1. Successful Studying – QUIT FAILING!!! Compiled by: Mr. Lindsey,
Mooresville High School, Mooresville, Indiana
(Revised 06/2015)

2. 1. As young as nine or ten, you should begin keeping an assignment book (planner). In this book, you need to write each and every assignment given by your teachers. By instilling this habit into your daily routine, you will learn to be much more responsible. Less homework assignments will be lost or forgotten, and a good habit has been formed when you employ this technique.
Grades will

3. REMEMBER - to include reading assignments. Even write down
the page numbers
and reminders to
bring the book
home. 

4. You need to decide:
1: on a place that is conducive to study. This should be a quiet place that is well-lit and free from distractions.

5. Insure that your study area has the following:
good lighting
ventilation
a comfortable chair, but not too comfortable
a desk large enough to spread out your materials

6. D. Insure that your study area does not have the following:
a distracting view of other activities that you want to be involved in 
a telephone
a loud stereo
a 27-inch color TV
a roommate or friend who wants to talk a lot
a refrigerator stocked with scrumptious goodies

7. You need to decide:
2. There should also be a very specific time for homework to be done. Usually, as soon as you get home from school is the time for the homework to be done. Of course, it is a good idea to allow your self the opportunity to have a healthy snack before the work begins.

8. You need to decide:
3. Once you have decided on a place to study, this should be the only place that you do your homework and studies.

9. Get used to using a highlighter not only for homework instructions, but also for use in the assignment notebook.
NOTE: Do NOT highlight in School textbooks, if provided – Do it in your NOTES!

10. No matter what your age, tests can be stressful.
Plan for organization – a person who is organized is MUCH more prepared and therefore more in control of his or her "fate" in regard to the test.

11. Test Tips Use flashcards - These give you visual clues, and
hasten the retrieval time for memories.
2. Space your study sessions out - This means that you
should study a small amount every day in each
subject. This helps prevent falling behind. 
3. Study and do homework in the same place everyday.
Make sure this place is well-lit and free from distractions.
4. Using Mnemonic devices: A mnemonic device is just a
memory aid. I hope that word didn't scare you.
These are rhymes and acronyms that many times
that help students to remember things. 
Examples:
"30 days hath September, April, June, and November…All the rest have 31 except February which has 28" 
"I before E except after C"

12. FORMULATE QUESTIONS -- Ask, "What do you think the teacher thought was important?"
Always look for definitions. These make great multiple choice questions.
Another strategy is the Who did it? question. For instance, if the text says that Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, look for a test question over that.

13. ANSWER AND RECITE -- Discuss the key points
Determine possible test questions
Take the book and ask questions over the material.
If the answer is wrong, immediately give the correct answer. Do not allow the wrong answer to stay in your mind too long, as this could cause confusion later. Recite the correct answer. Come back to that question later so that the correct fact can again be reiterated. The answer you hear the most is the one that will be remembered.

14. REVIEW SHEETS –
If the teacher has given students review sheets, these are invaluable.
Most teachers make their review sheets by looking at the test, so the review sheet will most likely parallel the material on the test.
If the teacher did not supply a review sheet, it is sometimes helpful to make your own review device. Be creative. It doesn't have to be a page of questions and answers.
Use 3X5 cards - You hear it, write it, and say it.
A technique for older students is a computer review sheet - there is learning going on as they type up questions and answers. They are literally seeing it and feeling it.

15. 2. Divide your work into small, short-range goals.
A. Don't set a goal as vague and large as ... "I am going to spend all day Saturday studying!" You will only set yourself up for failure and discouragement.
B. Take the time block that you have scheduled for study and set a reachable study goal. (for example: finish reading 3 sections of chapter seven in my Psych. text, or complete one math problem, or write the rough draft of the introduction to my English paper, etc.)
C. Set your goal when you sit down to study but before you begin to work.
Set a goal that you can reach. You may, in fact, do more than your goal but set a reasonable goal even if it seems too easy.

16. USE TEXT HINTS –
Teachers do! Look for bold printed text.
The author of the book is emphasizing the importance of that fact.
The teacher may do the same on the test.
Look for a summary at the end of the chapter.
Teachers often pull test questions from summaries.
Check out any exercises in the chapter, review questions, and the like.
Teachers to take review questions from the chapter and simply reword them for the test.

17. THE CORNELL SYSTEM – This IS “ T-notes ! ”
The Cornell system for taking notes is designed to save time but yet be highly efficient. There is no rewriting or retyping of your notes. It is a "DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE" system.

