Study with Val

Future IB Student in UWCSEA, Singapore. Mexican. Original post with #studywithval

[estudier]

how to get grade 9s in english

literature

how i studied for english lit

poetry terms (subject terminology is key)

thorough tips

what i used to analyse ‘a christmas carol’

essay structure

analyse your books like your life depends on it 

tips, more tips, and more (there’s a thread!)

try and spot different literary devices!

always challenge yourself when you’re writing an essay, you can ALWAYS improve

use a range of evidence! 

use subject terminology! (e.g simile, metaphor etc)

be specific about the effects on the reader!

write a lot of essays! whether it’s under timed conditions or not…do it! honestly i wrote more essays in year 11 than i have in my entire life!

know your book inside out! know your characters (maybe make flashcards and mindmaps on them!) know all the themes as well!!

re read your books!! it’s a closed book exam so you need know a lot of quotes (use at least 2 quotes per paragraph)

following on from the previous point, if you know even one word of a quote use it!!! ok!! cheat the exams!! it’s still evidence 

do practice questions (yes it was new spec and no there wasn’t any past papers, so I made them up! but you can also find made up ones online)

do not be discouraged by a low mark! see it as an opportunity to improve!! no essay is ever perfect!

for real always include context in an essay (e.g societal expectations at the time? etc) !! and use the correct term of the year e.g jacobean era, victorian etc

revise for your mocks!! (this is for both language and literature)! it gives you an insight on how you’re doing and makes it easier to revise for the final exams

for poetry memorise quotes and honestly write a bunch of comparison essays (or make detailed plans for comparison essays) (i’ve actually made a video on how i studied poems)

always mention the writer’s name, it honestly forces you to talk about the intentions of the writer!

language

extend your vocabulary 

use different sentence lengths (i’m talking about section 2 in both language papers)

use different connecting words!! suggest and shows gets boring after the 6th time in a row please

practice writing stories and articles!! 

practice answering questions in general and get someone to mark them

use/ talk about different devices e.g extended metaphors, similes, facts etc

know your mark scheme inside out (what does your examiner want from you?)

make sure your timing is right!! it’s essential! so practice doing papers under timed conditions!

know your mark scheme inside out! find out what they want to see from you!! maybe writer’s intentions?? judicious range of evidence??

read books!! write descriptions!! write stories!! paint scenery!! in order to get you in the mood of creative writing

when writing formal articles, make sure to use the form of the article e.g when writing a letter use dear/ write an address/ sign off with yours sincerely, similarly when writing an article for a newspaper have a heading/subheading

also technical accuracy is crucial! so make sure you check over to see you’ve spelt things right! included commas!! and get fancy (use semi colons, quotation marks etc when you can, but only if you know how to use them!!)

also in general don’t forget to rest!!! chill!!! take breaks!! drink some water!! eat some fruits!! get that chocolate!! TREAT YO SELF!!

if anyone has anymore tips feel free to add on!!

[educxtional]

I was really struggling this week. Working way too hard, skipping breaks and meals, not staying hydrated, not showering, not taking my meds. it was bad. even at the busiest times, self-care is so so important. if I needed help, then I’m probably not the only one. all of these lil ideas are small and relatively easy and I highly doing something nice for yourself, even if it’s not on the list. hope you all have a wonderful day/week/year. 

(my personal favourites in bold)

drink some cold water

wash your hands and face with cool water

make some tea

get a blanket and snuggle it around you

snuggle an animal/stuffed animal

buy your favorite candy from the gas station

close your eyes and listen to your fav song on repeat for 10 mins

put on some throwback jams (high school musical, mamma mia, 90s, u do u) and dance around ur room in ur undies 

make a calming playlist

call a friend/relative just to say hi and hear someone else’s voice

rewatch cute/funny/happy clips from ur fav tv show/band/movie on youtube

put on a skirt and twirl (yes boys/agenders/trans u can do this too)

