Monthly Archives: August 2018

Memory (Spotlight Blog)

--Original published at Tiffany'sCollegeBlog

For this spotlight blog, we had the option of choosing from a memory prompt, stress prompt, and  a drug prompt. I chose to do the memory prompt because I think that looking at different study skills could help me use them during school or any other place that I need help studying. 

Memory is retaining learned information or past events, or taking what we learned and being able to use it in the future. There are three processes that are involved with memory: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is putting information into a form the brain can understand and store. Encoding has many more aspects to it like failure and the different types of encoding. Storage is the process of storing memories in the brain and retrieval is receiving stored memories. Each of these processes can have failure if you didn’t learn something properly or if you didn’t have strong associations. Encoding failure means that you never really learned it in the first place and never got information into a form that the brain could understand. Storage failure is a biological disorder or some type of damage to the brain and retrieval failures have to have with the associations not being strong enough. Encoding allows transfer from working memory to long term memory. Working memory is what you are actively thinking about. You can typically hold 5-9 pieces of information and then we forget or it goes to long term memory. The best way to keep things in working memory is through rehearsal and repetition. There are multiple types of encoding like automatic and effortful. There is also phonological, visual, and semantic. With automatic encoding that means that you automatically remember something with no effort put towards it. Studying is done with effortful encoding where you have to work to memorize something. Phonological, visual, and semantic are more useful when it comes to studying I feel because some people are a visual learning, some are better at just listening, and for some it depends on what exactly you’re learning. When it comes to remembering your memory, you mentally search your brain for it and then if it’s located, it’s brought back to working memory. With retrieving memory, often you would look for retrieval cues or words and other stimuli that trigger the memory. Another thing you could look for is context effects. Typically, we tend to remember things better where we have first learned them, which is why in class, most students sit in the same seat so they can recall what they learned. 

Effortful encoding is what we use mostly for studying. We have to work to memorize what is being taught to us. There are many ways to use effortful encoding and that is through organization, distributed practice, meaning, and elaboration. With organization, we remember things better if it’s organized while we learn the information, which is why a lot of teachers recommend the Cornell method of note taking. The Cornell method has notes but then a column for questions and organizing material by headings. It’s better to write notes the way they make sense to you and then review them later that day or the next day. Distributed practice has to do with not cramming things. Taking a lot of information in at once can confuse your memory and not all you to have connections. Studying a little bit of material over a long period of time is better and it’s easier to focus on newer material while just having to go back and refresh the old. You also can switch learning materials with other subjects. It gives you a break from one subject to focus on another. Meaning and elaboration kind of go hand in hand with each other. We remember better when we understand what we memorize and we elaborate more on the meaning and make the information personally relevant. 

The first article I found has to do with studying skills for college students. It lists seven tips and how to go about doing those seven tips. Good habits when studying can make or break your GPA and doing these tips can help with how you study. The tips include: good notes= good grades, stay organized, unplug and reconnect, don’t cram, don’t over-study, find your zone, and take a break. Taking good notes isn’t something that everyone is good at but it is a good way to get the key points from a lecture and a textbook. Writing too many things can be strenuous and time consuming. Staying organized by having a planner or a calendar is a really good way to keep your commitments in order. Organizing your class materials is important as well. It’s easier to memorize if notes are in order and if they stand out with color or different fonts. Not having your phone can also be helpful because then you aren’t distracted and can focus in more with what you need to get done. Not cramming and over-studying is also a good way to keep sane and make sure that your study habits are the best they can be. Time management is a very good essential to make sure that you can get through what you need to. Everyone has their perfect place to study and it might not be the right one at first but it will be if you try many places out. Lastly, taking a break can be beneficial to you and it can help you continue to be energized through studying. I think that all of these are good study tips to stay off with if you are going into college. They explain where to study, to not cram (which is something a lot of people do), ways to stay organized and to always take a break and relax. I don’t think this article includes anything having to do with bad advice but having more to say the notes and organization would have been good to see. College students often get distracted by many things and once that happens sometimes they can’t get back on track. 

