Dear Fellow Learner,

   When you get a test back, what do you do? Many students just glance at the grade and then stuff the test into their backpack. 

   Meanwhile, the teachers I know invest time and effort making careful corrections and thoughtful comments. This feedback is meant to help you learn and improve.

  An important part of my job as a tutor is reviewing test results with students and helping them digest the lessons they can learn. Here are some tips and tools to help you do this on your own or with an adult.

Happy Learning!

-Ms. Cousins

The Benefits Of Testing

Few if any of us enjoy taking tests, and it's hard to ignore the sting of a bad grade. However, testing is an important part of the learning process:

• Tests help you remember material. Studying and then being tested forces you to pull information out of your head and apply it. This strengthens neural connections in your brain so you remember more.
• Tests help you realize what you know and what you don't know. You get feedback which helps you fine-tune your studying.
• Tests help you to develop perseverance. Learning to go back and try again and keep improving is an important life skill.

A Tool To Help You Improve

Here's my Math Test Round-Up, a tool you can use to look at your latest math test and figure out how to better prepare next time.

Review your old tests and papers.

You've made it almost to the end of the school year! This is a great time to pull out your old tests and graded writing assignments and take a careful look.

• What mistakes did you make? Would you make the same mistakes today? Most students find that they've learned a lot. Many things that seemed hard in September now look easy.
• Are there still some rough spots? If you're still struggling over concepts that were taught in the fall, it's time to review them and get them straight.
• Reread your old essays and papers. Can you see ways you could improve?

Students, parents and teachers: 

Thank you for reading my newsletter. Welcome aboard as we learn together. I'd love to hear from you with any insights you'd like to share with our readers. Also, please forward this newsletter to the learners in your life.

Please subscribe here.

Please click here for a printable version of The Seven Study Habits with fancy fonts to color and keep.

And here's the free, printable workbook version of my book, Here's What The "Smart" Kids Do

You can purchase my book, Here's What The "Smart" Kids Do 

in paperback here on Amazon.

Cousins Tutoring, Curiosity Lane, Redding, CT 06896