Sunday, December 29, 2013

Tagaytay Visit


The time I woke, I knew that it’s already my vacation with my family. We rode our car to travel and we were going to Tagaytay to find the hotel. Mommy got the information, then we checked the hotel if it is nice. We placed our things in the room.


The next day, we went to Sky Ranch where I learned to ride a horse and I learned to control the horse. My dad was smiling.

Friday, December 13, 2013

CFA Christmas Party 2013


This morning, I went to the tall building where the Christmas party start setting the big party. First, they will ask the children to perform singing or dancing or playing music.

The first performance is the boy that plays the drum. He is just seven years old and his drumming was cool and nice. Then after the other performances, we have a little break for fifteen minutes to eat snack. Then, I met my friend named Bailey and we play with each other.

After the break-time, they started to play a game. The game is being like a statue. First they make like Mary and Joseph and the shepherd with the sheep then take a photo. The second act is that they will pray and eat food but not really to eat and just take a photo also.

Then the children that wears hat dance and put our stars and presents at the Christmas tree.

Then I play with Bailey again. Before we all leave, we pray about our fine day and then we say good-bye and go home.

Friday, December 6, 2013

My First Communion


On December 6, some CFA students including me took our First Communion at the EDSA Shrine Church.

Before that, we learned about the Church from a Catholic nun and our topic during my first lesson is (Rowin: about the characteristics of the Church) One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Then my second lesson is about sacraments and there are seven, Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Order and Anointing of the Sick. My third lesson is about recollection and finally my fourth lesson is about Confession (Rowin: actual one in preparation for their first communion).

The Holy Communion is important because the bread is the body of Jesus and the wine is the blood of Jesus.  

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Fun Time

Scene 1

Daddy              :           I’m going now to do something.
                                   Wish me luck.

Aim (shouting)   :           Wish !


Scene 2 

Daddy  :           Zek, let us review the characteristics of our Church

Zek       :           One, Holy ……I forgot the others.

Daddy  :           OK, I will give you clues. Next is Ca…(pausing)

Zek       :           Catholic !

Daddy  :           Correct!, Last is Apos…. (pausing again)

Zek       :           Apostrophe !


Daddy is ROFL :D

Thursday, November 7, 2013

How to Build a Manger 3.0

That afternoon, my Dad wanted me to make our manger.

First, my Dad bought long blue popsicle sticks and powder sprinkles (glitters). Then he taught me how to put glue on the popsicle sticks and wait for these to dry. Second, we made walls with the popsicle sticks and third, we made the roof before putting some white sprinkles. We let it dry, then we placed the characters of the Nativity – Mama Mary, St. Joseph, baby Jesus, the angel, ox, donkey and the three wise men.


And that’s how to make a manger.




(Rowin: It's the third year for me and Zek to make our father-and-son Christmas decoration by preparing our manger with different art materials. Last year it was with painted carton papers and the other year, it was from dry leaves and straws. We intend to keep this up and Aim will join us next year for our Manger 4.0 version. :) )

Trip to Batangas



Back in our house, I already tried to work (finish) my CFA testing so I can travel with Daddy to Lipa City, Batangas. We stayed at the Training Center. That’s where my Dad, Tito Rommel and Kuya Del and Jason make a solar set-up to bring lot of energy.

Later, we got the keys to our rooms. Inside we put out things at the cabinet and on the bed. And then we went to the canteen to eat some breakfast and my Dad started to work.

First, my dad worked at the roof to prepare the solar parts and I saw a dog that is white and black. The second dog’s color is brown and they are both friendly.

At lunch, I met my friend Ate Honey. After lunch, I stayed inside our room to play tablet games then I also took a little rest. Later, I ate dinner.


We stayed there for 3 days.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

My Pet Sparrow

Last Sunday, Ninong Oliver bought me a small yellow black bird and it was beautiful. We made a big black shoe box (for its cage) and I fed it with bread and it kept on flying and crashing into our glass window. We keep on giving bread but it did not eat it well. So my mom and I decided to free him into the park and it started to eat some food and (drink) water.

