Transcript of Grade 7 Academic Skills Rundle College 2009-2010.
- Slide 1
- Grade 7 Academic Skills Rundle College 2009-2010
- Slide 2
- Agenda Starting Junior High School How to Get Good Grades How
Parents Can Help Testing Test Anxiety
- Slide 3
- Transition into Junior High Student Concerns: Getting to class
on time, lockers, no recess, no free time, peer pressure, dealing
with older students and more choices. Academic Concerns: Keeping up
with work, new grading procedures harder tests and extra help.
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- Student Expectations The 5 Ps Be Prompt Be Prepared Be a
Positive Participant Be Productive Be a Problem Solver
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- Homework vs. Study Blocks Unfinished class work ( aka homework
) Studying for tests Project work Review Organization
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- FAQs Communication (email, phone, meeting) Teacher Student
Services Administration Boundaries Foster independence Intervene
when results are unsatisfactory Focus on process of learning, not
the results
- Slide 7
- Academic Support Starting in September: teachers address
studying, test taking, organization skills. Dec. Jan. Student
Services conducted sessions with Grade 7 classes. If problem
arises, contact Teacher, Student Services or Administration as
appropriate.
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- How to Get Good Grades Linda OBrien, Woodburn Press 1. Believe
in Yourself 2. Be Organized 3. Use Your Time Wisely 4. Use
Classroom Time 5. Take Good Notes 6. Study Smart 7. Read Text Book
Effectively Scan, Read, Review 8.Focus on Writing Assignments
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- Believe in Yourself Positive Self Talk Dealing with Setbacks /
Resilience Goal Setting 1. Within skills and abilities 2. Realistic
3. Flexible 4. Measurable 5. Within your control
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- Get Organized Time Management: agenda book master calendar
study schedule Use checklists Organize notebooks Organize homework
Arrange your locker Designate a study space Conduct a weekly
cleanup Prepare for the day ahead
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- In the Classroom Use Time Wisely Reduce notes - successive
condensing Prioritize time Understand, dont memorize Structure your
material Be Successful in Class Adapt to teachers Be in school, on
time Be prepared & participate
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- Taking Notes Write neatly, double-spaced. Use symbols and
abbreviations. Write in point form. Focus on main ideas and
supporting details. Structure
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- Kathy J., Science Jan. 12, p.10 Dinosaursfrom 2 Greek words
deinos = terrible + saurus = lizard dominated life on land 140,000
years 2 ordersSaurischia + Ornithischia orders over 800 species w/
up. posture Saurischia incl. Tyrannosaurus Tyrannosauruslargest
flesh eater 12 m in length slow, top speed: 5 km/h warm blooded,
laid eggs lived during Cretaceous period
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- Study Smart 1. Working Memory: learning occurs best at the
beginning and end of each learning period. One hour vs two
30-minute study blocks Take short breaks to increase the number of
high points. 2. Review and Preview 3. Learning Style: efficient
studying Beware of the Learning Style excuse! Goal: convert teacher
format to best style
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- Reading & Writing Reading Textbooks Scan - read subtitles,
words in bold / italics, charts, and review questions. Read with a
purpose. Review - scan material to check comprehension. Writing
Assignments Follow the directions. Spelling and grammar. Proof
read. Final copy looks good. Hand it in on time.
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- Additional Support - Tutoring Hours of class time 1116 hrs. vs.
950 hrs. Extra help Why use tutors? Supplemental work Gain an
advantage Danger of replacing the teacher Rundle College does not
refer tutors
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- Peer Tutoring Program Senior high students Before school
7:45-8:15am & after school 3:00-3:05pm Schedule Monday Social
studies Tuesday Math Wednesday English Thursday Science Friday -
Second Languages
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- Accommodations Rundle College accommodations extra time,
isolation if available Psychoeducational assessment report
recommendations Role of Student Services
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- Test Anxiety Why do students panic? Lack of Preparation
Excessive Worry
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- Symptoms of Test Anxiety 13% of teens have anxiety that causes
problems for them. Physical Sweating, headache, upset stomach,
increased heart rate and breathing Nervous Difficult reading and
understanding, organizing, remembering, stupid mistakes Mental
Racing thoughts, mind going blank, knowing the answer after the
test is over
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- Is Test Anxiety Bad?
