Teachers Guide To Fun Letter Writing: Fill & Download for Free

Power up your memory and cognitive skills with these 12 hacks:Optimize your brain with a workout.Doing physical exercise, even if it is targeted and short, can do wonders for your brain. Exercise improves your brain's cognitive performance, increases its problem solving ability, and even boosts long-term memory. Your goal is to be consistent, so even a short 30 minute workout will energize you and prepare you for the day. Here are some examples of shorter workouts under 30 minutes:a morning yoga routinea 15 minute bootcamp sessiona set of hindu pushupsa set of lunges and squatsa 20-minute power walka quick run through the neighborhoodFeed your brain right.Start your day with a balanced breakfast, for example with a combination of protein, fruits, and healthy fats (such as nuts): it can be oatmeal or yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, walnuts and almonds.Have an egg! Eggs are a powerful mix of B vitamins (they help nerve cells to burn glucose), antioxidants (they protect neurons against damage), and omega-3 fatty acids (they keep nerve cells functioning at optimal speed).Have a beet and berry smoothie. Did you know that the natural nitrates in beets can increase blood flow to your brain which improves mental performance? In a blender, combine 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 cup frozen berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), 1/2 cup diced beets (raw or roasted), 1 tablespoon granola, 2–3 dates, 1/4 cup coconut water or plain low-fat yogurt, and 3 ice cubes. Blend for one minute.Did you know that some excellent brain food includes sardines, beets, spinach, and lentils? Try to incorporate these and other foods into your daily meals to boost your brain power.Start the day in a more focused way by asking yourself this question: What is the ONE THING I am committed to completing today?There are many benefits to this technique: it keeps things simple, it helps your brain focus better, makes you prioritize your goals, and streamlines your work so you don't feel overwhelmed with having to accomplish too many things in a single day. Here’s how:Write this question in big bold letters on a sheet of paper and hang it on your bedroom or bathroom wall.Read it out loud as you start each day, and come up with an answer on the spot.Keep your answer top of mind as you go through your work for the day, so that you don’t get distracted by other things that you come across.Avoid the distraction of checking email frequently.This habit doesn't only keep you distracted; according to the Harvard Business Review it can lower your IQ by up to 10 points. Unless you're waiting for an email that will change the course of your life (and these are rare), leave checking your inbox for later in the day, instead of doing it first thing in the morning when your brain is well rested and can perform more complex problem-solving.Do your hard work early.According to scientific research, the brain’s peak performance happens 2-4 hours after we wake up. Early work allows the brain to focus fully on the problem at hand, with fewer distractions, less inputs from our environment, and with a lot of energy that we've gained from a restful night. Adjust your mornings to do your hard work first. Stay away from checking emails before noon, leave calls and meetings for the mid to late afternoon, and listen to the news later in the day (while driving or commuting on the bus or train, for example).Write stuff down.The act of writing has a chemical effect on your brain by increasing blood flow to areas of your brain responsible for your memories. How can you create a writing ritual? Start a journal, write letters to friends by hand, create a detailed plan for the week or month, start a business strategy on how you want to further develop your career, or start your own blog. Writing regularly can boost your memory and help you recall information when you need it.Take on the role of teacher.One of the most powerful memory techniques that people often overlook is recalling newly learned information by teaching it to someone else, for example a close friend or family member. Create an outline of the most important points you’ve learned in one day, then go over the concepts aloud with your friend one by one. Make your “lecture” come alive by providing a few examples; add some humor or a short story to make it even more interesting. Ask questions and encourage them to ask you for explanations. You will find that talking about the material out loud helps you solidify what you’ve learned and recall what’s most important.Challenge your mind in a creative way.Do crossword puzzles, put together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, learn chess, play cards, or read books on strategic thinking. These activities keep your brain active and challenged, help delay memory loss, and promote learning new things every day.Use the memory palace technique.What is a memory palace? Also known as 'the method of loci', a technique that dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, this mnemonic device represents a place or series of places you can create in your mind to store information that you need to remember. Here are some resources that might help:Learn how to build a memory palaceExample 1: step by step guide to building a memory palaceExample 2: how to build a memory palaceRead a bookJoshua Foer: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering