Transcript School Success

School Success
Prepping for Class and
Assessments
Be Disciplined
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Let's be honest, studying isn't as
much fun as other things in life. In
fact, for most teens it ranks near the
bottom of the list. But, like most
things in life, it is a discipline that will
serve you well later in life no matter
what life brings you.
Knowing HOW to study and knowing
WHAT to study are two basic
aspects to successful studying.
What to Study
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Study big concepts and supporting details
and examples.
In my class this is easy. All of the big
concepts are listed as proficiencies. You
get this list at the beginning of the year so
that there are no surprises.
How to Study (Active Study)
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Study needs to be more than just listening
in class and reading at home, to learn in
any subject. Once you get use to it, it will
MAKE SCHOOL EASIER and that is the
whole idea.
Think of new applications for what you
learn.
Identify examples of what you learn.
Think of ways to use the information in
other courses.
Preparing to Study
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Find a good place to study. This means a
desk with nothing on it except what you
need for the task you are going to work
on. Move everything out of the way. You
want to concentrate on one thing:
studying.
Have a regular time and place for studying.
Plan out what to study and how long.
Plan out stretch breaks.
Plan for a snack. Studying requires energy!
Be Prepared to Study
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Use Assignment
Notebook/Planner
Have a solid flat surface for
writing
Eliminate distractions
Working computer (optional)
Wear your glasses
Use good lighting
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Have a sturdy
chair
Have the right
books
Have enough
supplies
Have a clock
Maintain good
health
Taking Notes in Class
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In my class we always start the unit with an outline of what will
be covered in that unit. This is the minimum notes that should
be taken in my class.
During lectures it would be good to write what is being discussed
and pictures and examples I put on the board.
Remember, neatness doesn't count, but being legible does. If
you can't read it when you get home it's worthless.
Organize notes taken in class and given outline as part of your
study routine.
Copying Notes Over
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Recopy your notes again at home. Of course you should study
your class notes at home; but just (re-)reading them is too
passive. Perhaps type them up instead of rewriting them.
Studying must be active. It is all too easy when just reading
passively to have your mind wander or even to fall asleep.
The main idea behind re-writing your "raw" class notes (besides
making them more legible and organized) is that the very act of
copying them is one of the best ways of studying them!
Further study of your class notes can then be done from these
"cooked" ones that are neater, more legible, more organized, and
more complete.
This may include taking your notes from class and re-writing
them into the chapter outline from the beginning of the unit.
Order of Study
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Study Hard Subjects First & Study in a Quiet Place - Each
night (or day) when studying or doing your homework, do those
subjects first for which you need to be alert and energetic. Leave
the easier, or more fun, subjects to later. Work that requires
activity, (making a model, or doing an experiment) should be left
till after the seated work, (bookwork, reading, answering
questions).
Exception to this rule: Some people who are mildly or more
ADD (myself included) need absolute silence to study. Because
absolute silence does not exist on this planet, much less in the
average household, quiet music can be put on. The music can
then be filtered out by the brain creating silence. Quiet,
instrumental music is usually best.
Active Reading
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Read Actively, Not Passively - Don't just read the text straight
through without thinking about what you're reading. The best
technique for active reading is to keep a notebook. Copy
important passages -word for word- into your notebook. This
notebook will be part of your daily study tool, where you can take
several minutes each day and review everything you have
learned in that unit. If the class has a cumulative final looking
through the notebook will be much easier that trying to re-read
the entire book again. Outlining volumes of information is a good
technique also.
Read notes or text out load and record yourself. Play back the
recording and take notes.
When to Read
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Read Before and After Class - Ideally, you should read
(a) text at least twice. Read it (perhaps quickly) before the
class in which it will be discussed, so that you are familiar
with its contents. Then (re-)read it after class using the
slower active reading method. If time permits, you can cut
corners by only reading it- slowly and actively! -after
class.
Review posted notes from teachers prior to attending the
class. This may give you insight to the topic and provide
you the opportunity to participate more in class.
Rereading the posted notes after class will solidify more
of the new material.
Working at Home
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Do Your Homework - Do your homework and do it on
time. Putting off doing your homework till the last minute is both
a bad habit, and one of the worst ways to learn the material.
Do Your Practice Work - Do your practice work and do it on
time, not sitting in the hall in the morning or at lunch when
distractions can occur.
Do Your Project Work - In my class the project work is given out
in a packet. The packet will contain the background information,
design brief, specifications and limitations. Look over the work
and get started on it immediately! Next look over the rubric and
see if there is anything that would be time or material intensive
(such as a model, a poster or a video presentation) and start
planning what you are going to do and when, this includes asking
your parent's to get the materials with time enough for you to
complete it on time.