scribble really hard with black pen on a blank page and scream

look at the sky/moon/sunset/sunrise/stars

write

watch kitten/puppy/small animal live streams on youtube

go outside, even if its just by ur front door, and take some deep breaths

eat something - fruit, veggies are best

change ur contacts/clean ur glasses if you wear those

change your underwear

if u can’t get urself to shower, wash off w a damp washcloth/baby wipe

put on a cute/comfy outfit that makes you feel good about urself

dont put eye makeup on so you can rub your eyes & they wont feel heavy

stretch, do some yoga or meditate

get a breathing/meditation app and use it (headspace is gr8)

take a nap

go to bed before 11 pm

brush your teeth

turn off bright harsh lights and use smaller, warmer lamps

unplug. give your eyes/brain a break from screens for a half hour

get one of those pet/family apps/games and care for someone else for a change

find cool people on tumblr and send them anonymous compliments (that you actually think are true - spread love)

find a quote, write it/print it nicely and stick it on ur wall

watch a new movie

boil some cinnamon sticks/vanilla bean for 5 mins so ur house smells pretty. if in ur room, use essential oil drops or candles

make your bed

vacuum 

wipe down ur desk w some disinfectant

clean something - a backpack, small area, fluff ur pillow, put away one shirt

do your makeup all pretty and nice just because/dress up just because

research into your dream job/vacation/city/whatever

open up pages/canva/photshop/etc and make something just for fun

build a fort and crawl under it

find an easy diy and do it/ be proud of ur creative genius

make a list of things that make you happy. stick it somewhere you’ll see it all the time

print a picture of someone/thing that’s pissing u off and throw things at it (tape it to a dart board if u have one)

reread a book that makes you happy

clip your nails, clean the dirt from under them

send some good old fashioned snail mail to someone u like just for fun

take some selfies if you’re feelin it (see #40)

fuzzy socks. enough said. 

make yourself a fancy meal/cocktail/coffee/tea latte/drink/whatevs

open ur window or put on a fan/air purifier. get some air circulating

draw, even if u think u suck. 

reach out to kids help phone (canada) or a suicide hotline if you need to talk to someone about more serious matters. you deserve help and care and support. (message me if you need resources)

donate to a local animal shelter (if u have the means obviously)

go for a walk/run/bike ride

put on a face mask

take a bubble path

shave ur legs and moisturize

moisturize 

bake some cookies

go on spotify/youtube and find some new music you love

make a really fun upbeat playlist for next time u get the aux cord

scroll through some wholesome or funny meme accounts. whatever you’re in the mood for. 

take some cool pictures of whatever you want

change up your room in any small ( or big) way that you can

teach urself a new skill on youtube (simple like a hair style, or complicated like an instrument, whatever u want)

sign up to volunteer at a library/homeless shelter/soup kitchen/retirement home/daycare center/etc. help those who need it. be giving. 

put on sad music and cry. let ur mascara run. be dramatic. let it out.

put rock music on and stomp and scream throw (soft) things. let it out. 

teach urself the words to a fast rap song thats cool right now so you can impress ur friends/classmates/family

print off some kid colouring pages and dont stay inside the lines

brush your hair, take it out of a ponytail if its been like that for a while, or put it up if its down and in ur way

diy a hair mask (coconut oil) and do that

exfoliate ur whole body and feel like a whole new person

clear out ur phone/laptop. delete old messages, numbers of people u dont like/hang out with, get rid of photos of shitty friends, apps u dont use, etc

find cards against humanity online (or if u have it use the cards) and play with urself - make funny matches just because

empty a drawer (or multiple) and fold ur stuff neatly

do something that will make u sweat (gym, dance, clean) then take a nice shower

take a second to listen to ur body. unclench muscles that are clenched, fix ur poster, massage/stretch tight areas

move to a different area of the house for a little while. clear ur head. 

go out, anywhere. window shop, go to a coffee shop/library and work. people watch if ur broke. 

update your planner

make Pinterest board/real life vision of things that make you happy for when in this situation again

find a youtuber you like and watch their videos

lie on the floor, listen to music and do nothing for a while

give yourself a pep talk in the mirror and then stand like superman for a few mins. sounds silly but it works. its called powerposing. look it up. 

