S4 Assembly

Supported Study Please go! There are a number of classes being offered after school most days of the week. Please try to attend – check the school website for details and check with class teachers.

Study Skills & Techniques Why Study? Study can increase our knowledge, understanding, skills and qualifications. It helps us in an increasingly competitive market place. We can develop our potential to the best possible level and achievement can lead to a great sense of satisfaction.

How do I Study? It helps if you learn how to study. This may sound like a silly statement but many people learn in different ways. You should already know you preferred style of learning but if you do not, there will be exercises for you to complete in PSD.

Learning Styles Do you know how you learn best? When learning new material we use most of our senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell; but often we have a primary mode of receiving and communicating information.

Learning Modes (1)Visual - visual learners learn best by seeing pictures in their mind’s eye. They like to make lists, see charts and diagrams and enjoy reading. (2)Auditory - auditory learners hear information in their minds. They learn best by attending lectures, listening to seminars or CDs. They like to give verbal instruction and rehearse ideas by talking to themselves.

Learning Modes (3)Analytical - analytical learners use logical, hypothetical reasoning to learn new information. They are the scientists, researchers and computer programmers of the world! (4)Kinaesthetic - they like to move about and learn by doing, touching and feeling. You will often find them fidgeting with a pencil or pen.

Learning Modes If you can identify your mode of learning then you can maximise your learning potential. Obviously the trick is to develop all modes of learning so that we are not held back by a system that uses mostly one means of teaching. This will aid more effective long-term learning.

How to Study…… It helps if you know how to study – simply reading a page over and over does not mean that you are studying effectively or even learning. When you are studying you should have: Method Organisation Planning Learning Techniques Practice A little organisation to your study routine will help. It also helps to organise a time and place and to establish a routine.

How to Study…… Time How much time do you have? Be realistic: 5 minutes a day won’t get you anywhere but neither will hours of studying. What else do you have to fit in? (sleep, work, exercise, clubs…)

How to Study…… Place Where can you study? It’s best to set aside space for study; somewhere to leave your books and folders, notes and reminders. It might be difficult to get peace and quiet to study in your home so maybe going to the library or attending supported study classes will help.

How to Study…… Routine As with sport, a little and often is the key rather than try to do everything at once. Organise a daily/weekly timetable so that you can look at everything you have to do and establish the habit of regular study, so that it becomes part of your life rather than something you cram in two nights before the exams begin. Be sensible!

Study Timetable Task Over the weekend, think of places that you could study effectively and make yourself a study timetable. Now you can start your study routine!

Study Timetable Monday 4pmHome 4.15pm pmEnglish 5.15pm - 6pmDinner 6.30pm – 7.15pmMaths 7.30pm – 8.30pmFrench

Quiet Rooms If you cannot get peace to study at home we can make rooms available to you after school. Please let me know if you require this.

SQA Website & Past Papers As well as completing set homework, you should also be accessing the SQA website and downloading past papers. Your teachers will be happy to mark any work you do. Do as much as you can – not the bare minimum!!