https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/2DF9E34D/7-Best-Study-Tips-for-College-Students/

The second article I found was focused more on studying for high schoolers. There are many study tips that high schoolers don’t necessarily follow because they just think about lunch or leaving school and hanging with their friends. The article includes ten tips to help high schoolers with studying and being prepared for school. The tips include: be engaged, take notes, and listen, keep up to date with your homework, have an organizational system in place, have a routine, have daily and weekly objectives in place, don’t procrastinate, have an ideal study station, unplug, log off, mute, and power down, manage high school stress, and lastly, take advantage of technology available. Being engaged in class can help you focus more on what you need to do to get a good grade. Taking notes, asking questions, and engaging in discussions can help with these. This article discusses using the Cornell method of note taking, which for some it can help and others it can just be confusing and make taking notes even worse. Keeping up to date with homework can help you with studying as well. Using a planner can keep you on top of things that are due and help you plan what to do each night if you have a big assignment. Have an organizational system can help tremendously. It helps things stay in order and you don’t lose anything. My personal organizational system is color coordination. I have a purple folder and a purple spiral, sticky notes, notecards etc. Having a routine can keep you in line and make sure that you keep to it or you will be unorganized. This one I feel is super important because all throughout high school people don’t want to do work. They would rather go to the football games and hang with tier friends but getting your work done or even starting it can go a long way. This one is also important. Studying in a loud place isn’t going to help you memorize anything and having a disorganized spot can make you stressed and not focused especially if you just have to clean and straighten it all the time. You want it to be comfortable but not too comfortable so studying in bed probably isn’t the best. I think this article was helpful and didn’t have any bad advice, but I do think some of the tips are more important than others. All these tips were explained in depth and makes it easier to go along through high school. Even if it doesn’t have to necessarily do with studying right away, it’s still helpful because all these things lead to studying well. All of these tips play a key role in effectively studying and focusing on what you have to do. 

http://student-tutor.com/blog/top-10-high-school-study-tips/ 

For studying skills, there are also many ways to help you memorize something so that you don’t have to go back and relearn. Repetition is the best way to memorize something. Just re-reading your notes isn’t sufficient enough but you can create questions with your notes and also rewrite them. Studying in situations that are similar to the exam are good as well, doing 15 minutes of one class and then 15 minutes of another class. Flashcards are also a very effective way on studying, only if you use them correctly. Going through note cards both ways can help with definitions and vocabulary. Shuffling them and going through the ones you don’t really know are also a really good way to frequently practice the ones you don’t know. I don’t prefer this study method but sometimes studying in groups can be effective as well. It works when there is plan to get done and it’s in action. When studying with a group, you should know the material first and not learn it with everyone but get everyone to help you understand things you don’t know. 

The last article I found was advice for parents who have studying teens in high school or college. This article has a few tips for parents to help their children succeed. Some tips that it has for parents who have teens that need to study are: to learn effective study strategies, create weekly and daily plans and build rewards for a task that is accomplished. To help reduce a child’s stress and improve their grades, having a calendar that keeps track of assignments is beneficial, having a weekly planner to show a study plan and keep time of how much time is spent on one assignment and a checklist that shows what needs to be done that day and in what order they should be done can help. Along with those tips, location can be distracting if it’s not quiet or comfy, not having materials that you need can distract you because then you have to stop and look for the thing you need, and rewards. I think that this doesn’t necessarily have to be a snack or something but it could also be computer or phone time. This last tip is interesting because I’ve never thought about it. Keeping a worry pad so that teens who are distracted by their thoughts can write them down and worry about them later. I think that this is a good article and it doesn’t point out any bad advice. I think that this is a good start to getting a child on track with studying but there are more articles that may have a better sense of what to do and when. I also think that this article is very similar to the ones about college and high school students and it doesn’t say anything else that it very eye catching of a parent. 

