Study Skills – The Independent Learner

How to Stay Engaged During Academic Breaks

Summer vacation, as most of us know it, or extended breaks from education, can cause students to regress academically. Whether you’re a student who follows a traditional academic calendar, or one who prefers to work more consistently throughout the year, there are things you can do on academic breaks to keep your skills sharp and ready for future studies.

Read often

Reading engages your mind in more ways than you may think. Not only does your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills expand – studies have shown that reading actually changes your brain activity and strengthens neurological connections. If it isn’t a current pastime for you already, consider regularly reading something that interests you to make it more enjoyable and habitual. Magazines, novels, comics, or even cookbooks are all fair game!

Continue to practice skills

While it’s probably the last thing you want to do while on a break from school, try practicing your skills during some free time. Whether that means solving some math problems, performing a science experiment, or reviewing old flashcards, practicing helps you retain information and will leave you better prepared for your future academic plans.

Get involved in community programs

Every community is different with many offering a variety of free or paid camps and programs for youth over the summer. Do some research to see what opportunities are available to you – chances are you may even make some friends along the way!

Pick up a new hobby

Starting a new hobby is a great way to explore your interests while stimulating your brain. Hobbies allow you to discover new things and think creatively while simultaneously helping you de-stress and learn time management. On breaks from school is the perfect time to begin a new hobby – so go do that thing you’ve always wanted to try!

Volunteer

Volunteering is another great experience that allows you to stay engaged mentally (and often physically) while also giving back. Nonprofits are constantly looking for volunteers, and helping an important cause is a great way to sharpen social and analytical skills. Not only this, but volunteering can boost your understanding of issues around you and has the potential to improve your college applications.

Travel

Traveling is known for its ability to foster cultural appreciation, self-awareness, and independence. Whether you decide to travel across the globe or take a weekend to explore an unfamiliar area nearby, traveling is a great way to fight academic regression. Try taking a trip with your family to a nearby museum, or take the opportunity to tour college campuses you may be considering. No matter where you go, you’ll be exercising your brain and ready to return to your studies refreshed and prepared.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, all these options are great opportunities to retain academic sharpness during breaks from school. No matter what you choose to do, know you’ll be doing your brain – and your body – a favor. UNHS is proud to offer courses 24/7/365, and this summer is the perfect opportunity to enroll in a course that interests you! Explore our course catalog of over 100 courses and find the one that’s right for you.

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Practice Makes Perfect

When we think of this concept of “perfect,” is it something feasible? Society has placed a great burden on people to achieve this impossible idea. So why is it that we continue to use the phrase “Practice Makes Perfect” in an attempt to get us to meet our goals? Is it helpful? Is it true? Doesn’t it feel like a losing battle when, after hours of practice, results do not match the expectations?

I would like to argue that perhaps the wrong word is being emphasized in the phrase. Maybe, instead of focusing on the word “perfect,” we need to shift our attention to “practice.” As kids, we were taught to brush our teeth two times a day to defeat plaque buildup. Our parents likely helped us to form a routine to brush in the morning and again in the evening. This has become a healthy habit for most people but then, sometimes, life happens. You may be running late so you rush out the door and forget to brush your teeth. Or, you are so incredibly tired you don’t have the energy to brush your teeth before you go to bed. Does that mean you throw in the towel and stop brushing your teeth forever? I am sure your dentist would hope not! Instead, you may just do it when you remember or at the next opportunity you get.

Most of the time we hear this phrase applied when someone is trying to accomplish a big goal. If the objective is to succeed at something, then let’s look at ways to deliberately work toward results that are meaningful instead of mechanical.

Set attainable and clearly defined goals

First, clearly define your goal. Make it an attainable, realistic goal with parameters that allow for objective successes to be defined. You want to set CLEAR intentions with tangible proof that progress has been made toward the goal. For example, if you want to work out every day, what does that look like to you? Does it have to happen at the same time every day or can it be flexible? Do you need 5-minutes to warm up and does that count toward your goal? Are you setting a time goal, distance goal, or number of repetitions goal? Are you focusing on arms, legs, cardio, or full body? Ask yourself the hard questions about what it is you want to accomplish and how success will be defined for the goal.

