Objectives: 1) Reflect on your existing study skills 2) Understand your strengths 3) Pinpoint areas that need improvement 4) Set goals to improve and practice
Activity 1: Self-Assessment Directions: Read the statements below and select the answer that best describes YOU. Be honest. The topics are Homework, Note Taking, Time Management, and Test Performance. Score the results and have a conversation with your tutor about areas you want to improve. Then, write down goals that will help you improve!
Homework. 1) When you do homework, you study with to get an A. a) I do this regularly b) Depends on the subject c) Rarely d) No, I never make As 2) When you first begin a new chapter, you a) Read it through once quickly, to discover what you already know and do not know b) Read it thoroughly, underlining or highlighting important details c) Outline it d) Only look for answers to the questions at the end of the chapter 3) You usually read material at least twice because: Page 1
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a) b) c) d)
The words do not make much sense the first time
So you can outline the material or construct a test review You are unclear about certain parts You rarely re-re the material
4) During the second time you see the new material, you a) Reread the entire chapter b) Outline the chapter and look up words c) Rarely re-read the material d) Make up typical test questions or flashcards 5) When you read, do you pronounce the words to yourself? a) Usually only the ones I do not know b) Yes, frequently c) Rarely or never d) It depends whether I am reading for pleasure or for a test 6) When you read the chapter, you are able to create mental pictures in your mind. a) Regularly b) Not at all c) My reading involves some imagery or action d) Rarely 7) Do you find that you generally have trouble determining the important points in the material that you have read or studied? a) Yes, frequently b) Depends on the subject matter c) Sometimes d) Rarely 8) Do you enjoy reading for pleasure a) Yes, usually b) Its difficult when the words are hard, but I like it c) Reading is very difficult because it makes me sleepy d) No, it is boring 9) Do you have difficulty concentrating on material you are studying a) Only on really difficult or uninteresting material b) Not often a problem c) Sometimes
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d) Yes, most of the time
10) When you are reading, you tend to a) Fall asleep b) Have trouble concentrating with certain subjects c) Concentrate pretty well most of the time d) Allow my mind to wander to other thoughts or ideas 11) How often do you contact others for studying purposes? a) Often b) Sometimes c) Depends on the subject d) Never 12) How often do you find yourself inspired to study but are overwhelmed by the amount you need to accomplish? a) Never b) Sometimes c) Frequently d) Depends on the kind of assignment 13) When you have to prepare an essay outside of class, do you proofread for mistakes in punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc.? a) I consistently do this b) I never bother; not enough time c) I do not need to look for ways to improve my writing d) I reread it but sometimes have difficulty finding errors 14) You have to really enjoy a subject in order to learn it a) It helps, but not necessary b) Interest is absolutely necessary for me to learn c) I sometimes find that interest in a subject helps. Learning is difficult for me d) I learn things regardless because I want to get good grades 15) You study with loud music or TV a) Rarely b) Sometimes c) Often d) Always
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16) If you dislike your teacher, does it effect your grade?
a) Rarely b) Sometimes c) Yes, frequently d) This has not been a problem or me so far
Note Taking. 17) After studying material, how often do you close the book (or notes) and allow yourself to check what you know by spending 10-15 minutes writing down all the important info? a) Regularly b) Never c) Sometimes d) I do not understand this process 18) Do you often miss important parts of class because you do not write as fast as you would like? a) Yes, frequently b) Sometimes c) Rarely d) Depends on the subject 19) When taking notes on a discussion, film, movie or lecture a) You write out new names or places once and abbreviate the rest b) You try to remember everything you hear and writing, not only what you are told to write c) You use abbreviations, but sometimes cannot remember what they meant a few days later d) You feel like you are constantly writing without understanding the ideas you are hearing 20) When taking notes from your textbook, you a) Look for the main idea and supporting details in each section or paragraph as you read it b) Only copy the boldly typed headings in sequential order c) Write as many of the key facts as you can find and always include new vocab d) Find it difficult to know what to write 21) When you take notes in class, you a) Mostly doodle in your notebook to pass the time b) Use drawings and diagrams to organize information c) Re-read your notes within 24 hours of writing them d) Have to get a copy of the notes from your teacher or friend because you could not write fast enough
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Time Management. 22) Do you catch yourself wasting time getting started on the task of studying? a) Yes b) Sometimes c) No d) Depends on subject 23) Do you tend to wait for the right moment before starting an assignment? a) Yes b) Sometimes c) No d) Depends on subject 24) Do you find that you are easily distracted while trying to study? a) Sometimes, but not a lot b) Hardly ever c) Fairly often d) Constantly 25) In scheduling your study time, how do you proceed? a) I schedule everything ahead of time studying, personal time, sports, social events b) I do not schedule studying. I just do the work. c) I schedule study time on a day-to-day basis d) I do not like schedules because I know I will not follow them 26) You notice that your study time is interrupted by outside distractions, such as Facebook messages, calls, texts, noises a) Rarely b) Sometimes c) Often d) Not really a problem for me 27) You spend more time with on the computer or watching TV then you should a) Rarely b) Sometimes c) Often d) Not really a problem for me 28) How much total time do you spend studying every night, on average? a) Two or more hours Page 5
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b) One-two hours c) Thirty minutes to an hour d) Less than thirty minutes 29) Do you frequently find that you are too tired or too sleepy to study efficiently a) Yes, often b) Sometimes c) Rarely d) I know I frequently use this as an excuse
Test Prep and Performance.
