Exams can be a daunting time for even the most diligent of students, not alone for those who are more inclined to procrastinate. Don’t worry the Complete Guide is here. Whether you’ve left it till the last minute or you’re ahead of the game,  these revision tips will help to ensure exam success.

Know the syllabus

What do you need to know? Perhaps the number 1 tip for exam success is  knowing what's included on the syllabus. Your teachers will have a basic set of aims and objectives they’re required to ensure their students achieve. Find out what you’re supposed to know and revise accordingly.  

Find somewhere quiet to revise

We know it sounds obvious, but revising somewhere quiet will help your concentration. It doesn’t need to be anywhere posh, your bedroom or a desk at the library will do. Your study place should have   enough light, remember good light increases your productivity –so consider a desk or floor lamp

Talk through what you've learnt

 Don’t just talk it through in the corridor 5 minutes before the exam. You’ll only get yourself into a panic , worrying about what you think you don’t know. Make time for discussion in the weeks and days leading up to the big event Revising in groups can be really useful if you work well with other people; you’ll probably find that you’re better at recalling things if you’ve spent time discussing it with others. Plus it’s more fun, and you can test each other. Also, they say that one of the best ways of learning something is to teach someone else, so if you understand something better than a classmate, teach it to them and you’ll probably find that you both end up better off!

Do past papers

If you are truly coming to your revision at the last minute, I urge you to heed this piece of advice. There is a finite number and combination of questions your department can ask you. Familiarize yourself with these via the magic that is past papers. It's rarely the case that past papers aren’t accessible – google it, go to library. When it comes to essay questions, read between the lines – you've probably seen the question before, its just been worded slightly differently.

Take regular breaks

An old stalwart when it comes to revision advice, recited since time immemorial – take regular breaks! Don’t take my word for it, scientific research indicates that taking breaks during revision gives the brain a higher chance of remembering what you’ve crammed into it. Try 50 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Do something entirely different for at least a couple of hours in the evening. Watch TV, go for a walk, just generally de-stress, your nerves will appreciate it.

Eat healthy

Eating healthy diet during the exam period is a great way of letting everything else take care of itself, so that you can focus on the task at hand. Lots of fruit and veg will give you the minerals, ions and vitamins you need to stave off nasty germs and maintain other bodily functions – need I say more? Replace chips, biscuits with nuts, salads, fresh juices, healthy sandwiches.

Exercise

Exercise gets the blood flowing. This means more oxygen will reach the brain and help it to function more efficiently. Anything you can do to get the brain working well is surely welcome during the exam period. Plus, it makes for a nice respite from studying.

Turn off the technology

No, not completely, we know you need your computer to revise. But turn off social media while you’re revising. No one needs to see your selfies with your revision notes if you turn Facebook and Twitter and Instagram off, you’ll find you’re a lot more productive.  

Make technology work for you

Yes, we know we’ve just told you to turn it off, but actually, did you know there are some great apps and websites that can help with revision? Like learner’s hub, khans Academy, cbse.nic.in

Get colorful

Making your revision notes colorful will make it slightly more fun. But it will also help you to recall them when you get into the exam, so go out and invest in some highlighters, some post-it notes and some big sheets of paper. Colors help you to recall facts that have been written down because they engage both sides of your brain.

Repeat things

Reading your notes once isn’t really going to help you all that much. Try reading them a few times and repeating the information to yourself. It’s probably best to do this in the privacy of your own home or you can record your notes and listen them time and again.

Step away from the caffeine

It can be really tempting to fuel your revision solely with coffee, tea and energy drinks. But the truth is, caffeine can actually impair your ability to recall information. If you’re struggling for energy during exam season, make sure you take regular breaks and are getting enough sleep at night (about eight hours is normally what the experts recommend).

Use memory techniques

Use mind maps or mnemonics e.g (VIBGYOR  to remember rainbow colours).It improves memory by prioritizing  information. Some students find that listening to music while studying help them  to be more productive, if that’s your case, keep volume slow and play those songs that you don’t find singing along.

Stay positive

Exams are not the end of the world. And they’re not the most important thing you will ever do, though they might feel like it right now. You’ll work a lot better if you can stay calm about it and maintain a positive attitude.   

