Onyx Study

Kate | she/her | Philippines | half French half Filipino | AB Psychology | INTJ | Ravenclaw | Studying part-time online

[smgoetter]

“Lady Tilda and the Dragon”

Or “Mom Knight” which is what I kept calling it for most of the time I worked on this. This was my story for Valor, a fairy tale anthology I was in last year! It’s a really great book, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it. You can purchase a copy here.

[eintsein]

Hey guys, so I’m nearing the end of my senior year, and it’s been great so far! I accomplished my academic tasks efficiently and didn’t burn myself out, and I think the main contributor to my success as a student is my organization system. This system has been refined throughout my high school years, but I think now I’ve finally found the most effective methods.

Please remember that this isn’t the only organization system you can adopt; this is just the one that works the best for me, and I hope that by sharing it with you, you’ll gain a new perspective on how to stay organized as a high school student.

The first thing I wanna talk about is my notebook system, which I briefly mentioned in my Guide to Note-Taking.

My notebook system comprises three types of notebooks: the Everything Notebook, the subject notebook, and the revision notebook.

The Everything Notebook

The first stage is in-class notes. I only bring one notebook to school every day. I call it my Everything Notebook, and this is where I write down all of the notes I take in class. This way, I don’t have to lug around six notebooks where I’m only going to use a few pages in each of them that day.

Subject Notebooks

At the end of the day, I would revise my notes and compare them to the syllabus so I know where we are in the learning process. I would then transfer my class notes from my Everything Notebook to my different subject notebooks. This is stage two. I also start to jazz up my notes because I use the notes in my subject notebooks to study for tests.

In addition to my class notes, I include material from my teachers’ notes that they might not have elaborated on, as well as points in the syllabus (I’m currently taking A2) that were only glazed over briefly, or not at all, in some cases. (Note: this does not mean they completely skip a chapter or topic; it’s more like they missed a few bullet points that should be in my notes but aren’t. An example would be if we’re learning about phenol reactions and the teacher forgot to mention the use of FeCl3 as a test for phenol.)

Revision Notebooks

Stage three comes a little later, when exam week is just around the corner. Essentially, I rewrite and improve my notes from my five different subject notebooks into a single revision notebook or binder. (Recently, I’ve opted for a revision notebook because they’re lighter and easier to carry around.)

Because my teachers don’t always teach in the order of the syllabus, the first thing I do is organize my notes according to the syllabus. I would then fill in any other missing gaps in the material that hadn’t been filled in stage two.

When compiling material for my revision notebook, I use as many sources as possible: my own notes, my teachers’ notes, youtube videos, online sites, and my favorite, the mark scheme! I add in some answers from past papers (explanations only, so no calculations) mainly to secure marks. It’s safer to memorize definitions straight from the mark scheme than from the textbook or from handouts. I also do this to ease my memorization, especially for topics that require lengthy explanations. It’s a lot easier to remember the 6 points I need to explain the principles of NMRI than to remember everything in the four-page handout my teacher gave me.

Folders and binders are essential to organizing your papers. Some people keep a single accordion folder for all their papers, but for me it’s just too heavy to carry around all the time. The same goes for subject folders that are brought to school every day.

Instead, my binder/folder system comprises my Everything Folder and my subject binders.

The Everything Folder

The folder I carry with me to school every day is this A4 folder I got from Tokyu Hands. It has 5 pockets, one for each day of the week, so all the papers I receive on Monday will go behind the first divider, and so on.

Some people also keep blank papers in their folders; I don’t because my school has its own lined paper and graphing pads that I keep under my desk that I use if a teacher asks us to do an assignment on those papers. If I do work at home, I prefer to just use a plain A4 paper or a legal pad.

Subject Binders

At the end of the week, I’ll sort my papers into my subject binders. Sometimes I’ll keep some papers in the folder if I think I’ll be needing it the next week. This usually only applies to worksheets because all my teachers’ notes are available on Google Classroom, so I can access them even if I don’t physically have them.

Each of these binders have sections inside them:

Physics: 1 for handouts, notes, and tests, 1 for Paper 4 (Theory), 1 for Paper 5 (Practical Planning). I included extra tabs to mark the different topics in the handouts section.

Chemistry: same as Physics.

