Study habits that work

Ready Steady Go A Parent's Guide to Getting Ready for the Race to Academic Success  - available on Amazon.com

[elizabethbeggs]

Too much work!!!!!What if I can't cope

A lot of students feel overwhelmed and crushed by the workload they are expected to get through in a week. At the same time there are a lot of students who seem to manage without a care in the world. They even read books, play sport and visit friends. They are the annoying ones who constantly want to party or go to movies and who make you feel inadequate every time you say: 'No thanks, I have too much work'.

Everyone does not have the same skills and abilities and you may be among those who need more time to get things done properly and who is prepared to put your best effort into the tasks. Feeling bad or guilty or, even worse, stupid because you do things differently is not the way to go. Rather acknowledging differences, recognizing your own needs and allowing yourself the freedom to achieve good marks the way you need to do it is important.

Check on your systems - that your are being as efficient as possible, check on your balance - allow time for friends and family, even if it is a lot less than other people seem to have and enjoy the moments of success that your hard work and dedication brings. In the long run it is your goals that are important and achieving them will impact on your life alone.

[elizabethbeggs]

"In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself." - Laurence Sterne

For many students it is very hard to face the inherent loneliness in studying. Getting the work done means putting away the technology and getting on with the task often for hours alone in your room. Sometimes, over exam times for instance, it can feel as though you haven't seen a friendly face or spoken to someone 'properly' in weeks. It is this fear of the emptiness that can fuel procrastination and avoidance which in turn eats into the time available to study.

Acknowledge that this is a necessary part of getting the job done, schedule the time to fit in with periods of social contact, stick to the schedule, cut out your own particular favorite activity you use to procrastinate and see the benefits of disciplined academic loneliness. It is worth it on the long term.

[elizabethbeggs]

It's amazing how confused and distracted and misdirected so many people are. Stephen Covey

It has been a while since I posted anything due to distractions of family and work. And the temptation was very strong to just stop. I had lost the habit of posting. The routine of making sure that it got done. In our everyday lives it is very easy to lose sight of the routines and structures that keep good habits going. It isn't easy to maintain self discipline and stick at the things that require our own motivation and decision to keep going. Attending class, work, meetings are easier simply because there is a schedule that we are expected to keep and it is usually one that other people also monitor. When left to out own devises it can be hard work making sure we keep to the structures that we have created ourselves. After all, who is going to notice? Well, you do and the lack of achievement that results is a pretty good policeman.

Everyone at some time pr another gets distracted by the world around them. When distraction works it nasty magic, recognise it, face it and do something about it. There is failure in admitting a weak moment to three and starting all over again. It is the way to success.

[elizabethbeggs]

Having a break can be as important as the work itself

In this holiday festive period it is very tempting to do as little work as possible. For some parts of the world that woks well. The academic year has ended and apart from perhaps some prep work for the next year, all is holiday and rest/. For others, it is a time of balancing festivities and preparation for mid year exams. Not having a break is not an option. You have worked hard all term and deserve a little rest and recuperation. HOWEVER. Knowing when to work and when to play is as critical skills as planning your study schedule for the exams. Do not be distracted by the fun. Schedule your break with enough time to study AND have fun. Balance is the key. If you like to stay out late with friends, allow time for a late start and work deeper into the afternoon. if going out early in the morning is important make sure you have enough time in the evening to catch up on missed study time. Organise, organise, organise, And try not to feel too hard done by because you are working when others are playing. Remember: the greatest revenge on those happy holiday people is the success of being prepared and doing well when you get back to the classroom. No last minute, anxiety provoking cramming for you!

[elizabethbeggs]

OK study habits are not good enough study habits

If the way you are studying has always ‘worked’ for you and you are getting through the years with ok grades, why would you want to change anything? This is the kind of argument many students give me. “It’s worked so far, so why should I change”. Problem is, if you are with someone discussing your grades, unless it is to apply for an Ivy League uni, it’s probably because you are not doing that well. In which case you may be passing but your study habits are not doing the job. There are many reasons for wanting to stick with what we know: fear of change, fear of new things, fear that this will mean a lot more work, fear that even trying something new will not change things. Most of all though I believe the resistance to trying new methods is : Laziness. It is often just too much trouble to make changes, develop new strategies and energize your motivation to keep going and do more. Take the chance - it is worth it. 

[elizabethbeggs]

Giving up is not an answer

It is very hard to change a bad a habit but even harder to maintain the change. Especially if it feels boring or too demanding or takes away from our ‘fun time’. Studying is often felt to be a sacrifice and one that is somehow quite easy to give up. So many students tell me that it is too hard or that they couldn't be bothered. And I have to admit, I have felt that way about many projects that I have started with such high enthusiasm and then felt down and negative about because the results I want are not instantaneous. It is easy to give in to feelings of ‘why bother’, ‘it’s too much trouble’ or ‘who is going to care anyway’. 

