Efficient Study Tips for Students with Learning Challenges

Scouting Colleges: Helping Your Teen Choose The Right One.

Advice, Career Ready, College Prep, Education | 0 comments

We know, we know. How did your baby grow up so fast!? They are now a senior in high school and ready to venture off to college in the fall. Where on Earth did the time go?

Instead of looking at college as a sad time, look at it as the start of new beginnings for your teen! They worked very hard to get where they are and now is the time to set them up for their future careers and wonderful lives.

Now is the perfect time to tour some of the colleges and get your teen enrolled for the upcoming school year. Before you jet off to tour colleges and universities, there are some things you must keep in mind when scouting them out. Keep this checklist handy so your nerves don’t get the best of you when it’s time to see what the college is really all about!

Does the college or university really offer what you need?

Make sure the school offers things that meet your child’s individual needs, such as:

Do they offer a strong, reputable program that is geared towards your student’s area of focus?
Will your student learn well with their instruction method?
Does your student feel comfortable amongst their peers at the school?
Does the school provide coursework that will challenge your student?
How does the school value its students and reward their strengths?

Do they offer services to maintain a healthy physical lifestyle?

Everyone hears about the dreaded “Freshman 15,” but does the college provide healthy meal options and places to keep physically fit? When a student is both mentally and physically fit, they tend to be the happiest and working at their maximum potential, so look for a college that allows outlets for physical activity.

Do they offer suitable housing?

We all know dorm rooms can be tiny spaces, but do they offer single living spaces, shared rooms, shared bathrooms, or suite-mates? Just like looking at houses, you can’t really get a feel of the place until you’ve been inside. Sometimes a dorm might appear one way in a photo on the school’s website but you’ll get a whole different vibe once you actually step inside. Make sure to tour the dorms and ask questions such as what is their policy on substance abuse? Are there gender-specific bathrooms? Are there certain quiet hours for studying? All of these factors come into play. After all, it is where your teen will be spending their days.

Is the school known for its lively nightlife?

There will most likely be some type of partying going on at all colleges, however, is the college your teen is looking at well-known for its vivacious nightlife? It’s great for a college to offer fraternities, sororities, clubs, etc., because it allows the students to interact and form friendships. With that said, if it’s known for partying, you might want to consider another option for your teen.

Does the school have places of worship nearby?

Is the college or university very open and accepting of different religions? Is your religion one that is welcomed with open arms? Do they have places to worship nearby the campus? Faith is an important role in many lives and you want to make sure that you have a place to practice your worship, should you so choose. If you are someone who is nonreligious, consider if the school is faith based. If it is, is that ok with you or will you be uncomfortable?

Location, location, location!

How was the drive to the campus from your house? Is it in close enough proximity that they can commute from home or would they need to live on or near campus? Is the school close enough to home that should they be homesick or want to come home for a weekend that they can hop in the car and do so, or would they need to fly home? These are all great questions because the expense varies greatly and could make life difficult if you are shelling out for airline tickets every holiday or break.

Take it all in.

Take in the sights and sounds that are around you. You know your child better than anyone…will they not just like it but thrive at the college/university? Will all of their needs be met there? How do the other students seem? Are they welcoming? How are the professors and buildings? Are they well maintained and are the professors adored by their students? These are all things that tell a lot about a school. You’ll learn much more by simply observing than you ever would by looking things up on their website. Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy this time with your teen! They are getting ready to spread their wings and are looking for your guidance. Treasure this time with them.

We are so happy that you let us become part of the fabric of their lives. It’s truly been a pleasure and we can’t wait to see what the second half of the year brings and onto graduation! Have you “liked” our Facebook page? We will be showcasing other things you’ll need to know as you prep your teen for college or life beyond high school and we’d love for you to check it out! Head over here and “like” our page today!

Call us today at 800-297-2119 or visit our website to learn more about our program.

What is a FASFA and Why is it Important?

