a structure to social media interactions.

Social media is a wonderful tool to use in social learning, but it must be structured in order to be effective. Students learn more when there is a human connection to their content. This means that they are more likely to remember an exciting video on a lab experiment than if they read the experiment in a text book. Social media makes this possible as students can watch videos of scientific experiments on YouTube and discuss them with other students in forum portals. Social media also caters for all learning styles thanks to its multi-media capabilities. Students can talk to other learners, tutors and teachers, read blogs, watch videos and study graphics. No matter what kind of style your student responds to, they are bound to find the information they are looking for in a format they like. Social media also caters to students with different learning speeds. The faster they learn, the more there is for them to discover. Students who work quickly have an endless wealth of resources to explore on the internet. Social media gives active learners the opportunity to explore and discover. They can work as fast or as slowly as they like and interact with their community and with the information in a format that suits them best. -copied from:Tutor Doctor