Teach your child Thinking, Emotional, Social skill along with science, math in your own lab.

Create an Eye-Friendly Virtual Classroom

Dear Parents

Staring at digital screens  for continuous and long hours can  cause hazy, blurred vision and can make eyes burn and feel dry, itchy and irritated. This condition is known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Other symptoms of digital eye strain can include:

•  Problems focusing
•  Neck and shoulder pain
•  Headaches
• Fatigue
• Words moving on the screen (due to underlying eye alignment issues)

There are many simple adjustments you can make for making virtual learning experience less straining such as:

• Keep the room’s lighting dimmer than the computer screen to reduce glare and make it easier for your eyes to see the screen.
• Turn down the brightness and turn up the contrast of the screen settings.
• Check the distance between the screen and your student’s eyes while he or she is sitting. It should be between 20″ and 30″ away.
• Adjust the screen so that there’s no tilt, and position it so the top is just below eye level.
• Make sure the computer screen is set at a high resolution.
• Use app that adjusts the color settings For laptops and desktop computers download  f.lux  which will automatically adjust the color settings to reduce the blue wavelengths, for Android use  apps such as Twilight and Lux Lite.

 The Rules of Digital Eye Safety

1. Create an eye-friendly schedule. Break up the time spent on the computer during the school day by fitting in activities such as reading, exercising, or eating lunch.
2. Set digital detoxification day or hour. Where no one  in  the family will use any device
3. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away. If you have trouble remembering to take a break, try an app such as ProtectYourVision or Workrave that will remind you with automatic alerts.
4. Zoom in when the text is too small. On the web, you can do this by adjusting the settings of your web browser or by using the browser’s shortcut keys.
5. Clean the computer screen at least once a week. This will keep it clear by eliminating dust.
6. There is a tendency to get engrossed when watching screens and children often tend to forget to blink. This would result in watering of eyes, abnormal blink patterns, forceful blinking or eye rubbing. We must remind our children and ourselves to blink consciously when in front of screens to ensure strain free viewing.
7. Sit in an ergonomic position at the computer. This means feet are flat on the floor, lower back is supported, shoulders are relaxed, and arms are at a right angle so forearms rest on the keyboard in a straight, level line.
8. Always take a break if needed. Regardless of the day’s schedule, fit in a break if using the computer starts to feel uncomfortable.
9. Avoid digital devices before bed. Install an app to fix this problem on computers or mobile devices; otherwise, put the devices away within an hour or two of going to sleep.
10. Reduce Blue light on your gadget for that go to Settings > Display and tap Night Light.

 Do this eye movement exercises-Fix your gaze and move your eye balls in given direction-

 Regards

Charanjeet Kalra (School Counselor)

Memory plays an important part in everybody’s life. All of us wish to have good memory like Elbert Einstein, Newton and Steve Jobs etc. It is the established fact that students with good memories do better.

Here are some proven methods to sharpen your memory. You must use these tips. The Result will be better very soon.

1. Avoid Negativity

Don’t be negative toward life and other people. Be optimistic and have faith in yourself. Too much negativity causes poor confidence and this poor confidence results in poor memory. Always think that you are the best and you have good memory. Positive thinking has a great impact on your memory.;

2. Play Brain Games

This is one of the strongest methods to sharpen your mind/ memory. Play mind games such as Chess, Sudoku etc. Solve puzzles on daily basis. Involve your friends in such games. Tell each other some mobile nos. and then ask them after a few minutes. In the same way Spellings can be tested. Mental games make you stress on your mind. They will help you a lot in having good memory.

3. Do calculation yourself

Don’t take the help of any gadget like calculator/ computer/ mobile for small calculations. Let your mind do some exercise.

4. Do meditation

Get up early in the morning and undergo the meditation in silence for some time daily. It will make you more focused and your concentration shall also increase. You will get great benefit from this activity.

5. Take early morning exercise 

Early morning exercise will help you inhale fresh oxygen. This oxygen helps in building new neurons. 20-30 minutes’ open field exercise is enough.

6. Becool

Be relaxed. Do your best to keep yourself from unnecessary anxieties such as exams, career etc. Involve yourself in various activities such as reading good books, painting, writing, group discussion, learn poems watch good programs on TV etc.