Advice, College Prep, Education | 0 comments

So, you’re getting ready to graduate this year and you have your eyes set on continuing your education. That’s fantastic news! Having your high school diploma opens more doors than you would ever have imagined if you didn’t have one, but furthering your education and going into a trade school, community college, or university will allow you to enter your chosen career path and move up the ladder as your performance allows. While everyone wants to go to college, only a fraction of the United States population has the money to pay for it without help. If you have your sights set on college and want to do it without breaking the bank for life, read on!

THE MOST CRUCIAL THING YOU CAN DO IS FILE A FAFSA.

The FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is the form you must fill out if you wish to get your hands on some of the federal aid that is dedicated to students pursuing their higher education. Once you complete the FAFSA, colleges and the U.S. Department of Education analyze your need for financial aid, and they determine how much financial assistance you need. Financial aid comes in various forms from loans (money you borrow at a low interest rate and are held responsible to pay back), grants (“free” money), and work-study positions (you work a job to pay off the money given to you to use for school).

To start, make sure you are indeed using the correct website to complete the FAFSA. The correct website is www.fafsa.gov. Don’t fall victim to sites that appear to be legit but are just charging you money for completing a fake application. When you complete the real FAFSA, they will never charge a fee. Application deadlines may vary state to state and depend on what school year you will need the assistance so check the website to make sure you are completing the application on time, or early if you want to get considered for all the options. Make sure every field is completed and if you are stuck on what they are asking you to provide, take a moment to read the directions before you submit. If you completed something incorrectly and need to resubmit, you run the risk of missing the deadline, not to mention many funds that are already given out.

As you are selecting which schools will see your FAFSA information, feel free to choose as many schools as you’d like. It’s free to send your information to as many schools as you chose so do so liberally. Financial aid offices within each school use the FAFSA information you provided to put together your financial aid packet, which is why it’s very important that you list what schools should receive your FAFSA information (up to 10 schools may receive your information). Each school has a code that will need to be input on the form. You can find the codes to all schools by clicking here.

Keep in mind that while filling out the FAFSA can be challenging, there are staff members and people just a phone calls away that can help you. You’ll have to fill one out each year you’re in school so it’s best you learn how to do it now. We wish you the best of luck as you get ready to depart from My Virtual Academy as a graduate. We are so proud of all you have accomplished!

If you are considering a trade school or college, but still need to obtain your high school diploma My Virtual Academy has a variety of tuition free programs to help get you there. Check out our website, follow us on Facebook, or give us a call directly at 800-297-2119 for more information.

Standardized Tests: Preparing Your Teen

Advice, Education, High School, Test Preperation | 0 comments

Standardized testing…two words that evoke a lot of emotions with parents and educators and there are people on both sides of the fence. Standardized tests are tests that are administered and scored in a consistent (standard) way. Those who are for standardized tests think that they are fairer since every person receives the same test and then the same system is used to grade each test. The consistency allows for tests to be compared and is considered to be more objective. Due to all of these reasons, standardized tests are commonplace amongst schools and your student is pretty much guaranteed to take several during their school years. These tests don’t have to bring a lot of angst and anxiety to you or your student. There are ways to prepare your student so that they can take the test with confidence!

Study Ahead and Practice

Cramming for a test may be how most teens tend to study but encourage them to begin their studying well before the test date. When a student crams for a test, they may think they are able to retain the information, but in reality, they are more apt to make errors and end up in a panic during the test. They might get their facts mixed up or forget them all together. Studying for a week or two ahead of time allows the student to practice and practice until they know the facts like the back of their hand. Also, if you are able to track down practice tests, have your student take them. This will get them familiar with what the test format could be like and will allow them to test their skills and knowledge.

Scan the Test

Encourage your teen to take a look at the entire test before beginning. If they see areas of the test that they can answer quickly and correctly, have them begin there. Then, they can tackle the harder areas after. Your teen could also take inventory of how many questions are on the test and then determine how much time they have to spend on each question. This will assist them in budgeting their time and they’ll be able to decide if they have extra time to spend on the hard to solve problems. Also, if a question stumped your teen, clearing their mind and circling back to the problem may allow them to view the question in a new way or jog their memory of the answer.

