Study Skills for School Success! Presented Ali Cregan and Zo Sanchez

Agenda  We will discuss …  how to create an effective study zone  the importance of setting consistent homework and studying routines  learning about learning  suggested study tools

Study Skills for School Success! This study skills workshop was created with the following in mind: 1. Students can do well in school when they practice good study habits and are well organized 2. Study skills and organizational skills do not come naturally to most people – they must be learned

Discussion Time  What does your child’s work space look like?

Create a Study Zone  How should it look?  Comfortable  No Distractions  Well lit  Organized  Necessary supplies  Personalize it  Students remember more if they do their homework in the same place and same time each night!

Organizing the Study Zone  Study Zone should have…  a special place where your child puts parent notices  monthly calendar to write down ALL activities and due dates  Study times blocked off in advance

Setting Study Zone Routines  When student gets home they should empty Home/School Communication Folder and organize papers in their Study Zone  Student adds new information to monthly calendar  Parent checks Study Zone  Student puts signed papers back in Home/School Communication Folder  Student and parent create a To-Do list

Setting Study Zone Routines  Turn off TV, radio, or any other distracting devises and remove cell phones etc.  Check and retrieve additional supplies if needed  Fix a snack - you don’t need an excuse for your child to get up!  Set time by estimating how long each assignment will take  Ask student to number assignments in order from first to last (Most difficult or least favorite assignment first)

Learning Styles: 1. Visual – learn by seeing 2. Auditory – learn by hearing 3. Kinesthetic – learn by doing Everyone learns differently – study in ways that are most helpful to you!

Handling Homework 1. Ask questions about assignments 2. Discuss your involvement and role in tonight's study session 3. Student crosses out or checks off each assignment as it is completed 4. As SOON as each assignment is completed and parent checks it, the student should put papers immediately in their Home/School Communication Folder 5. Rewards student’s progress!

Setting High Standards  Expect Excellent Work  Expect good, readable handwriting  Use complete sentences  Answers questions thoroughly, using examples and details  Encourage student to double-checking their work (especially in math)  By doing these things students learn more and don’t need to study as much!

Memorization Working MemoryLong Term memory  Short term memorizing “Cramming”  Learned material only makes it to your “working memory”  Learned material will soon be forgotten  Learned material makes it to your “long-term memory”  Review and revisit material often  Information should be reviewed ten minutes after learning and every seven days to keep in long-term memory Two Types of Memory WHICH IS BETTER?

Learning About Learning 2 How Do People Learn?  1 % through TASTE  1.5 % through TOUCH  3.5% through SMELL  11% through HEARING  83% through SIGHT What Does This Mean?

Learning About Learning 3 How Much People Retain (Remember)?  10% of what you READ  20% of what you HEAR  30% of what you SEE  50% of what you SEE and HEAR at the same time  70% of what you SAY as you talk  90% of what you SAY as you DO a thing What Does This Mean ?

Test Taking 3  When studying students should recite, write, visualize  RECITE  Describe or explain topics aloud; put in your own words  Teach the information to someone else  Engage in a simulation or role play

Test Taking 4  WRITE  Make chapter study review cards(SQ3R)  Make flashcards (math facts, sight words, vocabulary words and definitions) VISUALIZE  Close eyes and “picture in mind” any chart, diagram, word, map, event, time period, scene, experiment, or character that they are trying to remember

SQ3R S = SurveyLook over the chapter title and all the pictures to get an idea of what you are supposed to learn from the reading. Q = QuestionCome up with some questions that could be answered while you read. R1 = ReadThink about answering the questions you came up with and what might come next in the reading. R2 = Recite After reading a section ask yourself questions about what you have read. You can take notes about the reading. R3 = Review Review what you have read by covering up the key phrases and seeing if you can recall them.

Work With Teachers to Resolve Problems  Talk with teacher early in the school year before problems arise.  Contact teacher as soon as you suspect a problem.  Request a meeting with teacher to discuss concerns – explain what you think is going on.  Let teacher know if our child finds assignments too hard or too easy.  Work out a way to solve or lessen the problem.  Keep communication open and clear.  Follow up to make sure plan you set-up is working.

Study Tips by Students "If you are allowed to chew gum in school here is a tip for you... Chew a weird flavor of gum while studying and while taking the test chew the same type of gum... It is weird but it works because it makes a connection to what you studied. " " If you have a study guide, then use that to make notes on how to remember the questions and answers. When you are looking back on the questions and answers, you can see how to remember them by looking at your handwritten notes." "Writing note neatly really helps. I think I learn much better when the notes are really easy to read and the pictures are neat!" “I write key points from my reading down on flashcards. Then I study them and make connections with my notes."

Comments /Questions?  Upcoming parent Meetings January  Information posted  OMS Website (upcoming events), grade level newsletters, monthly OMS newsletter, Parent Resource Room 325 (books, brochures, hand outs, personal guidance by parent liaison.