The Past Does NOT Have To Equal the Future!

After recently obtaining a teaching position at a college near my home in Boise, Idaho, I was reminded how hard the journey has been to get this point in my life.? The?Master’s degree I earned?has opened doors for me?that I couldn’t even imagine 10 years ago.? ?If you are not familiar with my story, I struggled a great deal in grade school, high school, and my first few years of college.? It wasn’t?until a fateful meeting with a college counselor that my world turned around.? You can read?more about my story at www.ScottStraub.com.?

Long story?made short, it was a few changes?in my habits and skills which?turned everything around.? I?was very?disorganized, I?didn’t know how to take?decent?notes, and I couldn’t remember large amounts?of information very well – basically everything a good students needs to do.? I thought that I was a lost cause, destined to?work in construction because I had?no other options.? Of course there?is nothing wrong?with construction, but in my heart I wanted to become a teacher, a scientist, and be in position to help others achieve their dreams.? ?

Even though I had low self esteem, somewhere deep down I believed I could achieve my dreams, and I did plus much more.? No matter where you?or your child are?right now,?you don’t have to continue down the same path.? Just because?you may have failed?yesterday and the day before that, it doesn’t mean that you can’t suceed today or tomorrow.??

You must believe that you can become who you want to become, even?if others around you don’t share this optimism.? With technique and desire anyone can improve their life, and the lives of the people around them.??Belief that life can be the way you want, then take action every single day towards your goals.? Even if they are?small actions, you must take consistent action.? No one is going to hand you your dreams, but you get absolutely improve your situation if you desire to do so.??

The past does NOT have to equal the future.?? I heard this statement from Tony Robbins and think about it almost every day.?

Action item for today – create a “dream board.”? What is a dream board?? It is a collection of pictures of things you really want in your life.? It’s not just the things you think you can acheive (often times we limit our dreams because we are afraid to fail), it’s the things in life that you dream about.? Pretend like you can not fail, what would have in your life?? Who would you have in your life?? What type of person would you be?? Would you get straight A’s in school?? Have lots of great friends?? Have a million dollars?? Snowboard in Utah every winter??

If you are afraid to display your dream board?so others can see,?put it inside a?notebook.? I personally have my dream board above my computer screen.? There is a picture of a very large log cabin on?a ski mountain, a picture of?friends, pictures of people snowboarding and mountain biking in incredible areas, photos of large stacks of money, a photo of me helping lots of people, and some statements that inspire me.? There is even a picture of the view of the city from the building lot I dream of buying.??Think about this:? virtually everything you have in life right now was once just a thought in your mind.? It was something inside your mind that you later created.? Remember, the past does NOT have to equal the future.

Your School Coach,

Scott?Straub

Measurement Eliminates Arguement…

I am?checking in today because simply getting organized doesn’t assure long-term success in school. The results must be monitored until they become a habit, and this may take weeks,?months or even years.? As a parent once said to me, “It took nearly two years to break my son of?his bad habits, but sticking with your program was the best thing we ever did!”?

How many times have you started something new?but then didn’t follow through with it?? We all have done this from time to time, it happens to everyone.??Children are the same way, that’s why we, as parents, teachers, tutors, need to provide the motivation, structure?and encouragement they probably haven’t learned to give themselves yet.?Change can be?very?scary and it is invaluable to have a support system. That’s where you come in!

The Measure and Celebrate form I’ve created in my “Organizing Skills For Students” program helps provide a structure in which students can get the guidance and monitoring they need to ensure long term success in school and in life.? For example, if your child has recently re-organized their notebook(s) or locker, we need to consistently help them stay on top of it.? As with any new technique, they will make mistakes and they will have to make changes as they learn and grow in this world. Using a detailed form to measure their progress is the key to success, because it provides a concrete set of measurable goals.? Here are some the things you should monitor:

*?Has your child put forth “genuine”?effort on a consistent basis to stay organized?
*?Is their notebook?neat and organized? (all papers must in good order, organized and?labeled ANDin good shape)
*?Is their locker or desk?organized? (everything must be in good order)
*?Does your child have agenda or notebook for recording assignments?
*?Does your child fill in the agenda or notebook?EVERY DAY for EVERY class? (there are no blank spaces)
*?Does your child bring home agenda or notebook EVERY day for your inspection??

Parents – YOU are the final judge,?not your children.? Be fair. And be honest.? If they do meet the requirements, absolutely celebrate!? If they don’t, tell them what they need to improve on? then continue to monitor their progress.

Your School Coach,
Scott Straub

Vocabulary Cartoons – make learning fun!

One of the best ways to make learning more active is to use vocabulary cartoons.? Vocabulary cartoons are a collection visual mnemonics designed to help learn new words.? For most people is easier to remember pictures, and in Sam Burcher?s book ?Vocabulary Cartoons? which you can find at Amazon.com, many important SAT words are explained and drawn in such an unique and wacky way that it?s hard to forget the definition.?

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I highly recommend vocabulary cartoons to all parents and students as an incredible way to learn often hard to remember definitions.? Most people are amazed at how easy and fun learning new words can be using this technique.? And vocabulary cartoons aren?t just for high school students either, I?ve used them with great success in elementary school and in college!? Since I can?t show you an example here, go to Amazon and check out one of the cartoon books to see what it?s all about.?

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The beauty of this system is that it creates unforgettable visuals which connects the word with the definition.? You?ll feel like you have a photographic memory!? Many people have pointed out that the only drawback is that there are many words and facts that don?t have a premade cartoon.? ?

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This is certainly a drawback but there is a solution, which is why I?ve created my own memory program, www.MemorySkillsForStudents.com to solve this issue.? It will be ready very soon (please check the memory skills website or www.ScottStraub.com for updates).? ?Any person, young and old, can learn how to create unique visuals for ANY fact or concept, quickly and easily by modeling the vocabulary cartoon method.

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In my memory program I?ll give lots of examples of abstract facts and concepts that can be turned into great visuals in the mind.?? With a little practice it becomes very easy and fun to do, plus kids LOVE it.? In fact, I find it much easier to teach this to younger students as they often have a much better imagination. ?For centuries, doctors and other professionals have been using this method, and so should you!? In a future blog I?ll go into more detail.?

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Your Education Coach,

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Scott Straub

You Must Get Organized Today…

Whether you choose to use a program such as my www.OrganizingSkillsForStudents.com program or choose to do it on your own, it’s very important that today’s students are organized.??

A quick way to help out a disorganized child is to assign a time, perhaps once a week, where all backpacks, notebooks, and desk drawers are emptied of junk.? In addition, supplies should be examined to see if they need to be replaced.?

A huge problem in today’s classrooms is the fact that students are often unprepared with basic supplies such as paper and pencils.? While you certainly don’t want to break the bank buying supplies, I can assure you that if your child doesn’t have the correct supplies, this will cause them to struggle in school.?

When I tutor students who are disorganized, they often have no idea where their notes and homework are located.? At minimum, notebooks should have?a section for each of the following:

Notes

Homework

Tests/Quizzes

Extra Paper

and Supplies

Having separate sections that are NEATLY labeled will increase the likelihood that you, or your child, will be?more prepared in school.? It only takes a little effort to reorganize notebooks so they don’t start to become a?waste basket instead of a vital tool for school.?? My program has a neat video which show parents and students how to become organized quickly and easily, even if they are currently very messy.? Believe me, If I?could overcome my intrinsic “neatness” issues, virtually any student can!?

Your School Coach,

Scott Straub