30) Do you review your notes each night by turning them into test questions? a) Consistently b) Not really c) Only for a difficult subject d) I would like to, but do not know how 31) You study for test with your friends, not by yourself a) Often b) Sometimes c) Rarely b/c when I get to tests, I have to ready to do it alone d) Depends on the subject 32) Do you find that you get nervous on tests? a) I am usually tense, but under control b) I sometimes miss important points because of my anxiety or stress c) I am very tense during most tests d) I take tests without tension 33) Before writing an answer to an essay question on a test, do you write a rough outline on paper or in your head? a) Yes, I always plan before writing b) No, I just write what comes to mind c) It depends on the material d) I plan out as I write 34) When you are studying, do you keep goals in mind for yourself? a) Yes, I like to get Bs or higher b) As long as I get Cs, Im satisfied c) It bothers me when I earn anything less than an A Page 6
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d) My grades do not matter
35) Which of the following best describes your memory system? a) I can remember things for a short period of time b) I find it difficult remembering information for unit tests or exams c) I usually remember things for a long period of time d) I have not discovered an efficient memory system 36) When you try to remember large chunks of information, like the states and their capitals, a speech, or story you want to tell, a) you do not find this difficult b) it takes work, but you can do it c) it is too difficult, and you need help in this area d) it makes you too nervous or pressured
Mental and Physical Relaxation
37) When asked to speak in front of your class or a group of people, a) you get right up and do it without feeling too uncomfortable b) you get nervous but know you are prepared and can do it c) your hands shake and your voice sounds uneven or nervous d) you try to avoid at all costs 38) Test performance is important to you, a) but you rarely study enough for your tests b) but you often do not do well on tests even if youve studied c) and that is why you consistently study hard d) but you get so nervous anxiety your brain cannot think 39) Which best describes you absences from school? a) Its up to me when I stay home b) I tend to be absent on day of test that I dread c) I do not miss class when something important is going to happen d) I try to be present everyday 40) Each day you start off with the feeling that a) Today could be just like any other day b) Your classmates or teacher think you are dumb or lazy c) Today is a new day, and you will do your best d) It will take hard work and discipline for you to be your best
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Scorecard: Check your answers with those listed below and assign yourself the number of points assicated with each response: (insert scorecard) (insert analysis)
Activity 2: Talk about your results with your Tutor
Directions: Based on the results, talk with your tutor about the findings. Did anything surprise you in particular about the resutls? What are two or three skills you definitely want to develop? Has your tutor gone through a similar experience? What works for them?
Activity 3: Set GOALs
My strongest skill is _____________________________________________________________ My weakest skills is _____________________________________________________________ Based on the results, I should work on these three things: i) ____________________________________________________________________
Now, turn them into SMART goals. Smart goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time sensitive (example: by the end of third quarter, I will test myself every night by writing out information in my notebook after reading). i) ____________________________________________________________________
1) Studying is not easy, and understanding what works for you when studying takes time and practice. The exercise you just did is a huge first step. 2) Your goal is to develop a routine for homework completion and studying. That way you know when you do your work every day and can plan around it. You have to stick to your routine. 3) When you are doing your work, turn off your phone or keep it in the other room. Do not rest it right next to your work area. You will end up staring at it constantly and when it vibrates, you will immediately look at it and break concentration. It takes a lot of self-control to ignore text messages, facebook chat, etc. But, you are better for it. Plus, its always cool to be slightly elusive. 4) Your mind can only absorb information for so long in one sitting. After studying for about two hours, take a break and let it sink in. You will be amazed how much you absorb after a good night sleep, having a family dinner, or going to the gym. 5) During the weekends its nice to not have homework hanging over your head. Try to do worksheets or quick homework on Friday afternoons or Saturdays so you do not have an overwhelming amount of work on Sunday. Even a quick 30 minutes on a Friday afternoon can make you feel more comfortable about the weekend plans, both social and academic. 6) Study by yourself and then clarify with friends or in groups. Since you are the one taking the test, its not good to only study in a group. But, your classmates can be very helpful for clarifying the problem you did not understand or discussing concepts. Leverage your classmates, but do not rely on them in full. 7) Visit your teachers regularly. They need to know that you are committed.
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