Learning Commons Blog: 2018

It's Crunch Time

It's that time of year again. The snow is falling but barely sticking, the sidewalks are salted yet too slippery, and everyone’s either anxious or too calm. Yes, it’s the week before finals week, and everyone’s in a hurry to finish assignments and turn in extra credit work professors have blessed us with. The amount of stress we’ve built over the semester had time to dissipate over Thanksgiving, only to be struck back into us like a bolt of lighting a few days before we leave for the winter. I myself spent the past week having fun and forcing myself to relax to avoid becoming too anxious, but now it’s crunch time and all bets are off! To keep finals from biting me in the butt, here are the actions I plan to take to stay on top of my game.

1. Plan Ahead
Organization is a necessity to get through finals week alive. Events will pop up to fuel you with sugar and love from puppies, but if you don’t make the time to complete your work, you will regret it. To keep from being too overwhelmed try out these tips:

Put those finals on your calendar

If you haven’t done so already, you are a crazy person

Write out your homework

When it’s due and when you should do it

Do the extra credit

If your professor has blessed you with the option take advantage of it

2. Eliminate Distractions
Put that phone away! Apps are designed to keep your attention, and if your eyes are glued to Snapchat, so is your brain. You want to be focused on the assignments you must complete, and the best way to do this is to get rid of anything and everything that distracts you from your work. Phones are the big one, since our social media, games, music, videos, and anything else that the internet brings are all at your fingertips. Some people feel that their phone relaxes them, but there’s a difference between relaxation and procrastination. Listening to your favorite tunes may help you get through that paper faster than silence, but Instagram won’t. I struggle to put my phone down when I’m stressed, because I’m desperate to distract myself from my problems, but this doesn’t make the story I need to edit disappear, it simply wastes time. YouTube and Netflix are also major no-nos. Biology and The Office do not mix. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, so be nice to it.

3. Balance Your Time
Long study periods followed by no breaks is quick way to drain you of all your energy and motivation. Nothing should be studied for more than an hour at a time, and the longer you study the longer your breaks should be. I recommend working for 30 to 40 minutes at a time with 15 – 20-minute breaks in between. I typically work for 40 – 60 minutes at a time since I prefer to dive right into the deep end. (20-minute breaks work just fine.) If you can’t resist your phone during these breaks, I recommend you set a timer to keep you on track. You can even use these breaks as a pseudo-motivator by sharing with your friends your progress on your assignments and gloat over your new study habits (but that may be considered overkill).

4. Watch your health
Stress can kill you, but so can germs. Pneumonia, the flu, and the common cold are spreading around campus and the heightened stress of the time makes you more susceptible to illness. Help your body take care of you by prioritizing both your work and your health. It’s a nasty habit to only eat junk food every day, but when you’re angry, tired, and overworked caffeine, sugar, and fried foods seem like your best bet to happiness. I know the struggle; my sweet tooth is gigantic. I prefer to be alone when I write, and I prefer to write in my room, so Pub food simple makes sense. One way to curve this bad habit is to drink a ton of water. Most likely, you aren’t drinking enough, so switching your cup of Pepsi for a water bottle will do you some good. Substitute fries for carrots, or onion rings for applesauce. I mean, how can you say no to applesauce?

Go to Sleep

8 am classes are stressful enough, but now you’ll have to wake up on time for finals. This may prove challenging, especially if you’ve been lucky to have none so far. We’re all stressed, which means we’re all tired. Do yourself a favor and give your body the break it needs. This task should prove easier to accomplish when all-day (24-hour) quiet hours are put into place today (Dec 7). Set your alarm to give you enough time in the morning to wake up before your finals. A well-rested student is a well-prepared one.

For help winding down try these tips:

Turn off the main lights by 11pm

The earlier you turn the lights off, the easier it is to wind down.
you can leave a few on, but the later it gets the darker it should be

Turn your phone off

If you need it as an alarm, plug it in far away from your reach

Calm yourself

Relax with a good book, calm your breath with meditate , write in a journal

I hope some of my advice helps you thrive during the week and ease into the holidays. One may be easier to follow than the rest, but they're all great habits that can benefit you in Spring 2019. Leave a comment down below if you have any tips or tricks to get through exams and other stressful times. Have a wonderful break everybody!

5 Tips to Creating the Perfect College Class Schedule
8 Tips for Choosing College Classes

Helpful Hints:

If your phone is an essential aspect of your identity and you struggle to let it go for the week, try out the Forest app. This app allows you to grow beautiful trees (and bushes) in exchange for staying off your phone. If you check an email, call a friend, or do anything except let the app grow that tree, it will die - you will be a tree-killer. It's a great motivator, so check it out.

Do you struggle with sleep? Do you struggle to wake up in the morning? The National Sleep Foundation has the answers to your many questions, in their quest to help you.

Not sure how your phones keep you awake at night? This article by Trevor Haynes is for you.

Introducing: Book of the Week

As mentioned in my previous posts, I really like reading. Like REALLY like reading. Starting next semester, every week, I am going to write a post about a book. I will mainly write about books I have read (so I can accurately review them), but if you have a book that you want to see on the blog, please leave a comment below.

So, what will these posts include?

