Name_______________________________________ Date________________________ Period_____
HOW TO STUDY
Imagine trying to learn to ice skate by watching from the stands. If you never got on the ice and tried to skate, you’d never be able to skate. Studying is like learning to ice skate. If you only “read over” your notes, you’re just “sitting in the stands.” You have to “skate.” You have to DO SOMETHING.
1. How do I prepare for a quiz/test?
Tip #1: Reading over your notes is not enough. You need to DO SOMETHING with the material.
Tip #2: Studying the night before or in homeroom the day of the test is not enough time. Your brain needs to start preparing for a test several days before it is given, to have time to review all the material you will need.
Tip #3: Hoping that the ONE question you didn’t understand or fill in won’t be on the test doesn’t work. It always is! Ask someone for help until you understand the material.
Tip #4: Get organized! Collect all the materials you will need to study and make sure they are complete and clear. If you get a study guide, possible essay questions, etc. – use them!
2. What are some strategies I can use for studying and reviewing the material for a quiz/test?
Strategy #1: Make Notecards
Make notecards so you can quiz yourself on the material. Put key vocabulary/concepts/questions on one side of the card, and the definition or answer on the other side of the card. Only put one idea or concept on each card.
Strategy #2: Make a Quiz Chart
Take a piece of paper and fold it in half long-ways. Write questions in one column of the paper and answers in the other column. When you fold the paper in half you will only see the questions and then can flip to the answers. Often, teachers may give you a study guide. You could copy the questions and answers here.
Strategy #3: Make a Practice Test
Go through your notebook and make up questions you think will be on the test. Look back for ideas your teacher went over a lot, or may have asked you to highlight or star as important. Make your own TRUE/FALSE, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and essay questions. I bet you can predict and then answer questions that will be on the test better than you would think.
Strategy #4: Explain or Teach the Information to Someone Else
Sometimes the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. When you try to explain something to someone else, you realize if you understand the information yourself. Give another person one of your worksheets, and ask him/her to ask you questions about what you wrote and the information there. If you have trouble explaining the information to them, you need to find the teacher to help you. (IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION AS A PROOF, YOU MUST USE AN ADULT WITNESS AND FILL OUT THE “STUDY PROOF SHEET” WE DISCUSSED IN CLASS).
3. What should I do when I take the test? – Be a PIRATE!
Prepare to Succeed: Get a good night’s sleep before the day of the test and remember to stay calm and cool. Psyche yourself into doing well when you enter the room and take some calming breaths.
Inspect the Instructions: Listen to notes the teacher may give you about the test and then look over the whole test briefly before you get started.
Read, Remember, and Reduce: Start the test and carefully answer each question. Circle or underline key words and think about what the question is asking before you answer. Eliminate answers you know are wrong, and focus on what you do know.
Answer or Abandon: Answer the question. If you don’t know the answer, skip it so as not to waste time or become frustrated.
Turn Back: Once you are finished, make sure you go back over and complete the questions you skipped and double check all your answers.
Exhale: Breathe a sigh of relief and relax now that you are done!
Study Proof Sheet
Strategy #4: Explain or Teach the Information to Someone Else
STUDENT’S NAME:__________________________________________________________
Period:_____________
Date:_______________
Amount of Time Spent:_________________________
· I reviewed the following papers and concepts with another adult today:
· Here is what I discovered I understood really well:
· Here is what I discovered I need to ask about or study more:
I have read the above and reviewed information about _______________________________with this student.
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S PRINTED NAME: _____________________________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S SIGNATURE: ________________________________________________