1. Debbie Sheppard Study Skills

2. Being a good student is your job. And it is an important job. Your tools are your books, assignments, test papers, and school supplies, and it’s up to you to keep track of them. Being organized allows you to concentrate on doing your best work.

3.  Backpack or book bag  Locker  Binder  Folders

4.  Never store loose papers in your backpack or locker. Put them in a “To File” folder.  Don’t use your backpack/locker as a trash can.  Put similar items such as pens and pencils in smaller containers.  Inspect your backpack and locker EVERY night to make sure it has everything you need and nothing else!  Put your name, address, and phone number on the inside of your backpack, incase you lose it.

5. Mrs. Sheppard recommends using 2 to 2½ inch three ring binder.  Have a divider for every subject  Label dividers in the order of your class periods  Have a 3 hole punched pencil pouch  Keep a small amount of paper in the very back of the binder use for all subjects – refill when needed  Do not “rip-out” loose leaf paper from binder – you will not be able to put it back in the binder appropriately

6. Mrs. Sheppard recommends that you do this nightly.  Make sure your name and date are at the top of all papers  Take all loose papers out of your binder and organize them into stacks according to subjects  Make sure all papers are facing the same directions  Make sure all papers are hole punched  Go through each stack and remove old papers – take the old papers home to be filed  Repair holes that are ripped – wrap tape over each whole so that both sides are taped and re-punch holes

7. Mrs. Sheppard recommends the following supplies for home:  Colored pencils  Pens and pencils  Glue sticks or rubber cement glue  Note cards  Post it notes  Write on Wipe off master calendar at home for posting long term projects and test/quiz dates  Hole puncher  Paper clips/binding clips

8. Mrs. Sheppard recommends the following:  You should have something written in each box of your agenda for every subject every day  Be detailed in writing homework in your agenda – you need to know specifically what you need to do when you get home – It also let’s your parents know exactly what it is you need to do  If a test date is assigned, write “study for test(include the name of the test)” in each box daily until the test day - do the same for quizzes and projects  If there is not any homework given, write “No homework”  If you do not have written homework – you need to review what was covered in class for that day  Bring home homework that was done at school to show your parents that it is completed

9.  Make sure you have good lighting  Make sure your work surface is clean and organized  Make sure your seating is comfortable, but not too comfortable  Make sure the temperature is not too cold or hot  Make sure you have all of your materials handy