Study Effectively like Smart Students Do!

I have talked to and observed hundreds of smart students over the years, and discovered that almost all of them have patterns of successful studying. They tend to follow consistent ways of learning. One of the things I find most annoying though, particularly in terms of students who don t perform well, is that cop-out line, that students who do well in tests or exams are nerds. The real truth is that these students have made performing at school their priority, because they have come to understand that this opens up opportunities for their future. They have other interests too, but have committed to making school their number one priority! This doesn t mean they don t have other interests of high priority, it s just that they make school their first priority and plan everything around it. It s no different to the student who also performs at a very high level in their sport of choice too. They commit to being the best they can by putting in the hours of training required to do so. Smart students aren t always necessarily smart intellectually, they are smart in the way they work and are committed to WORKING HARD! Having made this conscious decision, they become GENUINELY MOTIVATED to do well and strive to acquire the skills that will allow them to get the absolute best out of themselves. So let s look at what it is that students who get good results do.

The Secrets of Studying Effectively

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Study Systematically Follow a simple system day in and day out and keep it up. Every subject has its own associated concepts, rules and patterns. You can maximize your learning in minimal time by initially ensuring you use your class time effectively. Get the absolute most you can out of lessons by firstly sitting with other students you know you can work well with all the time [that doesn t mean you can t have a laugh every now and then though!]. By using your class time well, you minimise the amount of personal time you have to invest! And let s face it, if for example you have an active sporting life, you haven t got the same number of hours to devote to study that an inactive or sedentary person has [not that they haven t got interests that take up their non-contact time. Their interests may be video games, socialising with mates, music, girls or movies/tv series etc].

Make Study a Habit

y Learn how to study effectively and make it your habit. Remember, students who are successful at school aren t necessarily the smartest; they just do the small things well i.e. in class - they discipline themselves to concentrate, listen, engage, use their time efficiently and work well WITH others. Out of class - they plan their time to work on both homework, assignments and set aside time to actively study [they don t wait until the night before the test to do this]. y This planned time includes time for homework [text exercises & assignments], eating, studying and relaxing; and factors in out of school commitments. y Smart students are organised and therefore see a diary as a means to plan out their busy schedule; not something they just do to not get in trouble with their Pastoral Care Teacher!
Impress Your Teacher Try to make a good impression with your positive study practices: y Maintain good attendance and get to class on time [which includes actively finding out what you ve missed out on when absent or negotiating missed deadlines for assignments]. y Participate in classroom discussions. By actively listening to and engaging in discussion of concepts you train your brain to use/apply and therefore retain material. y Do your work neatly and demonstrate your genuine intent to get the best out of yourself by staying on task and not disrupt or annoy the teacher or other students. y Avoid complaining unless you have a legitimate case, such as trying to negotiate deadlines when you are loaded up with work for multiple subjects or have been absent for a prolonged time due to illness. y Visit your teacher if need be from time to time, in between lessons or after school, when there s a sticking point. Sometimes getting clarification can make understanding the broader concepts a great deal easier. Remember, you might be graded leniently if your teacher associates your name with a good impression, particularly when you are on the cusp of one grade or the other. Find Yourself a Mentor y Academically, a teacher would be the best candidate to be your mentor. Find a teacher you like, can connect with and get as much advice as you can from them, not only about subject specific content, but also general tips about study. This person, ideally would be your Pastoral Care teacher, but all of us have particular teachers we seem to connect with better than others! y Establish a good working relationship with all of your teachers [even those you may not connect with that easily]. Getting along well with your teachers is a sure way to gain their support and attention in a positive way, that will facilitate your learning.

Fi d ur w S ud Z y Set u e t stu s you can focus and not be interru ted. y Use it consistent y. The moment you enter your study zone, your study mind is ready for action. y Your own room may not be an ideal place since your nei hbours and phone may be too enticing. y A quiet cube at a library is a good place to go if you need to study and can t find somewhere effecti e to go. At your age you may want to go with a parent or sibling. S your Rou i S udy Ti y Schedule some prime time for study. Try to study at the same time every day. Your brain will follow this pattern and function at its best. y If you are unsure when your peak efficiency hours occur, keep a record of your mental alertness for a week. You will quickly learn what part of the day is your prime study time.

Br Up Your S udy The 50-10 Method y Long hours of study without breaks is ineffective. The thought of sitting down for three long hours to study is enough to kill just about anyone s spirit and stop you from even getting started. y I often use what is called the 50-10 Method. Partition your study into one-hour blocks 50 minutes study and 10 minutes break. To top it off, reward yourself with a small treat after an hour of intensive study and indulge yourself even more after a long period of study. Mai tai your Concentration Keep up the pace and study intensely to focus your full attention on the subject material. Pull yourself back when your mind starts drifting away. How do you do this when you are tired of studying? Sound familiar? Here are a few ways to restore your mental acuity and regain alertness y Hou ehold chores brief housework such as doing the dishes or laundry will alter your mind and rest your brain. A sickening thought, I know, but no brainer physical work can sometimes be quite soothing when you feel like your brain is about to implode! y Fun-Fun-Fun a round of games or a chat with a friend will help relax you. y Power naps If you still can t ward off your mental fatigue, take a nap a short one! I always find having a shower can be very refreshing when I have needed to study for prolonged periods of time. y Stretch your legs/get acti e, have a chat or a laugh - my favourite thing to do for a short break is to go for a run or walk, take the kids out onto the trampoline or to have a hit of table tennis [whatever works for you, if fresh air is available, get it. In winter time, sitting in heated rooms can make you tired, so ensure the room you study in is well ventilated]. Sometimes calling a friend or talking to a sibling or your parents is a great way to break up the monotony of study too. It s great to be able to

  

have a laugh if you can because it re -motivates you. Whatever it is, find a way to get your concentration back quickly so you can continue your core study. For a Study Group y Take advantage of the talents of your fellow students. e selective with whom you study. y Avoid the social club syndrome and only discuss what you intended to study. y Have a plan for each group study session. Take turns chairing the sessions. In any group, the real learning occurs through participation. Study Alone y While you might want to engage productive group study once a week or so, you definitely want to stay alone when doing your core study. Otherwise, with the distraction of bonding activities, your three hours in the library might end up with only 30 minutes of study. y When you are alone, you can stick with your study plan better (50 minutes per session) and don t have to accommodate your buddy s schedule. esides, by spending your time effectively, you ll have more time to socialize later. Sleep (not study) in Bed y We all like to do things in comfort. Reading in bed simply sends you to sleep quicker. You can do your non-essential reading there, but avoid doing your core study in bed.