repeating this bc important: hydrate!!!

start a new tv show

order something online so u have something to look forward to

go sit with a family member and keep them company. u dont have to talk to them. 

the app ‘trump dump’ will make u feel better about the current us political situation

read happy news: find stories of students doing something cool, women kicking ass, men being amazing, whatever. bonus points if this inspires u

sort your garbage from recycling and help the environment

smile at people you see just because. smiling is good and nice. 

look at old pictures of u and ur fav people

go through old yearbooks and take a second to appreciate how far you’ve come

go to a park and watch kids play. remember what it’s like to be young. realize you are still young. go on the swings and go as high as u can

play in a sandbox just because u still can

xo soph

[eintsein]

A MIND MAP ABOUT MIND-MAPPING

If you know me, you’d know that I am a highly visual person. I love learning from images and layouts, and my spatial intelligence is probably my strongest type of intelligence. Because of this, I often use mind maps to study, and so do a lot of other people. However, there are people who don’t really know how to make and utilize a mind map effectively. That’s what this post is for! Here’s how you can make your mind maps more effective and thus enable you to retain more information. (P.S. you might wanna zoom in)

By no means am I an expert in mind-mapping; these are just some habits I have when making a mind map that successfully does its job of helping me remember the topics I’m studying.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop an ask!

xx jo

[intellectys]

Here’s some weapons for your essay writing arsenal!

Hemingway Editor Calmly Writer  The Most Dangerous Writing App Purdue O.W.L. One Look Thesaurus JSTOR Google Scholar

Reply with your favourite or other great websites I didn’t include!

[studynostalgic]

[studywithval-blog]

•june/22/17• Now that I am in my summer break, I have time to work on my abandoned hobbies that I love so much for example my coloring books. Feeling motivated and with inner peace

[aestudier]

AESTUDIER’S GIVEAWAY ~ !

Hi guys! I reached a milestone a couple weeks back and have decided to put together a couple things that I personally love using so I can give back to everyone who have supported, encouraged, shared or simply sent me a ‘hello!’ throughout my time here in the studyblr community (°◡°♡) Here’s all the details!

STUFF YOU WILL GET!!:

Sticky memo notes x8: White marble x1 Moon x1 Pink clouds x2 Pastel purple snowy x2 Rectangle marble x2

A5 muji lined notebooks x3 (I use this in basically all my studyblr posts!)

Mildliners x3

Waterproof stickers (use these for your bullet journalling!)

Laptop stickers (like mine and more ~~)

More cool stuff will be thrown in +++++++++

TO ENTER:

MUST BE FOLLOWING ME @aestudier as this is meant to be for my followers!!

Reblog = 1 entry , likes do not count You may reblog as many times as you want! Let me know if you’re reblogging from a side account so I know your main follows me when I check

Follow my studygram @aestudier on IG and follow rules on the giveaway post (EXTRA 3 CHANCES OF WINNING IF YOU FOLLOW BOTH INSTAGRAM AND TUMBLR)

Doesn’t have to be a studyblr to enter!

WINNER:

Giveaway ends July 1st 12:00am WST

I’ll be contacting you through inbox/chat, make sure it’s open!

Be willing to give your address so I can ship out your stuff! (International shipping)

If the winner does not respond within 3 days, another winner will be picked. 

GOOD LUCK!! 

I’ll be keeping track on all entries and insert it all on a random generator until the giveaway ends! Thank you all again for supporting my content   (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

[findx]

follow spree!

Most of the blogs I follow are inactive :( I need more stuff on my dash, so reblog this post if you post things related to studying, language, writing, computer science, math, or motivation so I can follow your Tumblr!

[shrinkingblonde]

The Full Potential Challenge

Ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time, and, judging by a previous post, you guys do too. Let’s try it out! Obviously we aren’t going to come close to perfect with this – we’re all humans with good days and bad days and in-between days. But let’s try together to see what would happen if we pushed ourselves. I don’t ever want anyone to feel pressured to stick to this every day (I sure as hell won’t), but it’s worth a shot, right? Let’s get to it!

