Are you a teenager thinking about going to college and now you are standing in the bookstore wondering what to study to ACE the ACT? I can relate. As a tutor, I have to figure out what works for my students and what doesn't. I have an education degree and I still struggle with finding good, updated materials.
Below is a review of the materials that I use and why I chose them. This way you can decide if studying alone or with a tutor is the best option for you. Studying for the ACT If you decide to study for the ACT, you are farther ahead than a lot of your peers. Any studying will help as long as you find reputable materials. One way to find the right materials is by reading reviews of workbooks, so you are already on the right track. I recommend finding materials that have sample full length tests so you can practice pacing yourself for the actual test. At the Beginning When I first started tutoring ACT test prep, I stood where you are in test section of Barnes and Noble. A prospective student wanted help with the ACT and I needed materials to help them. There in the test aisle was several bookcases filled with workbooks for different tests. I had done some research so I knew the ACT was being updated and I wanted to get the latest workbook that I could find. A College Perspective I wanted a college point of view, so that is why I chose the Kaplan book. I use the Kaplan ACT 2016 Strategies, Practice and Review guide. The test company just changed the ACT, so I had to make sure I had the most updated version. I wanted a comprehensive book with lots of examples and practice tests that would help prepare students for the test, relieving test anxiety in the process. The Kaplan book does just that. Comprehensive program It covers all subjects on the ACT including the optional writing test and gives up to 6 full length tests. It even analyzes scores by breaking down each question into categories so students can figure out their strengths and weaknesses. I use one of the tests as a baseline assessment so I can create a study plan for students. A Drawback It is written at an ACT writing level so students can practice actual testing conditions. One thing that I don't like about it is that the passages are not high school friendly. Many of my students are not interested in the material and therefore, get bored easily. Also it is written in black and white with little to no pictures. A need to change When one of my students decided to take my course twice, I decided I needed to change my class up a bit. I went looking for a different program. Instead I found two. These two programs are Barron's ACT Math and Science Workbook(found at Barnes and Noble) and Complete Fun ACT Prep Bundle(found on Teacher Pay Teacher's website). $10,000 Scholarship After working with this student, he took the ACT in June after he graduated high school and earned a $10,000 scholarship to college. Complete Fun ACT Prep Bundle I really like the Complete Fun ACT Prep Bundle because it uses topics that the students are interested in. It is a downloadable program that comes with colorful posters, Power Points, and workbooks. One of the passages talks about the Chicago Cubs curse which they broke in 2016. These topics gets students excited about studying for the ACT. They interact with the reading and create great discussions which helps with learning. It also gives key words to use in question types like the Kaplan book. This way students can write their own test questions using their own materials. Draw Back This bundle only covers reading and English. Another drawback is that it might not be written at an ACT level of writing, so if that bugs you, this program is not for you. Barron's ACT Math and Science Workbook: Second Edition Since the Fun Bundle didn't cover science and math, I had to find something else. I liked the Barron's book because it also explained each subject in detail and gave extra examples to practice. It is in black and white without any pictures, but the print is larger. I was also able to find flashcards that covered each subject. The flashcards had sample questions for students to answer which makes for a quick review. I found this book to be a little more fun than the Kaplan book, but still comprehensive in nature. Draw back It is not updated to the 2016 standards and not endorse by the ACT. Neither are the other programs I have discussed today. It is a lot of reading and analyzing, so if you struggle with reading, this could be a problem for you. Some students are perfectly capable of studying for the ACT on their own by using study guides and or other resources. However, there are other options such as hiring a tutor. When I tutor, I give a baseline ACT and analyze the results for you. Then I take those results and create a study plan for each student. I create lessons and discussions to help you master the skills necessary to succeed. What have you done to study for the ACT? I would love to hear from you so comment below.
2 Comments
The ACT was designed to evaluate problem solving skills. Colleges wanted a way to evaluate students' ability to see any challenge and solve it strategically. That is why the ACT is unlike any test students have seen throughout their schooling. There is no memorizing facts, figures, or dates. There is no spelling mistakes.
