1. Stay on Track Organization Techniques for Finals and the End of the Semester By: Victoria Williams Anna Urbanski, GA

2. Time management strategies • Plan out end of semester • Test anxiety causes and strategies • Evaluation Overview

3. Time Management • Choose a planner/organization tool • Link planner (SCSU bookstore) • Google or Outlook calendar • Phone • Make a list of all obligations • Work • Class • Organizations/Clubs/Teams • Family events

4. Time Management cont. • Make a term schedule • All due dates from course syllabi (assignments, projects, exams, etc.) • Other activities and events • Leave room for additions • Make a weekly schedule • Fill in class, work, and activities of a typical week • Schedule daily study blocks • Be realistic! • Include time for fun • Be aware of best study locations and times of day

5. Put it into Practice! • Use these skills to plan out the remaining weeks of the semester, with special consideration of finals: • List all finals dates • Day and time • Location • Building and room number • Type of exam • Computer, paper, etc.; comprehensive or final units • Materials to study from • Lecture notes, textbook, study guides, etc.

6. Test Anxiety • Two kinds • Anticipatory: anxiety experienced while studying • Comes in waves (of relatively short duration) • Situational: anxiety experienced while taking an exam

7. Elements of Anxiety • Physiological—the physical elements • Symptoms (racing heart, stomach upset) • Freeze, flight, or fight results in “going blank.” • Cognitive—the mental element • Symptoms (concentration, attention, reading and understanding questions) • Self-talk • Behavioral—how you act • Symptoms (anxious, irritated, depressed, afraid) • Emotional—what you feel Adapted from: Beating the Big, Bad Wolf: Conquering Test Anxiety, Gail McNeely, Austin Community College

8. Where Does Test Anxiety Come From? • Poor study habits • Procrastination • Learned behavior • Worry about image

9. What To Do • Better preparation • Improve general lifestyle • Learn physical relaxation techniques • Use positive self-talk • Manage the test environment • Improve test-taking skills

10. To Prepare: • Go to class, read the book, do the homework, and review, review, review. • Learn how to take tests. • Manage your time! • Overcome procrastination!!!

11. Learning Techniques to Help Diminish Math Anxiety • Do math every day • Read ahead • Warm up • Eliminate negative self talk and negative thinking • Journal • Autobiography • Self monitor your thoughts, feelings, and progress • Explain in writing how they solved a math problem • Practice relaxation techniques • Get help • Basic study skills • Math resources

12. Math Exams • Before the exam, find a quiet place to relax • Arrive in time to get organized • As soon as the test arrives • Write all formulas, rules, etc. at the top or on scratch paper • Complete the easy problems first • Complete a reasonableness test • Label your answer • Recheck • If you start to feel anxious, repeat positive self talk

13. Academic Learning Center Subject Tutoring Centennial Hall 236 (320) 308-4993 alc@stcloudstate.edu www.stcloudstate.edu/alc One-on-One Study Skills and Time Management Anna Urbanski, GA 211B Centennial Hall (320) 308-4997 alcga2@stcloudstate.edu