We believe in providing the tools needed to help equip our students to succeed in their academic pursuits and to become productive members of the church and society. To fulfill our mission at Emmanuel Lutheran School of preparing children For Today, For Tomorrow, and Forever, we would like to share five habits to develop effective study skills.
Five Habits to Develop for Studying Effectively
1. Get Organized and Have a Plan
Purchasing a cool planner is a great first step in getting organized. Students should write down homework assignments, test dates, project dates, extracurricular activities, appointments, and anything else they need to remember, so nothing slips through the cracks. Seeing everything in one place will allow the student to make a plan of when to study what subject.
Keeping an organized backpack and notebook is another great way to stay organized. Use color-coded tabs in your notebook to separate subjects. This will make finding notes and assignments a quick and easy task. Also, make sure all your needed supplies are readily available in your backpack.
Having a plan and being organized will help you feel confident you are doing your best and help you not feel as stressed. It is no fun cramming for your test or finishing your project the night before it is due.
2. Eliminate Distractions
It is important to recognize and remove distractions that hinder studying effectively. The television, radio, cell phone, and family members in the background are just a few examples that could make it difficult to concentrate on your subject matter. It is best to remove all distractions so you are able to focus on the material you are learning.
3. Create an Effective Study Area
An effective study area should be quiet, well-lit, limiting interruptions, and not be in the middle of too much activity. The local coffee shop may seem like the perfect place to study, but it could be quite distracting with all the commotion and interruptions.
It may also be a good idea to establish a “communications blackout” policy with no cell phone or social media until all homework is complete. An effective study area should be free of distractions, as stated in habit number two.
Lastly, your study area should consist of all the supplies needed to study effectively and complete your schoolwork.
4. Practice Active Listening
Active listening is a very important study skill. As your teacher is speaking, concentrate on the main points they are making. If your teacher says, “This is important,” or writes something on the board, that is a clue for you to write it in your notes and highlight it. That information will most likely be on your test.
Make sure you are sitting in a seat that allows you to pay attention and is free from distractions. Do not allow others to talk to you and cause you to not be able to actively listen. If any issues are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes, talk to your teacher or your parents so the issue can be resolved.
5. Learn Note-Taking Strategies
There are many different types of note-taking strategies. The most important thing to remember in note-taking is to make sure you can read your notes and understand the content. Messy and unorganized notes can make for a very frustrating night of studying. Below are just a few helpful note-taking strategies:
- Writing in color is a great way to organize the information in your notes by highlighting important information and prioritizing key points. Studies have shown color can improve a person’s memory performance. Studies have also shown warm colors have been known to create a positive and motivating learning environment while increasing attention.
- The outline method divides the lesson into main ideas, subtopics, and details. This helps students know what is relative and vital in relation to each fact or idea.
- The bullet point method is similar to the outline method but not as structured. Students can use a bullet point, or another symbol, before the main idea and then list details below the main idea.
- The mapping method is great for students who are visual learners. Students write down a word, phrase, or idea anywhere on the page. As the teacher elaborates, the student continues to write down details and then links the details to the main ideas by drawing lines to one another and creating a map.
Emmanuel Lutheran School
We believe in providing the tools needed to help equip our students to succeed in their academic pursuits and to become productive members of the church and society. If you live in the area and are looking for a school for your child, enrolling them in a private Christian school is one of the best choices you can make to improve their school experience.
Emmanuel Lutheran School is the only Christian parochial school in western North Carolina that uses a S.T.E.A.M.-based curriculum. That means your child will have a high-quality academic experience in a Christian setting.
For additional information about our private Christian school, contact us today.