Information from THE KEY produced by Castle Rock Research Success at School Information from THE KEY produced by Castle Rock Research

TIPS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL AT SCHOOL

KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Always reflect on what you can already do and what you already know.

BE PREPARED TO LEARN Have ready the necessary pencils, pens, notebooks, and other required materials for participating in class.

COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS Do your best to finish all of your assignments and meet all timelines. Use an organizer to plan your time and ensure all work is completed.

Even if you know the material well, practice will reinforce your knowledge. If a question is difficult for you, work through it as far as you can so that your teacher can see exactly where you are having difficulty.

SET SMALL GOALS FOR YOURSELF Do this when you are learning new material. “Chunk” the material to make it more manageable.

For example… when learning the parts of speech, do not try to learn everything in one night. Work on only one part or section each study session. When you have memorized one particular part, then move on to another one.

REVIEW YOUR CLASSROOM WORK EACH DAY when you get home review to be sure that you understand the material that you learned in class.

ASK YOUR TEACHER or A PEER FOR HELP Your teacher or a peer can help you if you are having trouble understanding a concept. Make sure you have given it your best effort first!

GET PLENTY OF REST AND EXERCISE Concentrating in class is hard work. It is important to be well-rested and have time to relax and socialize with your friends. This helps you to keep your positive attitude about your school work.

EAT HEALTHY MEALS A balanced diet keeps you healthy and gives you the energy that you need for studying at school and at home.

Learning Styles

How to Find your LEARNING STYLE Every student learns differently. Knowing your learning style can increase your success at school. Most students use a combination of learning styles. Do you know what type of learner you are?

Read the following descriptions Read the following descriptions. Which of these common learning styles do you use most often?

Linguistic Learner: You may learn best by saying, hearing, and seeing words. You are good at memorizing things such as dates, places, names, & facts. You may need to write and then say out loud the steps in a process, a formula, or the actions that lead up to a significant event.

Spatial Learner: You may learn best by looking at and working with pictures. You are good at puzzles, imagining things, and reading maps and charts. You may need to use strategies like mind mapping and webbing to organize your information and study notes.

Kinaesthetic Learner: You may learn best by touching, moving, and using manipulatives. You are good at physical activities and learning through movement. You may need to draw your finger over a diagram to remember it, "tap out" the steps needed to solve a problem, or "feel“ yourself writing a formula.

Here are some links to help you determine your learning style… http://sunburst.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learning-style/stylest.html http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

SCHEDULING STUDY TIME

SCHEDULING STUDY TIME Review your class notes regularly to ensure that you have a clear understanding of all the new material you learned. This helps you to learn and remember ideas and concepts. It also reduces the quantity of material that you need to study prior to a test.

Establishing a study schedule will help you to make the best use of your time. Regardless of the type of study schedule you use, you may want to consider the following suggestions to maximize your study time and effort:

Organize your work so that you begin with the most challenging material first. Divide the subject's content into small, manageable chunks.

Alternate regularly between your different subjects and types of study activities in order to maintain your interest and motivation. Make a daily list with headings like "Must Do," "Should Do," and "Could Do."

Begin each study session by quickly reviewing what you studied the day before. Maintain your usual routine of eating, sleeping, and exercising to help you concentrate better for extended periods of time.

CREATING STUDY NOTES

MIND-MAPPING OR WEBBING Use the key words, ideas, or concepts from your reading or class notes to create a mind map or mind web diagram or visual representation of the given information A mind map or web is sometimes referred to as a knowledge map.

Write the key word, concept, theory, or formula in the centre of your page. Write down related facts, ideas, events, and information and then link them to the central concept.

Use coloured markers, underlining, or other symbols to emphasize things such as relationships, time lines, and important information.

An example using the Frayer Model illustrates how this technique can be used to study scientific vocabulary.

INDEX CARDS To use index cards while studying, follow these steps: Write a key word or question on one side of an index card. On the reverse side, write the definition of the word, answer to the question, or any other important information that you want to remember.

SYMBOLS AND STICKY NOTES Use symbols to mark your class notes. For example, an exclamation mark (!) might be used to point out something that must be learned well because it is a very important idea. A question mark (?) may highlight something that you are not certain about, and a diamond (◊) or asterisk (*) could highlight interesting information that you want to remember.

Use sticky notes when you are not allowed to put marks in books. Use sticky notes to mark a page in a book that contains an important diagram, formula, explanation, etc. Use sticky notes to mark important facts in research books.

STRATEGIES FOR REVIEWING

Reviewing textbook material, class notes, and handouts should be an ongoing activity. Spending time reviewing becomes more critical when you are preparing for tests. Use these tips during your scheduled study time:

Before reading a selection, preview it by noting the headings, charts, graphs, and chapter questions. Before reviewing a unit, note the headings, charts, graphs, and chapter questions.

Highlight key concepts, vocabulary, definitions, and formulas. Carefully read over each step in a procedure. Draw a picture or diagram to help make the concept clearer.

The Checklist! Review, review, review: review is a huge part of doing well at school and preparing for tests.

Read each question. Answer “Yes” or “No” and keep track of those you answer “No” to. Reflect on how you might try using some of these strategies to help you do your best at school.

Strategies for Success Do you attend school regularly? Do you know your personal learning style – how you learn best? Do you spend 15 to 30 minutes each day reviewing your notes / work? Do you study in a quiet place at home with no distractions? Do you clearly mark the most important ideas in your study notes?

Strategies for Success (continued) Do you use sticky notes to mark texts and research books? Do you practice answering multiple-choice and written-response questions? Do you ask your teacher or a peer for help when you need it? Do you maintain a healthy diet and sleep routine? Do you participate in regular physical activity?

I hope you found some of this information useful. Have a wonderful and successful this semester here at Milton District. GO MUSTANGS!