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!!!

5 Tips for Staying Motivated: Part 1-2

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tip 1-2

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/8454.html

To succeed in high school and college, you have to do your best at all times. But sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated, even when you really care about the work you’re doing. Here are five ways to stay on the right track.

1. Focus on High-Impact Activities

The key to success in high school is staying focused on your course work. Make a list to get an overall picture of your workload before you start to tackle any of it. Then, make a plan. Although it’s tempting to do the simplest assignments first, those that take more time and effort to accomplish are probably the ones that you’ll learn the most from.
assignments,

To determine what your priorities are, rank your assignments in the order of their importance. Then rearrange your time and devote more energy toward those that have the greatest impact on your course work and grades. For example, even though all homework assignments are important, studying for a midterm exam takes priority over writing a paragraph for English class. As you complete each task, think of it as another step on your way to college success.

2. Create New Challenges

Changing your approach can help you stay interested in what you’re doing. If you've been given an assignment similar to one you've done in the past, think about it in a different way. If you wrote an essay for a creative writing assignment last year, try a poem this time. For book reports, pick a history book instead of another biography.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Take Control of Homework, So It Doesn't Conrtol You: Part 2

Take Control of Homework

So It Doesn’t Control You

Part 2

Keep Things in Perspective

Know how much weight each assignment or test carries, and use your time accordingly. Don’t waste time, but be wise and smart. Doing the most important things first is being wise and smart.

Get More Involved

Keep your mind from wandering by taking notes, underlining sections, discussing topics with others or relating your homework to something you’re studying in another class. Learn actively and not passively. Be anxiously engaged in your studies and you will have a great experience. Demonstrate a good attitude toward home assignments, and you will begin to love doing it.

Organize the Information

People process information in different ways. Some people like to draw pictures or charts to digest information, others prefer to read out loud or make detailed outlines. Try to find the methods that work best for you. Ask your teacher for recommendations if you’re having trouble.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Take Control of Homework, So It Doesn't Control You: Part 1

Take Control of Homework

So It Doesn’t Control You

Part 1

http://collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/121.html

Although very few students love homework, it does serve a purpose. Homework helps you:

        ·       Reinforce what you’ve learned during the day.

        ·       Build study habits that are essential in college.

        ·       Prepare for your classes.

        ·       Get a sense of progress.

Here are some tips to help you deal with homework more efficiently and effectively.

Set the Mood

Create a good study area with everything you need (for example, a calculator). If you don’t have a quiet place at home, try your school or local library.

Know Where to Begin

Make a list of everything you need to do, and note all deadlines. Do the more difficult assignments first, so you don’t have to face them at the end.

Study at the Same Time Every Day

Even if you don’t have homework every night, use the time to review notes. If sitting down to do homework is part of your normal routine, you’ll approach it with less dread. Also, you’ll become a pro at using time productively.

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!!!

Ten Tips for Student Success: St. Johns University

Ten Tips for Student Success

 St. Johns University

1.        Attend your classes. Remember in the words of Woody Allen ‘seventy percent of success in life is showing up’.

2.        Know your facility. Make sure you know who your teachers are, when their office hours are and how to contact them.

3.        Make sure the faculty knows you. Sit in the front of the classroom. Participate in class discussions. Consult with your teachers during office hours.

4.        Use a daily planner. Note the dates of exams, assignments, term papers, etc.

5.        Be organized. Prioritize your responsibilities. Manage your time. Remember everyone has the same 168 hours a week, only some of us use them better than others.

6.        Know your campus resources. Visit your academic’s Dean Office regularly. Become familiar with the services and programs offered by the Counseling Center, The Freshmen Center, the Career Center, the Campus Ministry Office and the Student Life Office.

7.        Take care of your health. Get enough sleep. Eat well-balanced meals. Exercise regularly. Make informed and mature decisions about alcohol, sex and drugs. Visit the Health Office as needed.

8.        Work only as necessary. Try not the exceed 20 hours during a school week. If possible, work on campus. Apply for financial aid and loans if you need them. Manage your expenses very carefully.

9.        Get involved in campus activities. It will help you learn valuable skills, expand your social network and enhance your self-confidence. Seek out opportunities to apply what you learn in the classroom.

10.          Keep your eyes on the prize. Clarify your goals. Know why you are in (high school or) college in the first place. Visualize your success on a daily basis.

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!!!