Did Somebody Say Improv?

Improv club usually takes place every last day of the school week in the chorus room. Because of all the days off, it’s hard to make it a certain day. For those of you that do not know, improv, short for improvisation, is when you are given a scenario and you have to come up with something to act out and say. Sometimes it comes out so random that it is just so funny. When you witness the hilariousness that comes from improv it makes you (or at least me) just want to come back every week to hear and participate in this funny and amazing club. Improv club has already had one performance this school year and will have another one before the year comes to a close. I really do encourage you to come out to improv in the chorus room for at least one day (don’t worry; you don’t have to preform).

By: Peter McAuliffe

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Study Tips for A New Semester

Break is over, and now a new semester has begun. Here are some study tips for second semester to get you started on the right track.

1.       Stay organized! If a teacher asks you to pull out a paper from last week, you should be able to do so in twenty seconds or less. Organization is key. Find a system that works for you and stick to it! I suggest color coding for each class, storing your materials in order of your classes in your locker, having a separate folder and notebook for each class, and having a homework trapper/folder. Keeping things organized and neat will make things much easier when it comes to studying for that unit test you’re dreading.

2.      Write things down! Use your agenda. Writing things down makes it much easier to keep track of what needs to get done. You can use the one Aquinas gives out at the beginning of each year, or you can go to Office Max or Target and buy your own. Etsy.com also sells custom made planners if you’re feeling fancy. I suggest that you write down every homework assignment you receive (and put any homework materials in your homework folder!) Writing your assignments in order of your classes can also help. Use a highlighter to differentiate tests from written homework assignments. You can also use a different color pen to specify long term assignments. As an added bonus, you can cross off your assignments as you complete them, which is very satisfying.

3.      Don’t just mindlessly copy notes. This tip pertains mostly to classes centered on PowerPoint presentations. Try to read over each slide of notes before writing them down if time allows. Ask yourself, “Do I already know this information?” If you do, shorten those notes because there’s no reason to take lengthy notes on material you already know. Make your notes yours: that way studying will be a breeze.

4.      Plan things out. At the beginning of the week look at what needs to get done in terms of long term assignments, and then break those tasks up. Completing small sections of big projects everyday will allow you to balance your short and long term assignments. Of course, there will be days when you’re slammed with homework that’s due the next day which might throw off your schedule. Just readjust your plan and carry on as usual

5.   Stay motivated. It's very easy to lose your drive toward the end of the year which can be detrimental because finals are around this time. Use positive reinforcement. After you complete 10 pages of textbook reading, give yourself a five minute break. Try alternating subjects when doing large assignments that can be broken up. I've found that doing 20 minutes of one subject and then 20 minutes of another subject, switching back and forth, does not cause as much fatigue as studying one subject for 40 minutes straight. If you plan to study for a long period of time, make sure to schedule in break periods after certain tasks are completed. This way, you will stay motivated and avoid taking excessive breaks.

Hopefully these tips will make your second semester a little bit easier. If you’re looking for more tips, there are multiple blogs on tumblr.com that offer great advice on studying, note taking, and general ways to increase productivity. Check out the tag “studyblr” and “study” on tumblr and you’re bound to find something good. Remember, the more work you put in now with organization and notes, the less work you'll have to do before finals.

by: Lina Clifford

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Study & Organization Tips

         Spring is the time of year where motivation is lost and summer seems so close but yet so far away. When your motivation is gone sometimes trying new ways to study and getting organized can help you raise your grades and help you be the student you want to be. Whatever way you study, hopefully these tips can help you out!

1. Get Organized- Being organized can make studying easier, quicker, and less stressful. Make sure you have all of your materials from each class separate, or in a way that you understand and can easily find things when needed. It seems simple and ineffective, but when your materials for every class are all in one huge pile, it can take sooo much longer to get your work done. Keeping your work organized can cut your study time down so you can have more time to do things you want to do, and not things you have to do.


2. Make a Calendar- Whether it’s in your agenda or on your wall, writing down all of the things you have to do for the day/week/month can help you visualize what you need to achieve and can help you spread out your work load.

3. Split up Your Work- Don’t wait until the last minute! Procrastinating is so easy to do and we all do it, but splitting up your work into small sections is much less stressful. Reading a chapter of a book every night for two weeks is a lot easier than reading the entire book at 11pm the night before the project is due.

4. Type Things- Many people learn by writing things out, but typing can also be a way to get things into your brain. In addition to getting things into your brain, typing can make your notes more organized and easier to study. Plus, if you lose notes or homework you can easily reprint them, while if they were in a notebook or you wrote them on a piece of paper you probably won’t be able to get them back as easily.

5. Take Breaks- Doing work for hours on end can actually effect the outcome of your work. Taking breaks every half hour or so and rewarding yourself with something you enjoy (going on your phone, reading a book, etc) helps you concentrate better when you are doing your work. For example, if you have to write a 5 page paper, after every page you can reward yourself with 10 to 15 minutes on your phone. Splitting the work into little increments like this makes it so much easier to handle. 

6. Look to The Internet For More Tips- Websites can give you more tips on how to improve your studying and can also answer any questions you may have in regards to your homework, tests, and how to study more effectively.

By: Emily Minnich 

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