The Key to Unlocking Success in College: Embracing the Willingness to Learn

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In the pursuit of academic success, students often seek advice on how to excel in college. While numerous factors contribute to a fulfilling and fruitful college experience, there is one essential element that is often overlooked: the simple willingness to learn. In an op-ed titled “The Key to Success in College Is So Simple, It’s Almost Never Mentioned” published in The New York Times, the author sheds light on the significance of this often-underestimated quality. Drawing on the author’s personal experiences and insights, as well as the testimonies of successful students, it becomes clear that a genuine desire to learn can significantly impact one’s educational journey.

Taking Ownership of Education:

When it comes to getting the most out of college, students bear the ultimate responsibility. While colleges provide resources and guidance, it is the students themselves who must actively engage in the learning process. The article emphasizes that it is crucial for students to reflect on what they can do to maximize their education. By taking ownership and being proactive in their studies, students empower themselves to achieve success.

The Power of Willingness:

The author of the article, an experienced college professor, highlights the vital role played by a simple willingness to learn. Over two decades of teaching, they have observed that students who approach their education with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge are more likely to succeed. This underlying quality, although seemingly obvious, deserves greater attention and discussion in educational settings. It is the foundation upon which successful college experiences are built.

Embracing Our Humanity:

Beyond the confines of academic performance, the article emphasizes the importance of recognizing that students are not solely workers during their time in college. Rather, they are complex human beings with powerful minds capable of growth and self-discovery. By embracing their humanity, students can tap into their innate potential, fostering personal and intellectual growth that extends beyond the classroom.

Nurturing Curiosity:

A key aspect of cultivating a willingness to learn is fostering curiosity. The article argues that the education system, from K-12 onwards, should encourage curiosity and create an environment where it is safe to admit not knowing something. By shifting the focus from mere memorization and competition to the joy of learning and the excitement of discovery, schools can inspire students to actively seek knowledge and engage in deeper learning experiences.

In a world where we are often consumed by the pursuit of academic achievements and tangible outcomes, the article reminds us of the fundamental essence of education: the willingness to learn. Students who approach college with an open mind, a genuine desire for knowledge, and an eagerness to embrace their own humanity are more likely to thrive and succeed. The transformative power of a willingness to learn cannot be understated, and it is up to both students and educators to prioritize and foster this essential quality. By doing so, we can unlock the true potential of higher education and cultivate a love for lifelong learning.

Shine In Math Academy provides specialized, interactive math, science, English language, test prep, summer, and private tutoring programs and clubs for students from preschool through 12th grade. Give your child the academic advantage he or she deserves!

Our concept-oriented approach to academics and tutoring goes beyond most tutoring programs. Our team of highly experienced educators provide stimulating, interactive learning experiences, customized for each student’s specific abilities.

Learn more about our courses.

Keep Kids Engaged with Summer Learning: The Great Outdoors

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Learning loss.

We’ve heard those two words often in the past year. They have become symbolic of how the pandemic has affected students, and also, representative of our concerns about it. While some of are heading back to school soon, others still have a number of weeks to go. Let’s take a look at how to keep our kids engaged!

In a Psychology Today article titled: “What We Know About Summer Learning Loss: An Update” (July 6, 2020), the author concludes:

“The evidence is clear: Children do forget skills and knowledge learned in the previous school year, and research is telling us more about the factors that contribute to those losses. But if families and educators encourage kids to stay engaged in learning throughout the summer, students may not only maintain, but improve their knowledge.”

Okay, got it, kids should keep their minds active in the summer––but how should they do that? In the past, students were given math and ELA packets to keep them busy during the down time. We all know kids detest this sort of practice, i.e., sitting for hours with a pencil and filling in blanks. Thankfully, teachers typically don’t send summer packets home anymore. But now we have a void.

So what can parents do to help keep their kids keep their minds engaged with learning during these months?

First choice, get them some structure. This might take the form of a class of some sort––whether it’s a content area (ELA, math, science) or an enrichment activity that builds other mind and executive function skills (Chess, programming, arts etc.). Having a set time/place to participate in a summer course makes the student culpable for showing up and being an active learner, and here’s one of the key parts… without parents having to be on top of them!

Of course, whether your child is participating in a summer class or not, there is still time to fill up. And we all know young people can’t keep their hands and eyes off of their phones, tablets, and laptops.

Well, there are two options here:

  1. Get kids outside as much as possible for active learning
  2. Have them engage with technology/media to practice skills

Let’s tackle option 1 first.