Each will have:

-A new book

-A brief summary (without spoilers, of course)

-Reviews by editors

-My personal review on it if I have read it

-Where you can get it for free around Cedar Rapids

-The name of the person who recommended it (if applicable)

-Additional information (if applicable, ex. content warnings)

The End of the World: The Onslaught of Finals

By Arabella Chamberlain

It's never too late to save your grades. You can't give up yet. Sounds cliche, but it's true. (Okay, actually, if you try to save your grade minutes before finals, it may not work.) Honestly, you can always do better in a class until the minute you turn in your last final. What I'm trying to say is, want to make that "D-" a "C+" and pass that class? You can, but it ain't gonna be easy.

When facing the dreaded "finals," what's your attack strategy? Do you:

Photo Credit

a. Panic.
b. Attempt to study. Then, panic.
c. Panic. Then, study. Then, panic.
d. Flawlessly ace every exam handed to you.

(If it's the last one, give me a call. I doubt it is though - Not because I lack faith in you, but because I lack faith in the universe.)

Honestly, a lot of us aren't really that stressed, are we?

Maybe you are though. Finals can be a really intense time. Sometimes we can get too caught up in a percentage instead of our understanding. We should be focusing on putting forth our best work possible, even if that's not A+ material right now. Nevertheless, here are some things to do to make finals a little easier:

Study. Well, duh. You all knew that one. However, when I suggest you "study," I'm not just saying sit down for five minutes and flip through your notes. That isn't going to get you anywhere. Instead, make flash cards, find a study group, practice old problems, catch up on unfinished assignments - it really does make a difference when you actively engage in studying.
Get a tutor if you need one. (Or even if you don't) Don't be afraid to ask for help. Even if you think you've got it all figured out, it's okay to have someone help check you, just in case you aren't. You don't want to spend a bunch of time studying, only to realize you learned something wrong, do you? It's super easy to get a tutor and they're a great resource while studying.
Talk to your professors about concerns. If you're really freaking, don't. Try to pinpoint what's stressing you out and let your professors know. A lot of professors want you to succeed so many are willing to help. Address the issue early on so you can work together to find a good solution.
Get a good night's sleep. This should go without saying. Yet, how many all-nighters have I pulled in the past? I know it's hard to sometimes just say I can't study anymore because my health is a priority, but sometimes, that's what you have to do. Don't let that be an excuse not to study, but also, SLEEP. Your brain can only retain so much when you've been chugging 5-hour energy drinks for 48 hours straight. Put down the pencil and turn off the lights.
Try to eat a little healthier. Avoid all the french fries, potato chips and other snacky foods while bunkering down for finals. You want to be in tip-top shape while taking those last crucial exams and some old candy and chips ain't gonna cut it. Just be a little kinder to your body, maybe even do a little exercise to destress. And don't forget to stay hydrated - It's flu season!
Make time for you. Check in with yourself. I know this can be a stressful time, but a little self-care goes a long way. Watch an episode of that one show you always watch, kick back and read a book that isn't assigned reading, take a long, hot shower - you and your roommate will thank you! It's just as important to study hard as it is to take it easy. Find a good balance for you and let yourself unwind. Lastly, don't forget...
"C"s get degrees. But also, try to remember for next semester that Coe offers four opportunities to change the grading scale to pass/fail after your first semester. Set high standards for yourself always, but it's okay if you don't ace every class. Put forth your best effort and hope for the best. You can do this. You got this.

Ultimately, just remember to take a deep breath. This semester's been a little crazy, a little hectic, but don't let that discourage you. It'll hopefully be better next semester, right? Don't give up. It's not like it's the end of the world.

Learning Commons Book Favorites!

By Paige Waskow

What do the writers of the Learning Commons Blog like to read?!

From social justice to sci-fi to romance, check out the list of unique books below!

Bridget Atkinson-Moore
Recommended book:  The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter

Why it's one of my favorites: "One of my favorite books to read over and over again (I read it at least twice a year, once for Halloween and once sometime during the spring) is The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter. It's such a great horror story set on a remote island with really great creepy imagery. It made me scared to encounter a mosquito for a while after I first read it!"

Jasmine Barlow
Recommended book:  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Why it's one of my favorites: "My favorite book is "The Hate U Give". It was the first book to make me cry (not just "feel sad", many tears fell in many different chapters) because I relate to Starr. I love reading and have read many fantastic books, but Starr was the first person I could truly understand. It hit home and I recommend everyone to broaden their horizons and learn how people of different backgrounds and cultures see the same world, through what they have to live through. I tend to be drawn towards books written by Black women, but I've never read a character so close to my age, from the same time period, from a big city. I'm still in awe."

Arabella Chamberlain
Recommended book:  Saturn Run by John Sandford

Why it's one of my favorites: "This book tells a story of drama, mystery, science, and a great race through space. It's such a page-turner and full of surprises. Sandford's voice is really enjoyable and makes the story come to life. With moments of drama and suspense to moments of hilarious absurdity, this sci-fi is one to pick up."

Taylor Nosekabel
Recommended book: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Why it's one of my favorites: "I love this book because the main character is very relatable and it deals with difficult family topics in a believable and understandable way. Also, the romance is fantastic."

Paige Waskow
Recommended book: Artemis by Andy Weir

Why it's one of my favorites: "Artemis is a really unique book that is incredibly imaginative. It follows the life of Jazz Bashara on Artemis, the first city on the moon, and her accidental involvement in a very complicated space heist involving global powers. It is action packed, hilarious, and science-y. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in two days."

If you have any favorites, leave them below for others to see.

Happy Reading!

via GIPHY, Ana Caro

My thanks to the writing commons blog writers for their willingness to help make this post and interest in reading.

Image made with Canva

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Need a Book?

via GIPHY, Benjy Brooke

By: Paige Waskow

The world of books is massive. From Shakespeare to Maya Angelou to John Green and many, many in between, it is hard to know where to start. Whether you are looking for adventure, a good scare, or a personal biography, hopefully the list below will help you find some reads you are interested in! This is not a complete list of genres or titles. If you have any books, authors, or genres you recommend, leave them in the comment section.

General:

If you want to read popular books, classics, or iconic titles (such as 1984, The Color Purple, and Beloved) check out these books everyone should read. Or maybe you are competitive and want to read the 200 books from this website (including The Book Thief, Speak, and The Great Gatsby). It could also give you some general ideas of books to read.

Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:

Sadly, Halloween has come and gone, BUT if you are still feeling spooky or want to explore the world of horror, check out these stories from NPR. Or maybe you want to take a look at some of the best of fantasy and sci-fi. Check out this article of 100 fan-favorite books.

Examples include: Frankenstein, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Yellow Wallpaper, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

Mystery Books:

Often overlapping with horror, social justice, or sci-fi, mystery books are a lot of fun, come in a diverse landscape of whodunits, and challenge our perception of the world. Check out this list of favorite mysteries or this list of crime mystery.

Examples include: And Then There Were None, The Godfather, The Da Vinci Code, Shutter Island, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Books by Women of Color:

Although the list below includes women from all backgrounds, women of color have been writing for many years and yet, they are often overlooked as writers. Check out this list of books that everyone should read or this list which specifically has newly released books from 2018.

Examples include: Americanah, The House on Mango Street, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Binti, and When They Call You a Terrorist.

Books by Women:

From horror to justice to classics, women have written impressive and diverse books. If you are looking for recent books by women, check out this list of 35 books. If you are looking for a large list of books with famous women authors and praised books, check out this list.

Examples include: The Handmaid's Tale, Song of Solomon, The Harry Potter Series, Where'd Ya Go Bernadette, and Pride and Prejudice.

Books about Social Justice Issues:

If you are looking for books that address social justice issues (including police brutality, homophobia, and immigration) in both the United States and the world check out this long list of books. If you want a shorter list to choose from that is only fiction, take a look at these reads from the Seattle Public Library.

Examples include: Just Mercy, Between the World and Me, The Hate You Give, I am Malala, and How Dare the Sun Rise.

Biographies, Memoirs, and Autobiographies:

People's personal experiences shape ours. We are motivated by those around us and their stories. Check out this list of 100 Biography and Memoirs to learn more about human hardship, success, and life.

Examples include: The Diary of a Young Girl, Unbroken, Persepolis, 12 Years a Slave, and A Walk in the Woods

Books about the Environment:

Maybe you heard of the United Nations report on the state of our climate. Perhaps you want to learn more about why people are so invested in the climate change debate. Or maybe you want to learn more about the issue or transcend political boundaries. Check out this list if you are interested in climate change effects or this list if you want to read fiction stories with an environmental message.

Examples include: Who Fears Death, Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know, Six Degrees, The Sixth Extinction, and Gold Fame Citrus

Additional Reads that are not part of the lists: Silent Spring, The Water Will Come, The Human Age, Drawdown, The Nature Fix, How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, Eco-Mind, and Truth to Power

Happy Reading!

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References:

Bologna, C. (2018, March 14). 35 Must-Read Books By Women From The Past 5 Years. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/35-books-by-women-writers-from-the-past-5-years_us_5a8c6b2ce4b0273053a54eb8

Blair, K. (2018, March 10). 23 Books by Women of Color You Need to Read in 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from http://www.keishablair.com/uncategorized/23-books-by-women-of-color-you-need-to-read-in-2018/

Carroll, T. (2017, December 29). These 8 Books are Fiction, but Climate Change is Not. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://electricliterature.com/these-8-books-are-fiction-but-climate-change-is-not-977f94d7b30

Chui, A. (2018, August 06). 30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-books-that-everyone-should-read-least-once-their-lives.html

Depenbrock, J. (2017, June 30). Summer Reading For The College-Bound. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/30/534458892/the-books-college-kids-are-reading-this-summer

Doyle, J. (n.d.). The Best Female Authors of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.abebooks.com/books/best-female-authors/index.shtml

FamousAuthors.org. (2012). 10 Best Mystery Books of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018 from https://www.famousauthors.org/best-mystery-books

GoodReads. (n.d.). 100 Biographies & Memoirs to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks (1203 books). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85102.100_Biographies_Memoirs_to_Read_in_a_Lifetime_Readers_Picks

GoodReads. (n.d.). Best Crime & Mystery Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11.Best_Crime_Mystery_Books

GoodReads. (n.d.). Popular Social Justice Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/social-justice

Mayer, P. (2018, August 16). Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-stories

Paul, C. (2018, January 10). 11 Must-Read Books By Women Of Color Coming Out In 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.bustle.com/p/11-new-books-by-women-of-color-everyone-needs-to-read-in-2018-7839819

The Seattle Public Library. (n.d.). Social Justice Books for Teens - The Seattle Public Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/675212937

Sutter, J. D. (2015, May 20). Books: 12 must-reads on climate change (2 degrees). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/opinions/sutter-2-degrees-book-club/index.html

Weldon, G. (2011, August 11). Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books

Wright, K. (2018, March 3). 49 Books That Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2018/03/03/books-that-everyone-should-read

Zottino, T. (n.d.). 200 Books Everyone Should Read - How many have you read? Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.listchallenges.com/200-books-everyone-should-read

Image made with Canva

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Enjoying Reading

By: Paige Waskow

How do you read more? How do you make reading something you enjoy and want to do on a regular basis especially if you are not used to doing so?

