Part 5, School Skills 101 Reading those Exciting Texts Tips Study Smarter, not harder!

Tip 66. Don’t lie down to read. When you stretch out on the couch, floor, or bed your brain goes into immediate “sleep mode”…relax, relax, relax. Add in a little light reading from some famous dead author that your English teacher thinks is great, and it’s lights out! Remind your body it is work time. Read that text or book in a study area with good light, Then the quicker you get it done, the quicker you can relax!

. Tip 67. Scan the book first. Get a feel for the book or text before you dive in. Review the Table of Contents to get the general progression. Is there a Glossary and Index? They help with key terms. Are there stated Objectives for chapters? These can focus you. Are Key Terms identified? Flip through the book to see the flow, and how stuff is presented or organized…headings, sub-headings, etc. If it is literature, do a little on- line research about the author and the book, which can help you get a good start. Does your teacher provide study guides or questions associated with the reading? If so, have them handy, and review them first!

Tip 68. Read Headings and Sub Headings. These can be your best friends in getting a book to work for you. Headings are like street names, and sub-headings are like house numbers. Just like a map, they tell you exactly where to find information. Plus your study guides/questions are often organized along that way….which can save you time. Tip 69. Bolded words are BOLD for a reason. Duh. But you would be surprised how many students fail to use the bolded words from the text to guide their notes, flashcards or vocabulary lists. THEY ARE BOLD FOR A REASON, HOMER!

Tip 70. Read and Restate. Read a paragraph or short topic. Then close your eyes. Try to boil what you read down to a key sentence…you know, the “so what”. If you can’t, do a quick re-read. This is called restating, and shows that you comprehend information. It only takes a few seconds, but it helps ensure the information is in your big head. Too often we read texts on “auto- pilot” and really aren’t getting the main ideas. It’s not about how long you stare at the book; it is about what you absorb!

Tip 71. Unlock Key Words. Every struggled to find an answer in the text, like to complete a question in the study guide? You search, and search and search. Here is a tip to save time. Find the weirdest – or most unique - word associated with the question, and skim the headings, sub-headings and text for just that word. For instance, if the question is about powers of State and Federal governments, it is better to skim for the unique word “concurrent” than the more common words like “powers”, or “state”. Ditto on questions with proper nouns in them. It is easier to look for “Plessey v Ferguson”, than it is to look for the more common term of segregation….which is probably all over that chapter.

Tip 72. Summarize what you read. As you finish a chapter or a long section, stop to say what it all means, in your words. Aim for a few sentences or the equivalent of a short paragraph. Say it aloud to yourself, which helps it sink in! Does this sound similar to Tip 70 “Read and Restate”? It is the same idea, except on a LARGER SCALE. When you can summarize and say something in your own words, it show a higher level of understanding. Better yet, practice this by teaching your parent or little brother. Then you REALLY know if you got it!

Tip 73. Read Aloud. What if I told you that you could reduce your study time by around 50%....especially on all that reading? Here is how to save time and still be an effective reader/studier. Stand UP, walk AROUND and read ALOUD. Yes, your dog will be confused, but who cares, he’s a dog. Standing and walking keeps you alert, and your mind focused. Saying the words causes you to See, Speak and Hear the information. You learn almost three times faster this way, and you don’t zone out on that couch I told you not to lie on back in Tip 66.

Tip 74. Record yourself while reading aloud To make Tip 73 even more effective, use an app on your phone to record yourself as you read aloud. Then you can review the material as you do other stuff, like cleaning your room (like that happens). The power of HEARING is very strong for some learners. Tip 75. Turn off the TV when reading, and chose your music very carefully. TV is audio AND visual. A whole industry is centered around making you look, when the TV is on. SO TURN IT OFF when reading! Music is sometimes ok, but it can’t be anything distracting. If it makes you sing along or shake your thing, it’s wrong. Go without music, or go classical.

Tip 53. Avoid hand cramps. At some point you’ll be taking notes or writing for hours a day. Ugh! Change up how you hold the pen or pencil. Put down the pen when your hand gets tired. Rub the hand, move the fingers around, and make a fist a few times. The same goes if you are using a keyboard for long periods. Now get back to work.