January 5th, 2010
In a most interesting article in yesterday’s Washington Post, reporter Nelson Hernandez covered a story at a local middle school. He wrote, “Schools these days focus mostly on preparing students for tests of reading and math, but during lunchtime at Kenmoor Middle School in Landover, the youngsters sitting in a small circle were tackling the really deep questions: Ethics. Fairness. How to split dessert.”
December 14th, 2009
Recently, I met a student who was anxious about taking the LSAT. She came to my book launch, brought by her sister, to get help for her test taking anxiety. The student was skeptical, but her sister bought her a copy of the book anyway.
A month later I received the following email from the student:
November 5th, 2009
A typical GED test taker faces challenges. They have hectic lives. They go through a lot. Just committing to a test prep class is very difficult. Many have jobs that require shift work, while others need to find child care.
Nieves Stiker, an educator involved in GED test prep classes in Pennsylvania said. “Some people come to us and feel very adequate within a couple of weeks while others, no matter how hard they study, it’s harder. Sometimes, it takes more than one try.”
In my performance model – the three-legged stool — focus is a critical leg. Without it you cannot achieve any measure of success. In other words, you will not get anywhere in life.
In regard to testing, focus is a noun and a verb. There is a goal of scoring well on the test, and there is work toward that goal.
Being focused is, ultimately and intimately, linked to a powerful source in you-your spirit. Think of your spirit as your power generator. It produces the energy that sparks every one of your achievements.
I hope GED test takers read Chapter Six: How to Stay Focused.
Here’s a pointer. While the goal of doing well in GED seems large and overwhelming to many, remember this: any goal can be broken down into small, manageable chunks. These are action steps. Action steps break up the process of achieving a goal into do-able increments. I use the simple SMART formula to make action steps work.
Specific. Your goal is precise and well defined.
Measurable. You can gauge whether you’ve reached it or not.
Adjustable. You can adapt or modify it if you need to.
Realistic. Your goals are attainable given your available time, energy and resources.
Time-based. Whatever goal you set is linked to the clock or calendar.
Whether you are a GED test-taker or teacher, I’d like to hear from you.
You might be interested in the article about the GED test-takers.
I’m on my way to New Orleans to speak at a conference for the Coalition for Essential Schools Conference, a group of progressive educators across the country. My talk is MAKING TESTING EMPOWERING. I speak on Friday. Keep you posted. In the meanwhile, GED’ers– keep empowering yourselves!