Create a schedule

Second, design a plan and schedule with an outlined checklist of what to do and when. The key is to aim for daily practice, remembering that weekends are not special occasions when you are working toward a goal. Be deliberate with HOW you are accomplishing your goals by remaining present and giving it your best effort. Recognize that to build better muscle memory for completing a task, sometimes frequency is more important than duration. For instance, how you study for tests is more important than how long you study. Set aside distractions like your cell phone and set a timer to complete a task like making notecards or rewriting notes. Spending more than 45 minutes at a time on one thing overwhelms the brain and makes it harder to retain information.

Allow time for self-reflection

Lastly, allow for reflection at each step of your progress. It’s possible that early attempts at attaining your goal may not go as planned. That’s okay! Have a moment of meaningful reflection so that you can move forward. This is just evidence that you are learning resilience! Many experts and professionals in their field are just as interested in what they did wrong so that they can fix it in the future. Avoid the mindset that something is “good or bad” and focus on the technical side of things. Case in point, how often do you review the tests that you take? What do you look for when you review the test? If I had to guess, you probably only look it over once and probably only long enough to see your score. The best way to assess your own learning is not by just looking at the score you earned. Instead, look at each question that you missed and ask yourself the following:

Why did I miss this question? Was it a concept that I didn’t understand? Did I make a silly mistake? Was the question written in a way that I wasn’t expecting? After figuring out why you missed the question, ask yourself how you can improve on that problem for next time. Do I need to slow down when taking the test? Should I try making flash cards for vocabulary in each unit? Do I need to ask more questions while going through content?

Now comes the hard part. How do we rewire our brains to work on the practice part and not get so caught up in the perfect part? First, I would like to suggest some new phrase options for you to adopt:

Practice makes progress
Practice makes improvement
Practice makes prepared
Practice makes advancement
Practice makes an imperfect journey with highs and lows to accomplish a goal set with clear intentions and refinement of the process to develop a new skill

Okay, so that last one is a bit of a mouthful. Nevertheless, my challenge to you is to pick one of those goals that you have been meaning to get started on and commit to following through with the necessary, and realistic, steps to complete it!

Spring into Action: A To-Do List for Juniors

Attention all high school juniors! Spring has arrived, and before you know it, so will your senior year! It may seem far away, but now is the time to buckle down and take steps to ensure your success down the road. Below are some tips we’ve compiled for you to help you prepare.

(Re)take the ACT/SAT

Most students take the ACT, SAT or both during their junior year. Don’t be afraid to register early! Free resources are provided by both the SAT and ACT to help you study and prepare to perform your best when it comes to test day. If you’ve already taken one of these exams, review your score report to see what areas may need improvement. If you don’t reach your goal the first time, that’s completely normal! You can retake the exams multiple times.

Plan your senior year schedule

Work with your high school counselor or adviser to create a senior schedule that works for you. It may be tempting to take it easy your senior year, but continue to take courses that interest and challenge you. You never know where your interests may lead you!

Start exploring options for after high school

There are infinite paths for you to pursue after high school graduation – don’t wait until your senior year to consider these options! Many students pursue higher education by attending a 4-year institution after high school, but this isn’t the only path. Community college, technical school, apprenticeships, military and gap years are other viable options. Some students also consider entering the workforce right away. This isn’t an easy decision to make and it’s important to talk to your support system of guardians, advisers, coaches, mentors, and other trusted individuals to help make the decision that’s right for you.

Tour college and university campuses

If you plan on attending a college or university after graduation, now is the perfect time to start exploring campuses. If you can’t tour in-person, many institutions also offer virtual open houses, tours, and Q+A panels to help you learn more about their programs. Take advantage of these opportunities and don’t limit yourself; you can achieve whatever you put your mind to!

Register for AP® exams in early fall

If you’re planning on taking AP® exams in the spring, you’ll need to register in the fall. Deadlines vary by school, so make sure to contact AP® Services for a list of local AP® coordinators and approved test sites. For information on how to register for AP® exams, visit the College Board.

Start your scholarship search

Higher education is an investment, and it’s important to recognize that paying for it can be challenging. Make it easier for yourself by applying for as many scholarships as possible. Reach out to the financial aid office at your college of choice to inquire about scholarships. The U.S. Department of Education has also compiled scholarship resources for you to explore as you start your scholarship search. While it can seem daunting, the hard work often pays off!

Continue to get involved in extracurricular activities

Finally, it’s important to stay involved in extracurricular activities. These can vary from participating in sports, music, theatre, and clubs, to volunteering in your community or working at a part-time job. Higher education institutions love to see students exploring their passions outside of academics. Beyond this, building these relationships and experiences is vital to learning who you are and what you enjoy in life. Don’t miss this opportunity while you have it!

