As I have traveled the country to various colleges, high schools and elementary schools I look for a few things. I first of all check out the architecture of the building I am going to, secondly I notice if the people are moving around slowly or swiftly; and lastly I ovserve the leadership and if there are any supportive parents around.
I must be honest, out side of God Almighty, my parents have been the #1 support to my success. I thank them for their discipline, love, long lectures and the thousands of woopings I received.
(In the below video, I even give the AGE of my last wooping. Can you guess it before watching the video? Leave me your guessed answer in the COMMENTS section below.)
I was honored to be the keynote speaker of the Million Fathers March, hosted by the Black Star project in Atlanta. This event encouraged fathers nationwide to drive their children to school the first day of class, and throughout the country men marched for this cause from school to school througout the neighborhood. I was the the closing speaker after marching from one elementary school to this location outside of a middle school.
Enjoy and let me know your thoughts on this video.
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Tags: black star project, education, fathers, Kantis Simmons, march, school, speech
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 When was the last time you asked for someone’s phone number, and realized later that you were missing one of the digits? Did you go into stalker mode, and replace that missing digit by calling the number with a 0, then a 1, then a 2… 3….4…..5……….9, until you got the appropriate person on the other line?
Taking notes in the classroom is similar to writing down an important phone number; If you don’t get all the digits, you will be unable to speak with the person you desire to talk to. The same is true when you don’t get the most important information during note taking in your classes; when it’s time to study for your test or exam you will be unequipped with the information for the next test or quiz.
To better assist you with note-taking, I want to detail “WHAT” to record and “HOW to record it when taking notes during class. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: academic success, board, gadgets, Kantis Simmons, note-taking, phone, record, school, students
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In a previous blog, “7.25 Academic Survival Skills that Every Student Must Develop”, we detailed each of the survival skills that you must need to be a successful student. Each of these skills will help you Play Your “A” Game inside and outside the classroom this school year.
Today we are going to address the first academic survival skill - LISTENING!
If you think about most of your day as a student, the majority of your time is is spent listening to your professor lecture. So if you are taking 15 credits of college courses, this tells me you are spending a minimum of 15 hours a week of consistent listening. As a high school student, at least 6 hours of the day is spent in the classroom listening to teachers or participating in class; which equates to about 30 hours of classroom listening.
So as you see, if we are going to spend most of our week listening, it is essential to become an active listener.
Here are a few things you can do to improve your classroom listening skills as a high school student, college student or non-traditional student. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: attention, hearing, listening, notes, school, skills, students
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You might ask yourself, What are Academic Survival Skills?
Well these are techniques to make learning more efficient and more rewarding. Students who know these skills and use these skills get better scores on exams, enjoy the “student life”, and experience longevity in their academic pursuit.
Today, these skills can help you make the most of the time you devote to studying. They can help you to gain and maintain control of the subject matter. In the future, the development of these skills in school will contribute to make you a success in the work world, too.
As a high school student, traditional college student or adult student, your success depends on these. Understanding and developing these 7.25 Survival Skills is an investment for your TODAY and your TOMORROW. These survival skills are:
1. Learn How to Listen Carefully. Most of what you do in school is spend a majority of your day sitting in classroom listening. So it is essential to become an active listener.
2. Develop a Note-Taking System. While sitting in a class listening, the better your notes, the better your chances of doing better in your study sessions and on exams.
3. Learn How to Actively Participate In Classes. It is a huge plus when you can participate in class discussions. its imperative that you take advantage of the chances to express your opinions and test the ideas you gather in class. it also impresses your teacher and professors!
4. Learn How to Budget your Time. You have a set number of hours in the classroom, a set number of hours needed for studying, and other set hours for resting, eating, sleeping, working and enjoying life. How you mange, use, budget, or abuse this precious time will too determine your academic success.
5. Become a Great Reader. Researchers have shown that people who read well are more likely to do well academically. So its wise o bury bad habits while developing the the good habits of effective reading.
6. Perfect You Study Strategy. This skill may be the one skills that sets “A” students apart from average students. What you do before classes, during classes, and after classes contribute greatly to how you learn, understand and apply the concepts of the subjects you are learning.
7. Learn How to Prepare for Exams. P + O = Success. When you are PREPARED for testing OPPORTUNITIES success is inevitable. But if you don’t know how to review your notes, communicate the concepts of the subject and solve problems on exams will stunt your growth a successful student.
7.25 Learn How to Set Goals and Achieve them. What you want as a student, and when you want it as as student depends on you and your persistence to go after it. 80% of achieving any goal starts first by simply setting the goal.
These 7.25 skills are essential to your success today and tomorrow as a student. they are foundation to Play Your “A” Game in the classroom. As your partner and friend in academic success, I will personally take responsibility in assisting you with these skills and your development.
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Kantis Simmons is America’s #1 Academic Success Coach, where he uses his no-nonsense “7.25 Secrets” to “wow” educators, parents, students via speaking programs and information products. Acclaimed for receiving three advanced scientific degrees and more than $400,000 in scholarship money, this former NASA employee and Olympic Drum major encourages everyone he comes in contact with to Play their “A” Game.
