Appomattox Adult Education

03/31/2026

03/25/2026

At Appomattox Adult Education, we specialize in teaching those who want to improve their education, study for the GED exams, and get their high school diploma through the NEDP program. We offer classroom training and online education. So you can see that we have lots of ways you can receive training.

What do you need to do for yourself to make the most of these opportunities?

The first and most important thing you need to do is to dedicate yourself to achieving a goal, whether it be to get your GED, get your high school diploma through NEDP, or just increase your knowledge.

Once you have decided to be serious in this goal, and have contacted the school for sign up information, you need to consider how you will set up your study arrangements. This can be key to creating a successful learning environment.

Although the following information is written with children in mind, you will find it is also very helpful for adult learners.

Here is how to create an effective home learning environment based on expert recommendations:
1. Designate a Dedicated Space
Location: Choose a quiet, well-lit area away from high-traffic zones like the main living room or TV area. A corner of a bedroom or a spare room works well.
Consistency: Use the same spot every day to signal to the brain that it is time to focus.
Alternatives: If a dedicated room is unavailable, use a rolling cart for supplies and set up at a kitchen table or use a trifold board to create a "portable office" that minimizes visual distractions.
2. Optimize for Comfort and Function
Ergonomics: Ensure the chair and desk are the right height, allowing feet to rest flat on the floor and arms to rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle.
Lighting: Use as much natural light as possible, placing the desk near a window if available. Supplement with lamps to reduce eye strain.
Temperature: Ensure the room is not too hot or cold, as this can affect concentration.
3. Organize and Minimize Distractions
Clutter Control: Keep the desk clear of non-essential items, toys, and games.
Accessibility: Use bins, shelves, and trays to keep school supplies (pens, pencils, paper) within arm's reach to prevent breaking focus.
Digital Boundaries: Silence phones and consider using website-blocking tools (e.g., StayFocusd or Forest) during study hours.
Noise Management: Offer noise-canceling headphones for, especially if siblings are nearby.
4. Structure and Routine
Schedule: Create a consistent daily routine that includes designated times for studying, breaks, and meals.
Routine Ritual: Start the day with a simple ritual, such as assembling materials or reviewing the day's agenda.
Breaks: Schedule regular breaks to allow for movement, such as walking, stretching, or going outside, to help the mind recharge.

5. Personalize and Motivate
Ownership: Allow the learner to personalize their space with favorite colors, plants, or pictures to make it engaging.
Inspiration: Display motivational quotes, personal artwork, or visual schedules to help maintain focus and morale.
Growth Mindset: For children, display encouraging phrases like "mistakes help me learn" to build resilience.

03/14/2026

Is it "pi" day or "pie" day? Well, since I love pie, all flavors, so much, I vote for "pie" day. But I also think "pi" day is a great idea. Ancient mathematicians didn't have pi until they came up with this number after much number crunching. Their math, especially geometry, was very limited because there was no pi. But now we know that the circumference of a circle (the distance around the outer edge of a circle) divided by the diameter (the distance across the center of a circle) is called "pi". Pi is an infinite number, so we use it most often in its abreviated form of 3.1416 or just 3.14.
Have a lovely Pie or Pi day!

03/14/2026

Ha ha ha! Laughing at yourself after some small harmless mistake like misremembering someone's name or making a spelling error makes you appear warmer, more confident and more authentic.

Adam Grant said, "Taking your responsibilities seriously but your ego lightly is a core life skill."

Laughing at yourself is a powerful, often overlooked, mental health tool that shifts your perspective from seeing mistakes as threats to viewing them as learning opportunities. Cultivating this habit builds resilience, reduces the "sting" of embarrassment, and fosters genuine connections with others by showcasing humility.

03/14/2026

NOTE: Facebook Meta is now a public entity. Every member must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.
I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR FACEBOOK OR META TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA. I do not give consent!

03/11/2026

Have you ever noticed that the number of petals on a flower is almost always one of the following numbers: 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 or 55? The lily has three petals, and buttercups have five, the chicory has 21 and the daisy 34 or 55 petals – depending on its size. How many petals do daffodils have?

02/09/2026

I have been thinking about the fact that I hear "I hate math" so often. It is so unfortunate that so many think this. But I can understand why they do. So many times, as children, they just weren't taught what they needed to know. Maybe they missed classes often, or missed the wrong classes, so they didn't get the basic learning first before they were plunged into the next tiers of math. Or maybe they were given math instruction when they were hungry or tired. Or maybe their teacher just wasn't teaching in an engaging manner. So they have a mind set now that math is, well, yucky.

But you don't have to keep thinking that. The first thing to do is to give math another try. Now that you are older, it may be a completely different experience. You now have skills from your life that will help. Also you can control what you learn, and when and how fast you get instruction.

