Entries Tagged as 'Just Plain Helpful'

Mechanical Pencils and Other Inconspicuous Time Theives

Observing a nervous young student whose mechanical pencil kept breaking during a test made me think of other ways that seemingly minor interruptions affect our concentration and productivity.

This boy was already nervous because of his impending test.  He habitually looked at the clock to see how much time remained to finish his practice paragraph.  Not only that…he was also being interrupted…

…by his pencil?

Yes! In fact, he was so nervous that he pressed down so hard while writing that the lead broke 5 times in 20 minutes.  Every time it broke, he would stop, click the lead, and glance at the clock.  By the time he returned to the assignment, his focus was lost.  The interruptions themselves do not take that much time, but regaining concentration does!

Research here and here indicates that he would lose time in resuming his original task.  Even more surprisingly, the length of time of an interruption doesn’t correlate to the length of time to refocus.  In other words, even small interruptions can lead to big time wasters.

So, parents, think twice when your children do their homework in a noisy crowded room.  Consider arranging a quiet study area.

Students, think about and address all the distractions that you have every day.

  • Remove the clock from your field of vision
  • Turn off your phone (beeps, buzzes, clicks, and tones are stealing your valuable study time)
  • Disable pop-up ads on your computer
  • Write in a notebook and type it later to avoid the temptation of logging onto Facebook or Twitter (at least while studying)

So, remember, it takes longer to refocus after hearing the phone than it does to just hear the phone.  Prepare for and minimize the distractions while you study, and you’ll be done with your homework before you know it!

Share
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags: Critical Thinking, How To, Just Plain Helpful, Reflective Teaching, Test Taking by Debra
No Comments »

Tip for Tuesday: Comprehension Questions

Read the entire question.

It might sound obvious, but I’ve seen so many kids do this: start reading a question, and suddenly, about half way through reading it, rush to the choices.  This technique might result in selecting the wrong answer…

…but it ALWAYS results in guessing.  If you don’t read the complete question, you don’t have all the information to answer the question.  Without that, you are guessing.  So, take the extra couple of seconds to finish the question.

Share
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags: Critical Thinking, Just Plain Helpful, Reading, Test Taking by Debra
No Comments »

English Ears

When you’re learning a new language, situations where you can practice are all around:

  • joining a conversation group
  • running errands
  • going shopping
  • talking to other parents at the park

However, you don’t always participate in English when you have the opportunity, do you?  It is really easy not to listen.  Isn’t that why you use earphones?  Or maybe you close your English ears and plan your day in your familiar language.  Your native language is helpful when trying to understand a new concept.   It’s also good for cheering up if you’re homesick.

However, if you intentionally ignore the English around you, you’re closing the part of your mind that actively learns.  Then, you miss the easiest opportunities to learn, which don’t even require speaking!

If you don’t believe me, just start paying attention to how often you close your English ears.  How many opportunities are you missing per week?  Per day?  More than one per day is too many.

You can keep your ears open in the car – listening to the radio, news, or music…or while shopping – listening to the people around you.  At the grocery store, listen to how the guy in front of you orders his sliced turkey or fillet of fish.

So, why not start now?  If opportunity knocks, you’re English ears should hear it!

Share
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags: Critical Thinking, Just Plain Helpful, Listening, Reflective Teaching, Useful Information by Debra
No Comments »

Happy Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day!  If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint in Central Virginia, and you’d like to start recycling, it’s easy!  Click here for a list of all the drop-off recycling locations in the area.

Here’s a list of other things you can do to help protect our planet:

  • plant a tree
  • use less water
  • walk or use your bike
  • throw trash in appropriate receptacles
  • recycle glass, aluminum, and cardboard
  • reuse plastic bags and bottles
  • use a computer to take notes
  • carpool
  • buy used furniture and other goods

Read this website for more ideas!

Share
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags: Critical Thinking, Just Plain Helpful, Reading, Summer Activities by Debra
No Comments »

Why Brainstorm?

Brainstorming is a technique used not only in school, but also in college and the workforce.  Brainstorming allows you to not only generate your own ideas, but also to share your ideas with others.  Sharing your ideas could stimulate others’ creativity, too.  By the end of a short brainstorming period, you’re ready to plan!  After you’ve developed a solid plan, you’re almost finished!