7. Get involved in Recreational activities

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. This saying is cent percent correct. Involve yourself in some recreational activities such as cycling, mountaineering, sports, watching movies with your family members every weekend etc.

8. Have some religious inclination

It is better to be religious and get involved in religious activity. This activity also makes you positive and keeps you from anxieties of life. Give at least half an hour to such activities from your busy schedule. It shall also help you in having good memory.

9. Self-Practice

Read something and then try to repeat it. For examples you can read some catalogue and then see as to how many items you can repeat. This is a self-test to judge your IQ.

10. Participate in Quiz like activities

Participate in various Quiz Programs and give your best to win them. This will certainly improve your General Knowledge and hence confidence and memory.

11. Take interest in latest technologies 

New technologies are coming on every passing day. Engage yourself with them. Learn to use them. Play video-games, learn to download new applications and use them. Your effort to keep yourself abreast of them will sharpen your mind and memory. You may have seen that those having good tryst with latest technology have sharp memories.

12. Have healthy diets

With positive thinking, healthy diets are also must. Take diets full of proteins and vitamins. Take fruits and green vegetables with lot of salads in your diet. Eat dry fruits such as almonds, walnut etc. if you can afford. 

Its Festive time.'Festival of Exam' where we celebrate outcome of our knowledge ,skill, hardwork and experience. At the same time its time of Exam stress. Just small change in our attitude we can make a huge difference. Lets find ways to tame this monster called Exam stress.

Dear Parents,

Board examinations are commencing, in this stressful period lots of mood swings, sadness, enthusiasm, rudeness can be expected from the children. It’s a crucial time to support your child, here are few tips-

1. Wake your child up in the morning with positive stroke, touch or a hug.

2. Start your child’s day with positive statement like I love you, let’s start this beautiful day.

3. Encourage your child with positive statement before s/he leaves for exam like I am sure you will excel, give your best, all the luck to you.

4. Don’t pass your anxiety or fear on to your child whatever the situation is, positive support from your end will give a boost to your child’s confidence.

5. When child comes back avoids discussing paper or asking how was the exam, instead ask how was the experience.

6. Create healthy and happy atmosphere at home specially during exams.

7. Avoid giving marks target to the child.

8. Avoid continuous advice or nagging.

9. Stand by your child even if the exam has not gone as per your or his expectations.

10. Ensure calm sleep of 6-8 hours during exams.

11. Don’t let the child encounter with negative statements or unrealistic expectations from relatives or friends as it will prove detrimental for child.

Remember each child is special and has potential to touch the pinnacles of success, only he needs your support. All the very best.

Dear Friends

Plastics are used widely everywhere in our life and without plastic, modern civilization would indeed look very diverse. This study focuses on the toxic effects of plastic on human health and environment and possible consequences of health risk assessment in Bangladesh. Plastics are essential materials in modern civilization, and many products manufactured from plastics and in numerous cases, they promote risks to human health and the environment. Plastics are contained many chemical and hazardous substances such as Bisphenol A (BPA), thalates, antiminitroxide, brominated flame retardants, and poly- fluorinated chemicals etc. which are a serious risk factor for human health and environment. Plastics are being used by Bangladeshi people without knowing the toxic effects of plastic on human health and environment. Different human health problems like irritation in the eye, vision failure, breathing difficulties, respiratory problems, liver dysfunction, cancers, skin diseases, lungs problems, headache, dizziness, birth effect, reproductive, cardiovascular, genotoxic, and gastrointestinal causes for using toxic plastics. Plastics occur serious environment pollution such as soil pollution, water pollution, and air pollution. Application of proper rules and regulations for the production and use of plastics can reduce toxic effects of plastics on human health and environment.

Plastic pollution is one of the most important environmental problems that we face today. It impacts the environment and our health and wellbeing. We have all contributed to this problem  mostly unknowingly and we must work to reduce and ultimately to End Plastic Pollution. 

How we can contribute our bit…….   

