Successful Kids, Successful Students

According to a recent New Scientist magazine issue, successful kids or students share the following four characteristics.

They have a growth mindset, believing they can always improve themselves, acquire new skills, learn new capabilities and so on.

They have strong self-control muscles.

They have strong grit muscles. e.g. James Watson (a co-discoverer of DNA) once said, "When I was young, I knew I didn't have a good IQ, and still I wanted to do important things." He himself admitted that it was a matter of grit.

They have dreams.

How can we raise or teach kids so that they learn all these things?

"Pass Your Weak Subjects" : Book Review

Are you struggling with some subjects at school?

There is a book specially written for such struggles, titled Pass Your Weak Subjects, by Richard Palmer, 2008.

Biology

Use mind maps, diagrams, flow diagrams. They contain a lot of information and help in visual learning.

Chemistry

Master the vocabulary.
Use graphs.
Use mnemonics, devices that help you retain the new information you've just picked up.

Economics

Use mind maps
Use revision notes e.g. Cliff, Barron
Practice active recall.

Math

Revisit the topics constantly.
Do lots of examples. Study worked examples.
Stop when your targeted load/quota is done, celebrate. Don't burn yourself out in ambition and greed!
Use mnemonics.
Use colorful imagery.

Physics

Pay special attention to and master key equations and phrases. Such phrases cover key concepts.
Master key math concepts and skills.
Use revision guides. e.g. Cliff, Barron, Schume