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/how-to-help-your-teen-develop-good-study-habits 

Spotlight Post 2

--Original published at CatherinesCollegeBlog

I chose the second option about stress for this post. I found three websites that provide stress management tips to various groups of people, including college students, athletes, and parents. The article from Verywell Mind, a website providing information from mental health professionals, is targeted to college students and first suggests to become more organized. When college students transition from having regular discipline from their parents to being the own sources of their discipline, these new responsibilities of keeping track of their own schedules and living spaces can add stress. If they apply a problem-focused coping strategy to the situation, perhaps by creating a more organized schedule of when assignments are due and a more organized living space that allows for better concentration, this stress may fade. Regular exercise is another suggestion, even when it is incorporated in small ways. Living on campus makes it easy for college students to walk or bike to class, and there are many opportunities to participate in fitness classes with other students. Consistent exercise will relieve the stress of college life by releasing endorphins, helping students feel physically and psychologically better. College students need to be careful about using self-indulgence as a coping strategy. Again, without parents right there to enforce healthy habits of eating clean and getting enough rest, students may fall into a pattern of eating unhealthy foods and staying up late because these are more fun and rebellious things to do. Although indulging in fast food and ice cream every night is more enjoyable and relieves stress for a moment, this habit can harm overall health and lead to more stress later on. A final tip involves social support systems offered to college students. Most schools have resources such as counseling services or support groups where students go to release their stress and seek advice on how to cope in other ways. It is also important to join clubs and branch out to meet new people who potentially will help relieve stress. Self-disclosure can be effective if the people are good listeners who are willing to offer help. These can develop into great friendships and apply to other coping strategies, like exercising regularly with the new friends these students make.

Another article I chose from Livestrong.com provides tips tailored to athletes who are trying to cope with stress. This website publishes articles for the public each day with new ways to develop a healthier lifestyle, in terms of physical and mental health improvements. The first suggestion is to apply a cognitive response to stress that restructures how to approach a similar conflict again. This method emphasizes emotion-focused coping, as the athletes are told to document the stressful situation and identify the feelings they experienced that contributed to any stressful thoughts. By writing this information out, athletes can identify which feelings and thoughts are causing stress and aim coping efforts specifically at times when they begin to experience those same feelings. Another tip is for athletes to actually picture themselves achieving their goal, whether it is scoring the winning goal in a soccer game or crossing the finish line first in an 800 meter race. This method relies on imagery to create as real of an experience as possible. Athletes should try incorporating as many senses as they can when picturing this moment of success, including sights, sounds, smells, textures, and motion. If the visualization is done effectively, it can create a sense of ease for athletes as they can finally see themselves achieving their goals without worrying about stress. The realistic nature of visualization makes these goals seem more attainable and less daunting, which will relieve the pressure and stress of actually getting there. The last recommendation for athletes is to cope with stress using guided relaxation. This method has been found to reduce the levels of cortisol in the human body, which is a hormone released in response to stress. Guided recordings relieve stress physically and psychologically, as they focus on controlled breathing and muscle relaxation to calm the body and mind when athletic pressures become too stressful.

