How To Study

It takes a lot of practice to develop good study habits.

Set aside enough time to complete your work (at least an hour a day).
Study at the same time each night.
Choose a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
Do not turn on the television, radio or the talk on the phone.
Be sure that you have all the things you need (pencil, paper, school books and homework assignments).
Read through your work once before starting homework.
Go back and complete your assignment, or go back and slowly study / learn details.
Read your work as many times as it takes for you to understand it.
Review your homework for mistakes and remember important information.
Remember to follow the same routine each time that you study.

From JT's Place column by Dr. Charlotte Watts

How To Improve Test Performance

by Vivian W. Owens

Study daily in small doses weeks before an important exam.
Review notes and/or practice problem-solving daily for every subject you are studying.
Read textbooks throughout a course to learn terms associated with the subject area and visual reinforcements, like graphs or data tables.
Read textbooks for information and deeper understanding of concepts presented during class.
Read questions given in the textbook and get help with understanding those which seem unclear.
For exams, review any tests you've taken during a semester.
Make up a test for yourself a week prior to taking the real one. Collect questions and problems from class notes, quizzes and previous tests.
If you will engage in authentic assessment - that is, you may be required to actually perform an experiment, write an essay, or apply knowledge in some demonstrated manner - practice beforehand.
Avoid stress situations prior to test. Practice breathing exercises if you tend to tense up during testing.
When you come across unfamiliar questions, proceed to those more familiar. Often, giving attention to known quantities can shed new light on other material.
Focus on the questions asked. Think carefully, and don't allow yourself to feel rushed.
Eat a balanced breakfast and get a good nights rest.

Vivian Owens is a practicing teaching, certified in Chemistry, Physics and Math. A high percentage of her students have enjoyed success on state-mandated tests. As an educator, she developed workshops, programs, newspaper and magazine articles, and learning packets centered on leaning strategies of "Parenting for Education."

Vivian Owens wrote the book, Nadanda The Wordmaker, and it won a Writer's Digest Award. She is also the author of other books for children and parents. Please find more information on her books at http://www.escharpublications.com

How To Beat the Test Stress!!

1. Set the right atmosphere

Study where you can concentrate without interruptions - no TV, no phone, and no friends.

Sit at a well-lit desk or table. (Stay away from easy chairs!)

Do not study when you are overtired. Take a nap and come back refreshed.

2. Make the most of your notes.

Take notes efficiently - in a notebook.

Spend a couple of minutes reading your notes right after class.

Set aside some time each week to review your notes.

3. Develop a schedule.

Mark deadlines and exam/test dates on a calendar.

Schedule several short review sessions instead of one or two long ones.

Be realistic about how much material you can cover in one session.

Schedule some free time too! This will clear your mind.

4. Create learning aids.
Match the material to the aid. For example:

Use flashcards to learn technical terms and vocabulary.

Make charts and timelines of historical events.

Use outlines to help break information into smaller units that are easy to remember.

5. Prepare yourself.

Attend ALL classes. Absences may add to your test stress.

Ask questions and try to pick out important information. Listen for key phrases, such as, "The three main reasons are..."

Get help if you have a particular problem.

6. Be kind to yourself.

Eat and sleep well before a test/exam, so you are in top form. Do not try to "cram" or stay up all night by taking caffeine or other drugs. You will be tired, irritable and distracted by test/exam time.

7. Budget your time.

Estimate how much time you have to answer each question. If some questions are worth more points than others, plan to spend more time answering them.

8. Do easiest questions first.

Do not dwell on any particular question. You may come up with the answer as you work on a different question.

9. Look for clues in the question.

Words such as "define" or "describe" can point you in the right direction.

10. Answer each question.

Write down what you know even if you do not know the complete answer. Writing may spark you memory.

11. Us the full time allowed.

Never leave early. Review your answers; make corrections; add more information, etc.

Utilized by various teachers and school counselors.

Alex-Zan

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