Another year, another reading list…

So, maybe you don’t enjoy school books, but to do well, you have to learn how to read well. Below are some tips for optimizing reading comprehension and speed.

When you get your school books:

Flip though (even before you are assigned to read), and get the lay of the land.

Look for:

• The Title — The main theme — What it’s about and what it’s not about.
• Table of Contents — The master plan and goal, broken down in steps. Notice where the book starts and ends.
• The Index — Topics in book, arranged alphabetically. Good for referring to when you want to find something specific (for example, The Federalist Papers).
• Introduction — A message from the author that tells why the book is important.

One you are assigned to read the book, preview the chapter. Look for signposts. Read for the main idea and supporting details.

Chapter signposts:

• Chapter title
• Section headings
• Paragraph heads
• Introductory paragraphs
• Summary paragraphs (the end)
• Topic sentences
• Illustrations
• Margin titles

Outlines can be your best friend. Always write them — for papers, studying, etc. You will an easier time with everything if you organize yourself from the get-go.

The post Back to School: Reading appeared first on Perfect Score Project.

Taking full-timed practice tests is an essential ingredient to prepare for the ACT or SAT. What do you need to take a practice test?

College Board Practice Tests:

The College Board has released 4 practice tests for the new 2016 SAT.

• Click here to download each of the tests along with corresponding answer sheets, question explanations, and practice essays.
• Click here for a thorough scoring calculator.
• Click here for extra SAT Bubble Sheets.
• Click here for extra SAT Essay Paper.

The College Board has also posted it’s official PSAT.

• PSAT
• Bubble Sheet
• Solutions

What Else You’ll Need:

• Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphics Calculator for your calculator permitted math section.
• Lots and lots of #2 pencils.
• An analogue watch that you can turn to the top of the hour each section in order to keep your own time (this is critical).
• Oh, and click here for my favorite SAT snacks!

These Might Help Too:

• How to Skim Effectively
• Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety

The post Practice SAT Toolbox appeared first on Perfect Score Project.

Some of these books may be out of print, but the used editions are worth every penny!

• The Official SAT Study Guide (2016 Edition)
• The New Math SAT Game Plan: For 2016 and Beyond!
• Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT
• Direct Hits Toughest Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Workshop Level G
• Vocabulary Workshop Level H
• How to Double Your Child’s Grades in School (Best book to learn how to skim effectively … and study for school!)
• They Say / I Say (Demystifies the structure of passages)
• Writers’ Choices: Grammar to Improve Style (Great reference book for grammar)
• Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century  (Fun to read grammar book. Imagine that!)
• The Art of X-Ray Reading: How the Secrets of 25 Great Works of Literature Will Improve Your Writing 
• Rhetorical Devices (Many critical reading passage questions are about rhetorical devices. This book gives lots of practice.)

The post Recommended Books for the SAT and ACT appeared first on Perfect Score Project.

Below are of my favorite (and less well known) links to help you prepare for the SAT and ACT.

• Arts & Letters Daily — Articles to prepare you for the SAT reading section.
• New York Times Opinion Pages — Articles to prepare you for the SAT reading section.
• Chart Your Errors (after practice SATs)
• Chart Your Errors Example
• Academic Word List (2 pages)
• Literary Devices
• Transition Words
• Why is Anki Effective? (Spaced Repetition)
• Anki
• Vocabulary in Context Examples
• Tone and Attitude
• Greek Latin Roots
• Sample Rhetorical Devices
• Pronouns
• How to Skim Effectively
• Abstract nouns
• Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety

The post Useful Links for SAT and ACT Test Prep appeared first on Perfect Score Project.

1. Collecting Dance. Developmental psychologist Gordon Neufeld explains the “collecting ritual” in his book Hold On To Your Kids. The collecting dance is akin to making a baby smile before picking it up. The same holds true for a teenager: you must catch the eye and establish a connection in order to be a source of motivation.
2. Enthusiasm. Most teenagers are more interested in their friends than in their parents and the SATs. In fact, the more into the friends they are, the harder it will be to get their attention. A peer-oriented teenager will need more enthusiasm and initiative from the parent to become motivated than one who is oriented toward adults. Given Ethan’s level of peer orientation at the time, I needed to deploy radical enthusiasm.
3. Parental Involvement. Remain interested and involved, even if your teenager is resistant. I saw with my own eyes that adolescents do better academically when parents are involved beyond monitoring homework, and I believe Neufeld’s work with adolescents confirms my experience.
4. Invite the Connection. The most potent source of motivation for a teenager is attention and interest in what they are doing. A shared project says that the child matters and is special. The relationship that results from this sustained proximity allows for the parent to act as a compass in the child’s life and to activate motivation.

Read a related post: Motivating a Teenager to Study for the SAT

What is the Perfect Score Project? Find out more here.

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