SUCCESS ThinkPoints…

A blog published to encourage, empower, and enlighten YOU!

November 25, 2019

Success in Learning! Tips for Getting Better Grades

The holiday break is here!  How are your child’s grades? Now is the time to take action that leads to greater academic achievement and even better grades as the school year progresses.  One of the most helpful tips is to examine how the student is preparing, paying attention, participating and planning for school each day.  

Preparing

1. Did you get adequate sleep the night before?
2. Did you eat breakfast that morning?
3. Did you complete your homework, project or study for tests?
4. Do you have the tools you need for school? (a good attitude, books, paper, writing tools and other school supplies)

Paying Attention

1. Are you following district, school and classroom rules?
2. Are the clothes you’re wearing in accordance with the school’s dress code?
3. Are you following the classroom procedures and agenda?
4. Are you tuning into the teacher, so that you can respond to requests the first time you are instructed or asked to do something?
5. Are you taking notes?  Are you working with a partner, working in a small group, working individually and participating in class fully?
6. Are you asking questions when you do not know what to do?
7. Are you making sure you are not disrupting class or trying to get off the subject?

Participating

1. Did you read the directions?  Did you hear the directions? Did you ask for clarification?
2. Did you use your time wisely?
3. Did you check your work for errors?
4. Did you use required and other resources to complete the assignment? 
5. Did you do your best work? 

Planning

1. What are the student’s overall strengths and areas needing strengthening academically?  
2. What does the student believe about his or her ability to learning and education overall?
3. What personal goals does the student have academically?
4. What are the student’s study habits?
5. Does the student have a study buddy or someone to get a class assignment update when he or she is absent?
6. Does the student have basic learning tools and know how to use them?   (dictionary, thesaurus, calculator, etc.)
7. Does the student know his or her learning style?
8. Does the student seek help?  (from the teacher, after school tutoring, etc.)
9. Does the student know about websites that help with homework or other academic difficulties?
10. Does the student put forth his or her greatest effort?

It is never fun to get poor grades and the journey toward getting a high school diploma seems long.  However, learning along the way and building skills is the goal. There is still hope and help even when the grades may not be shining too bright.  Preparing, paying attention, participating and planning are steps on the right path for getting better grades.

Contact Terry Richard at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for tutoring services.  Be sure to ask about The Success Club!  Buy your copy of Daily Meditations for Success in the Classroom and Beyond: 40 Days of Rhymes, Reflections, and Resources to Motivate and Inspire Students.

Copyright 2019  Terry Ann Williams-Richard

October 16, 2019

Greetings Everyone!

Can you believe it?  The year is almost over.  Where did the time go?  How are progressing with the goals you set for 2019?  Keep going…you can do it!  Here’s some encouragement for those of  you who are writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and selling your  first book.

Yes, You Can Write Your Book, Too!

As the year comes swiftly to an end and the New Year approaches just as quickly, the time for self-reflection makes a grand entrance.  Cries of coulda, woulda, shoulda, along with courageous declarations of, this time I can, I will, and I must, echo in our hearts, minds, and souls. One of those declarations might just involve you telling a story or delivering a message to the world.  Do you have a story to tell? Have you ever thought about writing a book? Do you have an idea for a book? Have you started writing and now you are stuck? Did you finish a writing project and now either you are afraid to share it or you don’t know where to go from there?  

I’ve enjoyed reading and writing ever since I was a young girl.  Reading was such a vivid adventure for me. I was overjoyed when my daughter first started reading, from turning pages, following along from left to right, identifying letters, sounds, sounding out and defining words, to bringing it all together. I knew she had it when she was about 5 or 6 years old and she told me reading was like watching a movie.  Reading and writing go together in countless ways and I have been fortunate to live my life choosing, using, sharpening, and sharing this perfect combination. From my days of writing in a diary as a young girl; beginning to write poetry and stories as a teen; earning a degree in Mass Media Communications; working in the field of journalism; teaching reading & writing; forming book clubs; writing groups; and writing in a journal even now, writing has been and continues to be my source of self-expression for personal inspiration, teaching, growth, and overall joy. Go for it! Think it! Write it!  Live it!

Think It!

