Back to School Tips by Danica McKellar

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So, let's talk about how to make back-to-school better for everyone - especially the students!

Undoubtedly, everyone's list is different, but here are some pretty universal issues that students grapple with every year - things probably found on the "to do" list of students and their parents, if such a list exists:

1. Get more confident and successful at taking tests

2. Learn to better handle and diffuse stress

3. Procrastinate less and get homework done on time (okay, this might only be on the parents' list for their kids!)

So, now that we have this list, what shall we do about it? I've talked to countless teachers and students about these issues, because it's well known that mastering the actual course material is only half the game. So, in addition to the math lessons covered in Kiss My Math, I filled the book with tips to make these 3 wishes come true. I'll show you some now!

1. Get more confident and successful at taking tests

With the increased number of standardized tests students are expected to take, this grows more and more important each year!

I particularly remember taking math tests, and how scary they can be. In Math Doesn't Suck, I included a Troubleshooting Guide, which gives answers to hard questions like, "What if math bores me?" and "What if I freeze up during a test?" So I talked a little bit about taking tests in that book. However, I since received so many emails about math test phobia, that in Kiss My Math I dedicated to create the definitive "Math Test Survival Guide" to help students breeze through their test-taking - especially in math. I wanted to make math tests not such a big deal - once and for all! It tells you what to do and how to prepare for a test, from the time it's announced, until 5 minutes before the test, and ways to calm yourself during the actual test. And it does NOT involve studying and doing practice problems every night. Instead, it simply involves making a "Pretend Cheat Sheet" and the "Quickie Sheet" - two tools that make test taking so much easier. I didn't come up with these until college - but they are so helpful at any age, and I'm truly excited about being able to share these with students now!

In addition to the "Pretend Cheat Sheet" and "Quickie Sheet," here are some of the tips:

Tip #1: Don't waste study time on topics that are easy for you. It's such a temptation to avoid the parts of math (or anything) that we don't feel comfortable with, but practicing "easy math" just robs your time from the important stuff. Dive right in!

Tip #2: When you first get the test handed to you, circle the problems that look the easiest, and do them first. After all, #1 might seem really hard, but #3 might be the easiest topic for you! Better to get confidence right from the get-go and earn some point right away, than to have your confidence shot and your panic level rise because of a bad first problem!

For more tips, see p.305 in Kiss My Math!

2. Learn to better handle and diffuse stress

Between increased schoolwork and tons of extra curricular activities, it can be easy for students to get stressed out. So I polled hundreds of junior high and high school kids and gathered over 20 fantastic ways to beat stress. I've learned a few new ones myself.

The full list is on p.159-160 of Kiss My Math, but my favorites are anything that uses the physical body to release the mind's stress, like running, dancing, singing, etc. Physical actions can truly calm your mind when you are feeling panicked. Even while sitting at a math test: If you feel your heart rate speed up, just take a few deep breaths. The physical action of taking deep breaths affects your emotional/mental state in a very real, immediate way.

Another way to handle stress is through the practice of stretching, yoga, and meditation. My mom, Mahaila McKellar, is actually an amazing meditation instructor. She and I recently produced a yoga/meditation DVD of short, 20 minute programs (that can be done anytime throughout the day) called Daily Dose of Dharma. I use it every day, and it really helps me. After all, adults have plenty of stress to deal with, too!

3. Procrastinate less and get homework done on time

Now, I never had Facebook or Myspace when I was in junior high or high school, but I still found plenty of ways to procrastinate. Let's face it; even as adults it can be hard not to procrastinate, and then feel badly about ourselves for being a little bit lazy...or maybe a lot lazy.

While I was writing Kiss My Math, I collected stories from hundreds of junior high and high school kids about the things they've learned, and advice they'd give to other students. So many of the stories were about procrastination that I decided to create a little featurette of these stories (see page 226 in Kiss My Math). Here are a few quotes from some of the featured stories:

"...but as I clicked to print, the computer froze. I panicked, but there was nothing I could do. Why do computers always freeze when you're running late?"

"...I was getting butterflies in my stomach because I didn't think I was going to finish, and it would be the first time I had ever turned in something late..."

"...This year, I had to write another term paper, and I made a conscious effort to work on it a little bit every day. I did, and I got a good grade. It's funny how that works."

As kids get closer to high school, they'll have more large projects - assignments that take more than one night to complete. So understanding procrastination and how to recognize it is an invaluable skill for junior high students to begin to develop. And why not learn to recognize it, while being entertained by other students' horror stories?

Here are some tips to get around procrastination:

Tip #1: Make a list of what you want to accomplish tonight, and for the week. Just make a list, and include everything on it, like eating and brushing your teeth. Check off items as you do them, and you might just get a nice satisfied feeling that can inspire you to check off more items! (For more on list-making, see p. 275 of Kiss My Math)

Tip #2: Set up a system of small rewards for small goals. So, decide that for each subject finished, you'll give yourself a small reward. It can be as simple as listening to your favorite song - just make sure it's nothing that could distract you for too long, like going on the internet.

Tip: #3: Notice how much better you feel when you get assignments done on time, and write in your journal about it. Really, honestly write about how you feel. Are you relieved? Elated? Proud of yourself? There's something in human nature that makes us not want to do things that are "good" for us. But often, they make us feel good, too, and that's important to recognize, because it'll help us make the right decision again!

I hope these back-to-school tips have been helpful!

I'm going to write one more blog this week - I just read a really interesting article about girls and math, so stay tuned...

Cheers, Danica

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