Test Taking and Study Skills - Success

Comment

Comment by Kelley Woods on July 5, 2011 at 12:23pm

George, I let my client choose the states they want to anchor; this way we're guaranteed they are amenable! And I then apply them individually, spacing them throughout the session and "surprising" the client with one or another.

Comment by George Guarino on July 5, 2011 at 5:28am

Great idea Kelley.  Thanks for sharing. I like it alot and can see how beneficial and 'natural' it would be to learn to do this each and every time one studies.  It's funny how this makes me think of my own children and how resistant they can be to simple, easy strategies.  I'm sure I was that way at their age also, but from my current perspective it's a no brainer to do these things on a regular basis and enjoy the results.  "Whys" are such unproductive questions, but 'why' do we make what can be such a simple solution such a burden?  I suspect it's because wisdom can't be taught until one can learn to accept it.

 

When you teach this to your clients, do you have them bring up the feeling of each of the states they are to experience?  Do you work on each one.  I suspect that some clients would have resistance to one or the other. 

 

The idea of the piano is very cool.  It's makes me hear a beautiful chord if all fingers were played at one time.

 

Thanks for your input.  I hope others will add their experience and ideas to our conversation.  G

Comment by Kelley Woods on July 5, 2011 at 4:52am

Here is another great tip I learned from Walt Potter:

"Last term I taught some of my students to anchor the following states: Happiness, Serenity, Concentration, Creativity, Power. These states do not collide. These states were anchored by pressing a finger to their thigh, starting with the thumb. They were to activate all 5 of the anchors every time they studied, sat in class, or took and exam.  Over some time, a few students could fire the sequence as one would do a 5 finger study starting at C on the piano."

Comment by George Guarino on July 4, 2011 at 4:14am

Nice Kelley -  The anchor I generally use is to have the client place their non-dominant hand firmly on the desk/table when they begin studying and at the conclusion of that study period.  When they arrive at the test, I have them begin by firmly placing their non-dominant hand firmly on the desk/table to bring up the state they were in while studying.  This can also be linked to creating a' bubble' around them, locking out any distractions in the test-room.  This can be tested in our sessions by going into the probable future and have them describe their feelings.  Here we can also find out if it's OK to be a successful test-taker.  Do they deserve to get a good mark, etc.

I always stress that this is only for those who put in the study work... and that from now on it will be more fun and exciting to study and learn, like playing on the play ground for a while you learn what it is you need to know. 

I'm open to other strategies.  G

Comment by Kelley Woods on July 3, 2011 at 7:03pm

Hi George,

I agree with your approach about state dependent test taking abilities...in addition I solicit specific concerns from my client: what exactly is it that disrupts their ability to succeed? We address those and future pace for positive results.

I help my client enter the "Test Zone" by applying an anchor for the desired state, be it sitting down, picking up a pencil or handling a mouse.

Kelley