Outdoor learning and STEM are like chocolate and peanut butter (for those not allergic!). There are so many projects and activities your child can do just outside your home or beyond:

They could help plan out a vegetable garden. Sure, they might want to do some research online to discover which veggies grow well during which seasons and why, and to learn how best to use the environment and nutrients to make the growing successful. But research aside, this is primarily an outdoor, hands-on activity that they’ll learn so much from––biology, Earth science and chemistry are surely involved. And how cool it’ll be for them to watch food grow in the coming weeks and months.

They could use household materials to construct… well… anything. You know all that junk you’ve got down in the basement? The cardboard, the leftover wood, the broken toys, the old appliances… challenge your child to engineer something out of that stuff. They could set up an “engineering lab” in the garage, driveway or yard. Maybe they could build a soapbox derby car… or a birdhouse. Rather than just putting up birdfeeders and forgetting about it, how about you ask them to research what types of birds live in your area and how to engineer specific types of houses for different species.

They could visit a science or natural history museum. There’s a reason why schools often take field trips to these institutions. They’re super fun and they inspire learning and inquiry. It might just take a trip to a museum to spark an idea for a summer project! Maybe there’s a specific exhibit you’re going to check out or one that catches their eye. Help them think of a project they can do that relates to a topic of interest.

How about just going to a park to read. If your child has a summer book to get through, it might be super challenging for them to sit down inside and get it done. Just too many technology distractions. Encourage them to go outside to read, go to a park, find a nice spot under a tree. It’s so much easier to get started reading when screens aren’t right in their face.

You get the idea. Getting kids on their feet and outside prompts mental activity, encourages creativity and provides opportunity for innovation.

Along those same lines, technology and media can do the same thing, if used effectively. In part 2, we will look at ways kids can use media tech to keep their minds engaged with summer learning.

 

About Shine In Math

Inspiring Academic Excellence for Every Student
Shine In provides specialized, interactive math, science, English language, test prep, summer, and private tutoring programs and clubs for students from preschool through 12th grade. Give your child the academic advantage he or she deserves!
Our concept-oriented approach to academics and tutoring goes beyond most tutoring programs. Our team of highly experienced educators provide stimulating, interactive learning experiences, customized for each student’s specific abilities.

To Push or Not To Push? Motivation, Part 2

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In our last article, we discussed how we can motivate our students for this tough winter/spring season of remote learning.

In her article, “How to remotivate kids for more distance learning,” CNN Health contributor Elissa Strauss offers advice for how to get our kids going after winter break. Her fourth tip, “Reward the process, not the action,” suggests reinforcing smaller behaviors like showing up to online class on time rather than big picture goals.

This tip alludes to a bigger question: How much should parents push their kids, in terms of academic achievement?

Okay, a lot to unpack here. In their article on psychologytoday.com, “The Time to Aim Low,” Benjamin Cheyette, M.D. and Sarah Cheyette M.D. say, “There’s a line between goals that help you achieve, and goals that are unattainable (at least temporarily if not permanently), and that therefore lead to unwarranted stress, repeated failure, and frustration.” Their ultimate point is not that standards should always be lowered––sometimes pushing our kids has positive results. Their main idea is that emotional considerations should factor heavily: A child’s self-esteem and stress/anxiety levels, of course. Parents’ relationships with their kids, absolutely.

Academic Grading is a sensitive subject, especially as students get into high school. Of course, we want our kids to receive high grades, for so many reasons. And we do all that we can to put our kids into position for them to do so. But sometimes our concern about their grades results in tension and arguments. It’s fun for no one.

Before we get to some possible solutions, let’s ask a few questions here:

  • Have we had conversations with our kids about why grades are important?
  • In the past, has asking them about their grades seemed to help motivate them? Or did it just add stress and, ultimately, not result in higher grades?
  • If they are getting low grades in a particular class, is it because of their effort or is it because the classwork and material is just flat-out challenging?

Now, some tips. Let’s return to tip #4 from the original article.

We might try reinforcing processes, rather than results. Processes, such as being organized, setting schedules, being on time for online classes, not leaving things ‘til the last minute, and putting forth effort. If we focus only on their grades, and only express positivity when their grades are high, our kids might not take away the right lessons that will help them in the future. For example, it’s great if they get an A in math, but maybe that subject comes easy to them with little effort. They might get a C in World History where they’ve put in a ton of work and effort, and the tests have been incredibly difficult. Shouldn’t they get more praise and reinforcement for their effort and work in History, despite the lower grade?

