SLEEP AND LEARNING

                                                      

Most  of us  look forward to a good  night's sleep, so we can function  properly the following  day.  Students, of course, are no exception; however, staying up late, even for study, actually hurts our academic performance.

Research shows the following:

• Our mood, and even our incentive and judgment, are affected by a lack of sleep.
• Our memory doesn't work as efficiently when we haven't had sufficient sleep.
• In order to achieve optimum learning, a good night's sleep is essential.

When sleep seems to elude us, here are some simple suggestions that may help:

• get plenty of natural light during the day
• take a warm shower or bath shortly before bed
• do deep breathing and/or listen to soothing music
• keep the temperature comfortable -- not too hot nor too cold
• avoid using electronic devices, including your phone, at least thirty minutes before bed time
• take Melatonin for short periods of time, like during exam week (Don't continue taking Melatonin indefinitely since your body will stop making its own Melatonin!)

HOW SHOULD I STUDY?

We base a lot of our tutoring upon learning styles. Once a student knows whether s/he is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner (or a combination of two or even three of these styles), it is fairly easy to study in the most productive way.

Visual learners should

• use charts, pictures, and graphs
• take notes and create outlines
• mark up study materials with highlighting, underlining, and brief notes
• read and reread material
• maintain a quiet environment

Auditory learners should

• ask lots of questions in class
• record lectures when possible
• watch videos
• study with others who will converse about the subject to be studied
• speak aloud any information that should be memorized; repeat information out loud
• avoid any auditory distractions in the study area

Kinesthetic learners should

• write notes in class
• utilize flash cards when appropriate
• study while being active – walking, pacing up and back in the study room
• use flash cards
• take frequent breaks
• study with others ONLY IF focus on the subject matter can be maintained

PARENTS, YOU CAN HELP YOUR STUDENT!

• Meet and partner with your child’s teacher(s) and other staff and find out which services are available; read information that comes home from school; stay on top of what’s going on at your child’s school. If your child complains about a teacher, address the problem with the instructor in a calm manner. Your goal is to maintain a cordial relationship and to be part of the team that supports your child. If the problem isn’t resolved, consult the guidance counselor and/or a member of the administration.

• If you think your child may have learning disabilities or a need for accommodations due to ADHD, behavioral disorders, etc. speak with the guidance counselor and get help.

• Be sure you have a login for the online grading system, so you can stay on top of your student’s grades.

• Advocate for your student! Ask questions. If you are concerned, speak up!

• If you have questions or concerns about your student, DON’T WAIT. Your child may dig himself or herself into a hole that is difficult to recover from. Don’t wait for progress reports or report cards. Stay in touch with your student’s teachers. If you have time to volunteer, get involved at your child’s school and make your presence known.

• Model a love of learning; encourage reading; encourage use of the library; let your child know that you value education and show interest in his/her academics and school activities.

• Learn your child’s learning style so you can encourage specific strategies that will be of help.

• Ensure that homework and studying for tests gets done. Don’t assume your child will do what s/he should! If your student is confused or stressed, don’t yell! If school feels chaotic and difficult for your child, try to help him/her stay calm. Stress makes everything harder for everyone! If you are unable to help your child who needs assistance, look into tutoring at your school or find a friend, family member, or tutor to help.

• Limit time with technology – monitor video games, internet usage, and television time.

I HAVE TO STUDY? WHY?

• It helps to develop self-discipline, time management skills, and study habits.

• It can increase learning skills and increases our memory.

• It helps us develop critical thinking skills, so we have opinions based upon knowledge.

• Homework and study help develop routines and strong study habits that enable us to learn better and achieve more in the classroom and in life.

• Having good study skills can reduce anxiety about tests and projects as well as increase our feeling of competence and confidence.

INSTEAD OF PLAYING FORTNITE INTO THE WEE HOURS, YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE SLEEPING!

We need a good night's sleep, so 

• we can focus better and respond more quickly to questions and problems
• we can learn more effectively and have a better grasp of complex information
• we can remember what we’ve learned the day before more easily
• we can think more quickly
• we may wake up with a solution to a problem or a new idea for a project

DOES MY CHILD NEED AN IEP OR A 504 PLAN?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was created by the U.S. Department of Education to provide eligible students with special education ... so long as the student has a disability under one of the qualifying conditions. Each student who receives special education is required to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is written for one specific student, so the document is individualized. Some students have disabilities that do not fall under any of the qualifying conditions. In that case, a 504 Plan is available to provide accommodations. Both the IEP and the 504 are legal documents, and the specified accommodations MUST be followed by a public school and its teachers.

SUMMER - THE TIME FOR FUN, SUN, and TUTORING??

It may seem outrageous to have your student tutored over the summer, but contemplate this....

