Not only that, we can tutor Spanish as well But I digress! Read more to find out what this article is about!

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It is almost time for exams! Instead of panicking and cramming it in all at the last moment, here are a few good tips for making the most out of your studying.

1. Get it done early in the day.
You tend to concentrate much better during the early hours of the morning and afternoon. If you get up at 7am and eat a light breakfast, you can easily knock out 4-5 hours of studying before you even have lunch, which means you can finish before the day is even half way over!

2. Don’t take a breaks often.
As odd as that may seem, taking breaks every hour will actually increase your risk of not studying as hard or effective as you are able to. As soon as you start of lose focus, take a quick breath, and start focusing again. Don’t go take a 10 minute break because those 10 minutes you spend on video games, TV, talking to friends, etc. may turn into 30 minutes, an hour, a few hours, etc., and before you know it, you have been distracted and wasted time when you could have just endured studying longer.

3. Study in a quiet environment.
One of the biggest distractions while studying at home is the TV and internet. Study somewhere you won’t have access to TV or the internet. If you can, try studying at your local library.

4. Emails, Instant Messaging, Facebook, Myspace – they can all wait.
Seriously, if you want to do well, you should avoid using any of these services I listed, and those I didn’t that don’t pertain to your studying. You’ll end up wasting time and getting sidetracked from your primary goal – studying.

5. Get a good night’s rest.
Sleep is very essential to normal brain functions. You’ll need at least 7-8 hours of sleep in order to be at your best for exams, so instead of burning the midnight oil the night before your exams, you should be resting.

6. Eat nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are full of so many goodies – vitamins, nutrients and most importantly, lasting energy. The natural sugars in fruit will provide you the energy you’ll need to stay focused, while vegetables will give you the proper nutrition for your body.

7. Drink lots of water.
While drinking a lot of water may require you to use the restroom more frequently, water will keep you alert and hydrated. Remember, a hydrated body = a focused mind.

8. Review your notes.
The key to remembering information for an exam is to review your notes on a more frequent basis. Review your notes after each class, and  again a few days later to ensure that the information stays fresh in your mind. You will be amazed at how much more you can retain on test day.

9. Be calm, and don’t worry.
Exams are meant to be tough, but if you prepared efficiently, then you shouldn’t worry. All your hard effort will pay off.

I hope these tips have helped. The most important tip in here is to get preparing for finals and studying done as early as possible so that you’ll have time to memorize the information you need. Good luck on your exams, everyone!!

The transition from elementary to middle school is, arguably, the most important step toward high school. For many students, middle school is the first stage when classrooms are divided by subject, when the time spent on homework stretches into hours, and most importantly, when organization and study habits begin to determine how well they can keep up.

The Study Hut understand the pressure an elementary school student, or even current middle schoolers can have in middle school. Even bright students struggle as they find that simply being “smart” isn’t enough after the fifth grade. Middle school (and every stage of school thereafter) demands discipline, which takes a lot effort to develop and whose rewards are rarely felt right away. Nevertheless, those rewards reveal themselves over time; and overall, disciplined students waste less time making up for poor organization, leaving themselves more time to actually learn their material.

With this in mind, we aim our after school tutoring program not only toward helping students study, but toward helping them study well (that is, efficiently). Especially for middle school students, who are adjusting to the routine of several subjects and several assignments at once, we offer academic coaching. This consists of teaching students to use their planners well, map their study schedules thoroughly, and keep their binders organized. Ideally, students should always know what they have to do, when they have to do it, and where to find the materials they need (handouts, worksheets, and the like). For students who need guidance to cultivate this kind of discipline, we offer regular planner and binder checks, as well as advising for students as to how they budget their time outside of the Study Hut.

Middle school is a crucial stage, when students truly learn how to be students and when they start shaping the habits they will use all the way through college and beyond. Developing discipline is the most important, and probably most arduous, process that students go through during this stage. Our tutoring program at the Study Hut can make the process easier and more secure.

Please contact us today to schedule an assessment appointment, or to see one of our tutoring centers. 310-546-2408 (Manhattan Beach) or 310-540-5888 (Redondo Beach).