1. Don't feel like you have to read certain books (and if you don't like one, you can stop).
Finding books is hard to do, but finding a good book can be even harder. This is especially true for those who have read a lot or hardly any at all. To avoid this problem, experiment with books and try out different genres, authors, and topics. Asking others their favorite books is a great way to find a good read, especially if you share tastes in music, TV shows, or hobbies. Additionally, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

One important thing to remember is that you absolutely do not have to finish a book. If you are not enjoying it, it is okay to move to something else (especially if you have another one you want to read!) Reading is a process, what matters is putting interest into what you are doing.

2. Take your book places (and read it).
In forming a reading habit, it is important to practice it. This is not to say you ALWAYS have to be reading, but you can give yourself the opportunity to do so. For example, instead of scrolling through social media while waiting at an appointment, you can get a few pages in. It will also make your free time or waiting time more interesting and feel like you are not wasting it. Books are also great because you can go at your own pace, and take your time. They are quite forgiving if you take a break for a while.

3. Make the experience something to remember.
Reading does not always have to be limited to reading a book. In fact, it often is not. In order to motivate yourself or get more out of a book, you can try the following things. If you want to make reading a social experience or to keep yourself accountable, you could start or join a book club. If you are feeling more personal, you can always set your own goals. Do you want to read a certain amount of pages in a day or a certain amount of books? Maybe your goal is to read that one book you have been meaning to read forever. Additionally, you can remember your books by writing down quotes or things that stood out to you.

4. Try different types of reading
Like life, people prefer different things and experiences. Reading can be the same as there are many ways to enjoy a book. Perhaps you like audio books and listening to them when working out or traveling somewhere. Or maybe you are like me and want to have a real book that you can carry around and hold. Additionally, many people like reading on electronic devices, and that option can often be a lot cheaper and manageable when it comes to space and carrying something around. Both Coe's library the Cedar Rapids Public Library has books in all types of formats that you can try.

Again, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

via GIPHY, Alexandra Dvorniokova

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References:

Babauta, L. (2017, June 29). 14 Ways to Cultivate a Lifetime Reading Habit. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/14-ways-to-cultivate-a-lifetime-reading-habit.html

Kaplan, E. (2017, March 27). How to Read (a Lot) More Books This Year, According to Harvard Research. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year-according-to-harvard-research-e1dfc55e0b9f

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Rampton, J. (2017, June 27). 25 Expert Tips to Reading WAY More Books This Year. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/25-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year.html

Image made with Canva

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New Semester, New Schedule: How to Effectively Plan A Schedule

Photo by Marco Verch

Whether you know what your major is or you are still looking around for classes that spark your interest, the end of the semester is approaching and that means a new class schedule needs to be made. If you always find yourself struggling and having to change classes after one week because you realize that biology class isn't for you, then here are some tips that can help you next time.

Diversify Your Work

Even if you can crank out an essay in a short time frame you won't want to do it for multiple classes. Make sure that you're not taking four writing intensive classes at the same time so you don't have to write four essays during the last few weeks of the semester. Take classes that will require different types of work; from writing essays to solving problem sets to a presentation. This way you won't find yourself stuck doing the same thing every week and can focus all of your skills on one class without having to share.

Your Secret Weapon: Your Advisor

One of the best resources you have at your disposal is your advisor. Everyone has one, everyone needs one. Ask your advisor every question you can think of when creating your next schedule and if they don't have the answers you can ask the professor of the class for answers as well. They are there to help make sure that you are on track for graduation, and they will make sure you are taking every class you need to get you there. Even better, if you find that your advisor is not in the same department as your major you can get a new advisor by simply signing one form. The process is easy and can be done in an afternoon and you'll have all the help you need in finding the schedule that is perfect for you.

Back-to-Back, Nights, Weekends, Oh My!

The importance of the break has been researched before, and the idea of going from one class to the next will tire you out faster than you think. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time between classes to eat, relax, and study as needed.
There are classes that you can also take that will happen at night or during the weekend, and while these can be helpful in getting a schedule with no conflicts in it they have their own commitment. It is recommended not to take a night class unless you know you work well at night, otherwise, you may find yourself struggling with the classwork.

Focus on the Required Classes

Even if you know what major you are going to go for, focusing on the general education classes first can save you from having to take a non-interest class your senior year. If you focus on getting through all of the science, history, and writing intensive classes first then you will be free to enjoy the classes for your major as you wrap up your college experience.

There are many more tips out there for creating the perfect class schedule. Look around for what will best suit you and don't be afraid to ask your advisor or professors of classes that you're interested in for help. They're there to help you and your academic career!

Sources

Perfectionism

I have a problem. I do everything in my power to complete all my tasks on time in an orderly, efficient manner, yet when I accomplish my goals I still feel like a failure. I know I'm a hard-worker, but it's hard to admit when I'm too hard on myself. My schedule fits all of my classes, work, and extracurricular activities. When there's overlap, I've managed to remain committed. My grades are good, my friends are true, and people tell me my future is bright and golden. But, I'm overwhelmed and feel that I have no time for relaxation, rest, or proper exercise. I feel obligated to do everything, even when I know I have no such obligations. This is perfectionism.