Many parents consider this the greatest learning opportunity because:

• there are few distractions from the "business" at hand
• the student doesn't have a full day of school plus homework
• any learning gaps in a subject can be more easily addressed during the summer
• in the absence of school, learning is less stressful and more fun

"WHEN WILL I NEED MATH IN REAL LIFE?"

“WHEN WILL I NEED MATH IN REAL LIFE?”

Here’s our answer to this common question - - -

We need math for:

• cooking (doubling a recipe, for example)
• creating a budget
• understanding and figuring out the cost of utilities
• figuring out miles per gallon when we fill our tank
  (The car’s computer doesn’t give us the actual amount due to idling. It’s usually off as much as 2 mpg.)
• figuring out discounts so we can get the best price
• understanding and figuring out our GPA (Grade Point Average) in school
• reading a pay check and determining whether we’re being paid properly

TUTORING HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS

Home-schooling has become a popular means of educating students. Though some parents are equipped to teach all subjects, some aren’t confident about their ability with math and English. We’re here to reassure you that, if you need professional assistance with one or more subjects, a tutor can help. Some well-known, corporately-owned companies will be able to assist with many subjects and will offer group as well as individual instruction, whereas Top Flight Tutor only does one-on-one instruction in an effort to meet each student precisely where s/he is, so we can offer customized tutoring. In a case where a parent wants us to teach the entire curriculum, we will work many days per week; when we’re supplementing or assisting with what’s being done at home, once a week may be all that’s required. Feel free to reach out to us!

MY ANXIETY HAS ANXIETY!

Anxiety is common among all of us; unfortunately, this includes our children.   When any of us are feeling anxious, our brains don't function as they normally do.  At home, we have many opportunities to defuse tension - - going outside, exercising, writing in a gratitude journal -- but in the classroom, if the teacher or counselor doesn't address anxiety with the entire group, individual students may not know how to cope.  Here are a few things they can do that may help:

• Taking slow, deep breaths will slow their heart rate and also help their muscles relax.  (It will be helpful if they don't wait to feel anxious to do this; practicing when they're not stressed will build the habit of breathing deeply and slowly all the time!)
• Visualizing a tranquil, favorite spot while closing their eyes and breathing deeply and slowly will also help.
• Tensing each muscle group (e.g., neck and shoulders, shoulders and arms, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves) for five-ten seconds and then releasing will enhance relaxation. They can do this from head to toe and should feel calmer.

When students have anxiety issues that don't improve with the above-mentioned activities, it may be wise to examine their eating and sleeping habits and possibly consult with the school psychologist to see if they qualify for an IEP or 504.  Those who do qualify will receive accommodations that will help them academically and emotionally.

THE "RIGHT" LEARNING STYLE + INTELLIGENCES = FUN!

After we meet a new student, our first task is to administer a Learning Styles Inventory. Many of our students don't know how they learn best, so it's enlightening for them and us to see if they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners – or a combination of any of those three styles. Having an understanding of each student's learning style helps us avoid a "one-size-fits-all" approach to tutoring, so we can customize how we teach the student how to best learn the material. As we get to know our students, we also learn about their "intelligences," which are different intellectual abilities that we all possess. This differs from learning styles, which are the ways an individual approaches different tasks; our intelligences are different ways of processing information.

There are eight different intelligences: verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, musical, naturalistic, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Although we usually don't administer an intelligences inventory, we and our students generally get a sense of their intelligences fairly quickly. Our goal is not to label a student, but rather to obtain as much information as we can to understand who our students are as human beings and how we can help them learn.

An example: Many years ago, an out-of-state friend shared that her granddaughter was struggling with learning her multiplication tables. When I questioned her about the girl's learning style and intelligences, she had no clue. I sent her electronic versions of the Learning Style Inventory and the Multiple Intelligences Inventory. In a fairly short period of time, they had identified her learning style and intelligences and, with a few suggestions from us, the girl learned all of her multiplication tables rather by dancing to and singing all of the tables. There were no flash cards - no fights - no complaints! She had fun memorizing the tables in a way that suited her learning style and intelligences!

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Homework usually relates to work done in class.  It's not uncommon, however, for students to sit down with their homework and draw a complete blank on what they've done and heard in class.  Inevitably, parents say, "You were just in class today!  How could you forget what you did?"  

Although many things can account for this, for now we're going to focus on just one:  the  student doesn't know how s/he learns and, therefore, isn't able to utilize the best tools for his or her learning style.

When a student has no clue as to  how s/he learns, a good first step is taking a Learning Style Inventory.  The three learning styles are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.  Some of us learn in one way, in particular; some of us are a mixture of all three. Determining how we learn is essential to finding the proper tools to facilitate learning!  We will address these soon in follow-up blogs.  Stay tuned!

IS YOUR BRAIN HUNGRY?

