iStudyForSuccess Equips Middle School Students for Success in Classroom and Beyond

CUMMING, Ga. - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- When Forsyth County students and educators return to the classroom in August, they'll have an advantage in their back pocket that can significantly enhance study skills. That advantage is the newly launched "iStudyforSuccess" curriculum, a nine-week study skills program that helps middle school students increase comprehension and improve study habits, contributing to measurable success in the classroom.

Developed by Forsyth County business woman, Julie Wilson, who also founded Qwizzy's World, Cram Stoppers and Quiz Infinity, her newest program, iStudyforSuccess (www.iStudyforSuccess.com) can be offered as a 'Connections' class or an elective, and may be used by educators in the classroom or in a home school setting. "This program teaches students how to be successful in a step-by-step manner, covering topics like time management, goal setting, learning styles, organizational skills, reading and note taking strategies, quiz creation and more," explained iStudyforSuccess founder, Julie Wilson. Her 200+ hours in the classroom this year at Piney Grove Middle School in Forsyth County allowed her to validate her research by collecting immediate input from both the Study Skills teacher and the students themselves.  Easy for educators to implement, the program web site offers simple navigation, requires minimal supplies, and provides step-by-step sessions, even down to sample parent communications.

"Even though iStudyforSuccess is designed with 25 sessions over nine weeks, the curriculum can also be adapted into a core class and used throughout the school year, so the program offers great flexibility," commented Wilson. Session lengths vary from one to three days each, depending on the subject matter.  They are numbered for ease of use and build on one another but can easily be shifted to accommodate the school schedule/classroom setting.  No training is needed to implement iStudyforSuccess, and parents can even use it during the summer to help their children brush up on study skills.

When taught as a middle school Study Skills class, all materials needed for the iStudyforSuccess curriculum are supplied. Straight-forward and detailed lesson plans give educators the ability to insert their own classroom material, if desired, while teaching students how to study effectively with successful outcomes.  Assignments are designed so that they can be collected for grades, and quizzes are also supplied for summative grades, if needed.  "This hands-on program offers my students the opportunity to learn and work with numerous study skills strategies in an engaging and authentic manner," commented Sarah Whitfield, a middle school teacher in Forsyth County, GA.  "Each session is very thorough, while it appeals to different types of learners, and can be applied to all subject areas. I found my students' confidence soar as they gained the knowledge required to be successful," she continued.

One of the sessions, which is very timely, is a lesson on Time Management and how to 'power down' to study with no electronic interference.  A common barrier for students nowadays is the barrage of distractions from the iPhone, email, the Internet, social media, and television. In this particular session, students are asked to set goals for powering down, which is a significant step in increasing productivity.

"We're excited that our pilot schools, Piney Grove Middle School and Pinecrest Academy, have included iStudyforSuccess in their curriculums, and we are looking forward to working with other middle schools this year," said Wilson.  "This is the first time I have ever seen middle school students so excited about a study skills class," commented Terri A. North, Principal of Piney Grove Middle School in Forsyth County, GA.  "For many, their enthusiasm for this Connections class carried over to their core academic classes as they learned to apply the strategies they had been taught in a variety of subjects and settings."

"Research shows that in addition to academic achievement, an 8th grader’s study skills also predict college readiness, access and success - that academic discipline has proven to be the strongest predictor of college access and success," continued North.  "iStudyforSuccess is definitely 'a keeper,'  and we plan to expand it to another grade level this year, with our end goal of arming all middle schoolers with a plethora of study skills that they can use and carry on to high school."   "Launching iStudyforSuccess has allowed me to complete the study circle for students, enhancing our other quiz creation offerings,  Qwizzy's World and Cram Stoppers. Believing that students need to be exposed to a study skills curriculum before they enter high school, I am excited to be able to offer iStudyForSuccess to all educators, and hopefully aid in the long-term success of our students."
For more information on iStudyforSuccess, contact Julie Wilson at Julie@iStudyforSuccess.com or visit www.iStudyforSuccess.com.

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