Find A Place To Study
Figuring out a time and place to do your homework and study is
of the utmost importance. Once you have figured out when to do
your homework, the next question is where to do it.
A good study area should have a desk or table big enough to
spread out books, notes, worksheets, etc. without them all being
on top of each other. You do not want to make a mess, but you
also do want to have ample room to work.
Make sure you have plenty of light. Ideally, you will near a
window with an overhead light and perhaps even a small reading
lamp.
Most important in choosing a study location is finding a place
that is relatively free from distractions. That means no TV on
in the room, no brothers or sisters running by, no phone
conversations to listen in on, and no instant messenger or
emails to keep you busy.
Whether or not you listen to music while you study depends on
your personal preference. You may choose to ignore any phone
calls, or turn off your cell phone, and forget about the urge to
go and get a snack every ten or fifteen minutes.
Depending on your home, you may be able to find this area at the
kitchen or dining room table, or in your bedroom. You may be
able to set aside a study space in your basement or an office in
you home. Some people find their homes too filled with
distractions, and prefer to take their studies to the local
library.
Wherever you choose, it is best if you can study in that same
place all the time. If you can study in this same location
consistently, your mind will get used to this being a focused
and important place. When you enter this area, you will know it
is time to get down to business. Your pens and pencils, paper,
erasers, stapler, calculator, and anything else you use often
can be kept nearby. Also, you can keep them in a bin or bag
which can be pulled out whenever you need them. This will avoid
having to stop studying to collect supplies.
Having this dedicated study spot will help you get down to
business and focus more easily on getting your work complete.
Keep Supplies in a Homework Kit
It's four o'clock...you know what that means...time to do
homework. You scour the house looking for a pencil. Then you
need a pencil sharpener. Ten minutes later you find one. Finally
you sit down to start your homework. Where's the calculator?
Dad's desk? Brother's bedroom? Once found, you discover that it
is low on batteries...there have to be some in the house...but
where? If you find your typical study session unfolding like
this, then here are a few suggestions to make you finish your
homework with ease...
You can waste a lot of time looking for homework supplies and
making sure they are ready to be used. OR, you can use a
homework box or supply kit of some kind to keep it all together.
Then, when it comes time to do homework, everything is in place
for you. No running around, no scouring the house.
Any kind of box will do. You can use a storage tote, an old
shoebox, or even a drawer. The key is to keep everything you
need in there, ready to go. Make sure the tote or box is placed
conveniently in your study area. It should not move from the
spot.
Make sure siblings and family members know that these supplies
are for homework, and not for other activities. Those supplies
should stay there, and only be used for homework. You may want
to label it so there is no confusion as to its purpose.
Pencils and crayons should be sharp, calculators fully equipped
with fresh batteries, markers with lids tightly attached. Here's
a tip, since your parents are always offering to help with your
homework but it is up to you to do the work, suggest that they
take responsibility for keeping the supply kit full and in
working order. When it comes to studying, there are few people
that want any more struggle or stress than is necessary. Keeping
all materials and supplies handy and ready to go will make your
studying not only go smoother, but possibly quicker. And who
wouldn't want to shorten the time they need for studying?
Concentration is Key
Learning to concentrate while studying and doing work is a skill
that will be used for the rest of your life. The art of
concentration is to eliminate any possible distractions and
completely focus on the task at hand. Many students will read
through material and discover that they have no idea what they
have just read. Or, they will attend lectures and have
difficulty paying attention to what is being said. Here are a
few suggestions to help you stay focused and boost your grades...
When scheduling study times, try to stick to a consistent and
efficient routine. Try to avoid studying one day late at night,
and the next in the afternoon. Write in your planner or calendar
when you will study so as not to have conflicts.
Always study in a quiet environment. If you haven't already,
find a designated study spot free of distractions. If you live
in a noisy house or dormitory, this may mean heading to a study
room or even the library.
When you need a study break, do something different from you
have been doing, and in a different area. Get up and walk around
in another room. Listen to music for a few minutes. Grab a
snack. Try to take a break every hour for about 10 minutes.
Every student struggles with day dreaming while
studying...thinking about plans for the night or tomorrow's
basketball game. To avoid daydreaming, ask yourself questions
about the material as you study it, which will keep your mind
focused.
