Month: May 2019

Stop The Summer Slide With Creativity!

Many schools are already out for the summer, though it’s not technically summer yet. How are those summer plans coming? While parents (and teachers) may worry about how to stop the “summer slide”, students are of course looking forward to enjoying a break – a break from routine, deadlines and stress. Is it possible to do both? Yes, of course! A little creativity will help you stop the summer slide while also recharging the batteries for the next school year – we’ll show you how.

 

 

Make Two Lists

Sure, pretty much anything that needs to be done starts with a list. But make one list of what you MUST DO and one for what you WANT TO DO.

The “must” list is where you add the academic tasks, the books to read and write reports on, the extra coaching or classes needed to polish up certain skills and so on. There might be non-academic tasks that must get done too – maybe related to sports, or a family trip, but we’re guessing that they are less of a chore!

Now for the “want” list – here’s where the fun stuff will show up. The summer break is a good time to refresh your brain as well as your spirit, so it makes sense to spend some of the time in doing non-school related activities. Hobbies that normally get little attention during the school year can flourish during summer. But, it is helpful to limit the list to the ones that would be most satisfying to get done. If joining a local theater group for a month is more exciting than building a robot with friends again for the second straight year, it makes sense to just list the first one.

For both lists, since there are only so many weeks during the summer break, it is important to keep them manageable!

Pick Your Activities

Starting with the “must do” list, the academic activities can probably be grouped into specific ones that have to be done a certain way (book reports for example), and others, like “improve your essay writing skills”, that can be done in many different ways from signing up for private tutoring and summer school to choosing more flexible online options (like on Meemli). Choosing the best way will depend on many factors like cost, timing, location, what is covered etc.

For the “want to do” list, again there could be many activities to choose from, ranging from do-it-yourself to organized groups, classes and programs with the same factors of cost, timing etc. influencing choices. The good news is that any area of interest can be made into something where you develop creative and critical thinking skills. From video games to art, anything can be set up as an activity that reduces the summer slide. (Check out our tips for projects you can do on your own that sharpen your brain while developing your interests.)

Time It Right

Yes, summer is not endless, and in fact, it usually flies by really fast. So with the “must do” and “want to do” lists all ready, there’s one more thing to figure out – when to do them.

Here are some basic tips that will help make the most of the summer break:

• start with a real break for at least a few days,
• mix in “must do” with “want to do” activities on a daily or weekly basis,
• and finally, schedule the academic work closer to the end of the break so your brain is already primed and ready for when school starts.

And hot tip to reduce stress: don’t pile it all towards the end of the break!

Be Social

This may not have made it to the “must do” or “want to do” lists but it is something that all students should make time during the break. Whether it is playing games, watching movies, or just going out for ice cream, it is mentally and emotionally refreshing to spend time with family and friends, especially as there’s not much time to do that during the school year. Maybe they can join in some of the planned activities (taking classes with friends is a lot more fun!), but in any case, socializing – in person, not online! – should be something to make time for during summer.

Just Relax

With the lists and planning, whether for must-do or want-to-do items, you may despair that summer feels just like school – too much structure and scheduling! While some may enjoy that, it is important to give yourself some time to just relax with no schedules and nothing planned.  Your brain, body and spirit all need it and you’ll find yourself more refreshed and willing to get engaged in your activities. Check out this article (great for parents as well as students) on why downtime is so important!

So set aside a few days to kick back, not worry about the summer slide or to-do lists and maybe find a real long slide in some park where you can go and enjoy being a kid!

Learning loss from the summer slide is easily prevented. It only takes a commitment to not spend all your time playing video games or streaming movies, but to mix in activities that engage brain and body, and have some open, unscheduled time as well.

Enjoy your summer!

Enjoy The End Of The School Year

(Enjoy this updated re-post of one of our favorites!)

Now that you’re well into the second half of the school year and summer break is not too far off (though it feels that way!), do you feel you’re getting into a rut? Is school not that interesting anymore? Maybe it is time to step back and think about what you want and work out your own personal plan for building for the future while still enjoying the last few weeks.

