Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Week 4

Part 1
Name: ________________________
Date: _________________________

Learning Styles Modality Preference Inventory
Read each statement and select the appropriate number response as it applies to you.


Often (3) Sometimes (2) Seldom/Never (1)


Visual Modality
____ I remember information better if I write it down.
____ Looking at the person helps keep me focused.
____ I need a quiet place to get my work done.
____ When I take a test, I can see the textbook page in my head.
____ I need to write down directions, not just take them verbally.
____ Music or background noise distracts my attention from the task at hand.
____ I don’t always get the meaning of a joke.
____ I doodle and draw pictures on the margins of my notebook pages.
____ I have trouble following lectures.
____ I react very strongly to colors.
____ Total
Auditory Modality
____ My papers and notebooks always seem messy.
____ When I read, I need to use my index finger to track my place on the line.
____ I do not follow written directions well.
____ If I hear something, I will remember it.
____ Writing has always been difficult for me.
____ I often misread works from the text (e.g., "them" for "then").
____ I would rather listen and learn than read and learn.
____ I’m not very good at interpreting an individual’s body language
____ Pages with small print or poor quality copies are difficult for me to read.
____ My eyes tire quickly, even though my vision check-up is always fine.
____ Total
Kinesthetic/Tactile Modality
____ I start a project before reading the directions.
____ I hate to sit at a desk for long periods of time.
____ I prefer first to see something done and then to do it myself.
____ I use the trial and error approach to problem solving.
____ I like to read my textbook while riding an exercise bike.
____ I take frequent study breaks.
____ I have a difficult time giving step-by-step instructions.
____ I enjoy sports and do well at several different types of sports.
____ I use my hands when describing things.
____ I have to rewrite or type my class notes to reinforce the material.
____ Total

From Kids to College Program Materials, CIS of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC

Name: ________________________

How Do You Learn? Profile Description

The Visual Learner
Visual learners draw mental pictures when trying to remember things. They learn best by looking at pictures, graphs, charts, and designs. Visual learners usually absorb information best from books and class notes and by translating ideas into visual formats. Color-coding works well for visual learners. So does writing information on flashcards and highlighting key concepts.

The Auditory Learner
Auditory learners learn best when they hear spoken words. They focus best by listening and by verbalizing concepts out loud. Auditory learners probably learn a lot from lectures and class discussions. Taping lectures and discussions works well. So does reading study notes out loud and stating math problem and concepts verbally.

The Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner
Tactile and kinesthetic learners benefit most from "hands-on" activities. They usually clarify ideas by writing them down and understand formulas by manipulating them. Tactile/ kinesthetic learners learn best in laboratory settings and by doing fieldwork and class demonstrations. Making models to illustrate concepts works well. So does typing information on the computer, reorganizing material in different ways, and taping class lectures and listening to them during exercise.

Making Your Learning Style Work for You
Once you have figured out the way you learn, you will need to use specific strategies to help you with your way of learning. For example, if you are a visual learner, you could visual materials such as pictures or charts to help you learn and retain information.
Below are some practical suggestions for the various types of learners:
Visual Learners:
Use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
Have a clear view of your teachers when you are speaking so you can see their body language and facial expression.
Use color to highlight important points in text.
Take notes or ask your teacher to provide handouts.
Illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubbles before writing them down.
Write a story and illustrate it.
Use multi-media (e.g.. computers, videos, etc.).
Study in a quiet place away from auditory disturbances.
Read illustrated books.
Visualize information as a picture to aid memorization.
Auditory Learners:
Participate in class discussions/debates.
Make speeches and presentations.
Use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes.
Read text out aloud.
Create musical jingles or raps to aid memorization.
Create mnemonics to aid memorization.
Discuss your ideas verbally.
Dictate to someone while they write down your thoughts.
Use verbal analogies and storytelling to demonstrate your point.
Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners:
Take frequent study breaks.
Move around to learn new things (e.g., read while on an exercise bike, mold a piece of clay to learn a new concept).
Work at a standing position.
Chew while studying.
Use bright colors to highlight reading material.
Dress up your work space with posters.
If you wish, listen to music while you study.
Skim though reading material to get a rough idea of what it’s about before settling down to read it in detail.