Dual Enrollment Examined

You may have heard the term “dual enrollment” before, but what does it mean? Dual enrollment, at its core, is a program that allows students to earn both high school credit and college credit for completing qualified courses. There are many advantages to taking dual enrollment courses, but there are a few things that are important to consider before signing up. Let’s take a closer look and examine these factors:

Advantages

Save time and money

By taking courses in high school that count for both high school and college credit, you save yourself from having to take that same course (or a similar requirement) again in college. Dual enrollment high school courses are also very cost effective since these courses are generally a fraction of the cost of a typical college course!

Explore other interests

Dual enrollment courses can help students satisfy general education requirements before heading to college, which means more time in your schedule to explore other interesting subject areas, join extracurricular activities, study abroad or participate in internships.

Get ahead, graduate early

If you decide to take several dual enrollment courses during high school, you can get ahead with enough credit to graduate early with your postsecondary degree and begin working on your life plans. This could mean starting your career, attending graduate school, or any other number of paths.

Complete college courses online

Many dual enrollment courses can be completed physically in a high school classroom or on a college campus. However, like the University of Nebraska High School (UNHS), other schools offer dual enrollment online, providing flexible college-level coursework to students no matter their location or circumstance.

Considerations

Check to make sure credit will transfer

While many colleges and universities accept dual enrollment credit, the requirements vary from institution to institution. Students should check to make sure that the college they intend to apply to will accept credit earned through dual enrollment.

You will need to meet your high school’s requirements

Most high schools require dual enrollment students to meet a particular standard. Often this involves a certain class standing (junior or senior) and a minimum GPA. Always double-check to see if you meet the necessary requirements before enrolling in a dual enrollment program.

NCAA status can be affected

NCAA policies on accepting dual enrollment transfer credit may vary based on many different factors and circumstances. In some cases, taking college courses in high school can start eligibility clocks early. Though some student athletes experience no problems participating in dual enrollment, students are encouraged to work with academic advisers and the NCAA to make sure that dual enrollment will not negatively affect their future NCAA participation.

Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for motivated high school students to earn college credit while also saving time and money on future college expenses. Are you considering dual enrollment? UNHS currently offers 10 dual enrollment courses in partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). For details on approved courses, eligibility requirements, application instructions and registration deadlines, visit the UNHS website.

If you have any questions, contact a UNHS academic adviser to discuss if dual enrollment would best fit your needs.

Productive Study Strategies for Homeschool Families

Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler or got your first experience with homeschool through the COVID-19 pandemic, you can always create a more productive home study environment for your family.

At the University of Nebraska High School, we have been developing distance learning curriculum for over 90 years. The academic success of each student is our top priority, and an important part of that success is productive, healthy home study strategies.

Read on to give your study routine a boost before the new school year.

1. Establish a schedule and stick with it.

One of the nice things about homeschooling high school is the flexibility you can have with your child’s schedule. You can build in time for extracurricular activities, rehearsals, and practices beyond the regular curriculum with a lower risk of burnout. UNHS courses can be completed at your student’s pace and at any time of day, so you have plenty of freedom to build the ideal schedule.

Once you find a schedule that works, develop it into a routine for optimal results. A reliable schedule makes it easier to consistently study, and regular, predictable studying habits help students retain information better than occasional bursts of studying.

2. Rely on your teachers and advisers.

Just because your family has chosen to homeschool, doesn’t mean you have to manage your child’s entire education alone. UNHS teachers, advisers and customer support staff can be contacted during weekdays and are happy to help you and your student solve problems.

By the time a student reaches high school, he or she should be equipped to independently study for periods of time. However, during independent study, it can be useful for your student to have an expert resource like a teacher to briefly discuss a problem with. UNHS staff members are friendly and passionate about elevating students to new levels of success.

3. Create concrete goals.

Measurable goals with reasonable benchmarks are a simple and fun way to motivate students to achieve more. You and your child can set an overarching goal for each course, then break down that goal into smaller objectives that he or she can accomplish in each unit or lesson.

Be sure to write down each goal and the steps your student needs to take to achieve them, then display the list in a visible place. A physical reminder of a goal makes it easier to reach. Work with your student to monitor progress and feel free to adjust goals to better fit your student’s learning needs. Developing productive study strategies is an evolving process, so don’t be afraid to change direction and try something else.

UNHS is an accredited online high school that prepares students for college and beyond with a wide variety of challenging courses. Visit our website, browse our courses, or contact us today to learn more!