Week Three, How I Love Thee

In Week 3, students are finally getting into a groove with their homework and study routine; they are learning how IOT works and what is expected of them. Now that you have a handle on the situation, be sure to participate in the following events this week:

• Wednesday January 28 is TEAM DAY. It's okay to wear jeans and team t-shirts, jerseys, and hats to class. Student Diplomats will also be selling raffle tickets for one serving of nachos; only $3.00.
• Thursday January 29--dress professionally; IOT is hosting a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce mixer in the evening hours.
• Attend a beginning EXCEL workshop this Friday, January 30, at 11:30 a.m. You must sign up in advance by notifying Stella or Laura.
• Keep up your perfect attendance! Show up every day this mod and you're eligible for a drawing on February 16 for a Valentine-themed prize.

Coffe & cocoa today!

Today is a great day to keep warm and toasty... and you can do that by purchasing coffee or cocoa in the Student Break Room for $1.00. Your money supports the Student Diplomat fund, which goes to assist particular projects, such as Easter baskets for children of students; Operation Backpack; The Angel Tree at Christmas, and more.

Week 2 of new module: Are you organized?

By Week 2 of the module, you should have a system in place to keep yourself organized as you progress through the rest of the class. Hopefully, you have these items:

• A three ring binder with inside pockets and a see-through window on the front in which you have your weekly calendar displayed.
• A separate 3-hole punched pocket folder inside your binder. This is the in/out box for your ISP materials (assignment, rough drafts, hours log).
• Sections in your binder for each week of the module--for lecture notes and returned, graded assignments from that week.
• Use the binder's interior front and back pockets as homework in- and out-boxes. Front pocket contains homework assignments that need to be completed; back pocket is for work completed and ready to be turned in when due.
• Loose college ruled binder paper in the back of the binder for note-taking.

Check out tips for organizing yourself:
FlyLady.net: great ideas for household organization as well as keeping paperwork and files in good order.
GetOrganizedNow: Organize your home, organize your office, organize your life, beat the clutter. Maria Gracia's website.
ZenHabits: A blog about simplifying, improving your life, and being mindful, with the belief that changes in life are achieved through building good habits.
GetItDoneGuy: Stever Robbins, entrepreneur and executive coach, offers great advice on using technology to streamline your life as many other strategies for succeeding at work (also transferable to school situations).


Remember, if you need help getting set up, we can help you at the LRC!

Week 5 of mod starts...NOW.

No one said that returning to school would be easy...so here we are, getting back into the swing of things and taking finals, after plenty of time off to study and restore ourselves. The following tips might help you start out 2015 with renewed commitment to self-care and improvement.

• Study Guides and Strategies. Time, stress, and project management; problem solving; studying & learning; thinking, memorizing, and test preparation.
• How to Stop Procrastinating: 4 New Steps Backed by Research. 40% of the things you do are habitual; how to stop procrastination by establishing habits.