January

Have your students come to your office for a "free" 100 quiz grade and talk to you. 1) They will be more likely to actually find your office if you bribe them. 2) They have the chance to visit with you personally and you get to know them and make a connection. 3) They are more likely to come to your office hours when they need help. 4) Students can see that you actually care about them and their success. - Autumn Hoover, Director of Developmental Math, Angelo State University

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Make every mistake a learning opportunity. - Rob Oliverio, Learning Associate, Gateway Community College

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Students can learn and have fun by creating presentations with goanimate.com. - Joe Barnhill, Director of Learning Services, Avila University

February

Get to know the discipline you're in. How do you study? How should you study, write, research?

• Kathleen Volk, Student Services Coordinator, Carroll University

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After each two or three chapters learned, go over them to sort out (organize) the info (ideas) covered in the chapters to get a systematic (coherent) view of the chapters. This will keep the info from being fragmented.

• Danhua Wang, Assistant Professor of Reading, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

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Define your terms. Don't assume that you definition of a concept and the person's you are communicating with are the same.
- Mary Bogan, Adjunct Reading Faculty, Fullerton College

March

When students won't come to you or your resource, get up! And take it to them. Be specific, to the point, caring, dedicated, and trustworthy. - Iris D. Johnson, Student Success Center Coordinator, Halifax Community College

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Study tools: Own various sizes and colors of note cards. Use them to organize facts, formulae, and figures for review. Write them once a week for each subject. - Eugenia Robinson, Director, RHM School House of Bermuda

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"Early and often" should be your mantra when utilizing learning support programs such as tutoring, mentoring, and coaching. Active participation in such programs is the secret to student success! - Chyna Miller, Tutoring Coordinator, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

April

Pick non-fiction and fiction books that show someone's courage when faced with hardships and struggle. My suggested book list for Developmental English (Reading) courses:

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (fiction)
• 1,000 Pieces of Gold by Ruthann Lum McCunn (fiction)
• 127 Hours by Aron Ralston (non-fiction)
• A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca (non-fiction)
• Marilynn Schenk, Professor of English / Reading, San Diego Mesa College

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Persistence is the key factor in achieving your goals.

• Bailey Smith, Learning Assistance Center Director, Mt. San Antonio College

May

Students should enroll in classes offered at times that are their optimal learning time. - Kendra Haggard, Developmental Writing Coordinator, Northeastern State University

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Study BEFORE and AFTER each class to develop long-term memory. Then when you study for an exam, you're reviewing what you have already started learning. - Ashley Lokkesmoe, The Learning Center Director, Houston Baptist University

June

Don't be afraid to use your brain! Practice, engage, think. - Megan Bavaro, Mentor & Math Tutor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Journaling mathematic concepts in words blends literacy and numeracy for those students who do well in literacy subjects but struggle in math. - Dorcas Parson, Assistant Director of The Learning Center, Ivy Tech Community College

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Exhaust all resources! Professors, tutors, collaborative learning with peers, etc. - James Scudder, Assistant Director of Alpha Scholars Program / TRIO, Abilene Christian University

July

Don't assume a skill set. When explaining a concept, e.g. comma splices, be sure to define it before telling a student to fix it. - Vicenta Shepard, Reading & Learning Coordinator, Florida International University

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Understand the Power of Purpose! Know the purpose for reading. Read actively. Select strategies based on purpose. - Leslie Jones, Associate Master Tech Instructor, University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College

August

When reading an assignment, take the time to read the bolded headings first so you have a better idea of what you are about to learn. - Lisa Roberto, TRIO/SSS Literacy Specialist, Kent State University

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Start basic: Refrain from being judgmental toward your students. Always be glad to see them, whether or not they come on time, did their homework or not. Every day is a new opportunity for them, and it starts with you! - Sophie Dennis, Assistant Professor of Education, Landmark College

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Understand your students. Gamers like to be challenged, sports people like statistics, etc. Use their backgrounds to improve their retention. - Roger Galavitz, Student Assistant, San Jacinto College

September

When you are approaching studying for an exam, start early! Create an exam plan, outlining all the steps you want to take to prepare yourself. Write it down and set deadlines for yourself. This will give you a tangible tool to reference and check your progress. - Bonita de Leon, Assistant Director of Supplemental Instruction, Tomas Rivera Center for Student Success, The University of Texas at San Antonio

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Use the analogy of an athlete. Study and prepare in the pre-season. 5 days before a test, review and refine skills The night before a test, sleep and eat well with very light review. - Melinda Gunning, Academic Support Services Director, Fresno Pacific University

October

I always put the old Chinese Proverb from Pauk's book, "Dig a well before you are thirsty," in my PowerPoint or on the board sometime before midterm and we discuss all the ramifications of the saying. - Leta Tyhurst, Learning Center Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College-Longview

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Touch their hearts! A spin off from the book Whistling Vivaldi (Steele). As a first week activity, ask students to share one thing in their lives that they vale. (Can be written, which helps students know you value them and their cultures). Everyone can respond and it sets a good tone. - Darla Shannon, Associate Professor of Reading, Tarrant County College-Southeast

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Focus on the learning process, and the grades will follow. - Kristina Alvarado, Learning Specialist, University of Southern California

November

Generate knowledge, efficacy and power through the use of the Burkean Parlor metaphor in the classroom. - Nita Meola, Writing Center Director, Columbia College of Chicago

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Help students learn their strengths and weaknesses by introspective inventories. Once they identify it becomes easier to scaffold their transition. - Rajone Lyman, Student Success Instructor, Houston Community College – Northeast

December

Teach interactive "read it once" strategies to freshman. - Director of Disability Support Services / Higgins Academic Center, Randolph-Macon College

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The most important "text" we can teach students to read is often their professors! - Sonya Armstrong, College Learning Enhancement Program Director, Northern Illinois University

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." – Aristotle Think about what you are doing each day. What are your habits? Get into the habit of doing your best in everything you do—particularly your academic life. - Arden B. Hamer, Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania