It's Not Over, 'Til It's Over . . . 

Did you go tubing, biking, hiking, or riding on the Tilt-a-Whirl this summer? Visit a state fair, an amusement park, or an outdoor concert? Eat a corn dog, corn on the cob, or corn chowder?

Hurry, hurry. There's still time. It's Labor Day Weekend. And there's still time for two low-stress, set-yourself-up-for-a-great-school-year chores:

• Organizing your backpack with Mizz C's classic Dumpster or Backpack tips. 

• Organizing your study space for the year. If you need some inspiration, click here.

Done? Then go make one more of these fantasy castles before the tide comes in:

All Together Now: Study Groups

Exams ahead--call in the study buddies! No not these two:

 

                                       

          More like this:

Mizz C. has a few tips for studying with friends so that the work gets done and there’s still time for fun:

• Keep your study group small, 2-4 people tops--the nerdier the better.

• Meet a few days before the big test for one hour max.

• Pick a place where you can talk quietly without distractions—no cell phones until the hour is over.

• Ask all study buddies to do a couple things: bring their class notes and predict two or three test questions.

• Set a timer for one hour. (You remember Mizz C’s kitchen timer, don’t you--the chicken timer she loves almost as much as her granddaughter?) 

• Spend a half hour sharing class notes. Fill in information any of you forgot.

• Ask the questions everyone thinks the teacher is going to ask. Take turns answering the questions out loud. No interruptions, put-downs, or pile-ons. Be helpful.

• Take notes on the answers you hear.

• When the timer sounds, have fun.