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- Context Nervousness helps (fight or flight) Test anxiety isn't
'real' part of another anxiety learning disability manifestation of
another issue Greatest trigger: focusing on the mark also the
greatest trigger for cheating This kind if 'Test anxiety' is
learned Managed, not fixed
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- Mind and Body Connection Tiredness Positive frame of mind
Imagery Self-awareness and stress Sleep, nutrition, hydration 4 Bs
Believe, Breath, Body and Break Away
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- Policies Assignments late assignments lose 10% per day more
than two days late: teacher discretion no make-ups Exams no
re-writes or make-ups exams stay at school midterm exam is worth
20% of second term grade Grade 7 final exam is worth 20% of final
grade
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- How Parents Can Help (Adapted from U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs -
Helping Your Child with Homework) Success increases with family
support Read with child, talk with teachers, participate in school
activities, help them with homework Homework can help students
-Review and practice -Learn to use resources -Explore subjects
-Applying skills to new situations -Develop good study habits
-Teach them to work independently -Encourage self-discipline and
responsibility
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- How Parents Can Help Demonstrate that Education and Homework
are Important Set a Regular Time/Place for Homework One that works
for your teen and your family. Dont let your teen leave homework
until just before bedtime. Homework is a high priority. Removing
Distractions I-pod, Computer, Cell Phone
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- Tips for Parents Be a cheerleader for your childs success Ill
be thinking of you while you are writing the test Give it your best
Im proud of all your hard work Ease fears and anxieties Maintain
perspective Provide a nutritious breakfast Good nights rest Relaxed
routine before the test
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- How Parents Can Help Identify Resources (school web site) Set a
Good Example Read books Use math to balance your cheque book. Share
what you do at work.
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- How Parents Can Help Monitor Assignments What does the rubric
suggest? pre and post assignment) Be Available
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- How Parents Can Help Monitor Time Spent Viewing TV and Playing
Video Games Provide Guidance Yet dont do the assignments yourself -
it wont help them to understand information or allow them to become
confident.
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- How Parents Can Help Help Your Child Get Organized Make a
schedule, use a planner, notebook. Watch for Frustration If your
child shows signs of frustration, let him/her take a break.
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- How Parents Can Help Talk about the process of assignments
Think it through. Break it down into small, manageable parts. Do
you understand what youre supposed to do? (Instructions
highlighted) Do you need help in understanding how to do this
assignment? Graphic Organizers Do you have everything you need to
do the assignment? Does your answer make sense to you?
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- Strategies All Subjects Make attendance a high priority. Focus
on Interim Report and Report Card comments at least as much as
grades. Chunk long-term projects into manageable pieces. If there
is no homework, study anyway. Look at exam study guides provided by
the teacher to see how you can help your child study.
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- Testing Why do teachers test? Assess student progress Identify
weak areas Prepare students for future testing Important: test
grades versus assignment grades.
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- Teacher Support Core teaching Capitalizing on class size 1:1
attention quick turnaround in grading Study guides for exams
Communication home Extra help Teaching study skills and test taking
skills for their particular subjects
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- Preparing in Class Study guide HOW to study Active learning
Review class clues. Teacher: says something more than once writes
material on the board pauses to review notes asks questions of the
class says, "This will be on the test!"
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- The Study Guide Reading the textbook Study plan Study cycles:
study all re-study what you don't know repeat until you're
confident with it all
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- Studying at Home Reading comprehension Predict questions
Memorization strategies Translate into teenguage Goals: process
over product Mimic exam conditions www.exambank.com and other
resources
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- Guidance Match your studying and test taking states of mind.
Format? iPod? Time limit? Relaxation response
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- Writing the Test Brain dump! Read instructions, format,
weighting Scan Read written response questions Write on the test
Cycle Ask teacher if confused Review careless mistakes Ensure
completion
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- Time Management Bring a watch! Work grade-effectively. Stuck?
Skip it. Use the time.