Need Speaker for your School Event or Conference
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Tags: academic success, college, listening, note-taking, school, skills
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 Today I had the opportunity to spend time with friend and author G. Clarice on Inspire Me radio. She asked me to tell my story about my “mess” as a child and how I used that to not only lead to success but use it to empower other students.
This powerful conversation lead us to talk greatly on overcoming adversity as student.
You can tune in at your leisure at Blog Talk Radio by visitng www.blogtalkradio.com/inspiremeradio.
Inspire Me Radio - Kantis Simmons
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Tags: adversity, glenys clarice, Kantis Simmons, motivation, radio, speaker
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 In my line of work I get the awesome opportunity to meet great people all across the country. While visiting schools, conference, churches and colleges I am able to share so many stories about life, school, and success. But now I’m able to show some of those stories on worldwide radio.
Hosted by JaQuanda Elder and LJ, I come out of the closet and share some of those tell all thoughts on “BeWorldwide Radio” . So listen in and enjoy as I spill tips on life success and academic success. I also reveal how my first book Playing Your “A” Game came about.
BEWorldWide Radio Interview w/Kantis Simmons
I would love to hear what you have to hear about this interview.
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Tags: beWorldwide Radio, internet radio, JaQuanda Elder, Kantis Simmons
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Question:
“Dear Kantis….When I study right before the test I tend to get a good grade, however after the test I don’t remember any of the information. Awkwardly, when I study a week before the test it seems like I don’t remember anything and I end up with a bad test grade. Kantis, what should I do? ” - C. Williams (Decatur, GA)
Answer:
“Well, it sounds to me that you are studying and retaining information in your Short Term Memory; where it needs to be transferred to your Long Term Memory. (Especially if it is a subject that you will use over and over again.
Here are three things I practically advise for information retention:
- Study weeks and months before the test (not at last minute). Study about 35-45 minutes on the subject and take a break. Do this consistently weeks ahead of test. Make sure you are getting good sleep and eating well too
- TEACH yourself, TEST yourself, and TALK to yourself. Just like remembering the lyrics to your favorite song ( read the lyrics, sing the lyrics, and rehearse the lyrics) - the same should be true for your class work.
- Discuss your studies with others. If you can openly talk about it with simplicity, that is a sure way that you have it in long term memory.
To shed more light on this question, see How to Cram Your Way to Academic Success.
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Tags: cramming, Long term memory, memory retention, short term memory, studying, Test taking
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“Location, Location, Location” is a popular phrase used when establishing a new franchise of stores in business. Location is also important when studying in school. Whether in the dorm, at the library, at home or in the park, you can have a study location that enhances your Academic success.You can build your personal Study Shrine that will enahance your grades, improve your retention, and create alertness for better overall results. Read More
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Tags: desk, home, library, location, reading, school, studying
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 After 30 something years of living on this earth, I am finally admitting I have a problem. I’ve battled with this problem for many years. My parents have tried to help me and so has my wife but today the buck stops here.
Before you judge me and before I reveal to you my bad habit, let’s talk about STUDY HABITS.
As a student, what study habits have you developed? Do you study in bed? Do you spend time looking at each subject every day? Do you find yourself distracted when you study? Whatever the case, always keep in mind…the Study Habits you develope will determine your academic success so establish GOOD study habits and respect those habits.
Here’s my coming out: I bite my finger nails. For years, I have looked at my hands, put my fingers in my mouth and chewed on whatever nail was long enough to fit in between my teeth. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t bitten them down to the bone, I do have some nail to work with, but I have developed a habit of biting my nails. But today I have decided to change this habit and respect this new habit.
You might say Kantis, I need to change some study habits. Well take a look at these tips below:
1. Make a quality decision to change.
2. Become accountable to someone and set boundaries to protect your decision.
3. Develop new and good habits See the “Do-Do’s of Studying”
Changing some of your study habits will change how you perform academically. Once you implement your new habits, set up boundaries that will help you keep them. Don’t lay down when you study or you will fall asleep. Put your calls on forward during your study time so that you won’t be distracted by your phone ringing. Set up boundaries that will protect your new habit - respect your new habits.
In order for me to be successful in my new habit of not biting my finger nails, I have created the boundaries of keeping my fingers away from my mouth unless I am eating, consistently getting manicures and paying a ten dollar fine to my wife whenever I break my new habit. I will create a new habit of not biting my nails and I will respect that habit or my wife will be very rich.
Developing good study habits will help you academically achieve success in all your classes.
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Tags: consistency, habits, riyuals, studying, time
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 Have you heard the powerful statement, “Attitude Determines your Altitude”. Well that statement is so powerful and so true. It is even true where your academic success and college success is concerned. Today I challenge you to uncover your attitudes.
What’s your attitude towards your teachers and professors? Is it negative or is it positive? What’s your attitude towards your grades, your classes, and your classmates. You are effective based on your positive attitude and defeated based on your negative attitude. Here are some famous quotes to adjust your attitude on academic success.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” - Maya Angelou
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.” - James Truslow Adams
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz
“The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.” - Harold S. Geneen
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” - William James
“A daily glance in the mirror can tell you what you look like, but a daily adjustment of your attittude can tell you what you will LIVE like.” - Kantis A. Simmons
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Tags: academic success, Attitude, motivation, school
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