It flew happily ever after and I will miss my nice bird.



Friday, November 1, 2013

All Saint's Day Celebration


For All Saint's Day Celebration, Zek honors Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of homeless people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hjZxNRzWY

The one person who loved Jesus so much that he willingly and happily imitated Him when he said, " Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the son of man have nowhere to rest his head." - Luke 9:58

According to Zek, he wants to be like Saint Benedict for he spend his days visiting the churches of Rome, he attended mass everyday and prays the rosary.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Fun Time

Scene 1

Daddy   :    Zek, I will shampoo your hair today so I am sure you rinse properly.
Zek        :    NOOO WAYYY! I am old enough to do it by myself.

I insisted and Zek just kept on protesting as I started to shower his head.

Zek        :    (In a low murmuring protesting sound) Dad, I really can do it myself. 
                    I am a tadpole already!

:D Zek sure did apply his lesson about life cycle of a frog which his mommy taught her. Now, it’s time for daddy frog to kiss his queen frog. Ribick!

Scene 2

Daddy   :   The third commandent of God is to keep His holy day of Sabbath.

Aim, our 2 year old toddler, over-hearing “Sabbath” yelled: Yes, sama ko bath time!


Ha ha ha :D

Adjectivity


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Book Fair


On Friday, my family went to the Book Fair (34th Manila International Book Fair at SMX Exhibition Center). When we arrived there, my Mom bought the tickets and we went inside. I look at some books and we go to National Bookstore with lots of books there. We ate some food and bought a Flip-Float (Jollibee cold drink) and I went to the Lego book store. I read a lot of books (Lego books :D) and I bought one K-Zone magazine. I had lots of fun and we even saw kuya JC’s friend Bea (with her mom, Tita Mimi) and we all went home together.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Math Concept

In the US TV series “Numb3rs”, Dr. Charles Eppes (played by David Krumholtz) asked his audience to choose 1 card from 3 cards wherein 1 card has the imaginary prize of brand new shiny red car. The audience, by majority, chose card number 2. But instead of opening it, Dr. Eppes opened card number 3 – it was blank. Now he posed the challenged again to the audience if they wanted to change their card choice.  The audience ambiguously replied in the negative, wanting to keep their card no. 2 choice.

That is when Dr. Eppes, revealed a mathematical truth – that since their chance or probability was increased from 33.33% to 50%, the logical and mathematically correct decision is to make another choice. The “logic” that the original choice also represented the 50% probability is misleading because it was originally chosen when card no. 3 was not yet revealed.

In Zek’s homeschooling the most challenging subject for us to teach is mathematics (the rest are just downright difficult). My wife and I, both taught the traditional approach to mathematics, will be the first to admit that this subject has always been our Achilles heel. And this becomes more obvious this school-year on Zek’s fourth grade. He always catches us in our blank stares into nothingness (my wife and I call it “deep thought” :D) at most of the “Think and Try” exercise at the end of each lesson.

Yesterday at CFA, we had an introductory seminar about math mapping and the benefits of new math learning and teaching methods. It was quite enlightening for me and the rest of the co-attendees how a seemingly complex math problem be explained in simple solutions that our kids can grasp. I’m really looking forward to have Zek explore this learning technique so he will understand its foundation, its grass-root concept thereby growing to enjoying and liking his math subjects more.   


(photo downloaded from the internet with labelled credit to entertainment.desktopnexus.com)

CFA English / Filipino Culmination Day and Spelling Bee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXamMW4FJA8&feature=youtu.be


Thursday, August 29, 2013

MOP Animals

Later, we went to the Manila Ocean Park and I learn a lot of animals like mantarays, eagles, sea lions, sharks, jellyfish, penguins and fish doctors. Then we take a photo with them and we learn about Antartica and the Arctic where the the penguins live. Then we we go to the fish spa. We also go to the Aquarium and there were lots of fish there. And finally, we went to the jellyfish and we saw a lot of (jelly)fish in there. Then we ate some snack before we leave.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Aim at Papa John's