The final article I chose from Huffington Post is specific to parents and the best ways for them to manage their stress. Being a parent is tough because kids will always scrutinize every little thing their parents do. When children see their parents handling stress in destructive ways, it makes it seem acceptable for children to react in the same manner. This article first mentions how parents need to avoid using the physical release of lashing out too often. It is true that releasing emotions is healing, whether the release is psychological by screaming at the top of your lungs or physical by punching a pillow; however, these reactions can get out of control quickly and lead to others being put in harm’s way. A better way for parents to handle stress and anger is to not take things too personally and remember to just breathe. When kids disobey their parents, the parents may feel incapable of the responsibility they have to raise them. Parents must remember that kids are supposed to go against what their parents believe sometimes, as it is part of learning and growing up. This incorporates the mindfulness-based stress reduction strategy, which emphasizes staying in the present with nonjudgemental awareness. Just as we are taught to not judge others, parents have to avoid judging themselves too harshly. As the article suggests, it is better to aim for imperfection and eliminate both external and internal pressures as much as possible. Parents are constantly told by others how they should be acting and raising their kids, whether it is their own parents telling them, their children telling them, or other parents who think they know better. Imperfection allows for mistakes and lessons learned without excessive pressure or stress. The article also advises that parents focus on one task at a time, especially if it is causing any stress. Immediately aiming constructive efforts at the problem will help identify the stressor in the future, and parents will not get overwhelmed if they deal with these one at a time. Parents should still be able to “play” too, as the article mentions. These small self-indulgences of dancing or going to see a movie are critical to maintaining a happy, balanced, low-stress life. Exercise and sleep are important for parents just as they are for everyone else dealing with stress. It can be especially difficult for new parents to find enough time to exercise regularly and get enough sleep, as they deal with the life change of having a baby. They have to stay positive and remember that this stage in their lives of sleep deprivation and limited personal time is not a chronic negative situation, and that they will eventually be able to devote more time to themselves again.

https://www.verywellmind.com/college-life-how-to-reduce-stress-3145176

https://www.livestrong.com/article/371195-stress-management-techniques-for-sports/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/nine-steps-to-stress-free-parenting_n_1403209.html

Chapter 13 First Impression

--Original published at CatherinesCollegeBlog

The Personality Test classified me as an ISFJ with a description that was pretty much spot on for how I see myself. I definitely prefer to have a source of authority, as I feel this prevents chaos and avoidable mistakes from occurring. I also am very open to what other people believe, especially when they relate it to their own life experiences. I try to avoid conflict and am usually very agreeable, so I tend not to assert myself. When rules change or are not applied to certain people, it frustrates me because it takes away credibility of the rules themselves. This test seemed relatively credible because it included a wide range of questions and even made suggestions of careers that relate to my personality type, which shows further research about the topic.

The Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test classified me as an INTJ, which means I have a preference of introversion over extroversion, a preference of intuition over sensing, a preference of thinking over feeling, and a preference of judging over perceiving. I do not agree with the description of this personality type when applying it to myself. The description claims that I am very self-confident and make critical decisions on my own without consulting others. I am a very indecisive person who needs the approval of others before I can go through with most of my decisions. The portion I agree with from this description is that I am more of a private person, especially in personal relationships. Small talk is not something I enjoy because I still feel like I am revealing a good amount about myself to others. This test was somewhat reliable because it also included a wide range of questions that can be applied to many areas of personality and life.

The Big Five Personality Test found that I am low in extroversion, moderate in agreeableness, emotional stability, and intellect/imagination, and high in conscientiousness. I agree that I am more on the introverted side and that I am relatively optimistic and friendly, but some days this does not show through as strongly. Those who score low in the conscientiousness factor are impulsive, which is the complete opposite of how I live my life, so I definitely agree. I think about almost all of my decisions and their alternatives, and always make sure to gather opinions from others about what they think is best. This test was relatively credible because it included many questions, but sometimes I could not decide and just opted to stay neutral which does not provide extremely valuable information for the survey.

The Color Test was the least accurate in describing my perception of my own personality. According to this test, I feel best in very socially stimulating situations, when in reality I feel much better after having quiet time alone with my own thoughts. This description also mentioned that I actively pursue goals and dreams, sometimes in an overbearing manner. Instead, I feel that I am more unsure of what my career goals and dreams are at this moment, so I have been the opposite of overbearing, incredibly open to hearing suggestions from others regarding what might be best for me. This test was not very credible in my opinion because of the variability with my answers. The colors I chose were based on how they made me feel in the moment, but the order changed moments later during the second round of choosing. This does not allow for an accurate measure of overall personality when the colors I choose change from turn to turn.

 

Chapter 9 First Impression Post

--Original published at KatieMillerPSY105

For this first impression post, I chose to discuss the first topic of reflecting on my own experiences with educators in the school system. I can not really complain about my schooling experience, but there are some things that I look back on and think that there should be some changes.

