Studying Strategies for Y2K

It is not always how much you study, but how smart you study that really counts.

There area all kinds of ways to make learning easier and unfortunately, they don't always teach them in school. Did you know there are differing learning styles (which we talk about later) and it is much easier to learn if you do it in your particular learning style?

Discovering the power of strengths-based learning

Learning strengths which indicate "easy sailing in school" include:

• ability to sit still for long periods,
• preference for listening and writing,
• early morning risers,
• self motivated--don't need much attention from parents or teachers.

Auditory learners are those whose preferences when learning new material are to listen. These people prefer to have someone else explain new material to them. They usually will not write unless told to do so. When asked to write it, they may even say, "Oh, I will remember."

Visual learners are the ones who love to write and read. They will write notes, write letters, carry a note pad. Even when someone is telling them what to do, they will say, "Wait a minute I need to write this down." Visual teachers will say, "Get out your assignment books and write down your assignment."

Tactile learners need to have something to put their hands on. If their hands are not moving, they are not learning. Wise teachers give them highlighters, note cards, yarn, play dough, etc. If their hands are in it, they will learn. Often times, parents and teachers and students themselves must take information that is presented visually or auditorially and develop their own hands on method to get it.

Social learners need, just need to be in the company of other people. They simply learn best when children or adults have the opportunity to share the work, divide it up. Doing it with other people is the key. Again, many times these learners must create their own learning environment. They may ask the teacher, "May I do this work with my study partner," They may ask a parent, "May I call Joe so we can do our homework together." Parents and teachers sometimes worry about the student getting too much help. This can be monitored easily by sitting in on the work team or group.

Kinesthetic learners need to role play, to play act, to get their whole body into the action in order to really understand. For example, when learning about Christopher Columbus, they may want to construct a play or create a story they act out. Once these learners can feel the experience of traveling for days on the ship, they are able to read and understand. 

Teaching methods 

Social: delete words every fifth and ask two kids to fill in the answers.
If your child is a social learner, for example, let him do homework with a friend.

Tactile: use play dough to demonstrate one of the categories.
If he is a tactile learner, let him use art materials to make a picture of what he is trying to learn. Play-doh to form letters or numbers he is learning.

Kinesthetic: lecture, not even paper.
Your child can remember what's said without even having to write it down. Play memory games, oral combinations in math will greatly help to increase speed and accuracy. Do oral spelling bees with your child.

Visual: read and highlight.
This kind of child usually just wants a quiet place to study. Books, paper, highlighter, and peace are the ingredients for success. Since children are not usually allowed to highlight their school books, have this child make good notes then highlight them! 

Tips for Teachers 

One of the greatest things you can offer your students is your sincere interest in their dreams. You can bind your vision to theirs and watch them soar!

Children tend to take their parents interest for granted, but you are the main outside adult in their lives. Your interest, therefore, is an unexpected bonus and can serve to confirm or deny their own worth. 

Tips for Kids 

Each of you have special talents and gifts which can make the world a better play and you a happier person. And school is a way to help prepare you and your gifts for use in the big, wide world. Success in school is a step toward success in life.

"How can I do that?" you ask, "I hate school!" And you may feel that way now… but remember, school does not stay the same. From Elementary to High School there are big changes in the structure of school, and if you learn to work wisely now, then each year will bring improvement and by high school you'll find your niche and be able to pursue whatever interests you most. And here's how you get to that place.

Take the learning styles inventory. After finding out what kind of learner you are, set up your study time to tap into that style. If you are a social learner, study with one or two friends. If you are a tactile learner ask your teacher for ways to be tactile. (That means doing something with your hands to make the subject real to you.) For example, you could make the alphabet with play-doh rather than just write it. If you are kinesthetic learner, act out the history lesson. Auditory learners can listen to a tape (taping your teacher as she talks in class, for example). Or, if you are a visual learner; ask your teacher how to take good notes. Ask her for an outline format you can follow to help organize your notes. Believe me, it will make a world of difference in how clear your notes will be to you. Find another person who likes to take notes and ask if you can study together.

Study the subject you like the most first, to help you get started. Then go to the one you like least to get it over with while you're still fresh. Follow that with your second most favorite subject to reward yourself for doing the hard subject. If you read over any notes you took each day and think about important names, dates, or formulas, if it's math. Restating out loud what you want to learn gives you two ways of learning it, both by saying and hearing together or even doing some writing will help you remember facts much better. If you get stuck, ask mom or big sister or a friend who likes the subject, to help you.

Another thing, get "study buddies" in each class, one or two kids who are in each of your classes and exchange phone numbers. This will help if you miss class and need to find out an assignment or even study for a test by phone.

For reading use the 'SQ3R' method:

1. Survey: Look quickly over material and check headings, pictures, and bold type to see what it's about.
2. Question: Turn headings into who, what, when, where, and why questions.
3. Read: Now read and as you go along, answer the questions you made up.
4. Restate: Repeat what you have learned in your own words. Focus on the most important points.
5. Review: Glance over the material again (both right away and a day later). If reading is really hard for you, try asking mom or dad to read it with you. Also, check yourself by answering questions at the end of the chapter. Remember, if you miss one at home you can look it up and correct your mistake, you cannot do that during the test!

Another good trick to help you remember something is an acronym (ak-ro-nim). For example, use HOMES to help you remember the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior spells HOMES! Or you can create a silly sentence where the first letter of each word stands for something you have to memorize. For example, My very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas. (For the nine planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.) Rhymes about facts and reciting those thymes can really help you remember things. It's fun too.

That's all of our tips for this month. Go and conquer! 

Tips for Parents 

Better than anyone else, you know your child. His strengths, weaknesses, and possibilities.

The ideas that may refine that knowledge and make it even more helpful than it is already.

Sit down with your child and take the learning styles inventory test together. After you have taken the test, make a simple graph of what learning styles you both favor. Often you will find that you both enjoy learning the same way.

After reading about the varied ways of learning discuss together how you can set up your homework time to make use of those ways which appeal to you.

Write an agreement about when, where, and how you will work together to improve homework performance. Make it a part of your agreement that your student will always bring home a written copy of what his assignments are each day. Write a specific consequence for her if she fails to provide this information.

Help your child make up silly sentences or rhymes to help remember lists, dates, names or places which he needs for tests. Write a copy of the sentence or rhyme and put it on the refrigerator. (We all go to the fridge!) Ask your child to read and a make a check for each time he reads it-after 10 checks test him and see if he has memorized it. Give a prize or privilege if he has!

Keep in touch with the teacher, especially in problem classes. Make sure your child knows you will be doing this.

Let your child know how important his grades are to you. When he improves or succeeds at something new, give him lots of positive feedback. A special outing alone with you will do wonders for his motivation.

Use the SQ3R method which is outlined in the kids section. Survey, Question, Read, Restate, and Review. Help your student learn this method and it will carry them all the way through college!