Studying

Studying for exams can be daunting - especially because sometimes you don't know *how* to study. I frequently ask students the question – “Do you know how to study?” and, quite honestly, the most common response is "no." It really isn't a surprise though. The reality is that until high school gets hard enough that you hit the wall and it no longer comes easy to you, studying isn't something you typically have to worry about or spend a lot of time focusing on.

The challenging part of studying is that what works best for one person may not be what works best for someone else. And, even if you figure out what works best for you in one particular subject area, that still doesn't mean that this particular strategy will be most effective for a different subject.

One lesson I have learned (from both experience and from other students) is that just reading your notes is NOT studying. You really need to be doing something in order to effectively study for exams. And yes, I am aware that for some of you, and for some classes, reading through your notes is sufficient, but in general as you sit there reading your notes it is common for your mind to wander. Then, as you are taking the test, you realize that all of the information you thought you knew was actually just familiar.  (So you sit there taking the test thinking, "Um, I know this, it was on the left page of my notes..." but then are left blank.)

The best news is that there are lots of different ideas and strategies that you can use to develop a study strategy that works best for you!  So, perhaps in addition to reading through your notes you could try some other ideas. If you are struggling to find strategies to try out, I encourage you to visit the WKHS Counselor website as there are lots of examples listed on the site.  I am listing a few examples below, but again, it is about finding a strategy that will work for you.

Re-write or type your notes instead of just reading them.

Try to recall as much information from memory as possible. So, think back on the class and try to remember all of the key points and pieces of information that you think you are going to have to know for the test and write them all down. Then compare that list to what you actually are responsible for knowing. What information did you forget about completely? What areas were you unable to recall enough informational details? Briefly review that information and then move on to studying for another subject and then later come back and try to recall everything that you will need to know again. Were you able to do better this time? This strategy is effective because it forces you to figure out what you can recall from just your brain at a certain time - just as you will have to do on your exams.

Make flashcards and review the content.

Have someone else question you from your notes, study guide, or text book.

Another great strategy is to go through and review your old tests - paying particular attention to questions that you answered incorrectly.

Make your own practice tests. You can use homework questions, sample problems from your classroom notes, or questions from your book or tests and put them together into one test just like your teacher would do for the exam. Give yourself a day or two away from looking at it (or at least a few hours of working on a different subject) and then go back and put yourself into a similar test environment and take the test. Practice going straight through the whole test without a break, without distractions, and without stopping to look at your notes or book just as you will have to do in the actual exam. When you have completed the test, check your answers and see how you did. You can then identify areas where you need more practice and review. It may also help you identify concepts that you need to seek help from your teachers or academic assistants on to help make sure you better understand the material.  (If your parents or siblings are willing to help you study, asking them to select questions from your homework, notes, and old tests to create the practice test for you can be a great help as you work to prepare for your exams.)

Spend time reviewing old learning targets, homework assignments and worksheets and you definitely want to work through the study guides your teachers provided (if they gave you one) as this is also a highly effective strategy.


Another helpful strategy is to teach someone else. Sometimes this involves teaching a fellow student who is struggling to grasp the concepts, but it can just as easily be your parents, siblings, or a grandparent. By having to explain the information you know, you are reinforcing the concepts in your own mind and seeking useful ways to help someone else to understand the information and why it matters.

Take advantage of the opportunity to seek extra help from your teachers. Some teachers offer review sessions, others will meet with students individually or in small groups to answer questions. And other teachers are willing to respond to e-mails to help clarify questions you might have. Remember, they know what is on the test (they created it!) and so they are your best resources for help, yet the work must be done by you to make certain that you truly know the concepts being covered in class.

You can also work with the Academic Assistant's in the Teaching and Learning Center (Room 209) as they have a wealth of knowledge and helpful tips for study strategies that can help you in their particular subject areas as well as studying overall.  And, last, but not least, you can also stop in and see me and I can help brainstorm ideas that you could try.

For what it is worth, think of learning to study like you think of learning to run. You already know some skills that have helped you to know how to study and to be successful - just like you already know how to run, but if you practice and really train at running, you can improve significantly and studying will work just the same. Keep working at your study strategies, practice and continue refining your technique until you find the perfect combination that works for you.

Good luck and happy studying!

Grief & Holidays

Dealing with grief while navigating the typical challenges of being in high school can be very stressful and overwhelming.  I wish none of you had to say good-bye to a loved one who has died and yet the statistics about how often this happens are daunting.  According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, 1 out of every 12 children in the US will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they reach 18 years.  Not to mention all of the other loved ones who play an important role in your lives.  There are no words that can take away the pain or make life return to the way it was after the death of someone you love, but I can promise you never have to walk through this experience alone.  I am here to listen and care and to support you as you learn to live life with grief.

As we head into the winter holiday season, for those students who have experienced the death of someone important to them, the holidays combined with grief can be incredibly challenging.  In recognition of the difficulties that grief during the holidays can create, we will be hosting a Holiday & Grief Workshop on December 7th for students to join in to learn more about what to expect when grieving during the holidays and ways to honor the memory of a loved one during the holidays.  If you are a student who is living with grief this holiday season, please reach out to me so that I can add you to our holiday & grief workshop list.  I'd love for you to participate with us!