When necessary and appropriate, we try to educate our students about foods that help us learn.  Some foods - like blueberries, broccoli, oranges, and pumpkin seeds - have antioxidants that help protect our brains from damage.  Tea (green tea, in particular) and coffee fall into this category, as well.  Other foods - like eggs and nuts - contain nutrients that support brain development and memory, which are critical for learning.  We have to admit that our favorite brain-healthy food is dark chocolate!  It has caffeine, antioxidants, and flavonoids that enhance memory and also boost our mood.  Best of all, it's yummy!  

HEATING UP!

The thermometer says it's already summer , but school's not out yet...just one more month, though, and the students will be free! Our calendar for this summer, however, is already heating up! Students and their parents have these goals:  

• prepare for the July or September Algebra and Geometry EOC
• maintain the knowledge gained in the past year
• fill in gaps in knowledge to avoid being "lost" next year
• prepare for the following year and/or next level of education
• get a handle on test anxiety before high-stakes testing begins again

GIVE US A CALL! Get a free thirty-minute consultation, and consider investing in your students during the summer!

BLIBBER BLABBER!

One of our favorite young men recently related an incident that occurred while he was working on a computer program in a classroom setting.  He needed assistance, but the two people who were designated to help him were standing by, talking. He described their behavior as "Blibber Blabber." His choice of words and the way he expressed himself were rather comical, but the truth is that his needs were not being met while the two adults were blabbing.

We couldn't help but wonder how often this occurs both in and out of the classroom.  Are we listening to each other?  Are we attending to each other's needs when we should?  As educators, of course, we think of how this relates to the students we tutor.  We make a point of checking in while we're working with our students, of checking whether the student is "with us" or if we've "lost" her/him. We encourage our students to ask questions, to stop us if we're moving too quickly or glossing over something that needs more explanation and practice, or if we're "blibber blabbering"!  

TAKE A BREATH!

It's not uncommon for people to hold their breath at times -- due to surprise, fright, anticipation, or stress.  In tutoring, we often see students holding their breath when they are solving a problem, or trying to find the best way to express their ideas....and we always gently remind them to BREATHE!! Holding the breath not only stresses the nervous system, but it can increase anxiety and actually impair our academic abilities.  If you catch yourself not breathing, exhale....and then gently begin breathing in out through your nose. You'll not only become calmer - you'll increase your chances for academic success.                                                                                                                                               

FREE THIRTY-MINUTE CONSULTATION!!

                                                                                                              

If you've been telling yourself that you're a "bad test-taker" or think that you just can't do well on a test, STOP IT!  Every test is a chance to show what you know -- no more, no less.  If you don't know the material while you are in class, ask questions...ask for help.  Join a study group.  Get a tutor. DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE!  It doesn't matter if your parents, siblings, or friends had or have a hard time with tests.  You are your own person; you have your own strengths and weaknesses and, so long as you can read, you have the ability to learn and do well on tests.  

Top Flight Tutor has lots of information and suggestions for taking tests...  And if you have test anxiety, we can help with that, too.  Call us for a complimentary thirty-minute consultation, and find out how we can help you!

SPRING HAS (ALMOST) SPRUNG!

In my first year of teaching, a colleague's favorite spring poem was, "Spring has sprung, grass has ris, wonder where the birdies is?" The poor grammar grated on me, but this little ditty was amusing.  I think of it every year when our Florida temperatures start reaching the 80s and, as tutors, we know that the end of school  isn't far behind.

Our students and their parents start thinking about grades, End-of-Course exams, FSA exams, next year's courses, graduation....  As tutors, we're concerned, too.  We know the phone will be ringing off the hook...people will sound desperate ("My daughter is struggling with writing..."  "My son is failing his math class...")  If we wait 'til our students have dug themselves into a hole, it becomes doubly hard to help them climb out and finish the year with a passing grade.

We're into the third quarter of the school year.  If your student is having a hard time, call us.  We can schedule one-on-one customized tutoring or arrange small-group tutoring in Math and English.  We offer packages and discounts.  Our website is full of information about us and our services.

                                               TOP FLIGHT TUTOR -- 407-590-4054

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES... GAGA....

Lines from tutoring sessions:

Tutor:     "What happened on the back page of this test?"  (twice as many wrong as the front side)
Student:  "Incorrectmania!"

Tutor:      "This math is really hard!"
Student:   "I know -- they don't have any of my answers!"

We love our students!  If you want "mania" and "hard math" to go away -- GAGA...it's gone!

MOVING BOLDLY FORWARD WITH PERT & CAST EXAMS

Did you know that....

• For students who are interested in Dual Enrollment (at a college while attending high school), the state mandates that they take and pass the PERT exam to determine college readiness.

• For prospective employees interested in working for electric companies (like Duke Energy or OUC) in outside line positions, the CAST test is required.

Top Flight Tutor offers test preparation for both of these tests.  Check us out at www.topflighttutor.com or call 407-590-4054 for information.