18. 1. First Step - PREPARATION Recall Column KEY WORDS & important ideas
Use a large, loose-leaf notebook. Use only one side of the paper. (you then can lay your notes out to see the direction of a lecture.) Draw a vertical line 2 1/2 inches from the left side of you paper. This is the recall column. Notes will be taken to the right of this margin. Later key words or phrases can be written in the recall column.
Recall
Column
KEY WORDS & important ideas
Notes
Go here…
What do those key words mean??

19. 2. Second Step - DURING THE LECTURE
Record notes in paragraph form. Capture general ideas, not illustrative ideas. Skip lines to show end of ideas or thoughts. Using abbreviations will save time. Write legibly.

20. 3. Third Step - AFTER THE LECTURE
Read through your notes and make it more legible if necessary. Now use the column. Jot down ideas or key words which give you the idea of the lecture. (REDUCE) You will have to reread the lecturer's ideas and reflect in your own words.
Cover up the right-hand portion of your notes and recite the general ideas and concepts of the lecture. Overlap your notes showing only recall columns and you have your review.

21. NOTE-TAKING AND IN-CLASS SKILLS
Listen actively - if possible, think before you write - but don't get behind.
Be open minded about points you
disagree on. Don't let arguing interfere
with your note-taking.
3. Raise questions IF APPROPRIATE.

22. Take and keep notes in a large notebook (1/12”)
Take and keep notes in a large notebook (1/12”). The only merit to a small notebook is ease of carrying and that is not your main objective. A large notebook allows you to adequately indent and use an outline form.
Leave a few spaces blank as you move from one point to the next so that you can fill in additional points later if necessary. Your objective is to take helpful notes, not to save paper.
Listen for cues as to important points, transition form one point to the next, repetition of points for emphasis, changes in voice inflections, enumeration of a series of points, etc.

23. Skimming involves searching for the main ideas by reading the first and last paragraphs, noting other organizational cues, such as summaries, used by the author.
Scanning involves running your eyes down the page looking for specific facts or key words and phrases.

24. SQ3R –
A READING /
STUDY SYSTEM

25. gather the information necessary to focus and formulate goals.
SURVEY –
gather the information necessary to
focus and formulate goals.
- Read the title - Help your mind prepare to receive the subject at hand.
- Read the introduction and/or summary - Orient yourself
to how this chapter fits the author's purposes, and focus on the author's
statement of most important points.
- Notice boldface headings/subheadings - Organize
your mind before you begin to read - build a structure for the thoughts and
details to come.
- Notice any graphics - Charts, maps, diagrams, etc. are there to make
a point - don't miss them.
Notice reading aids - Italics, bold face print, chapter objective,
end-of-chapter questions are all included to help you sort, comprehend, and
remember.

26. QUESTION – help your mind engage and concentrate.
One section at a time, turn the boldface heading into as many questions as you think will be answered in that section. The better the questions, the better your comprehension is likely to be. You may always add further questions as you proceed. When your mind is actively searching for answers to questions it becomes engaged in learning.

27. READ - Fill in the information around the mental structures you've been building.
Read each section (one at a time) with your questions in mind. Look for the answers, and notice if you need to make up some new questions.

28. RECITE - retrain your mind to concentrate and learn as it reads.
After each section - stop, recall your questions, and see if you can answer them from memory. If not, look back again (as often as necessary) but don't go on to the next section until you can recite.

29. REVIEW - refine your mental organization and begin building memory.
Once you've finished the entire chapter using the preceding steps, go back over all the questions from all the headings. See if you can still answer them. If not, look back and refresh your memory, then continue.

30. REMEMBER: THE INFORMATION YOU GAIN FROM READING IS IMPORTANT
REMEMBER: THE INFORMATION YOU GAIN FROM READING IS IMPORTANT. IF YOU JUST "DO IT" WITHOUT LEARNING SOMETHING. YOU'RE WASTING A LOT OF TIME. TRAIN YOUR MIND TO LEARN!!!

31. REMEMBER: THE INFORMATION YOU GAIN FROM READING IS IMPORTANT
REMEMBER: THE INFORMATION YOU GAIN FROM READING IS IMPORTANT. IF YOU JUST "DO IT" WITHOUT LEARNING SOMETHING. YOU'RE WASTING A LOT OF TIME. TRAIN YOUR MIND TO LEARN!!!