study well

How to Study WELL, not just harder!


Students, parents and school staff all want the same goal of happy and successful student achievers. Learning good study habits is key. Improving study habits does not necessarily need to mean studying more or studying harder.
Learning HOW to study can save time and frustration and lead to more success in school.
Organization
At School
Organization is one way to save time and frustration. It begins during the school day. Be sure to have an agenda book or other homework notebook to record daily assignments. Write the date and list each subject that you have for homework. Copy down the page numbers, item numbers or special directions the teacher may give. It also helps to have a small monthly calendar to record up-coming tests, projects, reports, etc. so you can anticipate and prepare for them ahead of time. A pocket homework folder is another good organizational tool. Use one side for “in” coming papers, such as homework sheets, notices or letters to parents, permission slips, etc. Use the other side for “out” going, completed homework, signed forms, notes to turn in to the teacher, etc. This way, all the papers will stay neat and unwrinkled and will be easy to find when needed. Many times, students take the time to do homework, but then either have to do it over again or don’t get credit for it because they can’t find it. The folder eliminates that problem.
At Home
When you get home in the afternoon, it is good to have a special study/homework area, a routine place that is uncluttered and quiet to put your book bag and other study supplies each day when you get home from school. It should have good light, be comfortable and have space for a ruler, calculator, dictionary, extra pencils and paper or any other supplies you might need. When you get ready to do your homework, everything you need is right there. When you finish, put homework and anything else that needs to be turned in to the teacher in your homework folder and return the folder and all of your books to your book bag. In the morning, when it is time to catch the bus, you will be able to get your book bag and go.
Study Time
Just HOW do you study well?

First, figure out a schedule that works for you. Some students like a snack and “fun” time when they get home from school. THEN they study. Some students like to study first and get it done. THEN they have time to play or watch a favorite TV show or read a favorite book. Which do you like best? If you do like the break first, be sure that it is only about 30 minutes. Then start your homework. Whichever you decide, work about 30 minutes and then take a 5-10 minute break. Get up, walk around, get a snack, talk with someone in your family, or play with your pet. Then go back to your homework.

Another choice you have to make is which homework you like to start first. Some like to do the easiest first; others like to do the hardest first while you are fresh and then do the easiest later when you are getting tired. Decide which works best for you.

Your agenda book has daily assignments. Your monthly calendar will remind you of reports, projects and tests that are coming up. If you have a project or report, mark on the calendar what you need to have done each day or week so that you will be prepared and not have to do it all the night before it is due. Studying for a test is best done that way, too. For instance, if you have a test on Friday, read about it Monday, look over notes or worksheets the next night, look at questions and answer them the next night, then review all and see if you can answer questions without looking at the answers or have a parent call out the questions to you. You will really be prepared for that test!

A good strategy is SQR3, Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. When you read a chapter in a textbook, especially when you are studying for a test, have a very small pad of sticky notes handy. First, SURVEY means to look through the pages of the chapter. Notice the pictures and captions, the words in bold, italicized or underlined print. That way you are getting familiar with what you are about to read; you are connecting it with what you already know. That helps you remember what you read. Second, QUESTION means to flip to the questions at the end of the chapter. Read those. Those are the most important facts. It helps you learn what information you are looking for. Then, as you READ, when you run across the answer to one of the questions, put a little sticky note by the answer. It helps you find it later if you have to write the answers to the questions and in your REVIEW for a test, it acts as a flag if you can’t remember the answer for the question. After READing the text, go back to the questions and see if you can RECITE or answer the questions without looking. If you can and you are sure of the answers, WAY TO GO! You know those! If there are some that are hard, check your “flags” and find the correct answer. That is the REVIEW. You know those are hardest for you and need more practice.

Learning to be organized both in school and at home and learning good study strategies can help you learn how to study WELL, not just harder or longer. Actually, studying WELL can help you be more successful in school and save more time to do the other things you enjoy doing. Have a great school year!