Study Skills for High School & Beyond! Presented by: Mrs. Bastianelli (A-Lea) Thurs, Fri, and alt Wed Mrs. DiLorenzo (A-Lea) Mon, Tue, and alt Wed Ms. Pehrson (Leb-Z) Mon – Fri – Your Armada High School Guidance Counselors How do you see your counselor? Who is my counselor? What does my counselor do?

Goal of this Presentation: To identify 3 things you can do individually to improve your grades in school.

Why Try to Improve Your Study Habits to Increase Your Grades? Colleges first look at your Grade Point Average (GPA), when deciding who gets admitted and who wins scholarships Failing a class means you will HAVE to repeat it! You will need to spend your own time & money, or be off track to graduate Improving your study skills may mean better QUALITY of studying, and less QUANTITY of time spent …nice, huh?

Get Organized!!! Improve Time Management: Three-ring binders with pockets – assigned colors Phone or tablet calendar – use alerts & reminders Agenda book or calendar Teachers are typically very clear on what is expected on their whiteboard/website/etc., so be sure to WRITE IT DOWN! Improve Time Management: Clearly define & list goals – Make a “To Do” list & includes dates “NOTES”/“REMINDERS” are apps most smart phones have Break down big assignments into smaller ones Set aside specific time each day for doing homework & reviewing

Listening Brings Success! Keep eyes & ears on teacher Volunteer to answer questions Ask a question Figure out what material will be covered on test – what a teacher is spending time on or repeating typically will show up on a test – highlight/star that material in your notes.

Maximize Your Time at Home! Study 1-2 Hours each night, even if a formal assignment isn’t given. Spend about 20 minutes every night reviewing each subject. 2. Find a place free of distraction to study. 3. Decide how you work best. Quiet or light music? Most of us need to be well-hydrated and not hungry. 4. Do NOT study in front of the TV or your phone/tablet! 5. Plan the order of your work. It’s usually best to study for tests first. After that, tackle your hardest homework. Take a break every hour. Do something physical like walking.

The Secret of Using Note Cards! Consider using 3x 5 note cards to turn class notes into questions on one side of the card & answers on the other. As you review, you can separate the ones that you know from the ones that you don’t understand. Focus on the ones still giving you trouble. You can develop essay questions on the cards as well to check for understanding of a topic. Works for MATH too! Put a problem on one side, answer on the other – it will make a nice practice test!

Improve Test-Taking Skills Review all along NOT just night before the test Concentrate on ideas the teacher has made Memorize formulas, names, dates, etc. Go Prepared. Pen/pencil, ruler calculator, etc. Remain calm & keep a positive attitude. Arrive on time & budget your time accordingly Read then re-read the directions. Check to be sure you have answered all ?’s If finish early, go back & review answers.

Don’t Stress! ~ Utilize Help Available: Last Pointers: Do NOT cram for tests. If you follow the recommended steps, reviewing for tests should be easy. Take care of yourself! Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise and avoid drugs/alcohol which are not only illegal and life altering, but impede learning. Don’t Stress! ~ Utilize Help Available: TALK to your teachers – they are there to help! Attend Tiger Tutoring: Monday thru Thursday 2:30 until 3:30 in the Library See us for academic or other assistance including group support, grief, anger management, substance abuse, stress, etc., or to get more involved in clubs/sports Relax & take deep breaths! Excessive worrying doesn’t help….

Excessive Worrying impacts you mentally & emotionally, and ultimately can impact your grades. Here are some things you can do to lessen or eliminate the worrying:

What did you learn today? Get more sleep! Study each subject every night! Designate a time to study each day & stick to it! Use notecards and/or Quizlet Get Organized! Ask more questions! What did you learn today? See my teacher for help Turn off TV/ Phone/ Computer Take a break when studying Eat breakfast! Make a nightly To-Do list Attend Homework Club Try using online help through Khan Academy or CMPL Use the calendar in my phone to list due dates!

Best Wishes Armada High School Class of 2020! Feel Free to Come & See Us anytime! Make it a GREAT year! Mrs. Bastianelli (A-Lea) Mrs. DiLorenzo (A-Lea) Ms. Pehrson (Leb-Z)