Take a Breath

It’s easy for student’s to get anxious and start to panic if they hit an area of the test that is difficult to answer. That response is natural, but they should know what to do to cope and refocus their mind, should this anxiety set in. Encourage your student to take a moment, close their eyes, and clear their head. Taking a few slow, deep breaths will reduce some anxiety and will let your teen get a second wind. They will then be ready to tackle the remaining parts of the test with a renewed determination.

Always Read the Questions in Totality

It’s easy to skim a question and think you know what someone is asking but often times, even one word can change the whole meaning of what is being asked. It’s crucial that your student read the WHOLE question before choosing their answer. This allows for less thoughtless mistakes. Misreading and misinterpreting questions account for a lot of the incorrect answers on tests. Should time permit at the end of the test, encourage your student to review their answers. This review should help them catch any mistakes they made.

Process of Elimination

Let’s face it, there are bound to be questions that your teen simply doesn’t understand or wasn’t prepared to answer. Make sure they know how to address this, should the need arise. The best way to handle questions such as these are to use the process of elimination. They should start by eliminating any answers that they know are 100% incorrect. Once the wrong answers have been eliminated, they can make an educated guess as to what the correct answer is. Should they determine there is more than one right answer, they could select the answer of “more than one.” If that isn’t an option, then they are incorrect and they need to choose what answer best suits the question.

A Few Last Pointers…

Make sure your teen gets a solid night sleep the evening before the test. Staying up late to study won’t help their scores unfortunately. If they are tired when they take the test, mistakes are bound to be made.
Have your teen dress in comfortable, appropriate clothing so they aren’t distracted or fixing their clothing during the exam.
Cook a good, well-rounded breakfast for your child the morning of the test. A full belly will keep their mind off of stomach growls and onto the test at hand.
Tell them to use the bathroom before the test. A full bladder will be very distracting during the test and they may not be able to leave the room once the test is underway.
Lastly, make sure your teen has a few sharpened number 2 pencils and erasers. They may even be able to pack a small handheld pencil sharpener in case they need it during the exam.

Test taking skills are great things to learn and fine tune. People are given standardized tests in almost all years of life and knowing how to prepare, stay calm, and properly answer the questions will help your teen throughout the course of their lives. Have any questions on the type of tests that we administer or on our courses? Our staff is eager to talk to you so please, give us a call at 800-297-2119.

How To Take The Stress Out Of Preparing For A Test

Advice, Education, High School, Test Preperation | 0 comments

Do you remember sitting in a classroom as the teacher passed out tests that were to be taken? The teacher would walk slowly; making sure all of the students had everything put away and off of their desks. They would put the test face down on your desk to make sure you didn’t get a glimpse at the questions before your fellow classmates did. They would then tell you to begin and sometimes your mind would draw blank. The memories alone are enough to make your palms sweat and your heart race!

Your student faces those same nerves, even though they are schooling in a different way than perhaps you did. Often times (especially in the teen years), preparing for a test happens the night before, leaving everyone in a panic, trying to cram and race the clock. Let’s try to break that habit and set your teen up for success by implementing the following guidelines:

Organize and Make a Plan

Unless it’s a pop quiz, teachers give advance notice on tests. Your teen should let you know as soon as they find out that a test is approaching. This allows you to ask vital questions that will determine how far in advance they need to begin studying. The more organized your student is in the days leading up to the exam, the better off everyone will be. Ask your teen to gather all of the information needed and begin studying sections at a time. This will allow them to avoid cramming for the test. While some think cramming is the way to go, your brain is actually unable to recall all of the information studied at such a rapid pace. Cramming can lead to unfavorable results.

Allow Study Breaks

As your teen is studying, make sure they take breaks so they don’t get frustrated, bored, or overwhelmed. It’s a good idea to take a 5 or 10 minute break every hour. Let them walk around a bit, use the bathroom, grab a snack to refuel. Anything that allows them to mentally and physically take a break is what they should be doing during these breaks.