EVERY MORNING

Stretch. First thing. Really give your body enough time to wake up. Touch your toes. Roll out your shoulders. Do not hit snooze!

Do your full skincare routine. I have mine detailed here, but do whatever works for you and your complexion. Be gentle and consistent. 

Brush your teeth and floss. I used to be a big floss-skipper too, but you’d be amazed at how dig of a difference it makes. Rinse with a whitening mouthwash. I use one by Crest, and I notice a major difference in my teeth’s overall whiteness in just a few days.

Give yourself enough time to get ready. Whether you’re a wash-and-go kind of girl, or someone who spends an hour doing a full contouring routine before class (and either one is fine!), make sure you aren’t rushing. If you need to wake up a few minutes earlier than normal, so be it. Rushing sets an awful, stressed-out tone for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to be relaxed before taking on the day.

Eat something. I’m not going to say eat a big breakfast, because some people (myself included) just can’t eat in the morning. But you should eat, or at least bring a little something with you to work or school. If you can’t eat a full breakfast, grab a fruit! You won’t be as hungry come lunch time, making you less likely to gorge yourself.

Shower. You can do this at night, in the morning, whatever. Again, this is something you should allow some time for. I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do condition it every day (from the ears down). Scrub yourself with a delicious-smelling body wash. If you shave, make yourself as smooth as a dolphin, dude. If you don’t, then don’t and don’t ever ever ever let anyone make you feel bad or weird about it. When you get out of the shower, wrap yourself in a fluffy towel and totally slather your sexy self with lotion. Top to bottom. Do it as soon as you can post-shower so it can really sink in. 

Put leave-in condition throughout your damp hair and comb it through.

Put on an outfit that makes you feel good! So important!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Take a look at your daily to-do list. Knock out the most pressing stuff first. Take pride when you cross things off your list.

Make your bed! Oh my god, make your bed. Do it. Do it. Do it. 

EVERY AFTERNOON 

Follow the “touch it once” approach. This is a truly life-changing thing. When a task is in front of you, no matter how big or small, just do it right then and there. How many times have you gotten a work email or homework assignment and thought, “Eh, I’ll do it later”? And then later never comes? Once something pops up, do it once. Squash it and be done. Cross things off your list and feel like a badass.

Try to go for a walk at lunch. Even one little lap around the block or campus will reenergize you like nobody’s business. 

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Be present. This is so hard for me too, but you have to make a major effort to be present in whatever you’re doing. Be engaged and plugged-in and just exist in the moment. Give 100 percent.

Be friendly to friends and strangers. A smile goes a long way.

Eat something. Eat what you packed for lunch (see below) and take a break from working while you do it. You need “you time”!

EVERY EVENING

Take your makeup off as soon as you’re in for the night. Wash your face with your full routine and let your skin have a break. 

Workout. You can also do this in the morning. Whatever works for you. Make a great playlist and go hard af. Get your cardio in. Get your strength training in. Earn every freaking sweat bead forming on your forehead. Earn your shower!

Knock out your homework. Life is infinitely better you don’t have anything hanging over your head. Half the time, the energy and emotion you spent dreading/putting off your work is ten times worse than the work itself.

Make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. It’ll set you up for success the next day, and you won’t forget anything!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This will save you SO MUCH TIME in the morning omg I can’t even tell you how important this is.

Eat something great. And once you’ve decided to be done eating for the night, be done. Brush your teeth so you can’t eat again.

After brushing, do a whitening treatment. Whether it’s classic baking soda, a Crest white strip, or a laser. Do something. And floss! Retainers in too, ladies 0:)

Relax! Take a few hours to do what YOU want to do. Scroll through Tumblr, binge on some Netflix, FaceTime gossip with your friends, anything. Do whatever makes you happiest. 

Shut the electronics off an hour before you want to go to bed. Put your phone on sleep mode. If you stare at the screen, it will keep you awake and alert and you won’t be able to fall asleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for weightless and general happiness lol

Do a quick sweep of your room and see if there’s anything you can put away real quick. A clean space is a happy space.