On top of honing study skills and getting serious about college, we recommend spending a little effort to get more value from the time spent at school with your peers – it is fun and helpful too!

 

There’s no one-size-fits all high school experience; everyone is different. But there are some things every student can do to enrich that experience. The key is that each student should make their own plan and do it their way to get more from school and enjoy the process!

Get Extra From Extracurriculars

You’d have heard it a zillion times by now “Take advantage of your school’s extracurricular activities to boost your college application and resume”. Sure, a better college application is one of the key benefits you get from participating in various clubs and sports.

But don’t do it just for padding your list of accomplishments. (And oh by the way, admissions officers can see through just-checking-off-a-box kind of engagement.)  Get involved in what interests you and you would enjoy – whether it is for the fun peer group or the challenge and excitement of the activity itself.

At this point, you’re probably already in clubs and sports – if you’re not, go ahead and see if you can still join, it is better late than never! – so now’s a good time to check if you’re getting the most out of these activities. Are you learning new things that you’re excited about? Are you meeting the kind of people you want hang out with? If you feel that your experience has become routine and not so interesting, you still have time to make changes. See if you can get more by changing your role, getting more involved, or if need be, switching to something else.

Get More From Your Teachers

Is there one class you enjoy far beyond the rest? Perhaps it’s the subject matter that interests you, and you want to study it more in college. Chances are, you like that teacher too, as they’ve taken the time to make learning about the subject something you really care about.

Go beyond asking about homework and tests and really talk to some of your favorite teachers. They can be a source of helpful ideas on everything from which major may suit you best in college to which events you should attend to feed your passion, whether it is in drama or math. Of course they can help with your college or job recommendations too, but getting to know great teachers and staying in touch can be an enriching experience in your life.

Get More From Your Friendships

By now you might have a core set of friends at school. First, take the time to deepen the friendships you already have. Seek out the people you want to spend time with, and make it a point to go do some fun activities with them in between your study sessions. School is one of the few places where you’ll have the time and access to friends that you need to build great friendships that could stand the test of going off to different colleges/cities/careers in the future.

Apart from your core group, now’s also the time to get to know more of your peers. Build your network! It is not a cold, calculated move to help your future job prospects, but another way to enrich your life. The more people you know, the more diverse your experiences and the more you learn about the world we live in. If nothing else, you’re less likely to be bored!

Get More From Your Community

Actually, it is all about “get more from your community by giving more of yourself to it”!

Community involvement is also another favorite “must-do” to put in your college application. But, once again, it’s not just about the application, it’s what you get from it. Do you see a pattern here? Often, what you do to enrich your life and expand your horizons end up being good for your college applications and resumes!

Working for a cause you care about with a group of passionate, like-minded people is a joy into itself. And you don’t have to wait for any specific time to do it. There are opportunities throughout the year, to suit any particular interest and time availability. You can do anything from organize a beach or park cleanup to creating quilts or blankets for the homeless. Opportunities abound, and you get to pick what you like to make a difference!

Get More As A Senior

If you’re a senior, you’re already counting down the weeks to graduation and seriously trying to keep off senioritis. Still, there’s plenty more you can get from the last few months of school!

As your high school life is winding down, now’s the time to get the most out of everything you can, and the list above works well for seniors too. Get to know the teachers you care about and make sure you can connect with them after school. Spend more time with friends who may be heading off in different directions, and connect with more people you’d like to stay in touch with (after all, that’s what social media is for). Have fun with your clubs and sports (and if you can’t, don’t waste too much time on them). And, make connections in your community too. If you’re volunteering in nonprofits, schools etc., get to know the leaders and staff there. You may want to work there during summers, or you could recommend others who might. If you care about something or someone, figure out a way to keep them in your life.

Schools are not just about academics. There’s so much for you to enjoy, and there are people for you to enjoy it with. Take the time to savor it all and most of all, take time to make and nurture your connections!

And one final tip, smiles make the days and weeks go by faster ????

Have a tip to share? Leave a reply!