Being a perfectionist is typically considered good, since the overachievers make straight As and Bs, win awards and trophies, and tend to have a strong work-ethic. Alongside these positives are many negatives - often ignored in the mainstream media - gaining momentum in the scientific community. When researching how my personal feelings towards my accomplishments could differ so drastically from those around me, Dr. Brene Brown's quote from GoodTherapy spoke to me. She said, "Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be your best. Perfection is not about healthy achievement and growth." This was my wake-up call.

I wanted to write about all the things I've learned since coming to college so that my readers could find something useful to apply to their lives. I've made a lot of mistakes, and learn something new and valuable every day, but I've also accomplished so much. This series will be for those who struggle to see the beauty in their present because of a few splotches on the painting of their past, and are frozen in place for fear of ruining their current canvas.

Sources

Benson, Etienne. "The many faces of perfectionism." Vol. 34. 10. November 2003. 18. Web. 3 December 2018. <https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/manyfaces.aspx>

Excellence. "Collins Dictionary.com" Collins Dictionary, 2018. Web. 3 Dec 2018.

Perfectionism. 3 August 2018. Web. 29 November 2018. <https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/perfectionism>.

Perfectionist. "Collins Dictionary.com" Collins Dictionary, 2018. Web. 3 Dec 2018.

Why Does Reading Matter?

By: Paige Waskow

What is the importance of reading? Why should we spend our time reading, especially as busy college students? In reading, there are both many educational and personal benefits. Additionally, it is important to remember how valuable being able to read really is and experience fiction worlds, true stories, and what is going on in the world. Let's dive a bit deeper into what this all means through some key points.

via GIPHY

1. Reading is a good escape and can be incredibly relaxing.
Life can be busy, overwhelming, and uncontrollable, especially if you have lots of classes, work, and sports. Managing it can be incredibly difficult and working through the stress that comes with it can often be much worse. One benefit of reading is that is it is an escape and break from that stress. Finding a good book can take you to new world, explore complex problems, and provide hours of entertainment. Reading is a choice. You can choose what you want to read and explore without fear of getting to a certain page number or writing a paper about thematic character actions. Additionally, reading may help you feel understood and understanding. As author John Green simply stated, "Great books help you understand, and they help you to feel understood".

2. Reading helps you see the world in new ways (and challenge it).
There is a reason books are criticized, praised, or incredibly popular. Books are complex and provide a voice to ideas and concepts. From banned books to those that provide criticism on culture, reading opens the door to the world. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences; we each have our own story. Through reading, you have the opportunity to expand your bubble and even break the expectations you have of yourself and the world. Additionally, it brings you closer to others. Reading is special in that even if we know of a concept or idea, by exploring and reading we gain new knowledge and learn from a new perspective. We are able to grow into people who care more about ideas, humanity, and solutions.

In one of her articles about the importance of reading, Brain Pickings writer Maria Popova quotes author Neil Gaiman on his perspective of fiction's value. "'Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. And discontent is a good thing: people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different, if they’re discontented,'" (Popova, Gaiman).

3. Reading opens the door to community.
Although books are often seen as a personal and introverted activity, they can also be used as a way to socialize and grow friendships with others. Take book clubs, recommending books to others, and popular culture references as examples. Books and stories bring people together while helping challenge us in our experience and being willing to share it with others.

4. Reading can educate you in what you need to know and help give you more information about what you care about.
Books are a form of media, and like all media, they are biased in some way. But, they also take more time to write and often more care before publishing. Books can provide information that is easily compared with other sources, insight, and perspective. In regards to non-fiction, reading a lot of books allows for the opportunity to learn more about issues that matter to you. Additionally, they may help you have the ability to understand and be less overwhelmed by issues in culture, then being able to formulate opinions and solutions. This then can be useful in classes, as you have more sources and understanding about why you believe something, as well as knowledge to share with other people.

5. Not reading all together undermines the value of books in society.
According to Pew Research,"About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form," (Perrin 2016). This is definitely at least a whelming statement. Books are such a rich source of knowledge and can provide and bring so much into people's lives and experiences, as stated in the points above. When we do not read or use books, we may begin to believe that they are of less worth than they provide. This is not to enact fear of a Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 like society, but it is important to note that how we gain information matters. How we communicate and grow as people is where we get information and how we process it in our daily lives. We should not read out of fear of losing books but out of enjoyment and pursuit of learning. What we give attention to is what grows and flourishes.

Additional note: I want to share this NPR article about reading literacy in the US and how many people are learning to read for the first time as adults.

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References:

Perrin, A. (2018, March 23). Who doesn't read books in America? Retrieved October 29, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/23/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/

DesMarais, C. (2018, March 15). Why Reading Books Should Be Your Priority, According to Science. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/why-reading-books-should-be-your-priority-according-to-science.html

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Block, M., & Peñaloza, M. (2018, April 26). Casting Aside Shame And Stigma, Adults Tackle Struggles With Literacy. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/26/602797769/casting-aside-shame-and-stigma-adults-tackle-struggles-with-literacy

Image made with Canva

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Bienvenue

Everyone's dreamed of one day seeing the city of lights: Le Louvre, Le Tour d'Eiffel, La Seine, etc. Many plan to go abroad and experience French culture, but most don't intend to learn how to speak the language. Then, there's moi. Il était une fois quand j’avais appris d’art du français et la monde, mais je n’étais jamais la fille qui rêve de vivre en Paris ou Lyons. I've always been fascinated by other cultures and planned to learn at least 5 languages by high school. It wasn't until my freshman year that I was able to take a French class, but from day one I was hooked.

