Study Skills and Strategies

About MeName: Mauricio NajarroCollege: Williams CollegeSAT Score: 2400

• Has a rich and diverse teaching background, starting as a writing tutor and workshop leader while finishing up his undergraduate degree

• Has worked as a high school instructor in El Salvador, Washington, D.C., and Oakland, CA.

• Taught SAT strategies for over a year and a half with another test preparation company before coming to Revolution.

• His encyclopedic knowledge of the material complements his teaching style-patience and flexibility with each individual student and a thorough approach for each test strategy.

What we’ll cover tonight1. What are study tools

and strategies?2. Why are study tools

and strategies so important?

3. Important tools and how to use them

4. Study Tips

Students:• Complete your Study Skills Inventory.

• Be honest!Parents:

• Talk with your student to help him/her identify study strengths & challenges.

Study Skills Inventory

What are study tools & strategies?

Study Tools: steps, procedures, or resources to help you acquire, organize, remember, and use informationStudy Strategies: the ways in which you choose, use, and stick to your study tools

Why are they so important?Turn to your partner and discuss:

• Why do you think it’s important to develop good study habits while you’re in high school?

• What has helped you study successfully in the past?

• When do you have a hard time getting motivated to study?

Why are they so important?High school (and then college!) requires more student independence – you are more in charge of your schedule, your work, and your grades.

Why are they so important?Studies have shown that…

• Students at all levels who possess good study skills are more likely to achieve academic success

• Students who believe that studying is important are more likely to achieve academic success

• People who know how to study are also more likely to be successful in other pursuits

Important Study Tools

Different tools can help you effectively acquire, organize, remember, and use information, as well as plan when you’ll actually study.

Calendars• Keeping a monthly calendar will help you see everything that’s

coming up

Take time every day to fill out all of your upcoming assignments and obligations – practices, games, rehearsals, volunteer work, and even fun! – on your calendar.

To Do Lists• Along with your monthly calendar, track when specific assignments

are due.

Mark the priority level so you can immediately see what has to be done and when.

Record each task’s due date, steps for completion, and notes to remember.

Grade Tracker• Track every assignment’s grade in each class, as well as your

overall grade.

This is a particularly helpful tool if your teachers wait to return your assignments until the end of a unit.

KWL Chart• A KWL Chart helps you organize your thinking about your learning –

either when you’re learning something new or studying what you’ve already learned

The chart gives you space to list:• what you know about a

subject• what you want to know• what you’ve learned by

studying

KWL: Practice!

K: what do you KNOW about black holes?• work with your partner for five minutes to list everything you know

W: what do you WANT to know about black holes?

• work with your partner for five minutes to generate at least five things you want to know

L: what did you LEARN about black holes?

Note-Taking Template• Structured note-taking will help you take better notes in class and

study from them before a big test – one of the most important skills for any subject or grade

Use this form to. . .• take notes in class• identify key points from

those notes• summarize the overall ideas

Learning Styles

Before you can set up a study system for yourself, it helps to know a little about how you learn best.

Visual LearnersClues

• You need to see it to know it

• You have a strong sense of color

• You have trouble following long lectures in school

• You may be artistic

Study Tips• Use graphics to

reinforce learning – movies, illustrations, and diagrams

• Color code your notes• Write out directions

when you hear them• Write your notes as flow

charts

Auditory LearnersClues

• You prefer to get information by listening

• You may have difficulty following written directions

• You rely on someone’s tone of voice rather than facial expressions

Study Tips• Record lectures if your

teacher allows you to• Learn by participating

in discussions about a topic

• Softly read test questions aloud

Kinesthetic LearnersClues

• You prefer hands-on learning, like experiments

• You can assemble parts without reading directions

• You may not like to sit still

• You learn better when physical activity is involved

Study Tips• Take frequent breaks in

your study periods to move

• Try experiential learning by making models or role playing to help you remember

• Trace letters and words with your fingers to help you remember facts

Tips for Success

• Designate a specific space for studying (your desk, a quiet room) and always work there

• Bring everything you need to study – and nothing you don’t.

• Talk to yourself – literally! Say things aloud to help them stick.

Tips for Success• Ask yourself questions about what you’re learning, and answer yourself in complete sentences.

• Take regular, short breaks to help your brain absorb what you’re learning

• Ask someone to check on your progress and praise your successes

DiscussionTurn to your partner and discuss:• Which tool(s) that you learned about today do you think will be most helpful in your studying?

• How will you change your study strategies based on what you’ve learned tonight?

Questions?