Brain Fuel

Teens are always hungry – that seems to be a fact! Let them stay energized and ready to study with some healthy snacks. Avoid sugary drinks and unhealthy, carb loaded snacks that are bound to send them crashing shortly after indulging. Instead, have some healthy nuts, cheeses, fruits, and veggies on hand. That will give them a boost and keep them going!

Dividing Attention

Does your student have multiple exams on the same day? Time to divide and conquer. Start by jotting down the time and date of each upcoming test. Next, think about what subjects might require longer study periods and allow the appropriate amount of time. Does your student struggle in science but excel in language arts? Knowing this allows you to help your teen carve out more time to study for those harder subjects.

Mastering Exam Styles

Does your student get tricked by multiple choice questions? Do they take guesses because all of the answers seem to blur together? Does your teen struggle with written answers, where they need to provide supportive evidence with their answer? Walk through different exam styles with them and quiz them in various ways. If they toss an answer out to you, ask them why they answered that way. This questioning will prepare them for providing details in their answers, should the need arise.

Tackling the Difficult Areas

Every student has a subject or two they find harder than the others. Typically when a student struggles in a subject, they want to avoid it. Sit down with them and review important concepts and terms. If you identify where they are struggling, make some flashcards of the material. Sometimes learning something in a new way is just the thing our brain needs to let the information soak in. If they are really struggling, then it’s time to reach out for help.

Managing Test Anxiety

There is bound to be a certain level of anxiety when something is being graded and recorded for a grade. It’s just human nature. The tips above should help you and your teen manage their test taking anxiety and prepare in the best way possible. Before your child goes to take the test, remind them that you have confidence in them, that they know the material, and that they’ll do great. A little pep talk has never been known to hurt anybody!

We have confidence in your student and know that they can do great things at My Virtual Academy! Should they feel they are struggling or need any additional support, please let their teacher, mentor, or any of our staff know by giving us a call at 800-297-2119. We are here to help in any way we can! For more on topics like this, head over to our Facebook page and follow us today!!

Quick Tips On Note Taking: Take Notes Like A Pro

Education, High School, Study Tips, Test Preperation, Uncategorized | 0 comments

One of the most useful skills you can master when you are a student is effective note taking. It’s a skill that will benefit your student not just in their schooling days, but well into their professional adult life. Note taking helps people retain information longer, better understand the information they are being taught, and improve the recall of information.

Think about it – if notes are written in an unorganized, sloppy way, it will be hard to make sense of them at a later time. Add the fact that your handwriting may be messy if you are writing rapidly and the notes you took are basically useless.

On the other hand, good note taking helps you to:

Remember concepts
Understand topics in a better way
Connect the dots between topics
Engage in active listening to your instructor
Think about what you are writing

Top Note Taking Methods

#1: Summaries

In the Summaries Method, notes are broke down into little summaries. To do this method, you would take notes during a tutorial as neatly as you can. After the tutorial, review your notes and jot down key things you need to remember, including key vocabulary terms. At the bottom of the notes, write a summary that highlights the key points of your notes. People like this method because they can quickly scan the summary to see if they need to delve deeper and review that days notes in preparation for a test since all of the main points and concepts are called out.

#2: Outlining

In this method, you will use headings and bullet points to organize your notes. When you have topics that have a lot of details and nuances, this is the method to use. It keeps your notes nice and organized, and shows a clear relationship between the topics and subtopics. To use this method of note taking, begin each section of notes by listing the main topic at the top of the page (this is your heading) and add bullet points under each heading for each subtopic and/or supporting facts. You may end up with several different indents of bullet points, depending on how much detail needs to be noted.

#3: Mapping

If you have a lot of information and you want to show how various topics are related, then the mapping method is best to use. It is a visual way to put order to a chaotic topic. Your page of notes will be organized by topic then will branch off into subtopics with additional branches citing detailed information.