From the time I was in elementary school, we would take tests in order to see where we should be placed in our classes (highest to lowest math and language arts classes). Throughout school, I had been one to learn at a quicker pace than some of my peers in these subjects, so I do think that this system was well placed. This would give kids the opportunity to go at the pace they felt comfortable with learning. Every teacher in my elementary school that I had interacted with were genuinely excited to see what the future would hold for us. They really cared and wanted us to learn. They also enjoyed being able to teach students and start their education.

In middle school, we would take a test to see what math class we would be put into. Also, if you had higher grades in your science classes in seventh grade, you would be put into an advanced science class. My school was very into placements and trying to put kids where they needed to be in order to get the most out of their education. In those same years, I was able to be around teachers who enjoyed what they were doing and wanted what was best for the students. I had always seen that the teachers wanted to be there for the students and help them no matter what.

High school was the turning point where I noticed things that I thought should not have been done. We were able to choose which classes we wanted to be in whether it was college prep or honors. This is where it got to be a little troubling. Our guidance counselors did not want to put kids into higher classes because they felt that the student may not have been ready. This may sound like they were helping, but they were not placing kids in challenging enough classes. There are three of the four counselors who knock down kids’ ideas about where they want to go after high school and try to promote schools that were not as interesting to the student. It was a big concern that our own guidance counselors were in a way “putting down” the schools that we wanted to go to. It not only happened to me, but many others including many of my other friends who wanted to go to schools out of the state. The teachers, for the most part, were very concerned with the students education and wanted to make sure they were doing their part to prepare the students for their next steps into the future. There were some teachers who would pick favorites in the class and everyone else in the class knew the favorites, but that did not affect anything in the classroom. Overall, I do believe that all the teachers I had cared about my future as well as my peers futures.

One way that I could see improving the school system would be to try to help students who have different ways of learning. Some people are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. I think that if educators, mainly at the middle school and high school level, could help students find the style that they learn best, could help to improve their performance in the classroom.

Chapter 9 impression

--Original published at Loretta Gabrielle

In school, my first positive experience was with my 2nd grade teacher who knew I had test anxiety. When I finished 2nd grade and had a state wide test in 3rd grade, my 2nd grade teacher pulled me out of class and had me do cartwheels in the hallway. She knew I loved gymnastics and so she used this in order to allow me to relax when I was anxious. This is an example of improving a students performance in the classroom.

In high school, I had straight A’s for the most part and had a pretty good work ethic but I was never in the highest classes. Comparison kills and we all do it, but there was never a point where I felt smart. I was never given the chance to be challenged based off of one test when I was in 8th grade. I tried to move up but it never worked, until I just gave up. I wasn’t challenged or given the chance to be challenged until I was in college. Once I got to Elizabethtown, professors for the most part, treated me with respect, asked for my advice, want me to go to extra credit events just to take attendance on who was there, and more. I was given a new set of responsibility which I never was trusted to have before. This is probably a main factor as to why I am so hard on myself. I never had this respect before.

I strongly believe that education is impacted in places outside of the classroom. The first interaction about my intelligence wasn’t inside of a school but at home. My father was very strict and at anytime on the weekends or when we didn’t have any homework when we wanted to watch television, we had to read in equal amount of time. I had a lazy eye and undiagnosed ADD which made school harder, especially in comparison to my sister. He would continuously compare my sister and I together and refer to me as the pretty one and her as the smart one. He would also comment on how beauty fades and to marry rich and young. Welcome to the 60’s. It was often when he said comments like these to my sister and I. She grew up thinking she was fat and I grew up thinking I was unintelligent. The dream team.

