Back to School Boot Camp: Top Apps for Students

This Week with Sara Fitts focuses today on the top apps for student success.  These apps are easily used on all devices - especially phones.  And most are free and available on all platforms.  

1. Office Lens is free and available on iOS, Android, and Windows.  This app is from Microsoft and takes pictures of whiteboards, blackboards, magazines, books, etc. and converts them into editable and shareable text.  You can save images in PDF, Word, or PowerPoint files.
2. Dragon Dictation is free and operates on iOS platform.  This app allows you to talk while it writes what you say.  Powerful tool - especially for students who aren't strong spellers.
3. Microsoft Office mobile app is free for iOS and Android platforms.  The app includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.  
4. myHomeworkStudentPlanner is free and available on all platforms.  The premium version is $4.99.  This app keeps you organized and on time for all projects, assignments, and tests and exams.
5. Free Graphing Calculator is available on iOS and Android platforms.  It provides on the spot access to a scientific calculator and is extremely helpful for all math classes, including calculus and statistics.
6. Flashcards Deluxe is $3.99 and available on iOS and Android platforms.  When studying any subject, flash cards are extremely helpful.  
7. Evernote is free and available on all platforms.  It very helpful in taking notes in all subject areas.
8. Merriam-Webster Dictionary is free and available on all platforms.  This app can prove to be a valuable asset.
9. ScannerPro is $3.99 and available on iOS.  This app allows you to scan all paper and make you digital-only - which saves time and keeps you more organized.
10. Tinycards is a free flashcard app on iOS platform.  It comes pre-loaded with many subjects; however, you can create your own flashcards, too.
11. Dropbox is a cloud-based app that allows you to keep all your notes, papers, and projects in one secure place.
12. Scribd is a virtual library.  Although costly at $8.99 for a monthly subscription, it is still a deal if you are required to read articles from different magazines and newspapers.  Check it out to see if this app would work for you and your educational needs.

As you see, lots of apps (and they are being developed daily) are out there to improve student success.  Take advantage of the technology that exists in order to improve your learning, your grades, your organization, and lessen the stress in your studies.

Back to School Boot Camp: Setting the Stage for Success

This Week with Sara Fitts is all about Back to School in this week's installments.  Today the focus is on Setting the Stage for Success.  It takes just a few things to improve each student's chances for a successful academic year - and the following will hopefully set the process in motion.

First, be organized.  Most teachers require notebooks and other items for class.  Make sure the requirements are followed and understood so that all assignments and notes are easily located when needed.  Utilize a variety of colors in order to color-code different items and/or subjects.  Often it is a very simple way to organize that makes all the difference.  Make sure the organization works for you.

Next, utilize technology.  So many apps are available - many for free - that will help you in organization, study skills, test prep, and actual help with a variety of subjects.  (More on this later this week.)  The key is to be open to the technology that is available and utilize it for your best results.

And don't forget old school structures:  index cards, color-coded sticky notes/flags, and binders with dividers.  Whatever it takes for you to set the stage for success, you must incorporate it into your "back to school" mindset.

And, perhaps the most important thing to remember in setting the stage for academic success is your mindset.  If you are to be successful, you need to 

• believe that you will be successful and envision what your success looks like:  Honor Roll, Dean's List, no D's - however you define your success
• set specific times for study and homework - and study is different from homework!  So set times for both!
• have specific places for homework and study - quiet without distractions, music if it helps you work and study, and time limits
• take breaks, exercise, drink water, and get plenty of sleep
• reward yourself for your successes and use your times of less-than-success for re-grouping and learning 
• enjoy the learning and make it meaningful - even if you take courses that you may not like, it will lead you to a diploma and a job - so make the most of the journey!

...More to come

Ready for the New Academic Year

This Week with Sara Fitts is gearing up for the new academic year.  Test prep makes an incredible difference in the lives of students and their parents.  Whether it is PSAT, SAT, ACT, SOL, or any other standardized test, the preparation is the real key to success.

To be successful on standardized tests, the test-taker needs to focus on:

1. time management - managing the time it takes to read the question and prepare the answer
2. stress management - managing the physical, mental, and emotional parts of test-taking
3. test management - managing the various parts of the test to create maximum return
4. curriculum management - managing the actual material that is on the test, knowing the material to be tested, and understanding the process
5. confidence in taking the test