Checklists

Checklists can be used for so many things from daily routines to math problems to writing. 

Checklists are helpful because they can take the load off of our working memory, which does have a limited capacity. The more you use a checklist, the more likely you will be to develop an efficient routine and thus not need to utilize your working memory to accomplish a task- the process will feel automatic.

Checklists can help us to stay organized and to be more efficient because they remind us to do everything we need to do the first time, and we don't need to return for missed items or do something all over again because we didn't fully complete it.

Here are some examples of when you could use a checklist, and what it might include:

Writing

• Brainstorm
• Outline
• Draft
• Revise
• Edit

Within each of those steps in the writing process, you could develop a checklist to follow too. For example, an editing checklist could include the following:

• Each sentence ends with a punctuation mark.
• Each sentence begins with a capital letter.
• I have read each paragraph out loud, or had it read out loud to me, so I can hear if it makes sense and if I have any extra or missing words.
• Every proper noun is capitalized.
• Each new paragraph is indented.
• I have checked the spelling and for proper use of homophones (e.g. their/they're/there; bear/bare; break/brake)
• I have asked for another person to proofread my work, as a "second set of eyes."

Math

CNA routine:

• Correct last night's homework
• look at the Notes we took in class today
• Work on tonight's new Assignment

*This is a great routine for other subjects too- not just math!

Simplifying equations:

• Distribute if necessary
• Take care of operations with exponents
• Rearrange terms so like terms are next to one another.
• Combine like terms by adding coefficients
• Combine the constants
• Check your answer if possible!

Spanish

Basic writing

• Check for subject/ verb agreement.
• Check to make sure verbs are conjugated in the correct tense.
• Check for agreement between adjectives and what each is describing
• male/ female
• singular/ plural

Checklists are also helpful for non-academic tasks, like packing your backpack or completing your homework. Below is an example of a checklist you could hang in your locker or where you do your homework, to reference when re-packing your backpack. (Perhaps you won't need all of these each day; maybe you circle the ones you will need as you go through the day, then check off each of those as you pack them.) 

• Laptop
• Charger    

• Math binder
• Math notebook

• History textbook
• History binder

• English novel
• English binder
• free reading book

• Foreign language binder
• Foreign language textbook

• Science book  
• Science folder
• Science notebook

• Other:_______________________________
• Other:_______________________________

As you probably know, you can make checklists on your phone and computer too (with the Reminders app on a Mac, or by downloading another great, efficient app). There are lots of options for how and when you can use checklists, and I encourage you to try it out by thinking of a task you have trouble completing (or completing thoroughly); then, think about the steps you would need to take in order to complete the task thoroughly. Make that list, turn it into a "checklist," and use it for a few weeks to see how it goes! 

Please comment below about how and when you use a checklist, or to share any questions or ideas you have!

Test Anxiety

Do you get nervous or anxious before or during tests?

If so, read then try some of the following tips and suggestions! 

If not, do you ever get nervous or stressed out?
If so, read the following!
If not, how do you avoid it? Please share your own tips in the comments section below!

In general: 

• Get enough sleep, exercise, eat healthily, and drink enough water! 
• See your teachers for extra help, and spread out your active studying over a few days.
• Practicing the stress-relieving strategies listed below in lower-stress situations can help you to figure out which work best for you, and can make you better able to use them effectively when you are in higher-stress situations.

Before a test:

•       Ask your teacher about the test beforehand; how many questions, same format as usual, or different? If you know what to expect, you can visualize yourself doing well and practice for it!
•       Make a practice test for yourself (which is basically what an Active Practice is), then take it in a test-taking-like scenario; if you’re feeling anxious or nervous while taking that practice test, it’s a perfect time to use some of the other strategies listed below.
• ·     Think positive thoughts; “fake it ‘til you make it!”
•      Use positive self-talk: 
• “I’m working hard, and learning that best I can.” 
• “I’ve done well before, I can do it again.” 
• “I’ve been doing my homework, paying attention in class, and going for extra help, so I’m doing everything I can to help myself learn this!” 
• “I’m going to pass, but if I don’t do as well as I want, I still have plenty of opportunities to increase my grade and learn this material better.” 
• “My teacher isn’t trying to trick me; he/she wants me to do well!” 

• Replace perfectionist thoughts with more realistic ones. 
• Instead of “I have to answer every question correctly,” think “I will do my best on every question, and know I’ll get many right even if some I’m not totally sure of.”
• Avoid talking about the test with other people who are feeling nervous.
• Visualize yourself taking the test, feeling confident, and knowing how to solve the problems!

During a test: 

If you feel yourself starting to experience anxiety in your body, acknowledge those physical sensations. Tell yourself, “This is just my body feeling anxious, but I know how to calm down.” Then, practice some of the following:

• Close your eyes and shift your focus to your breath. Take 5-7 long, deep inhales and slow, long exhales, really paying attention to the physical sensations in your body and breath.

• Focus your attention on a group of muscles in your body (shoulders, face, or hands are often pretty easy because we can identify when they’re tense). Acknowledge that they might be tense, and feel that tension for a few moments, before intentionally and gradually relaxing each muscle. Notice the difference between the feeling of tension and that of relaxation. Notice if your breathing or other physical sensations change while doing this.

• Take smiling breaths; set your mouth in a soft smile or grin, then slowly breathe in and out through your nose 5-7 times.

•  Use a beaded “breathing cord” and focus on the physical sensation of moving the bead slowly while you inhale slowly, and then a second bead when you exhale slowly. 

•  Take a break: slowly and mindfully walk to get a drink of water or to the bathroom to splash water on your hands or face. Just don’t take too long of a break!

• Stretch!

    If you have other ideas or strategies that work for you, please share below!

Top-of-page tips

Just a quick post about a simple strategy you can use when completing homework or practicing a new concept you're not totally familiar or comfortable with yet:

On the top of the sheet of paper on which you're working, write down the things you most need to remember for the procedure or the steps you need to take to complete whatever sort of problem you're working on.

For example, I was working with a student on her math homework today, and she's forgetting how to start the procedure of simplifying. After talking through what she noticed about the steps we were taking to simplify expressions, she wrote on the top of her homework page
1. Distribute
2. Combine like terms
3. Continue until you don't have any more like terms

She was also having some trouble remembering how to combine positive and negative integers, so I suggested she also write Same signs, keep and add; different signs, subtract and keep the sign of the larger number. (You may have memorized this to the tune of "Row Row Row your Boat," which is another great memory strategy!)

Writing these notes out in a place you can see them as you work can do at least two things for you:

• First, having a visual of the steps or important things to remember, can take some of the load off of your working memory (which has limited capacity), so it's freed-up for the computational aspects of the work. 

• Secondly, writing down these notes or steps on your paper can help you to, over time, become more automatic in applying them. If you're in the habit of doing this with classwork, homework, and other times when you practice the concepts, you'll hopefully also remember to do the same on assessments right after they're handed out!

This can work for a variety of subjects too, not just math. For example, maybe you write the -ar verb endings on the top of a Spanish practice page, so you can reference it when conjugating verbs in sentences. Or, sketch out the chart you can use to find direct objects, indirect objects, predicate adjectives, and predicate nominatives.

What are some steps or procedures you might write out as a visual for other classes? If you have ideas, please leave them in the comment box below!