• Start using a glass or stainless steel water bottle in place of disposable plastic water bottles ( this is my favorite). Even better, fill your water bottle from a  re-usable stainless steel water filter that will also help reduce chemical exposure from water.
• Switch to reusable grocery bags instead of plastic or paper bags. These are widely available at many stores or you can  make your own from old t-shirts. Bring  lightweight mesh bags to the store to use for produce.
• Stop buying processed foods that are packaged in plastics. This is a huge step for your health on its own, but it will also reduce the amount of plastic waste we produce each year. Shop at farmers markets and use reusable bags. If it is in a plastic bag or a box, just don’t buy it.
• Replace plastic bags and plastic food storage containers with safer reusable options. Plastic bags, plastic wrap and thin plastic storage containers are major sources of plastic exposure. Switch to glass or stainless steel for storage, or use an unbreakable option like silicon. I like this  silicon storage available here (use the code WMX10 to get 10% off). You can even  make your own reusable snack bags.
• Buy wooden or metal toys for children instead of plastic. (They last longer too!)
• Bring your own glass/metal bottle or thermos when buying drinks away from home. Don’t get takeout food in Styrofoam containers which are a major source of plastic chemicals and waste.
• Consider using cloth diapers instead of disposable. 
• Use glass and metal dishes, silverware and bake ware  in place of plastic.
• Don’t use Styrofoam for projects or models.
• Recycle whatever you can!

                Please watch video on Youtube

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P9syq3f6hQ

Do you know that studies show that in a single classroom more than 70% of children will have difficulties with focusing and paying attention? Seven out of ten; that’s an awfully high number.Consider our modern lifestyle and the role it plays in the lifestyle of today’s kids. Kids live in a world that moves at a faster pace than ever. They are exposed to more media images, faster sound bites, and can use multiple media outlets simultaneously. They can text message, type, use video controllers, cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, and Blackberries. They learn faster, adapt better and multiple processes at a rate that no other generation before has ever been able to, or ever had to do.On average, the typical TV program changes cuts (the time that the camera stays on the same focus or viewpoint) every 3-4 seconds. Video games, music videos, cartoons and even movies all move at this break-neck speed. These short sound bites do little to help develop a child’s attention span.So these same kids who live a fast-moving, multiprocessing life are, on a daily basis, put in a classroom where they are expected to sit still and focus on a single thought, person, or image for a long stretch of time. That’s a major downshift for the child.So what can parents and teachers do about this? Spend quiet time with the children, read books, have long discussions uninterrupted by television or the telephone. That old advice to stop and smell the roses still holds true.paying attention is a learned skill, We need to teach our kids how to learn and how to pay attention. Children with true Attention Deficit Disorder cannot pay attention, but most kids today do not suffer from this disorder. Most of our children have not been taught how to pay attention.Below are few tips to develop better concentration abilities.

TAKE HEALTHY DIET

Studies have shown that a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and veggies will help in Child’s brain functions. Stay away from processed foods, saturated fats and sugary food sand   foods that have food artificial colors in them. These foods may increase hyperactivity.

SET ROUTINES 

It’s a great thing to have a routine (time for sleep, chores, homework), a ritual of things to do. Youwill get into a pattern and patterns help children know what is supposed to happen next, making them think less about how to possibly entertain themselves and therefore lose concentration on the present.

CONTROL THE USE OF TELEVISION AND ELECTRONICS

Experts agree that kids under two years old should not watch TV at all and children that are older than two should be only allowed one to two hours a day. The same rules should be applied to older children because  too much TV and electronics can prevent you from doing intellectual and physical activities like, reading, doing homework, playing outside, and interacting with friends and with family.

EXERCISE MORE OFTEN

Both mental and physical exercise are very important toconcentrate better. For mental exercises, try playing board games that stimulate youtothink strategically and focus. Guessing games or even to cook by reading or following recipes. For physical exercise, it has been scientifically proven that children that do at least 30 minutes of exercise per day are more likely to do well in school, focus better and generally be more positive.

ORGANIZE DAILY ACTIVITIES

While this is not always possible, try to plan different activities as often as possible, so that each day you have something to look forward to. One night invest in a piñata, another have family game night. When you know that you have something exciting to look forward to, you will be happier during the day and often participate more in class.

CROSSWORD PUZZLES AND PICTURE PUZZLES

It sounds simple, but these are great tools. Crossword puzzles actually improve attention for words and sequencing ability,  while picture puzzles—in which your have to look for things that are “wrong” in the picture or look for hard-to-find objects—also improve attention and concentration.