Until I reached Elizabethtown, I never knew how far I could go. I didn’t really question it, I just assumed I would be a subpar student. Now when I get a low grade, I question everything to where it becomes personal. I am still mad I was placed in a harder English class and got a B+ when my college essay got me a scholarship. Talk about irony. My life becomes revolved around succeeding in my career and in academics, not because I am an ultra perfectionist who needs it, but it is as though I am making up for prior encounters along with receiving approval from myself. I don’t need any adults approval, but my own. From this, I would conclude that the environment where someone is, largely impacts the growth and development of success in school and a future career. School systems could provide trust in their students to succeed while challenging them appropriately along with realizing the additional challenges they could be facing.

Spotlight 2

--Original published at Kealey's PSY105 Blog

Many websites claim that they have the best study tips. Ranging from middle school to grad school, students are always looking for helpful information to assist them in performing better on their next test. A lot of study tips may be common knowledge, but there are many myths about studying that students believe to work. Distinguishing between effective study habits and superstitions are essential to a student looking for help.

1.       Secondary Schooling – Campus Explorer

This site highlights its top 10 study habits for high school students. Number 1 is all about managing time. It is true that managing your time is important, and the most important aspect to this is working in short amounts of time frequently into your routine rather than cramming the night before a test. The website then suggests organizing. Every student is different, and the appearance of your binder isn’t something to worry about, but the way in which you write your notes is. Rewriting notes and drawing concept maps can prove especially helpful. The one tip I disagree with is studying outside. While I do not think this is necessarily detrimental, the website claims it will help you do better on tests, which just isn’t true. Creating an environment more like the one that the test will be administered in is the most beneficial space to study in because it improves retrieval in working memory.

2.       Parents – Child Development Institute

The tips for kids and teenagers aimed at parents on the Child Development Institute’s website has useful information backed by research. The tips are mainly about creating at atmosphere free of distractions with areas and times specifically designated to studying. Maintaining an environment like this is best when it comes to taking the actual test because the mind is used to retrieving the information needed in a setting like this. The website also encourages parents to teach their children to think past what is asked for them on homework assignments. This is about the idea of elaboration. The further a student thinks about the material and makes meaningful connections, the easier it will be for them use this information on tests. My only problem with this website is that I think it asks the parents to be too involved. While this may be appropriate for little kids, high schoolers should most definitely learn to study independently. After all, when it comes time to take an exam or go college, their parents cannot be there with them.

3.       College – AcademicTips.org

This site gives many helpful tips to new college students navigating the trials of an immense load of coursework. To me, the most useful study skill is distributed practice. Interweaving material, changing the order every day, and always making time to study is the best way to prepare for exams. These methods improve memory and are a beneficial routine to adjust to. Distributed practice of studying for shorter periods a day rather than spending an all-nighter preparing for an exam is much more effective. One of the top tips on this website is to form study groups. Study groups have to potential to be beneficial, but only if everyone is on the same page and prepares individually as well. Otherwise, they can be a distraction and waste of time.

Chapter 9 First Impression Post

--Original published at Jenna'sPSY105blog

For this week’s first impression post, I chose the first prompt which discusses the school system and how to promote better learning. Throughout my school career, I definitely feel that the school system was disinterested in my success. It really seemed like in elementary school it was determined who the academically top ranked students were, and from then on out they were given lots of attention and pushed to challenge themselves and they really wanted those kids to succeed. While I was a very smart kid and did most of my academics with the “gifted” kids, I was never actually in the “gifted” program and it felt I was seen as lesser because of it. I was lumped with the average kids and treated fine by my teachers, but I was never pushed or even encouraged to step out of the box and challenge myself. I was never urged to take AP or even advanced/honors classes by my teachers or counselors, they just automatically signed off on whatever classes I chose was best for me to take.

 

I feel that there are some flaws in our education system. For starters, I think that a lot of times teachers go into teaching with predetermined assumptions about their students. For example, if they know one of their students comes from a family of poverty, they often times assume that the child is not smart and will have trouble succeeding in their classroom. Going along with that, teachers can assume that these students will not be academically successful due to their limited resources or their lack of family members who are involved in their education.

