Most of my posts and videos focus on how to make your school experience better. That’s because I choose to focus on the positive. That’s what SchoolHabits is entirely about. But let’s face it: Not all of our days can be hunky dory all the …
How to stop procrastinating
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. We all procrastinate. And we all want to stop procrastinating. So why is it so hard? Before we learn how to stop procrastinating, we have to understand why we procrastinate. There are scientific (psychological) reasons that we keep putting our projects off. There are …
3 tricks for learning vocabulary words
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. Vocabulary quizzes pop up in almost all school subjects. English teachers and foreign language teachers probably use vocabulary quizzes the most, but you’ll likely have vocabulary quizzes in history, biology, etc. In other words, there’s no escaping the dreaded vocab test. …
3 reading strategies for students with ADHD
Academic reading can be a struggle for any student — but it can be especially difficult for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reading requires controlled focus and prolonged attention, which most students with ADHD do not adequately regulate. Tell me if this scenario …
How to stay focused in class: 7 tricks to avoid zoning out
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. I once fell asleep during a high-level college chemistry class. Not drowsy, not just blinking really slowly, but straight out asleep. I slept so hard that I only woke up when other students were climbing over me after class. It wasn’t …
How to change your habits: Question your story
We tend to engage in activities and habits that align with our ‘stories.’ We also tend to interpret our circumstances in terms of our ‘stories.’ This is all fine … unless our stories are not quite right. If our stories are not right, then …
Hack the morning routine: 4 tricks for nailing it before school
Some people awake each morning like majestic, radiant, wing-flapping unicorns. Others just fall out of bed like broken gargoyles. Despite the fact that I fall get out of bed every morning before 6 am, I am most certainly the latter of the two types of …
10 back to school tips that you really need all year
Ready for some back to school tips yet? Yes, I know it feels like summers are getting shorter, but they actually are getting shorter! The reason is that many schools are now moving up their start-date to mid-August. That’s crazy! But no matter when …
Before reading a book, do these 5 things
Whether you are reading for pleasure or for pain an assignment, there are five pre-reading steps that will enhance your entire reading experience. The steps don’t take long, they are simple, and they are completely worth it. I recommend that you eventually establish a habit of methodically …
4 odd but great places to study in
As much as I suggest that you regularly do your homework and studying in the same location – doing so has so many benefits! – there are also advantages to mixing up your study environment from time to time. While coffee shops, book stores and …