No More Spanish

In preschool I learned to count from zero to one hundred in Spanish. In the first grade, I learned there are many regional dialects of Spanish, and until the fourth grade the different teachers would alternate between Spaniard Spanish and Mexican Spanish. I proceeded to learn nothing until the fourth grade when the newest teacher my class in Cuban. For the first time since age 4, I could understand Spanish. Chicago is a rather diverse city and in the neighborhood I lived in most people spoke fluent Spanish. I was hopeful, when suddenly, she was replaced. Our newest teacher, and our youngest, taught us in Argentinean. I cannot explain why it's a bad idea to rotate language teachers and the dialect they speak every year, but even then I knew it simply was.

My Many Interests

I've wanted to travel the world since before I can remember. Libraries were stocked full of interesting books and documentaries: The Edo period was full of samurai and women wore beautiful kimonos and yukatas; The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were buried with their brains pulled out through their noses, surrounded by gold to bring with them to the afterlife; and The Great Wall of China helped prevent many invasions by the Mongols. All of these far away places were my future homes but there was no where for me to learn how to speak to their people when I arrived. At some point, I decided that Japanese would be the best to learn, because the music was so beautiful. Europe was never on my mind.

Bienvenue

I vaguely remember my first French class. There were many confused young ladies and the word "Bienvenue" hung over the whiteboard. I wanted to learn a language that I would use in my daily life in my future travels. Unfortunately, the only options at the high school were European languages. From those options, French was the only on that made sense. When I transferred, I chose to stick with French, but was sad when the classes were cancelled. I was challenged by the grammar and the unusual pronunciations. I was fine not being obsessed with the culture, like my classmates, and enjoyed the learning process. This is not a magical story, but it's the truth of when I welcomed francophone culture into my life.

Helpful Hint:

My high schools required a language, but when given the option to not take any why did I stay? Once I got to Coe, I finally found my reason for staying with French. Click here to find out what it was.

Why Should You Read?: An Introduction

By: Paige Waskow

Reading matters.

Of course, you have heard this, had teachers tell you to read more, had classes where the curriculum is “reading intensive”, or heard of its magical benefits. But why does it matter if you read and how does doing so outside of a class during your precious free time actually benefit you? How can you enjoy it?

Perhaps you are like me and enjoy reading. A. Lot. I grew up hauling as many books as my arms could carry down city blocks to my house from my local public library. But, in my educational experience, whether in middle or high school, reading was about being a better student in the short term and doing well on tests, rather than enjoying it and thinking about it in the long term. My educational experience did not really make me want to read outside of class. My personal experience and exploration as a child did. As students, I believe we have lost touch with the importance of reading for pleasure. I have friends explicitly tell me that they hate reading. Books mostly meant grades, tests, assignments, and skimming. Maybe you feel the same.

There is immense value in reading in school, and this is not to undermine that. In fact, it is necessary to read in class and have deep conversations about texts. I think that our problem with reading is that we see it as something for school, something that can make us pass or fail, not as something that can be enjoyable, relaxing, and exciting. So, how do we take back that love for reading? How do we read more?

In the next few posts, we are going to look at:

1. Why reading matters

2. How to actually enjoy reading

3. Books you can read

4. Book favorites of the Learning Commons blog writers.

Image made with Canva

Time Management: Organization

Organization is a central aspect of time building time management skills, yet many college students still reject the very idea. My mother was ridiculously organized. Everything was filed away, the cups had to be put away in a certain order, and my bedroom was never clean enough. Arranging my belongings to her criteria was taxing, and at some point I gave up on trying to appease her and did my own thing. "Everything has it's place" was her motto, but my idea of where the cups "belonged" always clashed with her own. If my experience was anything like yours I understand why you're repelled. When I moved to Coe, I was free to explore how I wanted to organize and learned the true beauty of creative freedom. I've compiled a short list to help you learn to organize, because it is an active skill, and the methods you use will change depending on their purposes.

The Magic of Google Calendar

If you are not currently using Google Calendar, stop what you are doing and open it. Using your Coe email you can sync with any other calendar associated with a gmail account. For example, I keep important Coe events and my class schedule in my Coe calendar, and sync it with my personal email to prevent scheduling conflicts. Any club or organization emails can create their own calendar with set dates and share with members - everyone's up to date. You can set not only the date, but time and location as well. On top of all of this, you can color code the events. When syncing, the calendars will automatically change color to prevent confusion. Reminders will buzz your phone and any smart devices to remind you of your commitments, and you can can set goals for yourself to create better habits.

Use a Personal Planner

Throughout high school, we would be given "assignment notebooks" to record our homework. The lines were always too big to fit all the homework I received in certain classes, so I had to expand into other sections. Eventually, I was bored having to carry the bulky thing around and used random notebooks to record the homework instead. I see now, as a 19-year-old, that they were trying to instill in us organization skills. Most students didn't use the notebooks, but this was two years ago so take my memory with a grain of salt. Since coming to college, I've learned of the beauty that is personal planners. They come in all sizes, and typically follow one school year. The one I own was only $9, but the one I had last year was $25. The ones where you can change the paper (college-rules, graph, dots) go for around $40.