Crawl into your bed (aren’t you happy you took the time to make it?!) and read a book by lamplight for a while. When you start to feel sleepy, go to sleep. Don’t push it. You kicked ass today and you deserve rest. 

EVERY WEEKEND

Do something with your friends. It just has to be one thing. Even if you’re just hanging out at the coffee shop, spending time with your squad will make you a better, happier person.

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Do something just for you. Set your laptop up in the bathroom and watch a Netflix marathon while you take a bubble bath. Buy an old school bottle of Mr. Bubbles ($3 at Target!) and really just soak. Relax. Light a candle.

Do something creative. You can read a book, write, blog, draw, code, anything. It just has to be something that speaks to your passion.

Track your progress. Just do this once a week so it doesn’t become all-consuming. And remember that non-scale victories are just as important as shedding pounds.

Take the time to be grateful. Tell your friend how much you admire her taste in music. Mention to your mom how much you love her cooking and how happy you are that she takes care of you. Thank your teacher after an especially interesting lecture. When you do something awesome, take a moment to admire YOURSELF. Be grateful for even the little things.

Anything I missed? Reblog + add yours! Don’t forget to tag your progress!

[studywithval-blog]

Starting tomorrow!!!🌟🌟

[studywithval-blog]

Bullet Journal Summer Layout Ideas

Since now I am in summer break I will not be posting anything school related til August, but for now I want to work with my bullet journal. I know it’s not the prettiest of all but I am just starting. If you like the layout and want to use it in your own bullet journal feel free to copy it, but please use my hashtag #studywithval so I can see it.

I am newbie to this amazing community so I am looking forward to connect with more bullet journal, sudyblr and this kind of blog so if you have one, message me, follow me and comment me and I will surely do the same:)

[studyhunnys]

studyblr themed asks x

caffeine: do you prefer tea or coffee? textbook: have you ever pulled an all-nighter? mentor: who is your most memorable teacher or professor? planner: when did you create your studyblr? calligraphy: do you write in blue or black pen? lunch: what is your favourite study snack? study group: are you involved in any studyblr networks? motivation: what was your favourite subject when you were little? results: what is your favourite subject now? notebook: what is better, handwritten or typed notes? ambition: what is your current study goal?

[studywithval-blog]

Something to get to know us a little bit more

[studywithval-blog]

Hey, Val! I recently saw a post of yours on my recommended and I saw that you are going to start the IBDP. I just finished it (English HL, Spanish HL, Math HL, Bio HL, History SL, Visual Arts SL). I only have one thing to say and that is to not procrastinate. All the work piles up, especially with CAS, and the overwhelming dread is not worth it. Good luck!!!!

Hello, we have a lot of subjects alike! And thank you so much, right now every piece of information or tips about the IBDP is very helpful for me! So thank you a lot😊

[studywithval-blog]

Hello I am Valeria!! And even though I started this studyblr a couple of months ago, is not til now that I am going to take it seriously, so here is a little bit about me: •My name is Valeria •17 years •Proud Mexican🇲🇽 •Next semester I will start the IBDP •The subjects I will be taking are: English Literature HL, Spanish Literature HL, Geography SL, ESS SL, Mathematics Studies SL, Visual Arts HL •I will study the whole IB abroad in an international school in Singapore •My goal of starting this studyblr is to get motivation to study, be organize and keep up my grades! •I still don't know what I want to study (Fav if you're lost too) •I love the arts and the humanities so probably I will study something that has to do with that. •I love to read and write (Comment if you want book reviews) •Cat lady Basically all the studyblrs inspired me to start mine, seeing this huge community who helps each other is simply beautiful. If you have any question or want to know something specific about my life don't doubt in asking!!!!

[studywithval-blog]

Working on my economy notes, omg I am in love with outlines!!!!!

[studywithval-blog]

Hello everyone welcome to my studyblr, as you can see I am new to this community but I am so happy to be part of it. I am Mexican and currently studying high school in my country but I will be studying abroad next semester in UWCSEA Singapore the IB, so I am planning on getting motivated through this blog.