Your hand has a memory...

When I showed my latest artwork to some friends, they asked, "Did you have a stencil?" Did you draw it out first? Or "How did you do it? My responses were " No," "No" and "Free-handed." I've never done this exact painting anywhere. But, I've done countless doodles in the margins of my spiral notebooks, backs of paper and even the occasional meeting agenda. So when I decided to paint my wall, I figured that I was ready.

Here is some advice that I texted to my niece at Morgan State University just this weekend. She said that it was okay for me to share.
 
[Saturday 8:58 PM]
Me: Hi..., How are you?

Niece: Hi Auntie Nay Nay! I'm ok. How about you?

Me: I'm good. I did some painting today.

Niece: Ok, how was that?

Me: It was good. I haven't painted in over a year. And before the last 2 paintings, I haven't painted in about 10 years...I think. [Pictures of painting]

Niece: OMG, that looks amazing! I love the color.

Me: Thanks...! (To God be the Glory) Are you on Spring Break?

Niece: No. Not until next week.

Me: Ok. Do you have midterms before the break?

Niece: Yes.

Me: How do you feel about taking them? 

[Sunday 7:20 PM]
Niece: I'm not sure. I hope I do well. I'm studying for them now.

Me: Hi...Okay. One of the things I would do when getting ready for important exams was to spend the most time studying for the classes that were the most difficult for me.

Niece: Yeah, I'm trying to spend more time studying the harder subjects.

Me: What subjects are those?

Niece: Math, Science, and INSS. Science isn't hard. It's just remembering everything.

Me: For science, draw diagrams. If you're supposed to know a process that happens in a sequence of steps, draw a diagram that has what happens first, second, third...

Create an image for each step and label the image. And then summarize what happens at each step in a list under or next to your diagram.

Make sure you include the vocabulary words (the bold text from your book). [Flow diagram of the scientific method Google search link] [Scientific method Google images search link]

While looking at the textbook and diagrams, and watching YouTube videos might help, writing it out (again) will help you to remember what you studied.

Niece: Thank you...right now we're talking about the cell: the parts, osmosis, and prokaryotes vs. eukaryotes...

​Me: And when you write it out, pay attention. Don't just copy. Be present by thinking about what was said in class, what you read, the questions that were asked in class and the questions in your textbook. Make sure that you can answer all of the questions in your textbook about the different types of cells.

Niece: Yes.

Me: How are they the same? What makes them different? Draw examples of each type of cell and label the parts. As you draw and label them, think about what parts one cell has that the other cell does not.

Niece: Yes.

Me: List examples of organisms that are prokaryotes. List examples of organisms that have eukaryotic cells. Start with yourself. Do you have prokaryotic cells or eukaryotic cells? [Venn diagram prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell Google search link] [Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell Google image search link]

In Biology, you need to draw out everything. It is important to write, write, write, and draw with your hand because when you take the test, your brain will remember what your hand has done. So writing and drawing help to reinforce what you learn.

Niece: Ok. I'll do that.

Me: For Math, you need to work out the problems by writing out all of the steps. Do the examples in the reading section of the book. Go step by step. Ask yourself, "What process/equation do I need to answer this question? How do I know which equation to use? What are the cues/clues/signals that tell me which process/equation to use? What information does the problem give me that I can plug into the equation? What do I need to do to get the missing information? Are there any constants (π) that I need to use? What is my first step and why? What do I need to do next and why?

Write notes to yourself as you go from one step to the next. What are you thinking?

[Niece ❤️] Cover up the steps in the book. Only let yourself see the first line of the equation. Try working out the next step and uncovering the next line to see how you did on your own.
 
[Niece ❤️] If you make a mistake, don't erase it. Put a single line through it and make a note that explains why it was wrong. Then put in the correct step and see if you can get through the next step by yourself, and then uncover it to see how you did on that step. Keep trying, uncovering and making notes to yourself as you go through the process/equation. Check your work as you go.
 
Then after doing the problems in the reading section of the text, go to the end of the chapter and do the problems there step by step like you did for the ones in the reading. The answers to the odd or even problems should be in the back of the book. In Math, the answers mean nothing if you do not know the process of how to get the answer. If you get an answer wrong, go back to the questions in the reading and figure out to which problem the one at the end of the chapter is most similar.
 
[Niece ❤️] If you find that a particular type of problem is giving you problems, look up a YouTube video using the name of the theory/type of problem and take notes. Find videos of someone working out the problem and follow along by writing it out. Do not just watch them do it. Your brain will remember what your hand has done.

Niece: Thank you! I will do that.

Me: You're welcome. What is INSS?

Niece: Information science: Digital literacy and application software...Excel...Access...PowerPoint.

Me: Ok. (I'm going to the store.) Do you have your syllabus for this class?

Niece: Yes. 

[Sunday 11:31 PM]
Me: Go through your syllabus and notes. Highlight all of the functions you are supposed to be able to do. If you know how to do it without thinking hard about it, then put a check mark next to it.

If you have to think about it, then put a star or something next to it, so you will know that you need to review it.

If you don't know it at all, then put a question mark next to it. Then go through and make examples using the software that requires you to perform the function. For example, in Excel create a list of numbers and perform the function to SUM, AVG, or sort in ascending or descending order; create a graph, or type in information on different "sheets" and have Excel calculate the information on another sheet.

If you don't remember/know something, then look up how to perform the function on YouTube and follow the steps on your computer. Take screen shots of the steps and paste them into a Word document. Type in what you have to do at each step. With software, you have to keep playing with it until you get it. But making your own instruction manual with screen shots and text can help you. For PowerPoint and Excel, there is definitely a video for everything.

I'm tired. Good night... I pray that God blesses you and grant you favor, and brings everything back to your remembrance as you complete your midterms. Much Love, Auntie Nay Nay 

[Monday 6:31 AM]
Niece: Good morning! Thank you for all of your help ❤️

[Monday 8:27 AM]
Me: Good Morning..., You're welcome. May I please use these messages on my website?

Niece: Yes. I just got an A on my INSS midterm!

​Me: YAAAAY! Go...Go!! Praise the Lord! 
💃🏾💃🏿💃🏽
(And thank you.)

Niece: 🙌 🙌 💃​