Keep it Simple

Stationary and technology go hand in hand, but many students have found it easier to use only one. For some, a physical calendar is all they need to check dates, and a regular notebook can be used to record assignments. Others prefer to design their own planner using Excel or their computer's personal calendar. As long as you're using something to document dates, times, and locations you should be fine. Although, remember that what works for some may have the opposite effect on you, so explore all your options and decide for yourself how you want to stay (or become) organized.

Helpful Hints:

If you want more help using Google Calendar click here.

Time Management

"In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do;

it is not really the time but the will that is lacking"

~Sir John Lubbock

Midterms is finally over, so now we can relax with our friends - Netflix awaits. Oh, wait, there's one more task you need to complete before enjoying your time off - actually, there's 10? You have a meet this Saturday, two papers to write by Monday (due 12 am), and your best-friend from home is here to visit you. Don't forget to go to work to get paid to pay tuition, and attend the meetings of your many, many clubs. This sounds like a lot, and at times it's even too much to handle. Unfortunately, life doesn't magically become easier overnight. Let's simplify this stress-inducing situation by learning about time management.

What is Time Management?

I'm sure you already have a definition in your head, but let’s start at the basics. The Collins Dictionary's defines it as "the process of deciding on the order in which you will do tasks, and making sure that they are done on schedule." This is a pretty straightforward definition, yet many people struggle to incorporate it into their busy lives.

Why Do You Need Time Management?
Trying to balance all of your commitments is challenging, but a good type of stress is created when you overcome obstacles and make yourself proud. Incorporating time management into your daily life allows you to control how you spend your time.

The 3 Keys to Time Management:

Helpful Hints:
If you still don't see why time management is important:

Appointment Plus: 8 Reasons Why Time Management is Crucial

Sources

AppointmentPlus, Written by: “Why Time Management Is Important.” AppointmentPlus, 15 Oct. 2015, www.appointmentplus.com/blog/why-time-management-is-important/. Accessed 14 November 2018.

“Definition of 'Time Management'.” Take Heed/Pay Heed Definition and Meaning | Collins English Dictionary, https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/time-management. Accessed 14 November 2018.

Starting a New Semester the Right Way: Part 1

Let's Begin!

The beginning of the year is a crucial time for students to motivate students and get habits started off right.

Changing habits can be difficult. Luckily though, there is no better time to change your old habits than the beginning of a semester.

No, seriously!

When we go through a large change, for instance coming back from winter break, leaving home once again to return to the steady study stream, we are more likely to change how we do things and our minds are more susceptible to forming new and changing habits.

A new semester is the best time to reflect on what you did last semester and look for ways that you can make this one better. Whether that's not buying so many highlighters, because you only used that one green one, or you found late in the game that sticky notes are amazing at adding side notes after class if your notes are crowded like my own usually are.

Firstly though, it would be best to make sure that you prepare BEFORE the semester starts. If you aren't prepared for day one, the weekend might be a little overwhelming when you have to rewrite all of those notes. We want to try to reserve that for relaxing and preparing for next week.

Part 1: Know what materials you need up front.
We all have had at least one day in which we leave a pencil behind and have to ask for one from a friend or from the teacher. But you wouldn't dare come to class without your notebook would you?

Text books are expensive, heavy, loud, and an overall struggle to maintain when you have 3 classes a day. Before the semester starts, email your professor. Do you really need that book? If so, is there a PDF for it somewhere? Chances are that there is. I would heavily recommend that you take 30 minutes or so to look for a PDF file and either download it or bookmark it for easy access later.
It might be in your best interest to keep all of your books in the bookmark bar so you are more likely to get to reading rather than letting it become an out of sight, out of mind deal.
To find them, simply google the title of the book with the author, one time without including "pdf" and another time with "pdf".
This is a great way to save $100 for those other materials mentioned earlier.

If you still can't find them, make sure you see how long it would take for a textbook to ship. You wouldn't want to be the first week without access to a textbook. It could have the possibility to derail an entire semester.
If it would take too long to get the book through shipping, look for an online edition. Good resources for this would be through Amazon Kindle, Chegg, or textbooks.com.

Another great thing to get the semester started off right, write your professors office hours in your google calendar. This way you always know when a good time to visit your prof without having to go through moodle or the school website. This is also a good place to record their information from the syllabus if they include their phone number or email. I try to make contacts in my phone for easy look up. In the notes I can record a quick note about the late policy and any other information I think is important like if they take attendance daily or if being late affects my grade.

Frank, Thomas. “How to Start a New Semester or School Year the Right Way - College Info Geek.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Aug. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey-cAHDme2s.

Time Management: Past Mistakes

When you graduate high school you are on top of the world. You’re the mature ones, the ones who’ve made it, no longer teenagers, but adults and the world is yours for the taking. College is the last stepping stone on your path to greatness. Hopefully, now that we’re a few months into the semester, you’ve realized that reality is not parallel to your fantasies. My preconceptions weren’t insane, but I did underestimate the amount of time and effort I would need to put into my classes to receive the same grades I did in high school. It’s a college thing. Ever heard that a college C is a high school A+? Me neither, until I realized I had a C in CSI. “Troubled” is the word that describes how I felt when I saw my first test. To better grasp why academics was suddenly a struggle I needed to reflect on my past.