Sewing Lesson

With Kuya JC

My First Godson

Later, my Dad is about to leave the house because he needs a lot of things left in China. We pray for him for a safe journey. Then, I have my toothbrush. As my Mom cook our breakfast, I’m doing my (home)work. Then, after my work, we ate some breakfast while Aim was a little busy watching TV. Then, we take a bath and watch Speed Racer before we leave. We went to the church (Edsa Shrine)for it (baptismal rites) was beginning and I meet a new baby – Johana Lucas. He is a cute baby boy. He almost looks like Aim. Then, I baptize the baby (Rowin: our Fr. Zek :D) and the mass is ended. We all get going ad we buy a yummy ice-cream. Then we went home happy.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Manila BookFair

http://www.manilabookfair.com/

Ocean Defender


Later, we went to the Ocean Defender with kuya JC and we went inside the boat and it is really big and he (the Greenpeace volunteer) asked that we defend our ocean. We watch a film and we went up and we saw more (smaller) boats. Then we went to the control room where they control the boat and I’m the captain there (wore the captain’s hat). We took photos in the boat. To contribute to this, I will take out the trash and put it into the dump truck.

(Rowin - The Greenpeace Organization have docked and displayed their biggest Ocean Defender ship called MV Esperanza, a Russian fire-boat re-fitted to be environmentally-friendly as it helped the dedicated advocates to document, defend and take definitive and creative non-violent actions against “ocean abusers”, at the Manila Pier. They allowed the public to view it as part of their awareness programs about the dire situations of our seas and oceans)


From the Greenpeace flyer:

Learn more about the seas and how you can help protect them, check out
Facebook: facebook.com/greenpeace.philippines
Twitter: @gpph

Jello Jellyfish


Zek, Aim and their cousin kuya JC had a grand time looking with fascination at the jellyfish on display.

CFA – Spelling Bee and Talent Presentation

Later, when my Dad and I were late because it’s 1 o’clock, we were just in time and I can still play because it (spelling bee) has not yet started. The we all got our seats and the Grades 1-3 started the bee. After they spell, it was our turn and I was on the violet team. We won (second place) the game. I told a story too (title: Grumble, Grumble Gurgle Roar).  I ate ham and cheese sandwiches. Then it was raining so we went home fast.


(Rowin - Kudos to all CFA parents and students contributors for holding this successful 1st ever Spelling Bee last Friday, July 26. The kids and the parents of participants indeed had a blast watching the talent presentations of the students and the kids poured out their all in matching wits with their classmates on the Spelling Bee.  Thank you, Lord for this wonderful day).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXamMW4FJA8&feature=youtu.be

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Meeting Friends

Later, when my mom and I left the house, we went to SM Hypermart in Pasig City and my friends were there. We ate some food at the restaurant. I ate chicken and rice. Then we went to Quantum and play then I won a prize. And my friends (Lila and Fry) have a dog named Chino. We played marble with them and we had lots of fun.

Friday, July 12, 2013

CFA Friday Club : Story-telling

Later, my Dad and I went to the ninth floor with my classmates because the story-telling and the puppet show show is starting. So we all went inside the room and the first story is about the fish and the shrimp and the teachers were doing the action that the fish and the shrimp were doing. And the teachers asked questions. The second story (puppet show) is about the goat, lion and two dogs with music and the teachers asked questions again. The third story is about the ant and the dove and they did actions too. And the last story (puppet show) is about the mouse and the lion. The lion wanted to eat the mouse but he released him and the lion was captured. The mouse rescued him. We pray for all the stories (lessons learned) and we ate snacks (courtesy of the birthday couple - Bro.Bo and Marowe. Thanks po :) ) and play with my classmates. Then we went home and got lots of fun and that's the end of my story. :D


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Museo Pambata

When we travelled to Museo Pambata, we had lot's of fun learning.