COIN GAME

This is one of the games that we use in the Total Focus. ProgramFirst, you will need a small pile of assorted coins, a cardboard sheet to cover them, and a stopwatch (or a regular watch with a second hand.) Choose fifteen of the coins from the pile (for this example, we’ll say three 50 paisa, 25 paisa, 1or 5 Rs coin) and put them into a sequence. Now “Look carefully at the coins arranged on the table.” Then, cover the coins with the cardboard. Start the stopwatch, and  make the same pattern using the coins from the pile.

TRAIN YOUR SENSES LIKE

Listen to a poem and try to recall it word by word, blindfold your eyes and identify things with your sense of touch or smell. Read a paragraphbackward. 

Behavior change takes time so don’t lose your patience slowly and gradually there would be a change in your focus span. Try all tips.

Charanjeet kalra

Solving English Reading Comprehension has become an inevitable part of almost every competitive examination. Often students feel they are not efficient in solving Reading Comprehension, because of these three factors.

• Vocabulary in the comprehension.

• Difficulty in understanding the meaning of the questions.

• Time factor.

The question that linger in every aspirant’s mind is “How to improve Reading comprehension?”There are some Reading Comprehension strategies to follow, to get more marks in Reading Comprehension.

First thing is that you don’t need to understand each and every word of the comprehension. At the same time, you should find the gist (summary) of it.Both these points above may appear contradictoryBut the crucial thing is, you need to focus on keywords.

QP approach(questions first, then the passage)

you can choose the “bottom up” approach. That means, read the questions first, so that you have an idea what to look for, in the comprehension.

“I know all the answers, but I didn’t have enough time to solve” examinations not only test your knowledge and skills but your Time Management also. All the three aspects are important,

• Knowledge

• Skills (writing, reading)

• Time Management

Divide the stipulated time of the examination, allot certain time to each section, based on your strengths and weaknesses. Practice numerous reading comprehension exercises with the help of a timer. After solving some, you definitely have an idea, about Time Management. /p>

Improve Your Vocabulary

Why you need to improve your vocabulary? Vocabulary means knowledge of words (meaning of words).If you do not have a good vocabulary, you have to stop at every new word in the reading comprehension, and be puzzled.Having a good vocabulary, makes you understand the reading Comprehension much easier.

Use a pen while reading

Do not read the Reading Comprehension like a movie novel. While going through the passage, your three body organs should act in collaboration.

• Eyes

• Hand

• Brain

Make a habit of finding valuable keywords quickly and underline those keywords with a pen (If the rules permit, otherwise use a dark pencil).

Or

So, if at all you have to read the Comprehension again you can go only through keywords, and not through all the junk.

Comeback Later

When we don’t find an answer to a particular question, we usually tell ourselves “Okay, I will come back to it later”.This may be a good strategy to save time While leaving the difficult questions and solving the easier ones.But before going to another question just do one thing.Take your pencil and make a circle on your choice, which you feel correct at the present moment.

Because when you come back to the question, you would have forgotten the Comprehension itself. So you have to read it again from the beginning. If the time permits, it’s won’t be a problem, but if you don’t have enough time you can choose the earlier marked answer.

Focus

It is not unusual for any person to wander somewhere while reading something uninteresting. So, when you find the Comprehension dull, difficult and uninteresting, your eyes run through the sentences, but your mind wanders somewhere else. The result.....you complete reading, but you grasp nothing.

Focus on the content. Don’t let your mind go away from there.

Improve reading Speed

Do not move your lips while reading, it slows you down.If a question asks about a particular line, don’t go back in to the passage and read just that line. A good rule of thumb is to read at least 2 sentences before and after the line in question. This will give you an idea of where the point started and where the author is going with i.

Also try to write your answers in active voice except in case paragraph is about any scientific study.

• First sentence of each paragraph–

The first sentence of a paragraph usually introduces the central thought of the paragraph. It tells you what the paragraph is about. However, in some texts, the first sentence is more of an attention getter. If this case, you'll need to read the first and second sentence of each paragraph. This exercise alone will provide you a very good idea of what the entire chapter is about and the major themes to look for as you read.

Expertise in comprehending paragraph comes through practice, do practice few comprehension using above tips just do not experiment in exams. All the best.