High School

My HS required seven classes a day, and I took eight. Instead of doing homework after school, I was an officer in three out of my five clubs. Some days I went to volunteer. Like most Coe students, I was an overachiever who sought straights As and only slept for four hours a night. My classes were not easy, and being heavily involved provided great experiences but also massive amounts of stress. I spent four years trying to "figure out my life" so that I would be prepared for college. I woke myself up every morning and learned a few bus routes and schedules so I could get to my train on time to get to school. I learned how long it would take me to get dressed, grab some fruit, and whether I had time certain days to walk, or sprint, to the bus stop. I knew my schedule by heart and planned accordingly. However, that was high school, and I wasn’t prepared for the reality check I received when it was over.

Freshman Year

At Coe, I was only required to choose four classes; naturally, I chose five. I believed I could handle anything after the nightmare of senior year, so I struggled to come to accept the mistakes I was making. I felt that I didn't have time to finish certain assignments, when in truth I wasn't making the time. I didn't ask my professors for help until it was too late. The list goes on. When you're a freshman you make a lot of mistakes. I though I had to "figure out" what I wanted to major in and what career I wanted all within the first few months, and I was wrong. To learn how to use my time more effectively I had to accept my mistakes and decide how I wanted to change. Then, I had to change.

The Importance of Taking a Break: The Pomodoro Technique

The ratio of study hours for a class is often described as 1:3. For every hour of class, there should be three hours of studying. Do you remember hearing that number and dreading having to focus three whole hours on one subject? How would you be able to do that with all of your classes? The best way to overcome the struggle of ineffective studying is to find a method of studying that works for you. That's where the Pomodoro technique comes in.

The Pomodoro technique encourages fast sprints of productivity with small breaks in between to allow your mind to relax and not get overwhelmed by continuous studying. There are only six steps to the technique and doing one full set will take about an hour and fifteen minutes, broken up into four twenty-five minute blocks with breaks in between.

Here are the six easy steps to use this technique:

Pick a task. This may seem like a throwaway but the decision of picking one thing and mentally preparing yourself for it will go a long way in helping you do the rest of the steps.
Set a timer for 25 minutes. While there is an official Pomodoro timer you can get feel free to use whatever timer you want. A kitchen timer, hourglass, or even your phone can work!
Work on the task. Don't let yourself get interrupted. If you think of something else that you need to do in the middle of your Pomodoro then make a quick note of it and go back to working on the task at hand. You'll thank yourself later for focusing on it so much.
Once the timer goes off, give yourself a checkmark! You did it! Commemorate working so hard to get it done! It may not seem like much, but the little things can help make us our happiest.
Take a short break. Refill your coffee or drink, meditate, go to the bathroom. Do whatever quick thing you want to do to help clear your mind after focusing for the last quarter of an hour.
After every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break on a paper. This break can be around a twenty-half hour. This will allow your brain to have a nice rest after focusing for over an hour on one subject. After the break is done you can go back to another round of Pomodoros!

You can find out more information on the Pomodoro method here and also find resources that can help you be your most productive self!

Time Management: Prioritization

While it’s true that we take less classes in college, those classes always find ways to take over our lives. We aren’t full-time students for nothing, and professors seem to think that their class is the only class students have to take (or the most important) and we can’t blame them - although we will. It’s our job to prioritize and find a way to fit in our clubs, sports, recitals, outings, relaxation, and work into this array of never-ending work. To help you get started I’ve created a simple assignment. All right, grab your favorite pen and a sheet of paper (and make sure to take your time).

Part I

1. List out all of your classes – skip a line and do not number them.
2. Write all the clubs and/or sports you’re involved with (as well as your position(s) or office(s).
3. Write down any jobs, internships, and/or work-study positions.
4. Add any volunteering that you do on a consistent basis.
5. Finish up with any hobbies you keep up with on a consistent basis.

Hopefully, you now have all of your usual activities on that sheet of paper. Is your page mostly empty, or packed with stressors? Either way, I want you to look over every word and reflect on whether it’s important to you, or not, and why.

Bonus Activity: in the blank lines (the lines that you skipped) explain why each class, club, or hobby, etc… is important to you.

Part II
On another sheet of paper (you can flip your current page over) title the page in big, bold lettering “My Priorities”. Gently breathe in, and out. Now, decide the 10 activities that are most important. Out of all that you wrote, only 10 are allowed on this page. You are not ranking them (do not number them). There’s nothing wrong if you have less than 10 consistent responsibilities; it just means you already have a solid set of priorities. When you’re finished writing, look over your sheet. If you would trade one commitment for another, replace it.

Part III
Once your list is complete, follow these steps:
1. Either on that same sheet of paper or another, number your page from 1 to 10 (you can skip lines if you want to).
2. Rank those 10 activities with 1 being the most important and 10 the least.
(There's no judgement here, this is how you truly feel. Be honest.)

Congrats! You have finally prioritized your responsibilities. The first step to time management is being aware of not only your responsibilities, but also which activities give you the motivation to push through any obstacles that come your way. You can only focus 100% of your energy on one thing at a time, even though it’s our habit to juggle. Naturally, your list will change as you take different courses, as your interests and skills develop, as you take on more responsibilities, and as you learn to let things go.