 

Another thing that I think would make the school system more efficient is taking note of how each student learns the best. Some students are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some are tactile learners. Some kind of testing should be done to determine this for each student, then the teachers could teach their students accordingly. This could better suit students’ academic needs in order for them to be as successful as possible. Every child is unique and different in their own way, and it is important that the school system pays attention to their needs.

Chap. 13 – Impression

--Original published at Kealey's PSY105 Blog

My results from the personality tests were generally accurate. The Myers-Briggs test and Type Theory test both revealed that I am an ENTJ personality type. This means I am extroverted, intuitive, a thinker, and a judger. In the past when I have taken tests like these, I have been shown similar results. I believe the reliability of these tests because they have been consistent over time, and I can closely identify with the traits that the personality tests describe. For the Big 5 Personality test I scored highest in the intellect/imagination category. This makes sense because I tend to analyze things critically and abstractly to formulate a well-rounded picture of the situation. I can solve problems by coming up with creative solutions after a lot of consideration. My results of the Big 5 Personality test align with my other two tests, especially in the aspect of deep thinking.

The one test that perplexed me was the Color Quiz. My results were fairly accurate, but vague. I believe this feedback can be applied to many people, making me question its validity and reliability. It is astounding that just by picking a few colors in a certain order, the computer was able to make reasonable conclusions about my current situation. While the other tests focused on analyzing personality, the Color Quiz focused more on situational feelings and stressors. By taking personality quizzes like these, I can assert some aspects of my personality that I am already aware of, as well as discover new things that will help me understand my way of thinking and behavior in the future.

Personality

--Original published at Tiffany'sCollegeBlog

For this week’s first impression post, we were supposed to take the four different personality test to find out our personality type. Personality is a set of habitual behaviors, cognitions and emotional patterns that evolve from biological and environmental factors. The first two personality tests that I took said that my personality type was ESFJ. This means that I am an extravert rather than an introvert, I prefer sensing, I would rather trust feelings rather than thinking, and that I am more judging. ESFJ’s are the “popular” ones. We are very good role models, we take care of what we have the power to take care of and we enjoy being appreciated. ESFJs have strong practical skills, a strong sense of duty, are very loyal, are sensitive and warm, and we are good at connecting with others. We are social creatures, and thrive to stay up to date with what their friends are doing. They also are more concerned with fashion and their appearance, their social status, and the standings of other people. ESFJs are altruists, and they take seriously their responsibility to help and to do the right thing. ESFJs also love to be of service, enjoying any role that allows them to participate in a meaningful way, so long as they know that they are valued and appreciated. ESFJs are also supportive and outgoing, they find time to laugh and chat with everyone. We truly enjoy hearing about their friends’ relationships and activities, remembering little details and always standing ready to talk things out with warmth and sensitivity. If things aren’t going right, ESFJs try to fix it and make everything okay again. All of these personality traits happened but there are also some weaknesses with being an ESFJs. Our feelings can be hurt if our ideas are rejected or not interested. We are weak with being too needy, too selfless, vulnerable to criticism and reluctant to improvise. I would say that these tests were the most credible compared to the other two. I got the same results for those two personality tests as well as I also deal with these traits for the most part and I think they are very accurate. 

For the last two personality tests, I didn’t think it was credible. The scoring for the Big Five Factor Marker test was confusing and it didn’t really explain the Myers-Briggs way of giving you a 4 letter result. Also, I think it was just for colors and it didn’t ask about anything having to do with personality. Then again what will a 60 question survey tell you. Was it just a coincidence that I got the same results or is that really my personality? Also for the tests, I realized there was ways an uncertain or neutral button but some things I do both. My answers ended up being the middle because sometimes I’m feeling this way and sometimes I feel the other way. It wasn’t super clear and I feel like to be clear, there should be the uncertain button PLUS a “both” button. It could people be able to do it truthfully because then they could have an option rather than just hitting neutral answers. ESFJs, according to the Myers-Briggs chart, are friendly, outgoing, reliable, conscientious, organized and practical. They also seek to be helpful and please others and enjoy being active and productive. 

