www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 21, 2007 - 31 HOW TO... STUDY BETTER LISTEN AND HEAR · Start every class by deciding to pay close attention. Whisper a reminder to yourself that you will understand everything that the teacher says. · Every five minutes or so, quietly summarize the lesson to yourself. · Make jot notes of the main ideas as you listen. Underline or highlight key words. · When you don't understand something, make a note and ask someone to explain it to you later. · Notice what distracts you in the classroom. Take steps to make sure that it does not happen again. If you find that you are daydreaming, bring yourself back to task and try to fill in the parts you have missed. REMEMBER WHAT YOU HEAR · Everyone has a good memory if it is used properly. · Take your main idea class notes home every evening and expand them into a study note. Include subordinate and subdetails. At first you may have to use a text or your classroom notes. Eventually, with practice, you will be able to remember these details. · Review these notes to make sure you understand them within two days and once more before you begin to study for a test. HOMEWORK · Carry a homework planner with you at all times- that means to every class. Enter homework, projects, tests and assignments as soon as you are given them. Do not trust your memory- write it down as soon as the teacher assigns it! · Choose a comfortable place. Sorry, laying on the floor, listening to loud music or having the TV on in the background will not cut it! · Check your homework planner and begin by asking yourself the following questions: What am I supposed to do? When is the assignment due? Where can I get the necessary information? How do I do the assignment? STUDYING FOR TESTS · Make a plan. Set goals for each session. Divide your material into units and assign one unit per day. Give yourself a three-day break before the test and made sure that you have learned all the units by then. · Study in short bursts. Fifteen minutes at a time is excellent. After 15 minutes, take a five-minute breather. Do some exercise. Stick your head out the door. Get refocused. · Use the SQRCRC method: Survey the headings, introductions and summaries in order to get the main idea. Question yourself. "What do I hope to learn by reading this note?" Read carefully for detail. Cover the work. Recite what you have just read, trying for the main ideas and details. Check to see how will you have done. Look to the ad below for your choice of three Oxford Learning locations. HOW TO... Vita Lawn's pesticide free programs are designed to get to the root of the problem and restore plant health below the soil. Once the soils healthy, all that remains is to maintain your lawns health. 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