Agenda Session 1 - Learning About Learning & Organization Session 2 - Time Management & Memorization Strategies Session 3 - Handling Homework, Note Taking & Test Taking

Study Skills for School Success! This study skills workshop was created for you. It was written with the following in mind: 1.Students want to do well in school 2.Students who consistently do well in school practice good study habits and are well organized 3.Study skills and organizational skills do not come naturally to most people – they must be learned

Learning About Learning 1 Study Skills Profile Interpret Responses What Does This Mean?

Learning About Learning 3 How Much Do You Retain (Remember)? 10% of what you READ 20% of what you HEAR 30% of what you SEE 50% of what you SEE and HEAR at the same time 70% of what you SAY as you talk 90% of what you SAY as you DO a thing What Does This Mean for Me?

Learning About Learning 4 Left-Brain/Right-Brain Left BrainRight Brain Prefer to work alone Favor a quiet class May choose to write an essay rather than work in a group Prefer to work in groups Enjoys collaborative group work May choose to complete an activity rather than write an essay

Organization 1 Topics Supply Update List Home/School Communication Folder Color-Coded Subjects Labeling Assignments School Zone Student Work Area

Organization 2 Supply Update List - Sample SUPPLY UPDATE LIST TODAY’S DATE SUPPLY TYPEDATE NEEDED 10/1/103 X 5 Index Cards 11/1/10 10/6/102 black pens11/6/10 11/3/10New battery for calculator 11/10/10

Organization 3 Home/School Communication Folder At school - put papers for parents in your Home/School Folder When you get home - put papers in your School Zone (described later) Have parents check School Zone Put signed papers back in Home/School Communication Folder

Organization 4 Color-Coded Subjects Assign every subject a color Match your notebook/binder tab color to the folder color Use colored tabs On journals & workbooks, use a marker to stripe the pages with the color for that subject

Organization 5 Labeling Assignments Julie Cantillon September 1, 2006 S.S. Pg. 120 Review Questions Give Every Assignment a Heading and a Title!

Organization 6 School Zone Special place where you put parent papers, a place your parents check every day Could be a basket or a bulletin board Great place for notes for teacher, field trip permission slips etc. Leave yourself reminder notes in your School Zone

Organization 7 Student Work Area What does your current work area look like? How should it look? You remember more if you do your homework in the same place and same time each night! Necessary supplies

Time Management 1 Use a large monthly calendar to write down ALL activities and due dates (post in School Zone) Block off study time in advance Turn off cell phones, IM, TV, etc. Fix a snack - you don’t need an excuse to get up! Have all necessary supplies in your “Student Work Area”

Time Management 2 Estimate how long each assignment will take before beginning Do your least favorite assignment first to get it over with Even when you don’t have much homework, spend 5-10 minutes reviewing that day’s notes Tell yourself, “If I just finish five problems, I’ll give myself a break.” By the time you finish five problems, you may be ready for five more Keep the finish line in mind!

Study Skills Test (StudySkillsProfile Document)

Memorization Strategies 1 RoteElaborative Repeating over and over until it can be recalled Alphabet Song Lyrics Multiplication Tables States and Capitals Variety of strategies to help enhance meaning Essays Projects Debates Two Types of Review

Memorization Strategies 2 MassedDistributed Material only makes it to your “working memory” Material will soon be forgotten Cramming for a test Material makes it to your “long-term memory” Review and revisit material often Information should be reviewed ten minutes after learning and every seven days to keep in long-term memory Two Types of Practice WHICH IS BETTER?

Memorization Strategies 3 Mnemonics Technique that allows learners to remember information using short retrieval cues EXAMPLES: In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue My very earnest mother just served us nachos (to remember the order of the planets) WHAT ARE SOME OTHERS?

Memorization Strategies 4 Types of Mnemonics 1.Chunking (grouping items for better recall, particularly numbers) 2.Acronyms (using the first letter from a group of words to form a new word) 3.Visualization (creating pictures in your mind or on paper) 4.Peg Method (visualizing words literally attached to familiar objects)

Memorization Strategies 5 Types of Mnemonics Continued 5. Place Method (similar to peg method, but uses numbers and a poem instead of landmarks) 6. Linking Method (linking each item to the preceding using crazy images)

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Handling Homework 1 Steps for dealing with homework 1.Understand what the assignment is and write it down 2.Proper materials 3.Understanding directions of the assignment 4.Remember to bring it back to school and to the proper class HOW CAN I DO IT ALL?

Handling Homework 2 Homework Journal 1.Use your homework journal to record ALL assignments 2.When is the best time to record assignments? 3.Ask questions about your assignments 4.Cross out or check off each assignment as it is completed 5.Reward your progress!

Handling Homework 3 Prioritize Assignments - size up your task! –Do least important assignments last (i.e., assignments that are not due the next day) –Number your assignments in order from first to last How to Prioritize Assignments Start with most difficult assignment End with extra credit or assignments that are not due the next day Think of a time when you did not prioritize. What were the consequences of this?

Handling Homework 4 Doing Excellent Work –Use good, readable handwriting or type –Use complete sentences whenever you can –Make your answers to questions thorough, using examples and details –Be sure your answers are accurate by double- checking your work (especially in math) By doing these things you will save time re- doing assignments! You will also learn more and you won’t need to study as much!