Might college standards for acceptance be an effective motivator? For example, is there a specific college your kids have their sights on that may expect a certain GPA or grade standard? Or, perhaps their SAT/ACT skills are below what this college might expect, so they need to put more effort into their grades to balance out their academic transcript. This is a very tangible motivator, one that will have a direct impact on them in the near future.

It’s not easy to find that balance between being supportive and encouraging them to strive for higher goals, without adding stress. Every parent has to figure it out with their kids: when to push and when to hang back.

Benjamin and Sarah Cheyette end their article with this advice: “When in doubt about what you should do as a parent, it is never a mistake to ask yourself: What is really important?”

 

About Shine In Math

Inspiring Academic Excellence for Every Student
Shine In provides specialized, interactive math, science, English language, test prep, summer, and private tutoring programs and clubs for students from preschool through 12th grade. Give your child the academic advantage he or she deserves!
Our concept-oriented approach to academics and tutoring goes beyond most tutoring programs. Our team of highly experienced educators provide stimulating, interactive learning experiences, customized for each student’s specific abilities.

Motivation: Help Your Child Get Back to Work! (Part 1)

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And… we’re back. In the weeks after a break, it is always challenging to get our kids back into school mode. The vacation hangover is real. The eating, the lazy days, the binge-watching… and that’s just for the parents! For kids, throw in endless video gaming and unlimited social media time, and we’ve got a recipe for a sluggish start.

So what can we do to help motivate them?

In her article, “How to remotivate kids for more distance learning,” CNN Health contributor Elissa Strauss offers advice for how to get our kids going after winter break. Here are her four tips:

  1. Doing more by doing less: If a student is totally overwhelmed and stifled by a big workload, it may be helpful to talk to teachers about reducing some of it, at least to start
  2. Make sure they have time to play: Kids should have time and opportunity to explore their interests and be active in activities they enjoy.
  3. Help kids think big: Students typically are more motivated when they can recognize how specific learning relates to their life and the bigger world.
  4. Reward the process, not the action: Reinforcing smaller behaviors like showing up to online class on time is more effective than rewarding a good grade.

In a previous Shine in Math article, we talked about covered the importance of playtime, and how reducing workload might have to be something you’d discuss with their teachers. So let’s first discuss tip #3.

“Helping kids think big.” For parents, watching our kids go through school gives us a second opportunity to experience it. And as adults, we now have the perspective to ask the question, “How is this work/material helping my kid in the bigger picture of life?”

Consider your child’s history and literature classes. Many teenagers don’t yet see the importance of learning about world events from 500 years ago or understand why analyzing Jane Austen’s writing may be enriching.

Let’s help them make the connections.

Talk to them about how we’re going through significant history right now, and that as citizens, we can learn lessons from the past and help change things in our society.

Engage your kids in discussions about whatever novels they’re reading. Help them see that literature is regarded as important because writers could make us understand things about our own lives and relationships. It would be fantastic if you could read whatever novel they’re assigned––you could do a mini-book club over dinner. But if you can’t spare the time to read the whole book, maybe just do a quick read-up of it online and ask your child questions about it. Perhaps you could talk about a book you did read that relates to it. Or you could help your child see how it relates to your own lives and experiences.

With math… this can be trickier. It’s hard to convince a kid that trigonometry is going to factor into their daily life. Instead, focus on the cognitive skills they’re gaining. Explain to them how math trains our brains to perform complex procedures, recognize patterns, and persist in finding solutions to challenging, multi-step problems. These are mental skills we do use every day, though we may not recognize it.

And with science… well, there’s science all around us at every moment!

“Why are we learning this?” is the question we assume kids are always asking in their own heads. Let’s help motivate them by showing them that there are benefits to all of this learning and school work. Let’s engage them in conversations about literature, history, science, whatever.

In our next article, “Motivation — Part 2,” we will discuss Tip #4 from the article, “Reward the process, not the action,” and further explore how we can support our kids.

 

 

 

About Shine In Math

Inspiring Academic Excellence for Every Student
Shine In provides specialized, interactive math, science, English language, test prep, summer, and private tutoring programs and clubs for students from preschool through 12th grade. Give your child the academic advantage he or she deserves!
Our concept-oriented approach to academics and tutoring goes beyond most tutoring programs. Our team of highly experienced educators provide stimulating, interactive learning experiences, customized for each student’s specific abilities.