SQR3: A Great Reading and Studying Technique

SQR3

SQR3: A Great Reading and Studying Technique

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/26666.html

Improve Your Study Skills

SQR3 stands for:

Survey

Question

Read

Recite

Review

It is a proven technique to sharpen your study skills.

In college, you’ll be required to do lots of reading. You’ll often have to complete reading assignments in several different books for several different courses at the same time.

SQR3 helps make reading and studying purposeful and effective, so that you use your time most efficiently. Here’s how this strategy works.

Survey

Let’s say your assignment is to read one chapter. First, get an idea of what the chapter is about by reviewing the highlights:

        ·       Read the title, headings and subheadings.

        ·       Notice words that are italicized or bold.

        ·       Look at charts, graphs, pictures, maps and other visual material.

        ·       Read captions.

        ·       Read the very beginning and end of the chapter.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Reading, 5 Tips for Success: Tip 5

Reading, 5 Tips for Success

Tip 5

When you feel confused about something you're reading, write down any questions you have. Sometimes your questions are answered as you read further. If not, don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember, teachers create assignments; they've read the text and are familiar with them. When you have specific questions, your teachers can provide answers that will help you understand the material. Learning is rooted in a question developed and asked by the learner.Asking questions to yourself, to the teacher, and do others, is a great learning method. When you cease to ask questions, you cease to a great extent. Read actively by silently asking questions as you read questioning immerses you into the material you are reading and therefore will expand your mental capacities more than almost anything else.
The philosopher sir Francis bacon said, “knowledge is power.” Improving your reading comprehension is the key to gaining important knowledge and making the most of your education. So pick up a book … and a pen.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Reading, 5 Tips for Success: Tips 3-4

Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tips 3-5

Tip 3: Do Research

Literary critics have written vast numbers of analytical and critical pieces on countless books. If you’re having trouble understanding a particular text, do some research and see what knowledgeable sources have to say about it. In addition to increasing your comprehension, you’ll also be showing initiative, something teachers always like to see. Always use legitimate and scholarly sources, not condensed study guides. Going the extra mile in your research elevates your achievement 10-fold.

Tip 4: Use a Dictionary

Make sure you have access to a dictionary when you’re reading. You can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, but sometimes you can’t. Rather than simply skipping over the words you don’t know, take the time to look them up. The results are well worth the effort. Your comprehension will increase greatly, and you’ll build up your vocabulary at the same time.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Reading, 5 Tips for Success: Tips 1-2

Reading

5 Tips for Success

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/189995.html

Reading and writing go hand in hand. The better you understand a text, the more likely you are to successfully communicate your thoughts about it in writing. So it’s important to develop strong skills in both areas. With that in mind, here’s how to improve your reading comprehension.

Tips 1-2

Tip 1: Annotate

Be an active reader. Instead of passively reading a text, take notes about important story elements, key factual information and significant ideas in the text.

Tip 2: Note the Author’s Writing Style

Every author writes with a purpose, using deliberate methods to successfully relate specific information to the audience. When you’re reading, look for patterns in the author’s writing. For example, you may notice a repetition of key words, phrases, or symbols – or the use of a distinct type of sentence structure. Authors employ these writing strategies to help readers comprehend a central argument or theme, so be sure to explore how these techniques create meaning.

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Balancing High School and Part-Time Work: Part 5

Balancing High School and Part-Time Work

Part 5

Additional Tips

Although working and going to school is challenging, it can be rewarding experience if you use some foresight. These tips can help you handle the situation and make the most of your time:

        ·       Discuss your plans with your family. Balancing the demands of school and work is easier with their support.

        ·       Start slowly; don’t commit to working a lot of hours immediately.

        ·       Avoid time conflicts by planning your class and work schedules as far ahead of time as possible.

        ·       Use your time efficiently. You can use 10 minutes waiting in a line to go over a few pages of assigned reading. If your job has a lot of downtime and your boss has no objection, you can use slow periods to do schoolwork.

        ·       If you commute to your job on public transportation, bring your schoolwork with you so you can work along the way.

        ·       Be flexible and willing to make sacrifices. You may have to cut down on some other things you’d like to do because of your school and work commitments.

        ·       If you have too much on your plate, admit it. Then cut back as needed.

        ·       Schedule relaxation time. Everyone needs some downtime to stay happy and healthy.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Selecting Your Courses: Part 2

Selecting Your Courses

Part 2

The following subjects and classes are standard fare for success in high school and beyond, whether you plan to attend a four-year or two-year college.

English (Language Arts)

Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension and vocabulary.

Math

You need algebra and geometry to succeed on college entrance exams and in college math classes – and in many careers. Take them early on. That way, you’ll be able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school, and show colleges you’re ready for higher-level work.

Most colleges look for students who have taken three years of math in high school. The more competitive ones require or recommend four years. Each school has its own program, but some of the courses typically offered are:

        ·       Algebra I

        ·       Algebra II

        ·       Geometry

        ·       Trigonometry

        ·       Calculus

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

How to Take on College Studying: Part 3

How to Take on College Studying

Part 3

Do the Reading

You need to do more than just read the chapters you are assigned – you’re expected to understand them thoroughly. Here are some tips:

        ·       Don’t skim. Read all the material carefully.

        ·       Break up difficult assignments into sections you can digest – chapters, subsections or even paragraphs.

        ·       Look up any words that you don’t understand.

        ·       Pause to think about whether you understand the material; ask questions in class about anything that is unclear.

        ·       Take notes instead of highlighting – this makes you think through and rephrase the key points.

        ·       Create a summary sheet of what you learned from each assignment you read.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

10 Time Management Tips for Students: Tips 1-4

10 Time Management Tips for Students

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/116.html

Tips 1-4

Organizing Your Life

Managing your time well is an important element of success – especially if you’re a student. If you set priorities that fit your needs and lifestyles, you’ll have a better chance of achieving your goals.

Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life.

Tip 1. Make a To-Do List Every Day.

Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. And don’t forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments.

Tip 2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely.

When you’re commuting on the bus or train, use the time to get some reading done.

Tip 3. It’s Okay to Say No.

If your friend asks you to go to the movies on a Thursday night and you have an exam the next morning, realize that it’s okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.

Tip 4. Find the Right Time.

You’ll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don’t wait to do it until late at night.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

You Can Succeed Everyday: Part 2

You Can Succeed Everyday

Part 2

My strategies for written assignments: I try to outline before I write because otherwise I forgot what I am supposed to be talking about. I try not to leave them until the last minute because then I will just goof up the work. A lot of times I just write what I feel. Teachers like your opinion and if you can find something from the reading or research that relates specifically to your life, they like it even more because it allows you to take ownership of your work. I write things that I want others to read; not things that I have to write because the teacher said so.

How I succeed in team projects: Personally, I do not like working in group projects, especially ones that I worked on in high school. However, when it is required to work in a group, usually I try to lead. I like taking the lead because then I know that my grade will be a good one. I do well in school, I always have and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon, so when I need to work with people who maybe don’t care as much as I do, or they have more time to waste on things other than the project, I try to be in charge. That way I know that things are going to get done on time and that I am going to get a good grade. If I am working in a group of people who all want to work, then it is a different story.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!