Looking Ahead to Your First Semester

This morning I met with freshmen and helped them plan their classes for the fall semester.  Given that the students really don't know what to expect, there were a few quick tips I suggested they keep in mind:

• Go to class!  When there is no one to tell you what to do, it is surprisingly easy to skip one class which can then quickly become a pattern.  Don't give yourself an option - you are going to all your classes!
• There is a lot more reading and it is much more in-depth than in high school.  For the most part your professors expect that you have read, understood and retained the information in the book, even though they may not announce this daily in class.
• You are the main person responsible for your learning.
• The learning will happen outside of class, not during class.
• Keep on top of things beginning with week one.  The first week seems pretty easy but the semester moves very quickly and it is easy to get behind.

The start of the fall semester is exciting, particularly for a freshman.  Whether this is your first semester or you are an experienced student, before you get into the semester think about what positive habits you will follow and resolve to do so!  Good luck and enjoy!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Build Background Knowledge Over the Summer

The past two blogs have dealt with ideas to keep your skills fresh over the summer.  Another thing you can consider doing is to gain or increase your background knowledge for your future courses.  We know that the more you know about a subject the easier it is to learn new knowledge.  Here are some things to consider:


Keep current in your major:

• Look for related news articles.
• Go to the library and borrow the current books in your field.
• Read books and articles to increase your knowledge of the important history in your field.
• Look for opportunities to talk to people employed in your field.  If appropriate, ask to visit them at work or shadow them.
• If possible, work or volunteer in an area related to your major.

Liberal Studies courses:

• Sometimes what makes these courses difficult is the lack of background knowledge in a field that is totally new to you.  Do some research in this area to increase your knowledge.

Build needed skills:

• If your major requires a high level of math, study that.  Even if you are not taking a formal course you can review and practice what you know.
• Read, read, read.
• Spend time doing whatever it is that is required of your major - math, drawing, reading - whatever you will need to be proficient at or know in the fall.
• If your major requires an entrance or proficiency exam, study ahead for that.

Once you are working in your career you will be expected to maintain your skills and continue to learn.  Develop these habits now while you are in college and it will be natural for you once you are employed.  Any extra activity you can add to your resume will also demonstrate you are a self-directed learner and make your more marketable.
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

The Importance of Words

In my classes and with students preparing for entrance exams into the College of Education I focus much of the time on reading strategies (previewing, organization, signal words, etc.).  But a very important part of reading comprehension is vocabulary.  If you do not know what the words mean it is almost impossible to understand what you are reading.  This applies to reading textbooks as well as exam questions and answers. 

 

There are several ways you can figure out the meaning of a word without stopping your reading and looking it up in a dictionary:

*Context clues – often the writer will either include the specific meaning of the word in the sentence if it is important to the knowledge of the overall subject.  If this is the case you, the reader, are expected to know the meaning of the word from that point on.  This is even more emphasized if the word and definition are noted in the margin!

*Often you can still get the meaning of the sentence without knowing the exact meaning of a word.  This is fine for general reading, but be careful with your classes.


*A general understanding of word parts is useful.  For example, “im, in, un, non” all have a negative meaning, “pre” means before and “re” means to do again.  In subject areas this is a crucial tool as there will be word parts specific to each subject.

Here is some more ideas:

*If you see an unknown word three times, look it up and write down the word and definition.   Keep a running list of words you are learning and review often.

*In your subjects, use study cards to learn the vocabulary important to that discipline.

*Go to www.freerice.com and play their vocabulary game.  They do not give the meaning of the words, but it is a fun way to gradually increase the words you recognize.

Words are interesting and can make a big difference in your understanding and learning.  Pay attention to them and your vocabulary will gradually increase.  Enjoy!

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Keep reading over the summer!

For many students summer is a time to relax and/or work to earn money for the next school year.  One other thing you should do is READ.  Here is why:


The most important reason is that reading over the summer will keep your reading and thinking skills sharp.


But also:

• You will increase your vocabulary.
• You will learn new things.
• You will have interesting things to talk about.
• You will feel educated and academic which goes a long way toward success in future semesters.

What should you read?