When studying for the ACT there are two ways to look at it. You can take a growth mindset view and tell yourself that you are going to try your best. Or you can take a fixed mindset view and tell yourself this is a hard test and I can't get better at it. Which view do you think will do better on the test? Hi, this is Stena Schmitt of Saints Training and Tutoring again. Once I was a long term substitute, and the staff was reading "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck. I decided, even though it wasn't required of me, that I would read the book, too. My Experience with Mindset I have taught several students how to ACE the ACT, but not every student is an easy one. Students realize the ACT can be hard, but how they react to the difficulty varies significantly. After reading this book, I can put my students into two categories: growth mindset and fix mindset. Students with a fixed mindset get frustrated with the material. I have to be extra diligent by how I show students the benefits of completing the activities I give them. For example, one of my students can speed read material, but doesn't comprehend a word of it. I showed her a different way of looking at reading by making her ask questions as she read. Instead of asking herself "What happened?" after she has already read, I make her think about those questions beforehand. Then, as she reads, she can answer those questions. I taught her that it was ok to mark up books or use post-its to take notes as she read. Students with the growth mindset, on the other hand, try everything I give them and go above and beyond what I ask of them. I don't have to persuade these students to complete the activities. My first student with a growth mindset started with a score of 14 and ended up earning a $10,000 scholarship to college. Let me show you an example of what each student looks like. Do you watch your child struggle in school? Maybe he or she doesn't understand the deeper meaning of conversations? Is your child's overall comprehension of situations just not there?
I can relate. I have worked with many students who struggle with comprehension for several years now and it is hard to figure out what exactly the problem is. When comprehension is a problem, it is usually a vocabulary issue. But where do you start with vocabulary instruction especially when you don't know where the student has been in his or her instruction already? Hi this is Stena Schmitt from Saints Training and Tutoring again. There are many vocabulary instruction programs that teach a set of words in a variety of ways such as definitions, word games, sentences, etc. A student works on these words for a week and then takes a test over the words in order to spit out the definition. After the test the student no longer uses the words and doesn't gain a deeper meaning of the world around them. Nope, doesn't work. While in school students are given vocabulary based on the subject matter at hand. The words are based on the chapter material, learned for the chapter test, and forgotten. Nope, doesn't work. There has to be a better way for students who struggle with comprehension to learn vocabulary without having to take a test and forget the words they just learned. I think I have one. Teaching foundational vocabulary When teaching students vocabulary, one must teach foundational vocabulary words. That is, words that are crucial for learning which varies based on subject matter. For example vocabulary words that are crucial for math are add, subtract, sum, difference, multiply, product, etc. These words are important because it's used more than on just one test. Have students pick out vocabulary Instead of teaching students vocabulary they have to know for a test, have students come up with their own words they need to work on. Give each student a notebook to write in that has their vocabulary in it. Encourage students to pick out vocabulary words that they come to in the reading as they read. This will be challenging for all levels of learners because they will pick out words that fit them instead of what is given by their teachers. For example, a science student is learning about astronomy and doesn't know the word astrological. As a parent or teacher, encourage your child to find definitions of the word but not to take that definition at face value. Instead come up with examples of what the word is and what it isn't. Based on that information, the student should come up with a definition for the word she or he is learning. Using Note Cards Put these words on note cards and attach it to a key chain or ring. Have students take these words with them and encourage them to use the words in their conversations with parents, family members and friends. The more a person uses new vocabulary, the better he or she understands and is able to take it to the next level. Applying is mastery How do you know when students have mastered the vocabulary and are not just spitting out the information? As students apply what they have learned and are able to take it to the next level, they have mastered the information. For example, mastering math vocabulary happens when students are able to apply their knowledge to word problems and find the correct answer. Continued success is also needed to show mastery, so students can't start to apply the information and then stop. We're not in subject matter, anymore Toto! Vocabulary doesn't just have to happen in school but in life too. Sometimes parents forget that students could be learning this information for the first time. Instead parents assume students should already have learned the material and be able to understand it. When parents are introducing a new skill to their children, they need to approach it just like a teacher or tutor would from the beginning. Parents need to figure out what their children already know and teach them everything else. Parents teach everyday life skills and some of the vocabulary that comes with each life skill and children can come up with their own vocabulary based on where they are at ability-wise. Parents can help children pick out new words. As children start applying their knowledge of skills, they can build on it with more complicated skills. How do you teach vocabulary? After reading several books and articles about how to teach vocabulary, Comment on how you teach vocabulary to students in the comment section below. I would love to hear your thoughts. I love this infographic because it explains exactly why I teach my students to use their own materials when studying for the ACT.
|
Archives
December 2023
Categories |