American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen!

Take Stock in Children is proud to partner with WLRN, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Miami-Dade Public Schools to present the American Graduate series at middle schools throughout Dade County.  “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen” is a multi-year public media initiative, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to help local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis.  Beginning in the 6^th grade, they follow students through high school graduation, to battle high school dropout rates and promote the importance of graduation.

Throughout the month of October Take Stock in Children’s Director of Alumni Affairs, Helen Quinn, and AmeriCorps College Success Coaches, Allison Whitcomb and Nyame Fawohodie, have been attending the presentations at different middle schools, wherein Ms. Quinn has presented on “Creating a Healthy Environment,” using Take Stock in Children’s educational module on bullying.  Students are given pre and post surveys to gauge their knowledge about bullying before and after the presentations, and we have found that student’s knowledge jumps about 10% after the presentation, revealing the effectiveness of the program.

The presentations also feature City Year members who talk to students about college life, emphasizing the growth and opportunities that are to be had after high school graduation.  And finally, the American Graduate presentations have featured notable Music Executive, Nelson Santiago who has worked with artists like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Wisin y Yandel.  Mr. Santiago has shown students that through dedication and by surrounding yourself with positive people, you can achieve success. 

American Graduate focuses on shifting our language from if a student graduates to when a student graduates; it is no longer an option for these students, it is a necessity, and through partnerships and collaborations from communities, we can work towards a better future for our young people.

Check out these videos, one from a Take Stock in Children student, Tahrell, and one from his mentor, Principal Vicari.  The videos illustrate the important roles that mentoring and Take Stock in Children have in getting students on the track towards graduation.

10 Habits of Highly Effective Students

As the school year is getting under way, an important subject to address is that of successful study habits! The following are 10 habits of highly effective students.* With hard work and dedication, any student can be successful!

1. Don't try cram all your studying into one session.

Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods of time and rarely try to cram all of their studying into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student then you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods.

2. Plan when you're going to study.

Successful students schedule specific times throughout the week when they are going to complete their studying -- and then they stick with their schedule. Students who study sporadically and on a whim typically do not perform as well as students who have a set study schedule.

3. Study at the same time.

Not only is it important that you plan when you're going to study, but that you also create a consistent, daily study routine. When you study at the same time each day and each week your studying will become a regular part of your life. You'll be mentally and emotionally more prepared for each study session and each study session will become more productive.

4. Each study time should have a specific goal.

Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session. Before you start studying set a study session goal that supports your overall academic goal (i.e. memorize 30 vocabulary words in order to ace the vocabulary section on an upcoming Spanish test.)

5. Never procrastinate your planned study session.

It's very easy, and common, to put off your study session because of lack of interest in the subject because you have other things you need to get done first or because you find the assignment difficult. Successful students do not procrastinate studying. If you procrastinate your study session, your studying will become much less effective and you may not get everything accomplished that you need to. Procrastination also leads to rushing, and rushing may lead to errors.

6. Start with the most difficult subject first.

As your most difficult assignment or subject will require the most effort and mental energy, you should start with it first. Once you've completed the most difficult work it will be much easier to complete the rest of your work. Starting with the most difficult work will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions and your academic performance.

7. Always review your notes before starting an assignment.

Obviously, before you can review your notes you must first have notes! Always make sure to take good, thorough notes in class. Before you start each study session and before you start a particular assignment, review your notes thoroughly to make sure you know how to complete the assignment correctly.

8. Make sure you're not disturbed while studying

When you're disturbed while you're studying you (1) lose your train of thought and (2) you get distracted -- both of which will lead to very ineffective studying. Before you start studying find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed (that means studying on the couch in front of the TV is probably not the best place!)

9. Use study groups effectively

Ever heard the phrase "two heads are better than one"? Well this can be especially true when it comes to studying. Working in groups enables you to (1) get help from other students when you're struggling to understand a concept, (2) complete assignments more quickly, and (3) teach others whereby helping both the other student and yourself to internalize the subject matter. However, study groups can become very ineffective if they're not structured and if groups members come unprepared. Effective students use study groups effectively.

10. Review your notes, schoolwork and other class materials over the weekend.

Successful students review what they've learned during the week over the weekend. This way they're well prepared to continue learning new concepts at the beginning of each week that build upon previous coursework and knowledge acquired the previous week.





*Based on an article from Education Matters.