The benefits of brainstorming include:

  • Develop a new project
  • Work on a team
  • Break the cycle of writer’s block
  • Share ideas with team members
  • Be collaborative
  • Practice social skills
  • Generate ideas for a speech or topic for an essay
  • Prepare for writing on a particular topic
  • Organize thoughts
  • Connect ideas
  • Practice graphic organizing skills
  • Decide what topic to present

But, make sure you have a strategy, or else this could happen:

So, just remember to

  • speak up,
  • take notes,
  • give credit, and
  • be open-minded
    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: Critical Thinking, ESL Quick Lessons, Just Plain Helpful, Listening, Speaking in General, Writing by Debra
    No Comments »

    List of US Holidays 2010

    This is a list of all the official government holidays for 2010 in the United States.  This list comes from this website.

    • Friday, January 1 = New Year’s Day
    • Monday, January 18 = Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
    • Monday, February 15 = Washington’s Birthday
    • Monday, May 31 = Memorial Day
    • Sunday, July 4 = Independence Day
    • Monday, September = 6 Labor Day
    • Monday, October 11 = Columbus Day
    • Thursday, November 11 = Veterans Day
    • Thursday, November 25 = Thanksgiving Day
    • Saturday, December 25 = Christmas Day

    Here’s one thing about the word holiday.  In British English, holiday is used as Americans use the word vacation.  In America, however, when using holiday, Americans are talking about these specific days, times of celebration, in which our jobs might give us a day off.  We might take a vacation during the holidays or on a holiday weekend, but the words are not synonymous.

    Here to confuse the issue is an American pop star mixing both the British and American uses of holiday:

    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: ESL Activities, Just Plain Helpful, Speaking in General, Vocabulary by Debra
    No Comments »

    Twitter Tags for the South Eastern US Region

    If you’re looking for people in your region to connect with on Twitter, here is a list of local hash tags for the south eastern region of the US.  As you tweet, add the pound sign (#) and a tag below, and others who are in that region will read your message.

    Virginia – #va
    Richmond – #rva
    Washington – #dc
    Northern Virginia – #nova
    Hampton Roads – #hrva
    Southwest Virginia – #swva
    North Carolina – #nc
    Charlotte – #clt
    Raleigh – #raleigh
    South Carolina – #sc
    Charleston – #chs
    Upstate – #upstate
    Lowcountry – #lowcountry
    Georgia – #ga
    Atlanta – #atl
    Florida – #fl
    Tampa – #tampa
    Miami – #miami

    If you have one that I don’t, let me know and I’ll add it.

    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: How To, Just Plain Helpful, Technology, Writing by Debra
    No Comments »

    Pagina Junior

    Here’s a cool page for kids who are learning English or Spanish.

    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: Just Plain Helpful, Reading, Teaching Tips by Debra
    No Comments »

    Who’s Roy G. Biv?

    Who knew at the age of 6 or 7 that we were using a strategy called mnemonics when we learned the colors of the rainbow?

    We memorized quite easily by associating the first letter of each color with letters that eventually spelled out something familiar or catchy. For example, red orange and yellow are the first three colors of the rainbow, so we took the first letters and spelled the name Roy. Green was the next color, so we just made G. Roy’s middle initial. The initials for Blue, Indigo, and Violet spelled a nonsensical word that could just as easily have been Roy’s last name.

    What mnemonics did you learn as a child?

    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: Critical Thinking, How To, Just Plain Helpful, Teaching Tips, Vocabulary by Debra
    No Comments »

    Thanksgiving Toast

    Tomorrow evening, when you stand up, tap your glass with an eating utensil, and begin to thank your hosts for inviting you to Thanksgiving Dinner, don’t say…

    “I’d like to make toast,”

    …because everyone will probably be stuffed from turkey, yams, and cranberries by then and would much prefer pecan or pumpkin pie for dessert.

    Use the article “a” when referring to a toast, or a statement honoring someone. Toast, in contrast, is a non-count noun meaning cooked bread.

    Instead, stand up, gently tap your glass with an eating utensil, and thank your hosts by saying one of these two options:

    • “Here’s to our hosts [name] and [name].”

    or

    • “I’d like to make a toast to our hosts [name] and [name].”

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Share
    [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [LinkedIn] [MySpace] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

    Tags: How To, Just Plain Helpful, Speaking in General, Vocabulary by Debra
    1 Comment »

    Next Page »