Designing an ACT Study Plan Here are our Recommended ACT Study Materials

Designing an ACT Study Plan Here are our Recommended ACT Study Materials ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog When designing an ACT study plan, one key question is “what materials will I use?” Luckily, the most effective material is also the most inexpensive (more on that later). To begin, it’s helpful to ask yourself one basic question: am I fundamentally comfortable using online materials or not? There are many web-sites and “apps” available to help you prepare for the ACT. But for some people, plain old paper and pencil is still their preferred way to learn. I tend to encourage students to at least consider an online approach, since it’s generally very convenient and because many online resources are “adaptive,” meaning they give you suggested practice content based on how you’ve performed on previous practice problems to build on your strengths and address your weaknesses. But, if an online approach just isn’t for you, don’t force it. Before jumping into the specific recommendations below, it’s also important to log one key point. Whenever possible, you should use official practice materials from ACT.org. Why is this so important? Because companies like Kaplan and Princeton Review, while they have good intentions, may write questions which aren’t exactly like the questions you’ll see on the official ACT. These companies are in the business of developing practice content, and their business model requires that they create a lot of it. Some of their practice exams, for example, might be easier than the real ACT. Other exams might be harder. They might accidentally spend too much time on some concepts, and not enough on others. This could mean that you, as a student, get a false read at how prepared you are if you rely primarily on content not originally produced by ACT.org. In other words, you should focus on preparing with material that comes “straight from the horse’s mouth,” so to speak. Once you exhaust ACT.org’s free and low cost material, then consider moving on to another source. The best free ACT practice: Preparing for the ACT Test PDF ebook- FREE Remember when I said the most effective material was also the most inexpensive? If you are going to begin studying for the ACT, step #1 should simply be to download ACT.org’s free PDF ebook Preparing for the ACT Test. It is completely free. It discusses the test’s structure, required content knowledge, and mathematical, reading, writing, and science concepts tested on the ACT. It also includes brief reviews of test-taking strategies for each section, as well a full-length practice test, including a writing section, that we recommend students take as a “diagnostic,” around which they can design a customized study plan. It is an extremely valuable piece of the puzzle as you begin to prepare for the ACT. Additional Real, Previous Practice ACT Exams - FREE In addition to the 2016/2017 practice test mentioned above, MyGuru has located two other previous ACT exams which any student could and should incorporate into their study plan to track progress over time. Click here for a real practice ACT exam from 2005/2006 Click here for a real practice ACT exam from 2014/2015 The best ACT preparation book: The Real ACT Prep Guide - ~$26 We also recommend all students purchase the Real ACT Prep Guide. It’s a physical, paper book (though there’s also a Kindle version) that comes with: three official practice tests, clear explanations for all answer choices, all-new test forms, including the writing test, strategies for each section of the ACT, and hundreds of additional practice questions in an “online bonus content” area. The best online ACT preparation: ACT Online Prep - $29.95 ACT.org also offers online practice. Their low-cost product includes a library of lessons around the content assessed in all four ACT subject tests, as well as a personalized learning path, where students take a short-form ACT test to get a predicted score range, and then a recommended study path is provided based on that prediction with hundreds of practice ACT questions and explanations. This path adjusts based on the test-date entered by the student. There is also a full length practice exam for students to get a predicted ACT score. At this point, by simply acquiring the ACT study materials recommended above, a student could have access to: A mix of hard copy and online study materials All relevant details on the topics covered, question types used, and structure of the ACT exam. Key test taking strategies on each section A diagnostic assessment of strengths and weaknesses with guided study plan 1,000+ practice problems 7 full length practice tests The total cost for all of this? Less than $60. The author and publisher of all of this? The same organization that write and administers the ACT exam you’ll be taking. Now, if you’ve exhausted these materials and are looking for more advanced “mobile” online ACT prep, we recommend two other ACT prep solutions. Each of these solutions has a few key features: Lots of video lessons Lots of practice questions with solutions Ability to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses and design customized study plans Full length practice tests The first solution, Score Beyond, also offers a more advanced “self-adaptive” feature that adjusts to your answers in real-time, and offers subsequent problems automatically tailored to either help you build upon your strengths in an area where you’ve proven some mastery, or provide additional practice in an area in which you are struggling. Score Beyond’s packages also come with private 1-1 online ACT tutoring and the ability for parent, student, and tutor to track progress over time in the shared dashboard. Magoosh, our final recommendation, has less powerful “self-adaptive” features, no online tutoring support, and a less functional dashboard feature. However, it’s video lessons are impressive, and they offer free email support for context related questions. It’s also much less expensive. Hopefully the main point of this blog article was clear; use official practice materials from ACT.org as much as possible. They are effective, and they are cheap. However, more advanced online and mobile prep options are also available for the ACT for students looking for more help, or advanced adaptive or performance tracking/dashboard features, or supplemental online ACT tutoring.