#4: Charting

When covering topics that have a lot of facts or relationships, charting is an easy way to keep your information organized. This type of note taking is very clear and easy to follow. Key pieces of information are called out for each topic. To do this method, divide your paper into equal columns by category. Use the space below each column header to jot down supportive facts.

Excel with Excellent Notes

At first, notes can look like a bunch of chicken scratch but after spending some time rewriting or organizing the notes, they will prove to be helpful study materials. Have your teen try out some of the note taking methods we mentioned and let us know what they thought by leaving a comment below.

For more tips and tricks head over to our Facebook page, and if you have any questions regarding our program and how we help middle and high school students, visit our website or give us a call at 800-297-2119.

Keeping Your Student Motivated Before Break

Advice, Education, High School, Teenagers, Virtual School | 0 comments

The stores are bustling, houses are lit up with outdoor lights, and students are itching for a break. That can only mean one thing: Holiday break is right around the corner! When this time of the year approaches, it’s easy for students to start to lose motivation and interest when all they want is a much needed (and deserved!) break from school.

It can be hard to keep your student focused during these last couple of weeks before break, but try some of these strategies to keep their eyes on their schoolwork and they’ll continue nailing their tests and coursework right up until the holiday break.

Change Where They Study

A simple change of location can do wonders to reinvigorate the mind. Does your student usually study in their bedroom at their desk? Why not offer that they study at the kitchen table or in the living room? They could change the location up every couple of days if it helps their motivation.

Switch up Their Seating

Have any of those exercise balls lying around? Ask if your student wants to use that instead of their desk chair! They are used a lot in traditional classrooms now to help students keep their mind on their work and your teen may find them a nice change of pace.

Get Up and M.O.V.E.

Fresh air (even cold air!), sunlight, and the energy flowing in nature are sure to give your student a nice, quick break and reset their mind where they are ready to focus and dig into their schoolwork. Have your student take a walk, sit on the patio, or take a quick run for about 15 minutes to clear their head and refocus.

Keep Hands Busy

Remember that fidget spinner craze? Some traditional schools and homeschooling parents have actually found that proper use of them, or products similar, can actually keep your student’s hands busy and allow them to channel their energy into their studies. If you can’t get your hands on a spinner, give them some Play-Doh. It might seem juvenile, but just manipulating it in their hands as they study can help them listen and learn.

Ask Your Student to Teach You

In order to make sure they are really focused and understanding the concepts, why not ask your child to teach you the lesson? Have them act as the teacher and teach you the current math method they are learning or have them explain what they are studying in social studies. This will not only refresh your memory in case they have questions or need help, but it will give them another opportunity to go over the material and lock it into memory.

Explore Different Ways of Learning

When your student hits a lull, encourage them to explore different ways of learning about their current topic. Instead of just reading about the ancient Egyptian pyramids, sit with them and find videos or documentaries on them. Learning in a variety of ways keeps things spiced up and interesting so don’t be afraid to venture outside of the box.

Take Five

Like we mentioned before, everyone needs a break during the day and your student is no exception. Sometimes a 5 minute break is what’s needed to clear the head and direct their focus. Laugh, tell jokes, watch a quick video on YouTube, or grab a snack. It’s like a power break so make it count and then have them get back at it!

At My Virtual Academy, our teachers are always coming up with new ways to make lesson plans exciting and engaging. We realize this time of year it can be hard to keep student’s focused since they have the excitement of the holiday’s right around the corner. You might have out of town relatives coming in or parties to attend. Whatever is happening in your household, it is sure to be enough to make your students mind wander so use our strategies above to bring their attention back to their schoolwork.

Our staff at My Virtual Academy works really hard to provide your student with an online environment in which every student will thrive. We take pride in our flexible learning method and create our coursework to meet each student’s unique, individual needs. To learn more call 800-297-2119.

Have you visited our Facebook page lately? We are always posting things that enrich our student’s lives and it allows you an opportunity to connect to the rest of the My Virtual Academy community. Head over here and “like” our page today!

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