First, we went to the forest where there is a bahay kubo and an eagle with a slide. Second, we went to the under-water sea where there are big fish and a shell. Third, we went to the city where we saw lots of heroes (Filipinos during Spanish time), boat (Spanish Galleon), funny faces (those thing-a-ma-doodle where you insert your face and you have a painted figure on the other side), a train (early tram), church (Binondo), jeep, and a big (Spanish-style) house. Fourth, we went upstairs and went inside through the giant mouth entrance (except for Aim who was obviously scared by it). We saw the inside of the body, an x-ray, mirror, magnifying glass, body noises and a "jumping rope" inside the stomach (Rowin: :D that's the 25-foot small intestine replica).

Fifth, we went to the city with Chess game and a TV, a wind mill, factory, a bicycle, a cow and a jeep. Sixth, we went downstairs to see the art class with painting and a shop. Seventh, we went to Singapore area. There are clothes, big drums and a slipper painting.


And that's the end of the museum visit.    

Aim's First Hair-Cut


Pauline's 7th Bday


When the party started, the children played games while their parents eat lunch (actually its early dinner :D). I ate tarts, barbeques, spaghetti and hotdogs then I have photos with my friends (and cousins!). I ate also cotton candy and popcorn. Then at night, we danced and played and popped the balloons. Then, we went home.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Manila Ocean Park


When my family woke up, I ate some breakfast and we went to Kids Inn and after that we went to (Manila) Ocean Park with kuya JC. First, we went to the Sea Lion Show. Second, we went to Oceanary with lots of fish. Third, we went to the Fish Spa. Fourth, we went to the Antartica with lots of penguins. Fifth, we went to the slide and snow then we went to the Penguin Talk show. Then we travelled all the way home.

Thanks Tito Remir and Tita Bles for the free tickets!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Ang Kartograpo

For our lesson in map-making, Zek was asked to choose two places and make a complete road map with legends. He chose Malolos City to Paranaque City, his most frequented places in the past months. After scribbling for around 15 minutes, the result was really great with full of details.


Eskala

Everytime Zek makes an honest and open remark about his lessons, it never fails to put a smile on our face. 

Below is a sample when the book asked him to make a face to show his feeling about the "kahalagahan ng paggamit ng eskala" and his answer was straight-faced expression and the remark " nahihirapan ako sa panggamit ng eskala" (I find it difficult to use the scale).

Honesty is the best policy.
Always :)

Friday, June 14, 2013

CFA - Anointing Day 2013


Yesterday morning, I went to church to listen to the priest. Then after the church, I ate my snacks before I played Bingo, Chess and Monopoly with my classmates. Then, we went to Reyes Bangus for lunch. Then, we went to Toyota Alabang. I watched Transformers and Iron Man, then we went to Tita Shirley's house. I played with kuya Gelo and kuya Pao then we all go home.

Last Friday June 14, the Catholic Filipino Academy held its Anointing Day to usher in the new school year. And as early as 8:30 am, excited kids and their equally excited parent-teachers flocked to the Chapel of the Lay Formation Center in San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati, bringing with them their snacks, creative name tags, art materials, game boards.

At 9:00am, the holy mass started where the parents and their student-kids were prayed over and re-committed themselves to the principles of homeschooling. Bro. Bo Sanchez gave a short inspirational talk and introduced this year’s set of administrators and parent-coaches for each grade level. A hearty potluck snacks followed before the different group activities started.

Students of kinder up to Grade 2 were treated to an art lesson activity.  Grades 3 up to Grade 6 enjoyed each other with all the board-games they can join into. The high-schoolers, on the other hand, underwent a separate but short lecture. Special gifts were also handed outs to those who came with their creative name tags. On the sidelines, the parents had group sharing, welcoming the first-timers and sharing their joys and challenges of homeschooling.

The past days have seen cloudy skies with heavy downpours brought by the tail-end of typhoon. But that has failed to dampen the high-spirits of the parents and children who participated on that day and who look forward to another fruitful, love-filled learning experience with each others.


Truly, it was an anointed day from above. - Daddy Rowin

Thursday, June 13, 2013

4th Grade - Homeschool Made


by Mom Menchie

In preparation for this school year, we put a sticker chalk mat on one side of our wall to serve as our board lesson. It was divided into two parts. The upper part is being used for our math equations or other subjects while the lower part is for the imagination-unlimited scribbles of Aim, our two year-old son. This keeps him busy so Zek, our incoming fourth-grader, can focus on his lessons. Unavoidable as it may, Zek’s interruptions becomes productive as well since he engages himself in making drawings for his brother’s entertainment,  just like some figures on his coloring books.  

