Do you struggle to make it through some of your required readings?

Let's face it, some books are boring and hard to follow. Some are so complex the main points go soaring right over our heads. If you find yourself struggling to read a book or chapter, you don't have to give up. There is a strategy for reading difficult books.

Besides, you can bet that you're not the only one struggling with a class reading. If you find it difficult, changes are pretty good that other students are struggling as well. Teachers often give challenging reading assignments--because that is how we learn!

I admit it, I have joined the gaggle of gossiping geeks who daydream about the next great gadget. But I'm most concerned with gadgets that make a difference to student performance. I am hoping for good things from the Apple Tablet.

I am frustrated that we have come to the point where just about anything is possible when it comes to technology, but most of the focus is on entertainment. Why can't somebody invent a gadget that will enhance our ability to learn? How about the ability to share knowledge with more people? I want a tablet that does all of the following:

• Let me download a textbook and give me the ability to underline, highlight, clip, and insert tags.
• Let me open any PDF, such as an article sent by a teacher, and be able to underline, highlight, clip, and insert tags.
• Let me hear an audio version of a PDF.
• Let me project my screen onto a wall to give a presentation.
• Let me send and receive Word documents and other common types of homework files.
• Let me import handwritten notes that are searchable.

I know the technology is available to do each of these tasks, but I haven't found any gadget that would allow me to do all of them. Will Apple be the leader in technology for education--or am I just dreaming?

Many seniors have started to receive responses from their colleges of choice. It can be depressing to be rejected, and that can have a bad effect on your motivation. But many people don't realize an acceptance letter can also pose a threat to your success. Why?

Upon receiving acceptance into college, some seniors start to slip into a dangerous slack time known as senioritis or the senior slump. These students start to take it easy, believing they can coast their merry way into college life. But that can be a huge mistake! Many of the most selective colleges play close attention to end-of-year performances, even for accepted students. Don't stop now--you've almost made it!

There are a number of steps you could take to really improve your performance in school, so this is a perfect time to pick one or two great study habits and resolve to work on them. You'll find that you don't have to change your whole personality or your whole life to improve your grades; one or two small changes in your habits will make a huge difference.

• Resolve to read your assignments. Many students choose to skip this step and rely on teacher lectures. Most of the time you can get away with this to maintain an average GPA. But is that really your goal?
• Resolve to record every assignment and due date in your planner. This action, alone, will improve your performance.
• Resolve to read classic literature outside your assignments. This will increase your vocabulary and expand your mind.
• Keep a journal. Journal writing is good for your brain, good for your emotional health, and good for your writing skills.

Can you think of another resolution that will improve your grades?