Learning Styles Work Plan
Use the space below to create your personalized work plan for the subjects listed. Include at least two strategies for each subject that could be used for the different learning style types. Use your handouts and
www.studygs.net as resources when researching strategies.
Your primary learning style: ___________________________________

Visual Auditory Tactile/Kinesthetic



Math






English






Social Studies






Science






Second Language






Elective: ________












Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Week 3

Part 1
I don't really have anything i need to work on.
Part 2
Taking Notes in Class
In classes, your teachers will talk about topics that you are studying. The information they provide will be important for you to know when you take tests. You must be able to take good written notes from what your teachers say.
Taking good notes is a three-stage process in which there are certain things you should do before class, during class, and after class. Here are the three stages of notetaking and what you should do during each stage.
1. Get Ready to Take Notes (Before Class)
Review your notes from the previous class session before you come to class. This will help you remember what was covered and get you ready to understand new information your teacher provides.
Complete all assigned readings before you come to class. Your teacher will expect that you have done this and will use and build upon this information.
Bring all notetaking materials with you to class. Have several pens and pencils as well as your notebook.

2. Take Notes (During Class)
Keep your attention focused on what your teacher is saying. Listen for “signal statements” that tell you that what your teacher is about to say is important to write in your notes. Examples of signal statements are “The most important point…” and “Remember that . . . “ Be sure to include in your notes information that your teacher repeats or writes on the chalkboard.
Write quickly so that you can include all the important information in your notes. Do this by writing abbreviated words such as med for medicine, using symbols such as % for percent, and writing short sentences.
Place a ? next to information you write in your notes, but about whose meaning you are not sure.
3. Rewrite Your Notes (After Class)
Rewrite your notes to make them more complete by changing abbreviated words into whole words, symbols into words, and shortened sentences into longer sentences.
Make your notes more accurate by answering any questions you had when writing your notes in class. Use your
textbook and reference sources to obtain the information you need to answer your questions. If necessary, ask your teacher or other students for help.
Check with other students to be sure you did not leave out important information.
Having good class notes will help you to be better prepared for tests.

Procrastination
What is Procrastination?
Procrastination is putting off or avoiding doing something that must be done. It is natural to procrastinate occasionally. However, excessive procrastination can result in guilt feelings about not doing a task when it should be done. It can also cause anxiety since the task still needs to be done. Further, excessive procrastination can cause poor performance if the task is completed without sufficient time to do it well. In short, excessive procrastination can interfere with school and personal success.
Why Do Students Procrastinate?
There are many reasons why students procrastinate. Here are the most common reasons:
Perfectionism. A student’s standard of performance may be so high for a task that it does not seem possible to meet that standard.
Fear of Failure. A student may lack confidence and fear that he/she will be unable to accomplish a task successfully.
Confusion. A student may be unsure about how to start a task or how it should be completed.
Task Difficulty. A student may lack the skills and abilities needed to accomplish a task.
Poor Motivation. A student may have little or no interest in completing a task because he/she finds the task boring or lacking in relevance.
Difficulty Concentrating. A student may have too many things around that distract him/her from doing a task.
Task Unpleasantness. A student may dislike doing what a task requires.
Lack of Priorities. A student may have little or no sense about which tasks are most important to do.
How Do I Know if I Procrastinate Excessively?
You procrastinate excessively if you agree with five or more of the following statements:
I often put off starting a task I find difficult
I often give up on a task as soon as I start to find it difficult.
I often wonder why I should be doing a task.
I often have difficulty getting started on a task.
I often try to do so many tasks at once that I cannot do any of them.
I often put off a task in which I have little or no interest.
I often try to come up with reasons to do something other than a task I have to do.
I often ignore a task when I am not certain about how to start it or complete it.
I often start a task but stop before completing it.
I often find myself thinking that if I ignore a task, it will go away.
I often cannot decide which of a number of tasks I should complete first.
I often find my mind wandering to things other that the task on which I am trying to work.
What Can I Do About Excessive Procrastination?
Here are some things you can do to control excessive procrastination.
Motivate yourself to work on a task with thoughts such as “There is no time like the present,” or “Nobody’s perfect.”
Prioritize the tasks you have to do.
Commit yourself to completing a task once started.
Reward yourself whenever you complete a task.
Work on tasks at the times you work best.
Break large tasks into small manageable parts.
Work on tasks as part of a study group.
Get help from teachers and other students when you find a task difficult.
Make a schedule of the tasks you have to do and stick to it.
Eliminate distractions that interfere with working on tasks.
Set reasonable standards that you can meet for a task.
Take breaks when working on a task so that you do not wear down.
Work on difficult and/or unpleasant tasks first.
Work on a task you find easier after you complete a difficult task.
Find a good place to work on tasks.
Above all, think positively and get going. Once you are into a task, you will probably find that it is more interesting than you thought it would be and not as difficult as you feared. You will feel increasingly relieved as you work toward its accomplishment and will come to look forward to the feeling of satisfaction you will experience when you have completed the task.


