Practice Tip Keep track of yourself daily! When are you at your best: most confident, focused, and clear-headed? What is it that distracts you when you try to concentrate? In a notebook, track yourself for at least a week. If it’s reading you’re concerned about, focus on reading. Concentrate on making things a lit- tle more comfortable than usual. For example, if you’re eating cereal and reading the box and you suddenly realize that reading is easier for you than usual, write down the situation: “yellow box, green large let- ters, my eyes looking down.” You may very well find that switching to large-type books is a help, and so is using yellow note paper instead of white. If you discover that you’re really enjoying your new class because the teacher often explains concepts in big circles with connecting lines between them, make note of it and try to repeat it in other learning situations. KNOWING WHEN YOU NEED HELP 171 situations that are helpful. Write in your log at least once each day. After a week or two, you should have a clearer picture of how you learn. If you are meeting with someone at your school or workplace such as a learning consultant, psychologist, or tutor, bring your log and review it with her. The service is usually free for you. When you take an active part in diagnosing your learning weakness, you’ll be better able to con- trol it, and even use it to your advantage. IN SHORT You’re a unique learner. You’re different from everyone else—and everyone else is different from everyone else! Each of us has a learning difference. When you realize how your seesaw of learning strength and weakness operates, you can use your strength to get a handle on the learning weakness. You might even find a way to use it to your advantage! . of standard grammar in an easy-to-use format. STUDY SKILLS AND TEST-TAKING Ace Any Test, 3rd ed., by Ronald W. Fry (Career Press, 1996) A quick and irreverent guide to test-taking, aimed at high. and certificate exams. LEARNING DISABILITIES The following organizations can put you in touch with people or organi- zations in your area for evaluations, support groups, training programs, advocacy. programs, advocacy and legal rights, and more. Call or write for free information. Learning Disabilities Association of America 4156 Library Road Pittsburgh, PA 15234 412-341-1515 HOW TO STUDY 176 National