EverythingHarry Lorayne: The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at PlayWatch a videoTEDTalk with Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do (length: 20 minutes)Explore a Quora questionWhat are the best books on Memory Palace?Nurture your book reading habit.What’s the benefit? It will help you increase your focus. Here’s how to keep your passion for reading alive:If you don’t have one already, get a library membership at your local library.Make it a ritual. Set aside one hour every evening when you turn off the TV, get away from the computer and your phone, make yourself a cup of tea, get some good chocolate to go with it, pick some relaxing music to listen to.Start with Quora: check out recommendations on the best books of all time.Download the Goodreads app. With this app you can:Discover new books and authors and check out book listsView book summaries, reviews and updates from your networkGet recommendations for books based on your personal reading preferences (by genre, topic, writer)Rate and review booksUse the barcode scanner to scan books you find in a bookstore or library that you want to put on your "want to read" listTrain your mind to focus better.Meditating can declutter your brain of thoughts that distract you from the brilliant work you could be doing. This small practice doesn't require a lot of time, is simple to follow, and has many benefits, including better focus throughout the day, more concentration, improved ability to cope with the day’s events, and a greater sense of calm. Try the Headspace app to start with just 10 minutes; it's fun and easy to use.Empower your brain with sleep.What’s the big deal about sleeping? You don’t want to miss it. Chronic sleep deprivation can reduce your cognitive abilities, negatively impact your concentration, and can even reduce your IQ. Train your brain to wind down at the same time each evening to signal to your body that it's time to sleep, by (1) setting a bedtime alarm on your phone about 30 minutes before bedtime, and (2) following a simple nighttime routine that can help you unwind better.

Try these 10 tips for improving your memory and remembering what you’ve studied.Give your brain the benefit of a workout.Doing physical exercise, even if it is targeted and short, can do wonders for your brain. Exercise improves your brain's cognitive performance, increases its problem solving ability, and even boosts long-term memory. The goal is to be consistent, so even a short 30 minute workout will energize you and prepare you for the day. Here are some examples of shorter workouts:a morning yoga routinea 15 minute bootcamp sessiona set of hindu pushupsa set of lunges and squatsa 20-minute power walka quick run through the neighborhoodFeed your brain the right way.Start your day with a balanced breakfast, for example with a combination of protein, fruits, and healthy fats (such as nuts): it can be oatmeal or yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, walnuts and almonds.Have an egg! Eggs are a powerful mix of B vitamins (they help nerve cells to burn glucose), antioxidants (they protect neurons against damage), and omega-3 fatty acids (they keep nerve cells functioning at optimal speed).Have walnuts as a snack: this powerful brain food improves cognitive function and boosts learning, and can even reduce memory loss. You need less than a handful for maximum effect.Did you know that some excellent brain food includes sardines, beets, spinach, and lentils? Try to incorporate these and other foods into your daily meals to boost your brain power.Use the memory palace technique.What is a memory palace? Also known as 'the method of loci', a technique that dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, this mnemonic device represents a place or series of places you can create in your mind to store information that you need to remember. Here are some resources that might help:Learn how to build a memory palaceExample 1: step by step guide to building a memory palaceExample 2: how to build a memory palaceRead a bookJoshua Foer: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering EverythingHarry Lorayne: The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at PlayWatch a videoTEDTalk with Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do (length: 20 minutes)Explore a Quora questionWhat are the best books on Memory Palace?Avoid checking email frequently.This habit doesn't only keep you distracted; according to the Harvard Business Review it can lower your IQ by up to 10 points. Unless you're waiting for an email that will change the course of your life (and these are rare), leave checking your inbox for later in the day, instead of doing it first thing in the morning when your brain is well rested and can perform more complex problem-solving.Write stuff down.The act of writing has a chemical effect on your brain by increasing blood flow to areas of your brain responsible for your memories. How can you create a writing ritual? Start a journal, write letters to friends by hand, create a detailed plan for the week or month, or start your own blog. Writing regularly can boost your memory and help you recall information when you need it.Use music to your memory advantage.There’s a lot of research that shows music is helpful in boosting long-term memory. It has a lot of other benefits for the brain: music increases brain plasticity, improves focus and even motivation, and protects against cognitive decline and memory loss. Read this post for more