The point is:

- You bother because you have a goal or dream that only you can reach with hard work - no-one else can do it for you

- If is worthwhile it is not too much trouble it just feels that way

- YOU care. Maybe not as much right now in this moment as you will do when you are applying for university or a job, but you will.

Excuses are a short term answer to a long term problem. Let them go now.

[elizabethbeggs]

facing the essay challenge

Sometimes writing an essay can feel like writing a novel - long and complicated with so many chapters and themes. For a lot of students it feels like too much hard work especially if you don’t know where to start, what the middle should be and how to end it. Assuming you know all the facts, essays can be a much more entertaining academic task. You get the chance to be a bit more creative in writing answers to questions, you can use your argumentative skills and can find a solution to a specific problem. It may even be a matter of attitude rather than ability.

Following a plan makes it much easier.

Introduction: Start with an introductory statement to ‘hook’ the reader’s interest, state your position on the question and the points you are going to make in the body of the essay. 

Body: Remember those paragraphs you wrote before. Well now you are going to write a paragraph about each fact (usually about three) that supports your argument, linking them with a statement that leads from one to the other (reminder: topic of paragraph, fact to support topic, example of support, closing statement)

And finally: Conclusion that restates your thesis, recaps the points you have made and gives your final analysis and conclusion to the argument.

QED right? Remember: Practice Makes Perfect! 

[elizabethbeggs]

Short answers are not paragraphs and paragraphs are not short answers

So many students get confused when they have to answer questions that are worth more than one mark. The main complaint I hear is ‘I never know how much to write’ or ‘I wrote LOTS and still didn’t do well’ As a guide, think: 1 mark is one fact but 2 marks about the same fact will be a mark for the fact and a mark for an explanation of the fact. Seldom are you give a mark for free. No matter what it has to be relevant to the question. So make sure you know WHAT is being asked about that fact. Unless of course you are told that the allocation is a half mark then you need to write more - maybe a paragraph!! More that 2 marks indicates more work. To write a paragraph you need an introductory sentence related to the question, a fact derived from the question, an example of the fact and concluding sentence. No more, no less. Simple isn’t it? But remember to practice. Answer past papers and check your answer with example responses. Practice till it’s second nature. #paragraphanswers #longquestions

[elizabethbeggs]

Multiple choice questions are not always the easy option

So many students breathe a sigh of relief when they hear the next test/exam is to be a multiple choice format. ‘This’ they rejoice ‘will be easy. No need to worry about studying too much!’ And that is when I worry. Multiple choice questions takes a real knowledge of the facts. Facts that you know so well Boone can confuse you with questions that are very similar or set in a more confusing way. They need as much if not more attention to knowing everything than do other questions and therefore you need to study quite hard If you know your facts very well then,yes, multiple choice is the easy option but too many students mix up ‘easy’ having learnt the material in depth with ‘easy’ just because you don’t have to write too many words! Remember when answering: Answer the ones you know first The ones you not sure of next Guess the rest BUT only if there is no negative marking. If negative marking is an issue DO NOT GUESS Enjoy! #multiplechoicequestions #easyexamquestions

[elizabethbeggs]

Good models are not just wearing clothing

It is often difficult to sit in class with students who seem to have it so easy. They seem to swim through the workload without a care in the world. Always finishing their homework, always handing projects in on time, always getting good marks. They can be a source of endless irritation if you are not meeting their standards and the easiest way to deal with it is to ‘write them off’ as brainy, rocket scientists, that they find everything easy. BUT if you can change your perspective and see them as academic models, as students who can be copied, followed and used as a way of learning new ways of doing things, these irritants become a source of interest:

when do they do their homework

what questions do they ask in class

do they do their projects over time or all at once

how much work do they do on weekends

do they visit teachers out of class time

So many things to learn from those who to the academic work well!!

[elizabethbeggs]

Too easy to get distracted

One of the hardest things after a good holiday is to get back into the swing of things. To get all those routines back in place. And I have become one of the guilty ones. Having had such a great break and come back to so many activities, it has been so hard to get back to ‘normal’. This is a common problem whether you are studying, working, exercising - in fact any activity that required a steady routine. How to solve this?

Just get to it. Set a day, a time and a part of the routine AND DO IT. So get out the time timetables, fill in the schedule, organised the books and let’s get going on this years challenges.

I promise I will - every week. 

[elizabethbeggs]

What about the holidays?

I took a week off last week. No writing, no blogging nothing. And it made me think of all the students of all ages who are on holiday at the moment. I am asked all the time: What about the holidays? Do we take the whole holiday off or do we work all the way through - or what? Personally, I believe it is 'or what'. All work and no play makes Jack and Jill very dull people. And jaded. And burnt out. And angry. And... So many negative words that become attached to the activity of studying.