Change How You Think About Math
Believe it or not, the way you think about math affects how well you learn it. If you go into math thinking, “I’m terrible at this,” you’re less likely to put in the effort to improve.

Instead, try to have a growth mindset: remind yourself that everyone can get better with practice. You may not love math right away, but believing you can get better is the first step.

02/04/2026

In honor of Black History month, I thought I would share with you a book that is a history of local Black people. It was written by local author Charles W. White and is called The Hidden and the Forgotten. I met Mr. White at a small fair last year that was held in Buckingham County near where I live. He talked to me about his background and told me about his research into the lives of Black people around this area, especially in Buckingham County.

His book is extensively researched and includes history from slavery in this area all the way up to the present time. He has listed hundreds (if not thousands) of local folks by name. There are many photocopied hand-written records of historical events and the people from our area who participated in them. There are also numerous photographs of people included. He has divided the book into these chapters:
1. Slavery in Buckingham County
2. Free Blacks in Buckingham County
3. Buckingham Blacks in the Civil War
4. The Reconstruction Era in Buckingham County
5. A History of The Black Church in Buckingham County
6. Black Education in Buckingham County
7. Buckingham County...Blacks in American Military History
8. Early Buckingham Trail Blazers
9. Buckingham Sports History
10. Roots and Branches
11. Newer Discoveries and Accomplishments

As you can see, Mr. White has concentrated on Buckingham County, but there are many references to the surrounding areas of the state also. If you have family ties to this area, you will likely find some references to your own family.

I am very impressed by the professional research that went into creating this book and would recommend it for anyone wishing to learn more of the history of this area or the history of Black people in the United States. It is available on Amazon.com and I have also found it at AbeBooks.com here: https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/HIDDEN-FORGOTTEN-Contributions-Buckingham-Blacks-American/31802782861/bd?clickid=XZbwgK0yuxyZWkNzanTCu065Uku0t%3ARbEy8uTE0&cm_mmc=aff-_-ir-_-2003851-_-76887&afn_sr=impact&ref_=aff_ir_2003851_76887&afsrc=1

Free Shipping - Signed by Author(s) - First Edition. - Hardcover - Charles W. White - 1985 - Condition: Fair - Inscribed and signed by author on endpaper: "To: Mr & Mrs Clay Faison Thanks Charles W White". Bottom front cover chewed. Soiling to the front cover. Errata page glued to inside front cover...

01/31/2026

Handwriting, especially cursive handwriting, has been a topic of interest in the education field lately. Studies have shown that handwriting improves retention of information. For those who want to add to their knowledge and retain it, this is a good thing to use during study time.

For those of you who would like to learn cursive writing, I have found two apps that may be of interest. The first is Cursive: Learn Cursive and is free. It can be downloaded from Google Play on Android phones. Not sure if it is available for iPhone. It allows you to trace the cursive letters individually and also in words.

The second app is called Cursive Letters Writing Wizard. It is designed for children but if you are not a child, or even just feeling childish, you can ignore all the silly stuff. What I like about it is that it shows the starting points and direction of movement for each letter. It does require payment, but is very minimal amount.

01/28/2026

One of the things that make reading difficult for many people is their vocabulary. More complex texts will often have words that are not ones used often in spoken language. Also there may be words that are not familiar when written but a reader would understand if it were spoken. Both of those reasons make vocabulary knowledge more useful for the reader.

So how can you improve your vocabulary? Well, my quick tip for today is WORD OF THE DAY from miriam-webster.com. You can sign up for a new word to be sent to your email address every day. Just go to https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day

Look for this box and enter your email address.

01/27/2026

Thinking about that high grocery bill? Me too. I was looking for tips for saving money for groceries and I found this very useful video on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXNNecenC8Itips
There is also a printable download for this lady's grocery shopping tips. Give it a listen and see what she can help you with.

Wondering how to save money on groceries in 2026 even with high prices?➡️Get my FREE Calm Grocery Plan - and Start Saving! https://joyfullythriving.com/calm?...

01/27/2026

Albert Einstein once said:

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”

Lifelong learning isn’t just a hobby or a habit; it’s a fundamental part of being human. By embracing this continuous journey of growth, we not only nurture our minds but also enrich our sense of purpose and well-being throughout life.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY
Einstein was not only talking about learning something useful once in a a while, but continuously learning new things for your whole life.

LEARN ANYTHING THAT INTERESTS YOU
Learning can be new skills that you need for a career goal, adding creative skills to your repertoire, and maybe learning how to make your interpersonal relationships more satisfying. Many people think "learning" means going to school. Well, it can be that, but learning anything you want to learn in life leaves you open to being able to learn many interesting and fun things, not just in school but anywhere!

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN TODAY?