details on how music can help you become smarter.Take on the role of teacher.One of the most powerful memory techniques that people often overlook is recalling newly learned information by teaching it to someone else, for example a friend, schoolmate, or family member. Create an outline of the most important points, then go over the concepts aloud with your friend one by one. Make your “lecture” come alive by providing a few examples; add some humor or a short story to make it even more interesting. Ask questions and encourage them to ask you for explanations. You will find that talking about the material out loud helps you solidify what you’ve learned and recall what’s most important.Challenge your mind in a creative way.Do crossword puzzles, put together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, learn chess, play cards, or read books. These activities keep your brain active and challenged, help delay memory loss, and promote learning new things every day.Train your mind with meditation.Meditating can declutter your brain of thoughts that distract you from the brilliant work you could be doing. This small practice doesn't require a lot of time, is simple to follow, and has many benefits, including better focus throughout the day, more concentration, improved ability to cope with the day’s events, and a greater sense of calm. Try the Headspace app to start with just 10 minutes; it's fun and easy to use.Empower your brain with sleep.What’s the big deal about sleeping? You don’t want to miss it. Chronic sleep deprivation can reduce your cognitive abilities, negatively impact your concentration, and can even reduce your IQ. Train your brain to wind down at the same time each evening to signal to your body that it's time to sleep, by (1) setting a bedtime alarm on your phone about 30 minutes before bedtime, and (2) following a simple nighttime routine that can help you unwind better.

Sort of?Alright, so this took place in fifth grade. Everything was fine and dandy, we were naive little children, and we just frolicked our way to school every day.Part or this daily “frolick” was riding the bus. The bus driver was an old woman, as they often are. She got us to school on time, picked us up on time, basically did what she was supposed to do. But unfortunately, there wasa death in her family, so she took a few weeks off, which is understandable.So, we have this substitute bus driver, another woman, but this time she's middle aged, looks like she hasn't ran/done anything remotely athletic in over a decade, with greasy black hair and an expresssion that says “I don't care about what you have to say nor will I ever care.” You get the idea, she was probably not the kind of person you'd want at your party.But sure, we could tolerate her appearance if she actually drove the damn bus well. Oh wait, she didn't.Allow me to demonstrate just some of the ways (let's call her Mrs. Sue. Sue as in “sue me, idgaf”) Mrs. Sue failed to drive the bus. It was so simple. So easy. She probably just has triple negative brain cells or something,She picked us up so late. So late. On the first day we had her as a sub, she literally picked the entire bus up like, 15 minutes late. Not just me, not just one kid, but the entire bus had to have waited 15 minutes just to get to school. I ended up taking my moms car instead, and even so, some kids who didn't have that option just stood there waiting.She didn't even have a basic sense of direction? Us children literally had to guide her to the school, even though she had a map of the route right in front of her. She mixed up which streets were which, and according to my friend, Mrs. Sue had to check multiple courts before finding the right one to pick up a student.She picked us up so late part 2. She picked us up extremely (extremely is an understatement?) late from school as well. I remember just waiting for the buses the come, and usually, our bus was one of the first, but that time - it was later than last. The kids that rode the bus just sat there inside the gym) which is where you cross through in order to get out to the sidewalk to wait), watching all the after school program kids, and waiting… waiting… 20 minutes later, the bus fiNalLy arrives.That was not a one day occurrence. For many days, we just kept on waiting, telling her where to go, and waiting some more.Halfway through the first week, the children of bus #7 decided they had had enough of this nonsense. I was in a gifted program, and the buses were split. Since there were less children in the gifted programs, the kids in the program took a smaller bus, I was on one of the smaller buses. Less kids means more participation. So the entire bus of #7 (minus the slacker kid who didn't do any work) banded together and decided to write a letter to the district office complaining about this lazy bus driver,The next day, we spent our entire bus rides (there and back!) drafting a letter to the district, and the day after that we stayed in for recess to write the letter.The same day, sent the letter and went on our way.However, the next day - we had a different bus driver! Our prayers had been answered!The new bus driver actually arrived at the house, on time, and had no trouble getting to the school. All in all, I don't know if our letter actually got the bus driver firedAnd, guess what -I saved the best part for last. I managed to find a picture of the email we sent in my google drive hahaHere it is : in all its fifth grader glory :So yeah, uh, that was fun.