Do You Fall Asleep While Studying?

Become Alarmed!

If you tend to fall asleep while studying, set an alarm. You can purchase an inexpensive travel clock or wristwatch equipped with an alarm and have it nearby while you study. Or you can set your cell phone to beep or vibrate in intervals to potentially wake you up. The alarm should be loud enough to wake you but quiet enough not to disturb those around you. If possible, set the alarm to go off every fifteen minutes. If you can’t set it to go off regularly, set it for a specific time (such as a half hour after you’ve begun studying) and continue to reset it each time it goes off.

(Found at www.netplaces.com)

Teens and Sleep

The following are some interesting statistics about sleeping and how it effects your performance etc. in school:

Hours (among all students ages 11 to 17):

* 20% get the recommended nine hours per night.

* 45% sleep less than eight hours on school nights.

Consequences:
This can result in falling asleep in school or while doing homework.  Some students miss school because they oversleep.

School Performance:
* Adolescents who get insufficient amounts of sleep are more likely than their peers to get lower grades.

* 80% who get an optimal amount of sleep say they're achieving A's and B's in school.

Warning Signs of Sleep Deprivation:

* Do you have trouble waking for school?

* Get sleepy or tired during the day?

* Fall asleep while doing homework?

* Sleep two or more hours later on weekend mornings?

* Behave differently after a good night's sleep?

* Rely on a caffeinated drink to wake up?  Have more than two caffeinated drinks per day?

* Routinely nap for more than 45 minutes?

Sleep Tips For Teens:

* Go to sleep and get up at the same time every day allowing for nine or more hours per night.

* Have a relaxing bedtime routine such as reading for fun or taking a bath or shower.

* Keep the bedroom comfortable, dark, cool and quiet.

* Get into bright light as soon as possible in the morning, but avoid it in the evening.

* Remove TV's and other distractions from the bedroom and limit use before bedtime..

* Avoid caffeine after lunchtime.


(Taken from an article by Felice J. Freyer in the Providence Journal, 3/28/06)

Relaxation Techniques

If you find yourself getting anxious about an upcoming test or class presentation, one or more of the following relaxation techniques may be helpful:

1)  Deep breathing - Slowly take several deep breaths (in through your nose, out through your mouth) to enable you to calm yourself down.

2)  Counting (forwards or backwards)  -  Can be done with your eyes open or closed.  You can also combine this technique with the deep breathing technique above.

3)  Visualization  -  (Before a test):  Imagine yourself doing something that is relaxing for you or imagine yourself in a place that is relaxing/enjoyable (laying on the beach, listening to the waves, feeling the sun beating down on you, etc.).  (Before a presentation):  You can try the previous visualization technique or imagine yourself actually giving the presentation successfully.  (It also helps to practice in front of someone you feel comfortable with and/or actually going to the room before your presentation and visualizing yourself giving the presentation.)

4)  Self talk  -  Giving yourself a pep talk before the test.  Telling yourself that you are ready for the test and will do well because you studied/prepared and are confident that you know the material (similar to what a coach does with his/her team before a game).

Good luck!

Tackling Test Questions!

At the start of the test:  Read the entire test when you first sit down.  Sometimes one question will give you a hint to the answer of another question.  If the test requires you to use formulas or other things you had to memorize jot them down on the back of a test or a piece of scrap paper right at the beginning.  This way you can refer to it throughout the time allotted.

Multiple choice: Read all the answers before marking your choice. Remember, your first instinct is usually best-so don't change your answers unless you're sure.

True/false: Look for words such as never, always, all and none. They're usually in false answer. Words like may or often are generally found in true answers.

Essay: Read essay questions at least twice. Then, make a list of important thoughts, or key points, about questions before writing your essay. Read through the finished essay to be sure you've included all your key points. Check spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Test Preparation Tip #3

Quiz Yourself

One of the best ways to make sure you are prepared for an upcoming test is to make and take a test of your own creation.  Take some blank sheets of paper and write down a list of keywords or questions.  Make sure you leave space underneath each one.  Then, pretend you are taking the test on the actual exam day.  Write down as much as you can on each question.  When you are finished take a short break and then return to review your answers.

Use your mock test as an additional study guide now that it is complete.

Now that you know the material let’s conquer any anxiety you may have while taking a test.  Let's tackle the actual test questions tomorrow.

Test Preparation Tip #2

Make study cards

We all know how effective flash cards are for vocabulary words but have you tried using them in your other subjects?  Write a word or idea on the front of a card and writer the definition or important information on the back.  For example, on the front “What are the three main vegetation zones in Africa?” and on the back “rain forest, Savannah, and desert”

Brainstorm how you could use flash cards in Math or in Social Studies.

Tune in tomorrow for Tip number 3

Test Preparation Tip #1

Are you dreading an upcoming test?  Do you worry that you may have studied the wrong thing?  Do you find it difficult to remember and answer to a question? 

Test Preparation Tip #1:

Create a study guide

• Make a list of important information, in your own words, from the chapter.

• Make a list of words/phrases printed in bold or italics from the text or words/phrases highlighted by the teacher.

• Reread Chapter Headings, Section Headings and Summary Sections at the end of chapters for other important information and add it to your study guide.

• Regularly review the study guide you’ve created with the information above as well as reread your notes every night till the day of the test.

Tune in tomorrow for Test Preparation Tip #2.