Intelligence

--Original published at Tiffany'sCollegeBlog

Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. I think that not only does this apply to where we get our intelligence from but who we learn it from. In a school setting, the teacher is above all in the classroom and typically is the one that the kids look up to for guidance, help, questions on the material, etc. Throughout my school career, I definitely have had some troubles with teachers but I’ve also had some really good things happen with teachers. I think personally, what makes a good teacher is the bond and connection they show with each of their students. Can they help in every way possible so that the student gets the best teaching? Do they show a good, positive attitude that makes the students want to come back for another day of school? This alone makes or breaks a classroom setting and even a school itself. I mean admit it, we all have schools that we “know” not to send our child there because they are rated low or you know the story behind the school. Not only does this effect one kid, but if you have multiple kids it could be even worse. 

I’ve dealt with this a lot throughout school, even in elementary school. Middle school was okay, but I still had issues with a few teachers. A few teachers in particular were my homeroom teachers for 7th and 8th grade. I had homeroom teachers and then I would have them for class and in middle school, they made it a huge deal to NOT go to your lockers in-between classes and so you’d have to ask the teacher or do it when they weren’t looking. I remember a time where that happened and my homeroom teacher literally threw me away from my locker and said go to class. We also had a folder for reading, which is what my homeroom teacher taught, and god forbid if we didn’t take this folder to class, she would have a conniption fight. This folder had all our resources in it and she would have pop quizzes and it was worth like 15 points. Not every experience was good but the sooner I could leave 7th grade, I turned around and had the same issue in 8th grade, where my homeroom teacher was just so strict. I think not being around those teachers all the time helped. Then in high school, I really took over my education. I was the one that made decisions on what would happen and how I was going to make it through the 4 years. I specifically remember the science teachers being really bad, especially my physics and chemistry teachers. My physics teacher was not the most helpful teacher. He would constantly say “look back in your notes.” Well honestly, what if I can’t find it? He never really helped. Then my chemistry teacher was so bad to the point that I literally had to go to the principal’s office and talk to him about him not helping me. I would request to go to him for help and it was a whole bunch of things. I got my phone taken away in his class because I was texting my mother about how bad of a teacher he was. I also took it upon myself to leave class to “go to the bathroom” but instead I would go another teachers room and he would show me how to actually do the work. 

Moral of the story is that just being an interactive teacher and really engaging in your students lives (not too much but just enough like just asking them how they are and what’s going down) is key to a good relationship in the classroom. I’ve had plenty of teachers who I absolutely love having classes with. It was to the point that I loved learning from them, that I would change my schedule around to actually be in their classes that I knew they were teaching. In high school, I love my math teacher, my history teacher, and my English teacher (academically) and then I loved my band teacher and my chorus teacher, for the most part (she got bad towards the end of the year). My academic teachers were phenomenal. I loved taking classes from them all the time. I even switched in the middle of a year and had to get caught up on a book for English. They were so excellent at teaching, I would make sure that I could see them the next year in a class or around school. It’s just their personality that also helped make school so nice. Good attitudes lead to good relationships in the classroom which lead to good experiences with learning. It motivates students to want to learn and that’s what makes for a good school system. 

To improve students’ performance in the classroom, I think that school systems should have a school wide break, where like for example, some kids could go outside, some could just mingle, others could do crafts etc. I think that having a break throughout the school day would be beneficial so that we as students can have a break and still be able to make it through our days. It’s the same reason that pre-schoolers and kindergarteners get a nap time. It’s a mental break for them to relax and then go back into working again. I also think that schools should include more stress relieving things, mostly stress balls or little things that the students can hold in their hands to fidget with, without distracting someone else. I also have thought about teachers being evaluated on a weekly basis. Yes, I realize that principals and admin walk through the school walking into classrooms to check behavior and such from the kids and every once in a while checking the teachers aspects would be beneficial as well.