If you have trouble focusing during classroom lectures, look
over the notes of the previous lecture and read the course
material pertaining to the lecture beforehand so you can
anticipate the main ideas that the instructor will cover.
Additionally, show outward interest during lectures. Have an
attentive expression and posture. This will self-motivate
internal interest. Also, resist distractions by sitting in front
of the room away from disruptive occurrences and classmates and
by focusing on the instructor through listening and note taking.
Just a few minor adjustments in your studying habits will go a
long way in improving grades and concentration.
Skimming with Skill
Think about how you find a name in a telephone book. You don't
read any more than necessary to find the name. Maybe you use
your finger to guide your eyes. This type of reading is known as
scanning. Skimming uses the same type of skill mechanically but
a different skill mentally. In scanning, you know what you are
looking for; in skimming, you don't.
Since you don't know exactly what you are looking for while
skimming, prepare yourself by reading the title, source, author,
and any pictures; then question yourself,--who, what, when,
where is this likely to focus on? With a questioning mind direct
your eyes down the column of print, or in a zigzag, if the lines
are quite long. Look for exact names of people, places, things,
ideas, numbers and words like therefore, whenever, until,
because, and instead, to clue you to how and why.
When you first start to learn to skim you may see only the words
in bold type, italics, digits, or capitalized words. Soon you
will note new or unusual vocabulary. As you become an efficient
skimmer your span of perception will develop and your ability to
make closure will increase.
Skimming is a step you should always take before you read any
article of factual or practical narrative. You will soon be able
to detect most important facts, strange vocabulary, and words
that are clues to important relationships.
It's a good practice to skim everything in mass media after
reading the title and first paragraph. You may get all the
information you want. This keeps your skimming skills from
deteriorating, or will give you the practice you need to develop
necessary skills.
Skim everything you intend to read before you make a final
decision to read, discard, or study the material.
Skim all highlighting and develop a read-skim pattern to use for
rapid review. And don't overlook this! Reviewing frequently and
rapidly is the best way to memorize (or simply remember
information) from notes and long text assignments. Skimming is a
very useful tool for studying, so learn it and use it!
From Start to Finish
Confused about what to write down in your notebook during class?
Get stressed when preparing for tests and looking over your
notes? Here are some suggestions to take you from the beginning
of the studying process in the classroom, to the end, or the
test itself.
Read assignments before heading to class. This will build your
background for the information that will be presented in class.
It helps you be familiar with the vocabulary and concepts. This
is especially helpful if you are unfamiliar with the subject
matter. As you read, underline and highlight important
information. If you don't have time to read the entire
assignment, at least look over introduction paragraphs, bolded
words, and summaries. This will give you a good overview of the
information.
Although it seems obvious, you need to go to class and take
notes. Most professors or teachers lecture during class periods,
emphasizing points of importance. Head to class ready to be
attentive and write during the entire class. Don't stop taking
notes until the lecturer is finishing. Pay particular attention
to the end of the lecture, as professors will cram information
into this part to finish up for the day. Use abbreviations; get
details and main ideas to get complete notes.
While the notes are still 'fresh' in your mind, look over them
and make any additions or corrections as soon as possible after
class. Be sure to make note of any parts you didn't understand
or missed. Ask either the professor or a friend via email or
before the next class period to get the missing information.
Try to pass your first test in each class to boost
self-confidence. Make up a list of study questions and
definitions and practice reciting this information aloud, either
to yourself or someone else. Don't wait until the last minute
study. Rather, study for short periods over several days. Of
course, you will want to review the night before a test.
Finally, test day arrives. Use these strategies during your
exam to make all your hard work worthwhile. Read directions
carefully before you begin. Take a few minutes to look over the
test, then answer all the questions you know first. This will
help you get sure points and builds confidence. Don't leave any
blanks; it is better to guess if you don't know. Watch your
time, and manage it accordingly. Don't rush, but don't go too
slow. Take a few minutes at the end of class to look over your
test to be sure you have answered all questions and that your
answers make sense.
Visit the best online casinos huge jackpots!
http://www.earlybirdspecials.info http://www.happypettips.com
Play Poker at Poker Rewards Where You Rake In The Cash
http://www.medicineestore.com