American Graduate

Helen Quinn (first on the right), Director of Take Stock in Children Alumni Affairs and AmeriCorps PATEM, presented at a recent WLRN American Graduate school visit at North Dade Middle School in Miami!  The American Graduate series will continue throughout the month of October, so stay tuned for more updates!

TSIC Board Member Honored

Take Stock in Children Board Member and former Chairman Richard Berkowitz was recently honored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce at its annual Salute to Miami’s Leaders program. 

One of nine honorees, Mr. Berkowitz is the founder and CEO of accounting firm Berkowitz Pollack Brant and was honored for his involvement with the Community Foundation of Broward and Take Stock in Children. 

Congratulations, Mr. Berkowitz and thank you for everything you have done for TSIC and the entire community!  Read the entire article here!

TSIC Student Receives Highest FCAT Scores in the Entire State!

A Take Stock in Children student, Marquez Brown, received the highest FCAT scores in the entire state! 

Marquez is a student in Washington County at Vernon Middle School, where he also maintains a position on the football and basketball teams, as well as being a member of the BETA club, Chipola Trio, and Algebra Honors. 

“I’m speechless,” said Marquez.  “I wasn’t expecting to have the highest score in my school let alone the entire state of Florida.  That’s just an unbelievable honor.”

An honor, indeed, and the Senate of Florida recognized Marquez for his great achievement.  We here at Take Stock in Children are so proud of Marquez and this wonderful accomplishment!

Freshman 101

Greeting All! 


                                                                                    

The hustle and bustle of freshman life in college can be mind blowing.  Student advisors, professors, clubs, sports, relationships, room mates, budgeting money on your own, taking care of your own meals, YIKES! All of a sudden you are an adult with responsibilities that you may or may not be quite equipped for.  However, in all things a balance is key to having a successful college experience. 

                                         

With being a freshman, you may have extra amounts of questions and fears.  Don't worry these feeling are understandable and should be expected.  The best way to tackle your new experience is by embracing it wholeheartedly and getting the most out of all the resources available to you at your local campus.  Hopefully you have yourself in a routine that you do daily.  Routines give us a sense of familarity and aide us in coping through the pressure of the day.  However if our routines are issing key factors to keep us balanced burn out usually is sure to follow.  Burnout is what you don't want when you are trying to accomplish your goals.  A great tool in avoiding burnout is a schedule that incorporates all aspects f your life to give you that balance needed to keep you mentally, physically and emotionally sound. Here are a couple of websites to check out on survival tips and health and wellness tips.

How to Succeed In College Step By Step Instructions
http://www.wikihow.com/Succeed-in-College

101 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students
http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans/101_health_and_wellness_tips_for_college_students

Until next time Peace and Blessings,

Nyame :)

Getting Involved in College!

Though classes, papers, and exams are major components of the college experience, there is far more to college than the classroom!  Getting involved in college is a great way to enhance your experience, and hopefully your life as a young adult! 

Getting involved is great for a number of different reasons, including the following:*

1. It allows students to become connected to their school: Colleges are full of resources, but the responsibility is on the student to seek them out. Being involved can help you to do that!

2. It helps build community: Since students are sometimes leaving family and their friends behind, getting involved helps them discover new friends with similar interests and build a community.

3. It allows you to discover your passions and strengths: These will follow you all through life and helps you discover your likes and dislikes.

4. It's a résumé builder: Freshman year is not too soon to begin thinking about positioning yourself for future employment, and getting involved and gaining leadership are great ways to build up your experience!

5. Sometimes, busier kids do better in all areas: This will vary a lot by the student, of course, but more free time does not always equal better grades. Being involved will require some organization and time management on the part of the student—and that's a good thing J

I would urge you to get involved and do it often!  It expands your social, educational, and professional horizons.  You might meet your best friend, discover your new passion, or land your dream job through a connection or contact you made in a club, fraternity/sorority, or committee you joined.  Below are some different types of organizations that you may consider:

                                   ·        Student Government
                                   ·         Honor societies
                                   ·         Academic clubs
                                   ·         Religious clubs
                                   ·         Committees (Homecoming, Academic Planning)
                                   ·         Athletic clubs (competitive, intermural, club)
                                   ·         Greek life (fraternities, sororities)

No matter what you decide to do, have fun with it!  Try and expose yourself to something outside of your comfort zone, meet new people, and have a wonderful time!

 

*adapted from US News & World Report