Part 3

Week 2

Part 1

Name: _____Kathryn Debalski_____________
Term:_____2______________
Classic City High School PLC
Technology/Career Prep Seal Diploma Checklist
Instructions:
If you have credit for a course, put credit earned in the box.
If you are in taking the class this semester, put in progress in the box.
If you still need credit for a course, put still need in the box.
Required Course
Credit Earned
English 9
= 1

English 10 = 1

English 11 = 1

English 12 = 1

Algebra IA = 1

Algebra IB = 1

One More math course = 1

Physical Science = 1

Biology = 1

One other lab science course = 1
(ex: anatomy or entomology)

World History = 1

U.S. History = 1

American Government

Economics

One Elective Credit in one of the following areas:
Computer Technology, Tech/Career,
Fine Arts, or JROTC = 2

Technology/Career Elective
(3 of the 4 must be in one area of concentration)

Technology/Career Elective
(3 of the 4 must be in one area of concentration)

Technology/Career Elective
(3 of the 4 must be in one area of concentration)

Technology/Career Elective
(3 of the 4 must be in one area of concentration) = 1

Elective = 1

Elective

Health/Personal Fitness (1/2 credit of each) = 1/2

22 Required Credits
Add up the number of required credits you have already earned credit for_________/ 22
Add up the number of required credits you still need to graduate
(include in progress and still need in this number) __________/ 22

Part 2

Classic City High School PLC
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Name: Kathryn Debalski
Term: 2
MY DREAMS
STEPS TO REACHING MY DREAMS
I. Selecting a Career: To help you determine what are the most important considerations for you in selecting a career, please rank the following in their order of importance to you, with "1" being the most important.
__3_ Recognition __2_ Personal Fulfillment
__4_ Money __5_ Service to People/Community
__1_ Enjoyment ___ Other__________________
II. Career Interests: What careers interest you? List them in the space below.
1. Chef
2. Catorer
3. Cook
4. Baker

5. Head Chef
III. Academic Goal: Answer the questions below to get you thinking about your academic goal.
What is your academic goal?
How will you achieve this goal?
When will you achieve this goal?
What are your obstacles in achieving this goal?

How can you overcome these obstacles?

IV. Career Goal: Answer the questions below to get you thinking about your career goal.
What is your career goal?
What will you need to do to achieve this goal?
What plan do you have to achieve this goal?
When do you want do be working in this career?
Where do you want to work with this career?

V. Training after the PLC: Answer the questions below to get you thinking about your training after the PLC.
How far do you intend to go in your educational training and (2-year technical college, 4-year College, or military)?

Where would you like to go to get your educational training? (name the university, college, tech school, military base, etc).


VI. Work Environment:
What kind of work environment would you prefer? (outdoors or indoors, alone or with others, office, factory, etc)

VII. Strengths and Challenges:
What strengths do you have to accomplish these goals?
What challenges do you have to accomplish these goals?

VIII: Your Dreams: Discuss your "Dreams" with your parents, teachers, adviser, and counselor, and begin to take courses and make choices that relate to reaching your dreams.

Part 3
I. Where do I want to be in ten years? Type a numbered list with ten details of what you want your life to look like ten years from now.
II. What can I do now to get there?The second part of this blog post is to formulate a list of ten things you have to do this term to help yourself get that life you formulated a list for in part I. Type a numbered list of ten things you have to do over the next five months to help yourself later. These should include steps you need to take in school and outside of school.
III. Upload an image/picture that represents at least one aspect of what you want your life to look like ten years from now.
IV. Give your post an appropriate title. Be sure to proof read your work before publishing your post.
Part 4
I. Write a two paragraph blog post that discusses your experiences thus far at your service learning placement. Be sure to write using complete sentences, proper capitalization, and proper grammar. You may want to include some of the following in your journal:
your first impressions
your work
what you've learned about the profession
what you've learned about working with the people at your placement
any positive experiences you've had
any negative experiences you've had
what you look forward to in the coming weeks
a picture or visual

II. Give your post an appropriate title.
III. Be sure to proof read your work before publishing your post.
IV. Notify your adviser when you have published your service learning weekly journal blog post.

Week 1

Part 1
Theres not really anything need to make an improvement on.
Part 2
I can't really think of any thing else to add.
Part 3
I've already got that.