How much you do will depend on what you need to do. Schools are giving more and more 'holiday homework' to help consolidate learned material and prevent the summer brain drain. And for most students and their families, this is enough. Just getting through this draws on training in organization, scheduling, task completion and commitment (usually from parents who have to make sure it is done). There are a few instances where I would recommend more work. And they are:

for children in early learning or primary school where no work has been set: play games that encourage reading, math, eye-hand coordination, and concentration. card games, coloring in and mazes puzzle books, dot to dot activities, puzzles and reading all help to keep skills honed and up to date.

for children with learning difficulties or specific subjects that present challenges. Obviously, the above recommendations for younger children become even more important for children with difficulties. For older children keeping up math and reading skills is very important. practice books for math are widely available so a couple of practice exercises every day is easy to set (although may present a challenge in reaching completion). Slow readers need to keep up daily reading practice and for those students who have set reading lists for the following year, starting on those during the long break achieves two goals: reading levels are maintained and they get ahead with the reading for the following academic year.

So, return to the original question, some students need more practice in the holiday break than others. Strong, competent students tend to be able to make their own decisions and get things done. But for those who need support, encouragement, and discipline in maintaining academic skills, there is a good reason to keep up some academic tasks - even if it is holiday time. Just please, not all day and perhaps not even every day. it is holiday time after all.

[elizabethbeggs]

To study or not to study

Reading about studying, thinking about it, planning and talking about it doesn't make up for getting down to actually doing it. There are so many distractions - books, friends, social media, sport. Whatever your particular poison, it is very easy to put off what you think can be done tomorrow. This is usually a cycle of thinking I have plenty of time, it can wait a while, I should start now ... a pattern that continues until it's panic stations because it is either almost or definitely is, too late.

Dealing with procrastination is important. Leaving things till the last minute means a job half done or badly done. If it is too hard, find some support to help you. There are ways to block social networks for a specific time, parents who can time you and monitor the amount of work you get through, keep a log of time used and time wasted so that you can set study goals that are manageable. getting work done and completing tasks allows you to develop a sense of achievement. And success breeds success. The more you get things done, the less stress, the more space you have in your head to do some more, the less stress, the better you feel about yourself... an endless cycle of positive feedback relaces the negative scary one set up though procrastination.

[elizabethbeggs]

Why bother with study notes

Study notes have a specific purpose: to learn the content material. Until such time as the educational authorities come up with a way to test academic skills without setting content base questions, there is no choice: the stuff has to be memorized. It is a pain but worth the effort. At the very least marks will be scored for one word, multiple choice and short answer questions. Which makes a good start. But even the best student cannot write an essay about which he has learned nothing. So making the notes gives the chance to learn it, review it and remember it. And if you make organized and structured notes, you only do it once. Viola! Time and effort saved which is exactly what every student wants - and is why so many students don't do it in the first place. It is time-consuming in the beginning. but the more practice you get, as with everything else in life, the easier it gets.

[elizabethbeggs]

Study notes that last

If you have been following the previous guidelines, then you will have a set of notes that have an outline of the chapter created from the chapter headings and the detail within each heading in question form. And you will have unlabeled diagrams, graphs or graphic organizers presented in the textbook. Throughout my years of working with students, these tend to have been done on scraps of paper and thrown away with such a sense of joy and relief after a test. BUT then you have to start all over again for the exams.  This time, file these notes away in the folder that you keep for that subject or for study notes generally. You have a permanent revision record. because you have not answered the questions on the notes themselves nor filled in the labels, come the next exam you now have a good way to find out what you don't know (try and answer the questions, fill in the labels) which guides your studies for the exam. No more reinventing the wheel. AND your reading for the exam stays focused and relevant because you know what you know and don't know. 

I would love to hear how that goes.

[elizabethbeggs]

Filling in the detail

Now that your outline is complete you can start filling in the detail. I recommend that you fill the detail in with questions rather than statements of fact. So: If the topic is WW1 and a subheading is Causes a question might be What effect did economic factors have or Who was the most influential figure determining economic policy leading to ...

Using the usual suspects: why, what, where, why, who and how read through the material composing questions about every fact that you read. Use the questions as you filler and viola - study notes. The point is you have had to focus your reading so are not skimming through the information. having read it, questioned it and had a written form, you have now used a multimodal approach to studying ( as against simply reading the material and thinking - okay done that and wondering why you can't remember the material ina test). You have also created a permanent, written note for studying for that test as well as following exams. Now you don't have to do it over and over again.

Try that and let's see how it goes. Remember: questions and comments always welcome.

[elizabethbeggs]

Reading With meaning

So often students think they are reading through their notes properly while in actual fact they are simply skimming over the words. The problem is that because at some time during class this material has been covered,  the information feels familiar even when it is not. The assumption is then: I know this stuff. To really read and understand what is read - the key to remembering what is read - is to make sure that reading happens with intent. Chapter by chapter :

Start by getting an outline by covering the paragraph headings. Make unlabelled copies of diagrams to be learned. Make a spidergram or graph  - any form of a graphic organizer - that gives a clear outline of the various elements covered in the chapter. And then you are ready for the next step - filling in the content through proper attention to detail i.e. reading for meaning

As always, comments and questions are welcome