• Newspapers and magazines
• Books, both fiction and nonfiction - check out your local library where you can borrow books for free.
• Nonfiction books that relate to your major, especially current topics - it is important to stay up-to-date in your field.
• Blogs or related websites related to your field.

It is important to not just "take the summer off" and totally suspend your academic activities.  Here is one of my favorite quotes by Aristotle:


"You are what you repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."


Make sure you maintain the habit of reading and thinking over the summer months!  Also take time to relax and enjoy a bit more freedom!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

 

The semester is over - now what?

The spring semester is over and all that is left is waiting for your grades.  Here are some things to consider once you have them.


If you did well and your semester and cumulative grade averages are good:

• Congratulations on a job well done!
• Think about what went well.  What exactly did you do to earn high grades?  What will you do again next semester?

If your grades were disappointing:

• Can you pinpoint a specific area where you struggled, such as math or English?  If you can, consider some work over the summer to improve in that area.  For example, you could take a lower-level class at a local college but not have the credits transfer or purchase a workbook and study on your own.
• Look at the requirements for your major.  Did you do well in those classes but had trouble in others?  Or if you struggled in your major classes, perhaps you should consider changing your major to one with classes where you feel you would do well.
• Did you attend every class?
• Seriously examine your study habits.  Did you review your notes after every class?  Use a variety of active strategies to learn the material?  Start a week ahead to prepare for an exam?
• Did you take advantage of other resources such as tutoring or visiting your professor's office hours?

Worst case scenario - if you are on probation:

• Read the above five points.
• Examine your next semester.  Can you repeat any classes to eliminate a particularly low grade?
• Can you take any classes over the summer that will boost your grades?  (If you do this, be very sure you will do very well in the class!)
• Consider talking with your advisor to make a recovery plan.

Whatever your outcome, plan ahead for the successful, positive strategies you will use next semester.  Consider writing a note  about this to yourself and packing it away with the things you will be taking back to college with you.


Enjoy the summer and a break from classes, however long it will be.
This blog will not be taking the summer off!  Look for more learning strategies and ideas to enhance your success!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

If you must cram, here are some tips!

At my university this week is finals.  If you have been regularly studying during the semester you will be fine.  If you have not, here are some tips.  (AND - please go back and review earlier blogs about studying and learning before you take another class!)


The initial tendency is to pull an all-nighter.  That is the WORST thing you can do.  Sleep is essential and the exams you have in the succeeding days will suffer for one night of no sleep.  Instead:


1. Look at all of the information that will be on the final and write down the main topics, one per page.
2. Take one topic at a time and fill in the next level of information.  The amount of time and information will determine how much in depth you can go.
3. Pause and review what you have written.  Use recitation (restating in your own words from memory) to strengthen your learning.
4. Continue on with each main topic until everything has been covered.
5.  Review all the notes you have written immediately before going to sleep.
6. Review again in the morning before the exam.
7. Review the blog on test-taking strategies.  While that will not make up for your lack of studying, it will give you confidence when approaching the exam.


Good luck!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link

Survival Guide for Finals Week

Final's week is this week at our granddaughter's university and next week at mine.  Of course the main way to prepare for finals is to have been studying and preparing all along.  But there are a few more things to keep in mind:

• Know when and where the final will be held.  (At my university it will be on one of the regular meeting days and in the same classroom but at a slightly different time.  Some schools have block finals where the final is in a different building, time, etc.)
• If the exam is in a different location, find it a few days before the exam so you know exactly where you are going.  You might even consider taking some time and reviewing the information in that location.  (It is easier to recall information in the same location where you learned it!)
• Be sure to maintain proper sleep and nutrition.  You will do better if you feel better!  (What ever you do, do not pull an all-nighter before an exam. You will not recover before the week is over!)
• On that same thought, get up in time to shower, scrub your teeth and eat breakfast before a big exam.
• Before you go to sleep at night review important information you need to know for the next day's exam.  Then go right to sleep - do not turn on your computer or television!
• If you have several exams in a row, make quick review cards to go over as you travel from one exam to another.  That will start to get your brain into the next material.
• Finally, don't get caught up in other students' anxiety.  They are just releasing theirs and giving it to you!

If you missed it, go back and review my previous blog about test-taking strategies.  Good luck!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.