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- Strategies for Format Multiple choice Numerical response
Written response Short answer- sentences, paragraphs, webs,
diagrams Long answer (stories, essays) Essay Reading Comprehension
Lab Questions Other
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- Challenges for Grade 7s Skill-based questions versus
knowledge-based questions 60% skill-based Reading comprehension
Current trend in critical thinking EXAMPLES
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- It doesnt say that! The Story Johnny dragged his feet into the
classroom and slumped into his desk. Billy asked with a smirk,
Having a good day today, Johnny? Yeah, right, Johnny replied. The
best day of my whole life. The Question Which is the best word to
describe Johnnys mood? a) happy b) angry c) depressed d)
envious
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- But my answer is right! Example #1 Which choice best completes
the following quotation? Although ________ are the same for all
people, each culture has a different way of dealing with them. a)
human needs b) points of view c) economic institutions d) cultural
communicators
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- But my answer is right! Correct: Examples would include cotton
as land, a seamstress as labour, and a sewing machine as capital.
Incorrect: The factors of production are land (resources), labour
(workers) and capital (machinery). Example #2 Give one example of
each of the factors of production involved in the making of a
shirt.
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- You tricked us! After the principal saw the smoke, he ran to
the control panel to sound the fire alarm. What is the meaning of
the word sound as found in the above sentence? a) noise b) signal
c) speak d) test
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- I have to read all that! ABACUS EVER SEEN AN ABACUS? You know,
those centipedelike things with wooden beads in rows. Theyre sold
mostly in knickknack import shops, for wall decoration. But, in
fact, an abacus is an adding machine, calculator, and computer. On
second thought, thats not quite true. The abacus is just a visual
record of the computations going on in the mind of the person using
it. Millions of people in Asia still use the abacus daily. And it
has been in use there for a couple of thousand years or more. Not
only is it an effective practical tool, but it is nice to look at.
Nice to hold and touch. Wood and brass and ivory. And the older
they get and the longer they are handled by a human being, the
lovelier they getsmooth and dark and polished. They will last for a
lifetime; hey will never need updating; all the software needed to
drive them is between your ears; and if they break they can be
fixed by an eight-year-old with household tools. The presence of
the abacus puts some kinds of progress in perspective. I remember a
time when a Japanese-American computer conglomerate moved into the
Chinese market in a big way. In order to demonstrate the value of
its small pocket calculators, it arranged a contest. The great
abacus-PC shoot-out. The guy who wonthe one with the abacus, of
coursewas named Chan Kai Kit. Hong Kong Chinesea senior clerk for a
shipping company. It is true that the operator of the little
computer did handle the pile of invoices forty-four seconds faster
than Chan Kai Kit and his abacus. But the computer got the wrong
answer. Seems the machine operator was in too big a hurry to prove
how smart his machine was and fed it fuzzy facts. Much face was
lost. Now dont get me wrong. Pocket calculators are here to stay,
and they have their place. A Luddite I am notmachines are not evil
in themselves. And a careful, thoughtful man like Chan Kai Kit
might do even better with his own pocket calculator instead of his
abacus who knows? Its just that Im a sentimentalist about the
wonders of the human hand and mind. And when I find evidence that
it can still hold its own in the face of the wizardry of the
electronic circuitry of little chips, I am pleased. It is
comforting to know that some very old and very simple ways of
getting from one place to another still work. And I ponder the fact
that an ancient and worn abacus will find its way to the walls of
the twentieth century as a thing of art and wonder, made lovely by
its usefulness and made useful by its beauty. I have an old wooden
bowl and an elderly chopping knife I would stack up against a food
processor any day. Its the same story. Question: The outcome of the
contest was mostly a result of the A. invoices not being printed
quickly B. abacus operator completing the work first C. spectators
distracting the calculator operator D. calculator operator entering
inaccurate information
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- Spelling doesnt count in Science! Education is
cross-curricular. Cognitive leap between subjects.
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- The worst for last? economics: why should I? maturity
conscientiousness innate intelligence learning disability attention
concern over-parenting under-parenting drugs / alcohol grief
displaced sexual interests sexual orientation attendance gaming
nutrition sleep academic skills self-esteem resiliency feel
disconnected unconditional love depression / anxiety body image
safety bullied
- Slide 51
- and good luck!