Handling Homework 5 Homework Habits 1.Place your book bag in your Student Work Area as soon as you get home 2.Take out any papers in your Home/School Communication folder and post in the School Zone 3.Complete your homework in Student Work Area 4.Estimate how long each assignment will take (use a timer) 5.Schedule short break times - preferably between assignments 6.As SOON as each assignment is complete and a parent has checked it, put it immediately in your Home/School Communication Folder

_guide/ _guide/ Take Quiz – How to Remember Stuff.

Test Taking 1 Be an ACTIVE studier - simply re- reading the chapter and other information is PASSIVE studying Use distributed practice - review every night of the week, even if there isn’t a quiz or test coming up Ask questions before the test!

Test Taking 2 QUESTIONS TO ASKREASON FOR THE QUESTION When will the test be?This lets you know how much time you have to prepare. What type of test will it be (essay, multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank)? This will tell you how to study for the test. Will there be a review in class?Teachers often have a review for the test in class either in a special study session before or after school. Will there be a study guide or a review worksheet for the test. A study guide or a review worksheet can be a big help to prepare for an upcoming test. Will this be an open-book test?On open-book tests you can use your textbook or your notes to help answer questions. Will there be any questions about information from the lecture that is not in the book? Often the teacher will talk to the class about ideas that are not covered in the textbook. Make sure you have all the information in your notes. How much time will be given to finish the test? This will let you know how fast you have to work.

Test Taking 3 What is the purpose of tests? When studying: recite, write, visualize –RECITE Describe or explain topics aloud; put in your own words Teach the information to someone else Engage in a simulation or role play

Test Taking 4 –WRITE Make chapter study review cards Use a set of flashcards (vocabulary, definitions, VISUALIZE Close my eyes and “picture in my mind” any chart, diagram, word, map, event, time period, scene, experiment, or character that I am trying to remember

Test Taking 5 Before the test –Follow the teacher’s test procedures –Ask last minute questions –Listen carefully to instructions –Read directions carefully and underline/circle important parts –Unload (transfer information in your brain to the back of the test paper)

Test Taking 6 During the test –Label all parts of the test - don’t forget your name! –Answer all questions; if you are not sure put a check mark next to it and go back later –Begin with the section you want to get out of the way –Pace yourself if the test is timed –Double check each answer –Use the test as a source to get information for questions

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A Space That Makes You Want to Study (Or at least helps you get homework done better, faster, and more comfortably.) No one homework spot will work for everyone, but follow these guidelines to create a study space that will work for YOU!

1.Set the scene Are you a lone studier or do you need more activity to concentrate? Solitude seekers might want to set up a space in a bedroom or an out- of-the-way spot. If you thrive in a busier atmosphere or like to involve your parents in your homework, carve out a permanent corner of the kitchen or family room for studying. Try to keep distractions to a manageable level by steering clear of family thoroughfares.

2. Get comfortable (but not TOO comfy) Are you too hot or too cold? Is there an irritating noise outside your window? Be sure your spot keeps you relaxed, focused, and alert. You might like to read on your bed, but if you fall asleep you're no closer to completing that book report so maybe a cushioned chair is a better bet.

3. Ergonomic-it Ideally, your work surface should be about waist- height. When you sit down, see if you can rest your elbows on the table without hunching up your shoulders and can put your feet flat on the floor (even if you don't always sit that way). If your chair's not the right height, try sitting on a pillow to raise your seat or tucking a shoebox under your feet to help them reach the floor. Slip a rolled-up blanket behind your back to keep it from getting sore. If you have a computer in your space, position the monitor about 18-30" away from you. An anti-glare screen is great for keeping your eyes fresh.

4. Light it up Seems kind of basic, but you're going to get tired and distracted easily if you have to squint at your books or can't see what you've written. Try a combination of overhead light and a reading or desk lamp you can aim at the books or computer screen.

5. Spread out Make sure you can arrange your work so that you're not drowning in a stack of papers. If you have a computer on your desk, position it off to the side to make space for pen-and-pencil work too.

6. Stock up What do you always find yourself hunting for? Scissors? A Calculator? Paper? Try to keep supplies all in one spot so you're not always hunting for things you need. Keep a calendar, to-do list, or planner of some kind so that you know what you have to do and when.calendarto-do list

7. Organize it Use boxes, drawers, organizers — whatever you like best — to keep your stuff tidy. Ask your parent to help you and see if you can hang a bulletin board and wall calendar to help keep track of due dates and handy reminders. It's also great to have a list of your classmates' numbers who could help you if you forget an assignment or get stuck (we'd recommend contacting the ones who get good grades).

8. Decorate Personalize your space with posters, pictures, artwork, or anything else that's meaningful to you. You're going to spend some time there, so you may as well enjoy it. You never know when gazing at that photo of your dog will generate a story or paper idea, or a picture of your team's top scorer will inspire you to new homework heights. If you have a lucky hat or favorite sweater that helps you think, keep it close by.

9. Turn off the TV I know, you're thinking "but noise makes me work better!" Perhaps, but noise, something to watch, and something that might interest you more than your geography test is just going to distract you. Try some background music and save the TV till you can give your favorite show the attention it deserves.

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