• STUDY STRATEGIES 

    Do you find yourself staring at your notes for hours on end and still not getting the grades that you want on assessments?

    You are not alone! Many students struggle with the same questions: How do I study? Where do I get started? How can I remember all this information?

    Here at the Academic Support Center (room 221), we can help you find the best way to study that fits the way YOU learn. Remember: everybody learns and retains information in different ways. One strategy that works for your friends may not work for you. That is OK! We are here to help you find the way that works for you.

    If you are completely lost and need some immediate recommendations, here are some strategies that you can try:

    · Write and Rewrite! I know, this is old fashioned. But trust us, it works! The more that you write something down, the more it sticks in your brain! Look at your notes/study guide/important terms, write them down on a sheet of loose-leaf, and then write them down again. This will help the material stick in your mind and will help when you associate certain terms with their definitions when you see them on a test. 

    · CD, RD, WD Strategy This is a note card strategy. You can use online note cards like Quizlet or paper index cards. You can use these for facts, vocabulary, or short answer questions.

    C- Copy the question or vocabulary term you need to study on the front of the note card

    D- Double Check that you wrote the question or vocabulary term correctly

    R- Read your notes, textbook, materials teachers have posted on Schoology, etc. to find the answer.

    D- Double Check the question and answer or the vocabulary term and definition. Ask yourself, does this make sense?

    W- Write the answer/definition AND where you found it (page number, webpage, note sheet) on the back of the card

    D – Double Check- that you wrote the correct answer/definition and where you found it

     

    Now, I know what you are thinking, why would I want to double check everything? However, this is an important part of the strategy. If you are studying information that isn’t accurate, it is only hurting you for remembering the information on the test! Once you have the note cards, look at them. You can test or quiz yourself. If you use Quizlet, you can use the learn option. You can have your friends/parents quiz you on the terms or questions. Make sure to pay special attention to what you don’t know. If you only study what you already know, then you are not going to be fully prepared for the assessment.

     · Try to create something to help you remember the words. This can be a mnemonic, song, poem, drawing, etc. You can make studying a creative process if you take the material and turn it into something meaningful. Draw a picture of the systems you need to remember for Biology. Write a song about the elements of a civilization for Social Studies. Create a mnemonic like the one you use in math, PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally). Studying doesn’t have to be boring; it can be a creative process if you think about it creatively.

    Overall, you need to make sure that whatever you are using to study fits the way that YOU learn. If you are still lost or need help, drop by the Success Center. That’s what we are here for!