Preparation Plus Relaxation Creates Success

When the time has come for you or your child to finally take the Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT, you may be apprehensive about what the future may hold and what your next step will be. For individuals who have decided that pursuing a traditional education by attending a college or university, taking the SAT is still a good idea so that all options can be left open. For those who are unsure what they want to pursue in adulthood, doing well on the SAT as well as getting good grades and pursuing extracurricular activities not only gives options when things finally do become clearer, but it also may help in finding clarity regarding interests and passions. For the few students already very clear about a particular career trajectory, the SAT can be hugely influential in determining what options you will have regarding your education. The SAT can change your life.

Because the SAT’s are only administered a few times a year in specific regions, there are not many chances to take and retake it. Mastering good test taking skills and understanding the rigors that will be expected can immensely help students to do well and get the high scores that will give them an edge when applying to their schools of choice. Study groups, private tutoring, extra study hours, and taking an SAT prep course can be of huge advantage.

After you have done all the preparation that you can, make sure to relax a day or two before taking the test. Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial and many people even get a massage the evening before. A hearty breakfast will keep you full and make your mind sharp. The right vitamins can help you feel better and more alert. Studies also have shown that chewing gum sharpens focus. You’ll be glad you prepared for your important day.

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The Detractors of Full Inclusion

Full inclusion into the classroom for special needs children is not a new development in the world of education. This is where kids who have special learning needs due to a physical, mental, or behavioral handicap are infused into the same classrooms where children without such limitations are educated. There is an instructor that is present at all times for these kids, also known as a special education teacher who is responsible for giving them an individualized education program or an IEP. This is so that the kids can learn the same subjects at the same time as other kids but have it modified to fit their special needs.

The thought behind the full inclusion is that kids will feel less alienated and socially awkward if included with the general population of students participating in the same daily activities. However this is not supported by everyone in the education system. Full inclusion certainly has its detractors.

For instance there are a number of people who believe that full inclusion hurts the learning of special needs children. The argument is that kids with special needs should be pulled out of the classroom to be taught individually. Having kids who learn at a slower pace cannot be expected to keep up in a traditional classroom setting. Even with IEP’s being used a kid still needs special, individual attention.

The other argument is that full inclusion doesn’t eliminate a kid’s social awkwardness. A special needs student in a general population classroom will have his differences and limited capacity for learning on display for other students to see. Some also believe that because these special needs students know they need extra help and special attention it makes them feel more awkward and more timid in asking for help or making the effort to learn at all. Full inclusion, some believe, can be a bigger obstacle for a student who already has a difficult time learning. With so many school districts deciding to go with full inclusion this appears to be a hot button issue that should continue for years to come.