The Power of Owning Your ADHD

The Power of Owning Your ADHD When hackers sought to discredit US Olympians by releasing their medical records, it was revealed that Simone Biles had sought and obtained an exemption for the use of a therapeutic medication.The medication, as it turns out, was prescribed to treat her ADHD. While some athletes have yet to comment on their released information, Simone was quick to address the topic. Rather than retreating, she responded proudly and in a way that not only acknowledged her diagnosis but also showed the world that she owns her ADHD. The publics response to her statement has been overwhelmingly positive. (As of this writing her tweet has received 51,000 likes and 12,000 shares, and has been discussed in countless articles and media segments.) Simone Biles is a shining example of how when you own your ADHD you can not only succeed, but succeed at the highest levels. So, what does it mean to own your ADHD? It means acknowledging and accepting that ADHD is a part of who you are, taking action to treat your symptoms, and advocating for yourself so that you can receive the help that you need. But how can kids learn to own their ADHD, especially in a world that isnt always supportive? Its a process and a journey that parents can help guide and champion. Acknowledge and Accept. Coming to terms with an ADHD diagnosis can be challenging. Feelings of denial, anger and depression are not unusual. But to be honest, these feeling are far more common among parents of children with ADHD than among the kids themselves. Kids are often relieved to learn that there is a reason why they have been struggling, feeling out of place, or thinking that they are different. As parents you can help your child accept his or her ADHD diagnosis by teaching him or her that ADHD is not something to be ashamed of. It is not a personal weakness or failure. Instead, its something that people are usually born with. Its something that they have inherited just like other characteristics, like their height. Having ADHD just means that they have some specific challenges, and these challenges can be managed and overcome with treatment and support. Share Simone Biles tweet with your child. Talk about how she didnt let ADHD get in her way, and how when she publicly ackno wledged her ADHD diagnosis she received 50,000 likes from people who support her! Take Action. Once you and your child acknowledge and accept his or her ADHD, create an action plan and share it with your child. Let your child know that doctors, scientists, and educators have been studying ADHD for decades, and there are treatments that work. When you make a plan, remember that it doesnt need to be perfect. At the beginning, it may only include one or two action items, and thats okay! For your child, simply knowing that you have a plan will help put him or her at ease. It clearly shows your child that taking action is what you need to do if you want to succeed with ADHD. Also talk to your child about the actions that he or she will need to take to help himself or herself, like attending appointments and committing to trying out new strategies at school and at home. Advocate. People with ADHD need a network of support in order to thrive. They need this as kids, and they will continue to need this as adults. So, talk to your child about the people you will be reaching out to for help. Your childs support team can include doctors who will provide medication and/or behavioral treatments, teachers who will provide extra support in the classroom, yourself as a parent who will learn strategies to support your child at home, relatives who you will call on for extra help, coaches and mentors who will teach your child skills through sports or the arts, and tutors who will help your child succeed in school. When you feel your child is ready and when it is appropriate, include your child in meetings at school when ADHD-related accommodations or the need for additional services are being discussed. Allow your child to participate by sharing what it is that he or she needs help with, and include your child in conversations about possible solutions. At 19 years old Simone Biles is able to own her ADHD because the adults in her life taught her how to accept her diagnosis, take action to get treatment, and advocate for herself to receive support from teachers, coaches, teammates, and friends. As parents, the steps you take now to help your child own his or her ADHD will enable your child to strive to reach his or her full potential without letting ADHD get in the way. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.