Organization Techniques for Finals and the End of the Semester By: Victoria Williams Aaron Mertes, GA Aaron Mertes, GA Stay on Track

 Time management strategies  Plan out end of semester  Test anxiety causes and strategies  Evaluation Overview

 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 Time Management

 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 Time Management cont.

 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. Put it into Practice!

 Two kinds  Anticipatory: anxiety experienced while studying  Comes in waves (of relatively short duration)  Situational: anxiety experienced while taking an exam Test 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 Elements of Anxiety

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

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

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

 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 Learning Techniques to Help Diminish Math Anxiety

 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 Math Exams

Subject Tutoring Centennial Hall 236 (320) One-on-One Study Skills and Time Management Anna Urbanski, GA 211B Centennial Hall (320) Academic Learning Center