***** Positive Thinking, Happy Living

Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades, and better career opportunities. Sound worthwhile? That doesn't mean there isn't work involved, but it?s how you accomplish the work that matters. You can either work smarter, or keep spinning your wheels while barely hanging on to passing grades. Follow these tips to make the most of your time and mental resources:

All you need to get started in continuing education online is a computer with Internet access and an appetite to learn. Once you have those things you can begin your journey in distance learning on any subject matter and any interests you want to follow.

Continuing education online is very different from learning in a traditional classroom but the results are very much the same. You may even find some aspects of online learning to be more conducive to your continuing education.

When I was a student and teachers would say, "Study for your math test!" I would think, "How do I 'study' for a math test?" I now realize that 'study' is the wrong verb. You really need to 'practice' for a math test.

Math tests not only require you to KNOW material, they require you to know HOW TO DO something with that material. This shift requires a shift in your preparation. Unlike other tests, there is no way to prepare for a math test the night before. At that point, you either know the material or you don't, but there is no faking.

When it's time to go to college, the word "scholarship" is confusing for both students and parents. We automatically think about student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study. But what we don't realize is that knowing more about the scholarship process could save us thousands of dollars when trying to cover the cost of our kids' education.

Scholarships are "free money" given away by the government, private institutions and organizations, charitable foundations, schools, universities, clubs, etc. Unlike loans, scholarships are not repaid to the scholarship provider.

For many parents who have home schooled their children through the elementary years, continuing the process during high school may seem like a daunting task. After all, math and science become more advanced in the teen years, and you may not have been a genius when it came to those subjects when you were in high school. You may also be concerned about the social aspect of your child’s development, as this becomes even more important for teenagers.