Blog Topic #8-
What can you do NOW to make sure you do well on your finals this semester? What are you doing right now as far as time management and effective studying so that you don't have to cram and stress with the approach of each test or project? Layout your schedule for the next 3 weeks (until the 21st--last day of finals) including the specific blocks of time you plan to study for, and what your goals are (i.e. I will take this test on this day, I will get to bed by 10pm every night, etc.).

Preparing ahead of time is a big, BIG way to secure a good grade on finals. I always wait til last minute to study, but this semester i have been a lot better at not doing that. i've prepared flashcards for each of my test and have already been studying with them.
* i have scheduled my next couple weeks in both my planner and my on-wall calendar!!! i'm trying to get my papers and projects out of the way first, so i can focus more on the actual final exams. each day has a paper or project that needs to be finished along with a test that needs to be studied for. i color code my papers, tests, assignments, quizzes, exams, etc so that by glancing at my schedule i can tell how heavy that day is going to be and what needs to be done to prepare for it. my goal is to be in bed by 11:30 each day so i can survive the following day and the intensity that comes with it. i feel that this semester went pretty well for me and i'm not too nervous for the finals and papers that i have to do still. im prepared and taking it one day at a time!

BLog Topic #7-

What's stressing you out? What techniques do you do to reduce your stress levels? Are those techniques working for you?

I would say that school is my main stressor right now. There's so much to do and not a lot of time to do it in. to reduce stress I hang with friends, watch a video, play rugby(the best stress reliever, try it!), work out, go dancing, blast the radio and sing at the top of my lungs, bike ride, go on a drive, hike, go home, read scriptures, pray, and take a nap. YES, these techniques work very well for me!!! I have many ways to relieve stress and use whatever technique is needed at the time.

How long can you sustain attention for textbook reading before you start to lose concentration? for me it depends on what kind of book i'm reading. certain topics i can retain easier than others.

What are some of the things you do to stay focused on reading assignments that are long, dry, flat and boring? i try to push myself to stay focused for a certain amount of sections or chapters than reward myself by getting up and walking around or something similar to that so i can stay awake. i also have a water bottle handy and chew gum to keep myself awake.

Describe your process of reading a textbook. (What do you do first? Do you have a "system"? etc" if there is a preface or some kind of opening i always read it. i feel that if you know what your about to read, you won't get lost as easily. i try to recap what i read often just so that i understand/don't overlook what i'm reading.

STDEV BLOG QUESTIONS...AGAIN

What do you think about the concept of "having a good memory"? i think that "good memory" is something someone can just have, but also something someone can develop. Almost anyone can aspire to having a good memory! Is a good memory something you can build, or is it something you're born with? as mentioned in the previous answer, i think that it can be both natural and developed.
What are some memory techniques you use to study? what i do the most is i try to associate what im learning to other things in my life or stories that help me connect the dots in the subject.
Do they work for long-term learning or short-term? both!! just depends on how good the connection was!! :)

STDEV BLOG QUESTIONS

What has been your experience with test preparation in the past? depending on the subject i will spend more or less time preparing for a test. i feel that the results i receive from tests are fairly accurate to how much time i put into them....there have been expectations to this as well. i've had tests where i bomb but spend a ton of time preparing for it.

What are you doing now to improve your study habits? i always over-prepare for tests now because it's not worth the risk of doing poorly. sometimes i feel that im wasting time reviewing my notes, p.points, etc a million times, but i just do it anyway because it just needs to be done.

Why is it important to develop good study habits? because the habits you form now will carry on to your future career and the rest of your life really. if you "train" your brain to learn quickly and efficiently it will be easier to organize your daily tasks.

Required questions for school assignment...

1. What types of activities do you monitor your progress on? (Schoolwork? Exercise? etc.) I usually monitor my progress on whether i did 100% in everyhing i had to do that day. for example: did i get all my hours in @ work? did i attend all classes and complete all assignments for the day? did i exercise that day? did i remember to pray often and complete my religious studies today? i also make sure that big projects that are do at the end of the semester get worked on fairly often so it is not such a large task in the end. other things come in to place as well depending on what needs to be done that week that is not a constant in my daily life.
   
2. How do you personally track your progress? What ways work best for you? i usually write things on a large paper calendar in my bedroom and cross things off as i go. i also write scores(when i know them) next to the grade breakdown in my syllabus so that i can keep track of how i am doing. it is best for me to write things down often or i will forget. if something is not listed in the syllabus but just mentioned, i will probably not remember. i have been learning what is best for me and have been changing bad habits to improve my organization/time management in every aspect of my life.
   
3. Why do you think it's important to track your progress? i think it is important to track progress because it not only helps you save time by having everything planned out but also gives you motivation that you got something done and can looked forward to checking the next thing off the list.
   

well now that i've welcomed you to the blog, i better tell you a bit about myself...

i am a junior at Brigham Young University and I am once again an open-major student. i LOVE rugby and most other sports. i enjoy being outdoors and doing "outdoorsie" things. my family and church are very VERY important to me. i love the beach. i love going on spontaneous adventures. laughing. different cultures and languages amaze me and i hope i get to travel the world more in the future and see as much of the world as i can. being around people is very comforting to me. i love teaching the gospel every chance i get. i enjoy learning new things. i have gone through some tough times in life but have grown so much from each trial i've endured. i trust in the Lord with all my heart that everything will work out the way it is to work out. i find strength through prayer, friends, and family. this semester i plan to change my bad habits for good and to not only do well in school, but to better my life in every way i can think of. this semester is the beginning of the new me...stay tuned and enjoy the journey!! :) haha, so cheeeeeeeeesy!

bex

TEST

Welcome to the Bexter's blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!