This month

Study Habits

• Feature —How to succeed with year-end studying
• It's a fact —Homework help online
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

How to succeed with year-end studying

While school is almost over for the year, most students still have final exams to take. If you have kept up with your studies throughout the year, you should have already learned the material. What remains to be done now is to review your coursework and brush up on any items you may have forgotten or are unclear about.

As you begin your end-of-semester review, this checklist may come in handy:

Have a plan.
To develop a good study plan, think about the process of studying. Decide where and when you want to study. Create a weekly schedule, and block off the 24-hour day in one-hour increments. Mark times for classes, labs, lectures, extracurricular activities, work, and sleep. Then, find specific study times for each subject, and stick to studying the subjects at these times every week.

Stay healthy.
When in a heavy study routine, it can be easy to forget about regular exercise and healthy eating habits. Make sure to include time for exercise and relaxation, because a healthy body is better able to deal with crunch-time stress.

Time it right.
Deciding when to study is critical. A good rule is to study when you are rested and alert. Start with the more challenging and difficult tasks while your mind is most focused and open to information.

If your study period is before a lecture class, be sure you have read all the assignments and made notes on what you don't understand. If the study period is after the lecture class, review the notes you took during class while the information is still fresh on your mind.

Take breaks to stay fresh.
When you're busy studying, don't forget to take breaks often. Take a couple of minutes away from your desk to stretch your arms and legs to keep alert. Also, every half-hour take a few minutes to reflect on the material you have been going over. If you understand what you just studied, you should be able to summarize it for a parent or friend who is helping you. If you stumble, go over the material again. If that doesn't work, write down what you just learned. These activities can help you reinforce the main points.

Form a study group.
Study groups can help you conquer challenging course material. Invite a handful of classmates — about three to six at most. Any more than this and the group has a tendency to be unproductive. Set a regular meeting time, decide on studying timelines, and split up responsibilities for the group. Keep a list of e-mail addresses, instant message names, and phone numbers so you can communicate between study sessions.

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It's a Fact

Homework help online

Need help with your homework? There are many Web sites that provide useful information that can help. Try visiting the following Web sites for tips and homework assistance:

• Channel 4 — Homework High
  Homework High can help students aged 11 to 16 with their homework. The site offers virtual libraries dedicated to English, math, science, geography, language, and history.
  www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/H/homeworkhigh
• DiscoverySchool.com
  DiscoverySchool.com has tools to help students study, games to challenge their minds, and tons of great clip art to use. In addition, there are nearly a dozen learning adventures that let students explore everything from Ancient Egypt to the International Space Station.
  www.school.discovery.com/students
• Google Directory — Homework Help
  The "Homework Help" page on the Google Directory search integrates Google's sophisticated search technology with Open Directory pages to create a useful tool for finding information on the Web.
  www.google.com/Top/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/Homework_Help/
• Homework and Study Tips
  About.com offers a collection of helpful homework and study tips.
  homeworktips.about.com
• HowStuffWorks
  HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company widely recognized as a leading source for clear, unbiased, reliable explanations of how everything actually works.
  www.howstuffworks.com/

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen

• The school year is almost over, but don't let up. Continue to focus on doing well in your classes.
• Check your school record to be sure that any school fines and/or other obligations have been cleared.
• Discuss summer school or summer plans with your counselor.
• Review course selections for next year.
• Prepare and register for appropriate end-of-course exams.
• Organize your folders and notes for upcoming exams.

For sophomores

• Continue to focus on doing well in classes.
• Register for appropriate SAT Subject Tests. Discuss this option with your teachers, particularly if you are in any advanced classes.
• Check your school record to be sure that any school fines and/or other obligations have been cleared.
• Review course selections for next year.
• Discuss summer school or summer plans with your counselor.
• Prepare and register for appropriate end-of-course exams.
• Organize your folders and notes for upcoming exams.
• Finalize plans for your summer job and/or volunteer work.

For juniors

• Continue to do well in your classes. The last grading period and set of finals at the end of your junior year are critical for your transcript.
• Review course selections for next year.
• Register for the ACT to be administered in June.
• Take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests.
• Prepare for and take appropriate AP and/or IB exams.
• Discuss summer school or summer plans with your counselor.
• Finalize plans for your summer job and/or volunteer work.
• Identify school personnel or other adults who might agree to write letters of recommendation for you next year.

For seniors

• Continue to focus on your remaining high school classes and complete your transcript with a strong finish.
• By May 1, notify the college you will be attending of your intent to enroll. Send in all required deposits. Complete any required housing forms.
• Send in college summer orientation materials and register early.
• Request that your high school send a final transcript to the college you will attend.
• By May 1, notify all colleges to which you were accepted but do not plan to attend.
• Prepare for and take appropriate AP and/or IB exams.
• Make final plans for your summer job and/or volunteer work.
• Attend and enjoy Class of 2008 activities and celebrations.

For parents

• Assist with any registration fees for the SAT and/or ACT administered in June.
• With your senior, complete all necessary paperwork and respond appropriately to his or her college by the May 1 Candidate Response deadline. Also, return any necessary financial award papers.
• Assist your senior with summer college orientation registration.
• Investigate loan options. Information can be found on the "Loans" section of Adventures in Education (www.AIE.org/College/ccs_loans.cfm).
• Provide support, encouragement, and good meals to your testing child!
• Include your child's end-of-course and final exam dates on the family calendar.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web Site(www.collegeboard.com) or call (609) 771-7600.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web Site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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