Whether you’re headed back to college, high school, middle school, or elementary school, the back-to-school season is in full-swing! StudyPoint’s National Director of Academics suggests that students color code their materials, make frequent contact with teachers, and set regular study schedules.
Here are some tips to help you study:
Tip #1: Develop organizational systems that will work for YOU. Not all organizational systems will work for all students. You should choose the ones that will work best with your schedule and needs.
Tip #2: Avoid distractions in your study space. If your study space includes a TV and radio, it’s probably not the best place for you to study.
Tip #3: Keep all of your books, notebooks, binders, and folders for each class together on a shelf. Then when you need to grab your math materials for school, they are all in one place, making it less likely for you to forget something.
Tip #4: Reward yourself! Positive reinforcement is an amazing thing. When you have completed tasks, reward yourself in small ways.
Tip #5: Schedule time to complete your assignments based on anticipated time on task and urgency. Once you know all the assignments that you need to complete, determine their deadlines and estimate how long it will take to finish each one.
Tip #6: Use an academic planner to keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and appointments. By having all this information in one place, you’ll know exactly where to look to find out what you need to do.
Tip #7: Use shorter, less grammatically correct sentences. Since you are the only one who will be reviewing your notes, you need not write grammatically correct sentences.
Tip #8: Divide your study time into blocks separated by quick breaks. It is most effective to study in 30-45 minute blocks of time, allowing yourself quick 3-5 minute breaks in between study blocks.
Tip #9: Create and save study guides and aids. Students often wait until the night before big tests to start creating study aids. Instead, you should create study aids for each quiz and test that you have in a class.
Tip #10: Learn how to effectively communicate with your teachers. Your teachers are there to provide guidance and support.