In addition to, Zek really loves his LEGOs since he was a toddler so we prepared his Lego Star Wars theme this year by printing out his book tags and his Journal book with lego mini figure pages that he can draw on to his favorite famous series lego characters whenever he needs a timeout (for his event story-writing to be transferred in his e-journal posting http://readyaimzek.blogspot.com/ ).

At the beginning of each week, we sing the national anthem – Lupang Hinirang on Mondays and we follow it with morning calisthenics and a hearty fruit, rice and choco-drink breakfast. Then we give Zek the printed worksheets of LEGO math, practice for reading comprehensions and spelling from http://www.superteacherworksheets.com before we slowly introduce him again the formal CFA textbooks. Admittedly, Zek gets easily bored and his focus has been our main concern ever since so we have to stay away from the books as much as possible and put the daily lessons into some other materials just to make them “attractive” or else it will be a whole day of struggle and mind setting mood for us.

Homeschooling our eldest son for 4 years in CFA now is really not an easy task with all the challenges and even emotionally-draining dramas in some occasions. We almost gave up the past two years, even requesting for recommendation letter with certification of good moral character, in our attempts to enroll Zek into one of the traditional schools. But we still end up with homeschooling upon realizing that this is still the BEST SCHOOL for him after all and that with more patience and creativity from me and my husband as parents-teachers, his learning environment and pattern will be better. The most important for us is that our family is learning and growing in love as we spend priceless time together, which traditional schools will simply “robbed” away from us. 

May this year be a more fruitful learning one for all of us. More than following the academic standards and lesson plans, we do need to follow our own children’s path of learning and to make our Lord as the great teacher who will lead us and guide us according to His divine will. 

God bless us all.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Stella Maris


We go to Kid's Inn and I practice with my friends. Then we all enter the first mass and pray and sing a lot of songs. There were 4 priests. After the mass, we eat some adobo and rest for 5 minutes. Then we start to sing again in the second mass and there is only 1 priest. After the mass, we all go home.

(Rowin: Last June 8 was the nationwide simultaneous consecration of the Filipino people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was a con-celebrated mass at Edsa Shrine and the Kid's Inn Choir in which Zek is an active member since last year was given the honor to sing during the mass. The render their newly-learnt song "Stella Maris" during the communion song)

7 Reminders for the New School Year

As a professor and educational psychologist, I am asked the same questions every year. I have also observed patterns in behavior. Here are a few reminders to parents, teachers and students. (See also “Eureka!”)

1. Hard work is good, but it is not the only factor.

Hard work is important and, in most cases, the simple solution to a problem. I believe in hard work. But if your kid has spent hours on a subject for an examination and still cannot accomplish what other kids can do in less time, please spare your children further frustration.

Children are not born equal.  Some are brighter, others are slower. Genetics is not fair, same with intelligence.

Parents, try to appreciate your child’s strengths and remedy his/her weaknesses. Do not add to your kid’s misery by demanding that he/she  become like other children.

2. School is not the be-all and end-all.
Some parents desperately want their kids to get into “brand schools.” By hook or by crook, they send their kids to a  particular school because so and so endorses it  or it is   a status symbol. Never mind the distance or the cost.

Sadly, many of these schools, like designer bags, are a facade. Or, worse, fake! The content is more important than the bag. An exorbitant price does not always translate to excellence.

Being with rich kids all the time is not the best kind of education. We do not want kids to become spoiled brats—
narcissistic, entitled and unaware of the larger and harsher world.

Exposing kids to peers from different social economic strata will teach them respect, tolerance, gratitude and compassion.

The school can never replace the family nor substitute for the parents. Irresponsible parents cannot expect a responsible school to do what they should be doing. The school is not a rehabilitation center. Character formation starts at home.

