Talking about his family, President Obama said, “And part of our job as parents — Michelle and my job — is not just to tell our kids what to do, but to start instilling in them a sense that they want to do it for themselves.”
I remember a high school student brought in by her parents. I asked her, “Do you know why you are here?” She immediately replied, “Yes. My parents want me to get higher SAT score. And I don’t want to work for it.”
Then the three of them leaned in. All eyes were on me…
A student, I’ll call her Sophie, came to me for coaching recently. She’s been having terrible problems with tests, saying she “freaks out” every time she takes an important exam.
I asked Sophie to explain what she meant by “freak out,” she described the intense static going on in her mind while she attempts to answer the questions. “I keep thinking, I don’t understand the question … I didn’t study the right things … I don’t remember anything … I’m not going to get this answer right … My scholarship won’t be renewed.” Her voice trailed off. She looked discouraged and dejected as she whispered, “It’s a mess.”
Speaking tomorrow on test taking and presentation skills. UCSF Mission Bay campus.
Here's the description and the link. Please attend!
PERFORMANCE: PUMP UP SUCCESS SKILLS II
Tuesday, November 3, 4-5pm, N114 Genentech Hall MB
First you prepare. Then you perform. Learning invaluable tools to access, process,
and retrieve the right information in the right situation is key to success. You
can perform according to your potential: capable, in charge, and successful. Dr.
Bernstein's techniques add the final touch to intense preparation. "I am confident
I will continue to use these techniques throughout my career," 3rd yr. grad student
UCLA.
Genentech Hall is on the map http://www.ucsf.edu/maps/ I'll have to check with Pam
about parking and what is best that time of day. I think the BART and T line would
be way too cumbersome.
All 80 students of the Young Musician’s Program at the University of California Berkeley, received THE WORKBOOK FOR TEST SUCCESS as a gift from a very generous YMP Board member. YMP is an exceptional program for underserved youth, holding yearly auditions for musically talented and musically promising students . Though there is a strong focus on music, YMP is a college-track program– with 100% success rate of its students getting into schools — including Juilliard and Oberlin– many at full scholarship. The dynamic director of the program, Daisy Newman, invited Dr. Bernstein to work with the students on issues related to performance (anxiety; dynamism; preparation; academic issues), and the results have been palpable. The students were thrilled to receive the book. Said one, “This book is so great. It’s just like having Dr. B in my house!” We are seeking sponsorships like the one at YMP– to get the book into the hands of the students, parents and teachers who can really use it. If you are a board member or a philanthropist, please contact us to discuss your group and how we can work together.
If you are stressed out over tests, you have come to the right place. If you want higher test scores, you will find the path here. If you’re a student, a teacher, a school administrator or an educational policy maker, and want to improve test results, read on. THE WORKBOOK FOR TEST SUCCESS: How to Be Calm, Confident and Focused on Any Test is for you.
We are thrilled to be online and sharing the THE WORKBOOK FOR TEST SUCCESS. Advance copies of the book are already selling quickly! Generous, thoughtful sponsors are providing copies, free, to University of the Pacific in San Francisco; the Young Musicians Program at Cal Berkeley; and to Etgar, a summer traveling program for teens. Corporate and philanthropic sponsors are gifting the book to schools, parent teacher associations and to youth development groups. Two wonderful teen summer interns are employed (under the stimulus package!) to work on the book launch. Great things to come! And please be patient with us. With all the interest in the book we want to get this blog/website up and running.
We can choose how we’re going to face all those tests.
Talking about his family, President Obama said, “And part of our job as parents — Michelle and my job — is not just to tell our kids what to do, but to start instilling in them a sense that they want to do it for themselves.”
I asked Sophie to explain what she meant by “freak out,” she described the intense static going on in her mind while she attempts to answer the questions. “I keep thinking, I don’t understand the question … I didn’t study the right things … I don’t remember anything … I’m not going to get this answer right … My scholarship won’t be renewed.” Her voice trailed off. She looked discouraged and dejected as she whispered, “It’s a mess.”
