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This page was
last updated:
April 24, 2008

ACADEMIC COUNSELING
Get Organized | Note Taking | Study Tips | Test Strategies

Daily (and weekend) Study Log in pdf format

Semester Exam Study Log in pdf format

GET ORGANIZED! Decide on a system that works for you…but it only works if you use it!

ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE
• Locker shelves
• Locker floor
• What goes into your backpack
• Special place (same one all the time) to study at home with all supplies there to save time

• Your ideas:
ORGANIZE PLACES FOR NOTES
• 3-ring notebook, dividers for each subject (keep a paper punch handy)
• Folders with pockets for each class
• Divided spiral notebook for taking notes; folders for handouts and homework
• Expandable divided file folder (the plastic kind) with a place for each class: notes, handouts and homework

• Your ideas:
KEEP TRACK OF ASSIGNMENTS/PROJECTS
• Small pocket sized notebook just for assignments
• Appointment book or small calendar - helps you plan ahead

• Your ideas:
AVOID THE FOLLOWING!!
• Papers folded in books
• Papers stashed in your notebooks
• Papers crammed in your locker
• Papers jammed in your pocket…Get the idea?

Get Organized | Note Taking | Study Tips | Test Strategies

Note Taking should be Note Making

• Note Making is a process that helps you to memorize what you write because you have spent time to make sense out of the notes for yourself.

• You’ll find that your most effective notes will result from listening, concentrating, and reacting to the teacher’s information.

• It helps to know some of the material BEFORE the class begins. Look ahead in the book.

• Start developing your own abbreviations or WRITING SHORT CUTS. See the other side of this page for examples. Then create some of your own.

• DATE and LABEL your notes every time you take them!

• When taking notes in your spiral, leave a blank page or part of a page after each lecture. When you study your notes that night (GET IT? STUDY YOUR NOTES ON A DAILY BASIS!) use that space to clarify what you wrote down so that it makes sense to you. Use this same process when you take notes first. Leave a space for the lecture so that you can add the teacher’s explanations to your notes.

• Always concentrate on what the teacher MEANT by what s/he said. Once you understand the concept, RESTATE IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

• Begin to learn the TEACHER’S CUES that give emphasis to points you should know. For example:

• Changes in her/his tone of voice.

• Points that are raised and/or noted on the chalkboard.

• Phrases like - “The 4 major concepts are…” “Please note the following…” “In brief…” and “Remember that…” etc.

• Points that are repeated.

• Question asked by the teacher of one or all of the class.

• Remember, LISTEN – THINK – THEN WRITE

• Try to jot only KEY POINTS. Spend any additional time connecting the information that you’ve remembered later OR read the text to fill in the details later when you are studying your notes. (GET IT? STUDYING YOUR NOTES LATER THAT DAY!)

• If you are confused, ASK QUESTIONS. Everyone would benefit from the teacher’s explanations. The others may have the same question as you do.

• Be sure to copy down all diagrams, graphs, and illustrations. You may end up seeing the information on your next test.

• Underline, bracket or place asterisks (*) by the point the teacher stresses.

• If the teacher goes by the book, don’t get bored. Ask questions to clarify points that you noted in your reading.

• Use question and answer periods to verbally summarize and re-check thoughts with your instructor.

• Don’t spend time re-writing notes unless you use this as a studying tool.

Get Organized | Note Taking | Study Tips | Test Strategies

STUDY TIPS - Click here for a pdf version

1. TOTAL STUDY TIME: A minimum average of two hours of study per day at home is necessary in addition to study hall time at school. Amount of time may increase when major test/projects are due.

2. DIVISION OF TIME: One half hour average study/homework on a daily basis is necessary for each heavy subject such as English, foreign language, math, science or social studies.

3. WHAT CONSTITUTES HOMEWORK? Written work, extensive reading, daily review of lecture notes, memorization and drill work. Just completing all written homework will not guarantee good performance on tests and quizzes. Bring home some type of text/notebook on a daily basis.

4. WHEN TO MEMORIZE: Memorizing left until the night before a test/quiz does not allow information to be committed to long term memory. Chronic poor test/quiz grades often result because of this habit. Information presented in class should be studied every day, with a constant review of material from previous lessons.

5. ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS: Using an assignment notebook should not be considered a nuisance, but a good practice for high school and on into the world of work.

6. DAILY STUDY SCHEDULE: Formulate a schedule with input from both student and parents. Be flexible in revising when it is not realistic. Shorter “chunks” of time are often more profitable than lengthy ones in order to foster concentration and comprehension. Daydreaming too often happens during lengthy periods of study time.

7. PHONE CALLS, TV AND MUSIC: Prearrange incoming and outgoing phone call times and length of conversation times with friends as well as television time so as not to interrupt the schedule. Usually early in the evening, students are more alert for studying. Consider coordinating study schedules with friends and friends’ parents so all are free at the same time and have the same rules about times and lengths of times on the phone. As for music, each individual has individual needs. Some students will want to block out all noise and have silence; some will want to block out outdoor and household noises with music. Music without lyrics is sometimes better than music with lyrics because the tendency is to sing along which disrupts studying. Discuss this to find out the best way for each individual to study.

8. STILL NOT ACHIEVING? If a student appears to be utilizing good study habits and is still not achieving, feel free to contact the student’s teacher or counselor or both to obtain further information on the nature of the problem.

9. TUTORING: If students need tutoring, teachers and peer helpers are available during scheduled after school hours from 2:15 - 3:00 PM. Many times these sessions are “small group tutoring,” not “one-on-one tutoring.” If a student needs “one-on-one” help, professional tutoring services are the best option. Classroom teachers, Department Chairs and the counselors can provide parents with referrals for tutoring services.

10. WHEN TO GET HELP: Act immediately. Do not wait until the student is so lost or frustrated that s/he cannot possibly turn the situation around in time before report cards

Get Organized | Note Taking | Study Tips | Test Strategies

TESTING STRATEGIES - click here to view a pdf version

Get Organized | Note Taking | Study Tips | Test Strategies