Write down any thoughts you have about writing.  You may have a list of topics, phrases, paragraphs, or pages.  Your thoughts may be relaxing in a journal; hiding on the back of an envelope for a bill you received in the mail; or attempting to leap from the store receipt tucked in your pocket or purse.  Whether your thoughts are stashed away in a manila folder or saved on a flash drive, now is the time to uncover and bring out all your treasures. Gather your stacks of thoughts and take everything to the next stage.

Write It!

Go ahead choose a direction and begin to write.  You have your topic, maybe even a title for this project, so write.  Write daily, every other day, weekly, monthly, or however and whenever your story or message flows.  Write it out long hand on a note pad or type it out on your laptop, whichever method is comfortable for you and will then catapult you into getting your thoughts out of your head and down on paper.  This is another step closer to the manifestation of your book. Remember, to go with the flow, revising and editing will come later and will be plentiful.

Live It!

Begin exploring and selecting a format for your book, print, e-book, or audio.  Investigating printers, publishing outlets, traditional, self-publishing, subsidiary, and more will make add to you tasting the reality of your dream come true.  Finding out about copyright, ISBNs, barcodes, and registering your book adds to the excitement. Finishing, marketing, promoting, and selling your book is rewarding and contagious.  Once you write one book you’ll be driven to write another one and another one.

Yes, it’s your turn to take it to your next level.  Your writing and publishing journey is a personalized one.  In your admiration for other published authors of international, national, local, or neighborhood fame, know that Yes, You Can Write Your Book, Too!

 Contact Terry Richard at tutor4utoday@gmail.com to request a FREE copy of Your Personal Writing & Book Publishing Plan (Parts I & II) worksheet. Ask about the Success WRITE Now! writing group.

Copyright 2019 Terry Ann Williams-Richard

April 5, 2019

Greetings and Welcome to my Success ThinkPoints Blog!

I am delighted you chose to visit Personalized Educational Services, LLC.  This is my first entry and this blog is for you.  It it written to encourage, empower, and enlighten you.  I wrote this article during Black History Month; however, Spring has sprung and the reflection and inspiration continues 365.  This month also marks one year for the re-launch of my website…Yaay!  I am continuing to enjoy the adventure.  Thank you for coming along for the ride.  Be encouraged!

Believe It: There is a King in You

                          Reflections for Black History Month & Beyond

There is a King in You  is a song written by gospel singer Donald Lawrence. I heard that soul-moving song for the first time in 2015 during Sundaymorning church service on Father’s Day. This song held heartfelt significance for two poignant reasons. First, that day was my first Father’s Day without my Daddy being in this life, this world. He passed away earlier during the  year on February 13^th.  Second, news headlines continued to display with growing frequency the heartbreaking realities of young unarmed  Black boys and men being brazenly gunned down. The striking opening lyrics of There is a King in You flow declaring, You come from royalty, An aristocratic dynasty.  Black History Month is as an ideal time to launch, re-launch, or continue to reflect and learn more about the rich, royal heritage of African-Americans. The message from the song writer continues to tip off listeners with The goal of the enemy, Is that you don’t know who you are. Perhaps the imperative, foundational lesson Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, had in mind in 1926, is Negroes must know who they are. Negro History Week later became Black History Month then African-American History Month. Yes, African-Americans must know who they are. Man, woman, boy, and girl must know their royal roots. There is a King in You.

Keep your head up!—Be positive, something as minor as how you walk makes a difference.

Investigate your history!—Talk to family members to hear stories about your relatives.  Find out the native land of your maternal and paternal fore parents

Never underestimate ancestors’ journeys!—Follow-up on some of the family stories you have heard. Find any documentation or records such as newspaper articles, family scrapbooks, genealogical records, etc.

Get in step with your greatness!—Do and be your best at school, work, home, and play. Know and share your gifts, talent, skills, and abilities.

Inform others!—Spread the stories of achievement, honor, struggle, pride, and more.

Never forget to honor your elders!—Remember, they have been there and done that in life. Recall the lessons learned and help take care of them.

Your story!—Reflect on your life and realize your personal impact and contributions.

Open your heart and mind to possibilities!—Know the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to the future.

Understand the power of your words!—Believe it, say it, live it. There is a King in You.

Copyright 2019 Terry Ann Williams-Richard