3. Teachers are not supposed to be tyrants but neither are they slaves.

A survey asked kids who had just started school whom they feared most. The answer was “teachers.” More than monsters or ghosts, kids feared teachers. Yes, teachers—even the best ones—are not usually appreciated.

But serious teachers do not have to be tyrants, scaring off students by abusing their authority. Neither should they be slaves, constantly and blindly following fads and whims dictated by administrators and parents.

As one teacher in a very expensive school said, “We are not the glamorized yaya of these rich kids.”

Parents should not ingratiate themselves with their child’s teachers and should not look down on teachers, even if they are younger or poorer.

Teachers should maintain professional distance, have self-respect and carry the integrity of the profession.
As for principals, you should realize that teachers, who are your best assets, have a clear job to do. Love them and keep them!

4. Prevention is always better than cure.

Class management and home management mean setting rules and communicating them well. It is always best to set limits first to prevent problems later. Rules have to be clear, reasonable and enforceable. Principles are few; foremost are respect and responsibility. If these two are instilled in students, we can expect an easier, lighter load as teachers and parents.

Prevention means preparation. Anticipate problems. Be proactive. Begin with the end in mind. Many failures in schools—of teachers and students—stem from overconfidence and laziness that make one believe he/she can bluff through an exam or a lecture.

Parents should nip in the bud mischief or bullying behavior the moment they see it.  Denying, prolonging or defending it will make it worse.

5. Consequences are required for students, teachers and parents.
In a country or a school that does not do a very good job of enforcing rules and demanding consequences, citizens and constituents are wary of rules and become experts in finding excuses.

Behaviors are shaped by consequences. Many of our best professors, even at state universities, are not reprimanded nor penalized for their absences or for not submitting grades on time, if at all.

I am dismayed at teachers who grant extensions to students unable to beat the deadline. This encourages students not to take their professors seriously and to procrastinate, cram, deceive, cheat or find an alibi for irresponsible behavior. 

Parents who write false excuse slips should also be ashamed of themselves.

6. Learning is its best motivation.

Parents often ask if it is OK to reward kids with material things. My answer? No. Extrinsic rewards are short-lived, not universally appreciated, can become manipulative and may stifle real learning.

Learning is intrinsically motivating if it arouses curiosity, is novel, shows progress, encourages mastery, and widens one’s view. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi teaches about “flow” when, in doing something, one loses one’s sense of time and space.

This happens when our optimal skills match optimal tasks, so that our attention is fully invested and our skills fully utilized. We can see immediate feedback and feel in us the “flow” of being in the zone.

Problems happen when a task is either too easy for someone with higher skills or too hard for one with lower skills. 

One becomes bored in the former case and anxious in the latter. When one loves learning for its own sake, the goal is to learn, not just to get good grades.

I encourage parents to “buy experiences rather than material things.” Traveling, not a branded bag, facilitates further learning.

7. Buy books, not notebooks.

Two weeks before school opening, television news is all about buying notebooks and uniforms! If the station uses last year’s footage, no one will know the difference. Does education boil down to notebooks and uniforms?

People now go to bookstores to buy anything but books.  When I see a book I’ve purchased abroad in a local bookstore or book fair, I excitedly inform my students.  But they complain that books are expensive. Yet they spend money on fancy stationery or expensive gadgets.

Students and teachers who do not read should not be in schools and universities. I am appalled by the lack of reading among my students who are training to be teachers. And if they do read, their sources and titles (if they do remember) are way below what are expected of scholars.

There is a  saying: “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” What are our students reading? Where and with what do they spend time building and using their minds?

I endorse the Great Book Approach. This movement, found in many great universities, requires a student to read at least five to 10 of the best literature (from a list drawn by the General Education or Liberal Arts program) to be eligible for graduation.

On the first day of several of my classes—all graduate level—I ask my students to list down the books they have read. If they cannot come up with 10, the assignment for the next meeting is to list down what they will read in the next three to four years. This is my advocacy.

There is no excuse for knowledge workers not to read considering that many books are now in public domain and downloadable. If only they know how to make better use of their gadgets!


Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/424005/7-reminders-for-the-new-school-year#ixzz2VtCN9zsM
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Monday, June 10, 2013

How to focus while studying

By 


 67 160 72
This school year, resolve to focus on what you are learning.  Neither intelligence nor talent ensures school success. Focus, concentration and perseverance are essential.

1. Start fresh. If you are tired or stressed, you will not accomplish much. Take a nap (for 20-30 minutes), have a snack or deal with personal problems first. Learn to distinguish between what is important and what is not.

2. Avoid procrastination.  Students tend to postpone studying by busying themselves with other things. Make sure you have everything you need.  If you have to interrupt your studies often to get something, then you will not be as productive.
Are the books you need at hand? How about notes, paper, calculator? By all means, sharpen the pencil before doing mathematics exercises, but going to the bookstore to buy a plastic cover for the science book is not a wise way to spend your time, especially if your homework is due the next day.

3. Prepare a study schedule. Think about what, when and where you are going to study. Research shows that a regular time and place psychologically prepare students for learning. Choose a quiet place, with few or no distractions, and stick to a schedule as regularly as possible. Ensure that there is enough light in the study area to avoid eye strain and headaches.

If your home has too many distractions, then study in the library. Students seldom use the library for research these days, but it is still the ideal place to gather your thoughts and focus your efforts.

If studying is not going the way you want, do not shout or snap at people who make noise. Politely ask them to tone down and/or tell them you need to focus for a difficult test. If you still cannot have the peace and quiet you need (especially if you are  in the dormitory or student activity center), then go to the library.

4. Coordinate schedules with family and friends. Inform them of your study schedule and ask if they have anything planned during those times. This way you will not miss significant gatherings. Remember that family demands come first.

A study schedule also makes it easier to minimize distractions. If a friend tweets or texts you, reply to the message later. If you have already planned a study session, say from
4-8 p.m., then tell your friends not to disturb you during that time. It will be easier to stick to your resolve and to ignore their invitations to chat.

5. Minimize distractions, especially electronic ones. Turn off cell phones, computers, television, radio and other gadgets for a couple of hours. Do not check your Facebook or Twitter account. You will not be missing much if you log off for a time. Eliminating temptation is much easier than resisting it.

Research has also shown that multitasking does not work. If you try tackling many things simultaneously (typing a paper, watching television, chatting with friends), the quality of every single task is adversely affected. Be honest: If you have six or more windows open on the computer at any one time, even if they are for research purposes, how much concentration can you really devote to the paper you are writing?

6. Focus on the most complex subject first. It is not practical to study five or more subjects every day because there is simply not enough time and you do not have enough energy to do so. Choose the subject you find most difficult and concentrate on that first. You have more energy when you begin and you need more effort on the most challenging topic.

Some students find math the hardest and prefer to answer exercises while they are at their most productive. Other students find essay writing the most taxing and prefer to expend the most energy at this task. Still others instinctively shy away from memorization. But for certain subjects, this is still essential, so it would be wise to start study time by doing mnemonics or even oral memorization when you can still focus.

7. Study smart.  When going through the lesson, ask yourself: What are the most fundamental parts? Which are the most important points?  What questions may be expected? This will help you focus on the essentials (need-to-know) vis-à-vis the peripherals (good-to-know) and keeps you on track.

Underline key words and phrases. Do not be afraid to mark your books—if you are finicky, write notes on Post-it sheets and attach them to corresponding pages.

If you have no idea how to structure your study session, you will most likely go through the entire lesson over and over, again and again, in a vain effort to grasp as much as possible, all the while feeling more anxious and frustrated. Many students complain that they study for hours, only to flunk the test.  While they study hard, they do not study smart.

8. Prioritize studies over extracurricular activities. Unless you are confident you can juggle everything, do not run for the Student Council, devote hours to varsity, plan a money-making venture for your club, while loaded with 18 units a semester.

Extracurriculars are important and help make student life memorable, but academics is still top priority. You may be the most valuable player in basketball or football, but if you do not focus on your studies, you may not be able to stay in school long enough to represent it in tournaments of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.


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