Pre-ACT Results

Your Pre-ACT scores are already back!  Your scores are available for pick up starting tomorrow in the Counseling Center.  You can pick up your score sheets during your lunch periods or before or after school from any of the secretaries at the front of the counseling center. 

One nice feature of the PreACT is that you will get your test booklet and the score summary written report.  You can use this information to help you determine what you did well on and what you want to improve on in the future.

Don't forget, these are just practice tests so they are giving you an indication of where you might expect to score on the actual ACT and you can use your results to help guide you in preparing to achieve college readiness.

I hope your scores were what you were expecting (or perhaps even better).  If you have any questions don't hesitate to stop by and see me.

Also, to senior students and parents - don't forget that tomorrow night, November 29th, is the Financial Aid night presentation at 7pm in the WKHS Auditorium.

Sprint to the Finish

I hope you and your family had a nice, relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.  I am looking forward to seeing you all and hearing about your time off. 

Additionally, as we return to school tomorrow, the push will be on in classes as you finish up the the semester.  You have just 15 days of classes left before exams.

If your grades are not where they should be (or where you want them to be), please make use of the resources available to you including both the Academic Assistants in Room 209 and, most importantly, your teachers.  Remember too that I am here to help you with study strategies and tips as needed.

For many students, your final grade for the semester will come down to how you finish out this quarter and how you perform on your semester exams.  This means that it is essential for you to make the most of the remaining time in your classes and start reviewing for exams now.

The 18 days of school between now and winter break are going to fly past so take a deep breath and remember, you can do this!

Thanksgiving Break

It's now officially Thanksgiving break.  I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing 5 days with lots of good food, family time, and positive memories on Thanksgiving.  If you are traveling over break, please be safe as we need you back at WKHS next week!

I am feeling so grateful right now as I await my extended family's arrival at any moment.  I am thankful that we can all be together again this year for the holiday.  I am grateful for my dogs who bring so much love to my life.  I appreciate being able to work with my amazing students (and their families) who bless my lives daily.  And during this holiday I am always reminded of how much I have that I tend to take for granted like my health, having a roof over my head, hot water, and food to eat, and yet as I stop to think about it I realize how lucky and blessed I am not just today, but every day.

Before I close for tonight, I have to say a HUGE Thank You to Worthington Presbyterian Church.  They donated all of the food to allow nearly 50 WKHS families to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this holiday season.  We appreciate their generosity and kindness and it was such a privilege to be able to be a part of sharing that joy with others as we handed out the food today.

Have a wonderful and relaxing break!

Kilbourne Kindness Closet

The counselors are working to start a new initiative called the Kilbourne Kindness Closet and we need the help of families in the WKHS community to make this possible.

We invite you to contribute to the Kilbourne Kindness Closet by donating any gently used Kilbourne clothing items that you no longer need. Whether it's an old sweatshirt, a sport specific t-shirt, or any WKHS apparel that you no longer want or use, we would be grateful for your contributions.  This includes both student and parent Kilbourne clothes. We know that wearing Kilbourne clothes strengthens school spirit and builds connection among students and families.

For any former students/ families who still read my blog, if you no longer want your blue Buckeye Scholastic graduation gown, we are also accepting graduation gowns that were from 2021 through 2023 to provide to seniors who cannot afford a new gown.  (Gowns worn before 2020 were a different color and material so, unfortunately, they cannot be reused by current students.)

In addition to Kilbourne specific clothes, we are also collecting gently used jeans of all sizes and styles to make available in the Kilbourne Kindness Closet.

Donating is easy! Simply drop off your contributions at Worthington Kilbourne High School in the front, Student Services Office between 7:30am-3:30pm or to the Counseling Center office.

We believe the Kilbourne Kindness Closet will not only provide essential clothing items but will also serve as a symbol of the caring and supportive community we have in Worthington.  Thank you for considering donating to help our families!

DACC Application

On Friday nearly 90 WKHS students participated in the field trip to the Delaware Area Career Center. I want to remind you that even if you decide to attend the career center, WKHS students are always WKHS students. With most programs you will have the option of attending the career center for full days (where you would take your lab coursework which counts as elective credits and your academic courses all at the career center) or for half days (where you only take the lab coursework at the career center and then return to WKHS for the other half of the day for your academic classes). You still graduate from Worthington Kilbourne and continue to participate on our athletic teams - even if you decide that you want to attend the career center for the full day. 

I strongly encourage you to check out the programs because the hands on opportunities to learn something new while also gaining your required elective credits can be a very appealing option! If you didn't have the chance to participate in the field trip, or if your parents are interested in learning more and visiting DACC with you, there will be an Open House coming up on December 7th.  

Attending the Delaware Area Career Center is a competitive process and students must apply for consideration.  If you are interested, please make sure to start working on your application because it is now open and you'll want to get it submitted so that they can consider you for a spot in their program.  The priority application deadline for optimal consideration is January 12th.

Information about the open house and the application to attend DACC are all located on their website.