Economics: 1 for Paper 3 (MCQ), 1 for Paper 4 (Case Study and Essay). A lot of my Economics material is online, though.

English: 1 for Paper 3 (Text and Discourse analysis), and 2 for Paper 4 (Language Topics, which includes 1 for Child Language Acquisition, 1 for World Englishes). Past papers, handouts, and notes all go under their respective topics.

Mathematics: I just keep everything together because I never revise math and just constantly do past papers.

This makes it easier for me to revise each subject because I can just take one binder with me instead of a messy folder with everything just shoved in there.

I keep a magazine file for each of my A-Level subjects (English and Mathematics are combined). All my textbooks, revision guides, and subject notebooks are kept here, so if I need to revise one subject, that’s the magazine file I’ll take out.

These magazine files prevent any small things (like my book of flashcards) from being shoved to the back of my bookshelf, or materials from different subjects from getting mixed up.

In my senior year, I mostly plan using this app called Edo Agenda. It syncs across all my devices for free and has all the features I need: a to do list to organize tasks, monthly and weekly calendars to organize events, a journal to organize notes and memos.

I used to bullet journal regularly, but it takes too much time during weekdays, so now I just bullet journal for the therapeutic effects it gives me, and I use an app for organizing tasks and events. Sometimes at the end of each week, I’ll transfer my tasks to my bullet journal and then decorate the page, but again, this is just for its therapy.

Organizing your school supplies is just as important as organizing your papers and notes. With a more organized backpack and pencil case, you won’t waste time looking for your things at the bottom of an abyss.

Pencil Case

I don’t find it necessary to bring so much stationery to school unless I plan on making notes at school (usually during revision week).

Backpack

Because we’re already in the revision term, I don’t really carry a lot of things in my everyday backpack, just the following:

Pencil case

Everything Notebook

Everything Folder

Revision notebook

Kindle

Phone

Wallet

Earphones

Calculator

Speaker

Drinking bottle

A pouch with things like a hairbrush, pads, and lip balm

And that’s all for now! I hope this post will help you organize your school life (if you haven’t already) or at least provide some useful insights on some ways to stay organized as a high school student.

[thenordroom]

Scandinavian studio apartment

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[educatier]

please note that this is a guide to my revising system, not a note-beautifying how-to! im sorry for my absence and lack of updates~ I’ve just not been doing a lot of mp and printables-making~

*sobs* thanks to that anon that say such nice things ilu too.

+

studygram | masterpost tag

[onyxstudy]

April cover page inspired by a march design i saw...

[studytwice]

January 19, 2018 // I’m a sucker for the way that you move, babe

Rainbow road 🌈 | IG: @sarahboparah

[studyfulltime]

my life is imbued with uncertainty…i seek solace in books and my space✨

[pushing-my-faults]

Did a massive clean out of my room today so It’s so empty it’s actually funny 😂 Can’t wait to get a nice couch and a tv 🙌🏼 And I’ll definitely have to add some pictures or nice decor in here ✨✨

[hufflepuffwannabe]

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

“The best way for you to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig ZIglar

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

“I am not afraid…I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart

“We aim above the mark to hit the mark.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.“ – Walt Disney

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXIII

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston

“Perserverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” – Julie Andrews

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine

“I attribute my success to this–I never gave or took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

“Who seeks shall find.” – Sophocles

“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay” – Simone de Beauvoir

[seduloustudy]

March Spread 🌾

I’m going to try harder in posting my monthly spreads - but honestly it’s just my horoscope and spending tracker. Also, I’ve decided I will post my weekly spreads every other week so that both pages are done and you don’t see a blank page lol

[holylantern]

8.3.17— while i’m gone, dream me the world. the flowers in this spread are inspired by a clamp artwork from the xxxholic kochou no yume artbook!

i guess this has become a habit now, posting on wednesdays… uni’s started up again so my schedule has become a bit busier 💦 hope everyone is having a great week! ✨ remember to take care of yourself!

[ivystudying]

It’s been a while since I’ve made a post, and I figured that these tips might be extra helpful with exam season approaching. As someone who struggles a lot with procrastination, I do everything I can to fight the urge to put assignments off until the last minute (even though I’m not always successful). 

As always, good luck! (ᵔᴥᵔ)

[cherstudies]

chem notes inspired by @studyquill 😁

[lou-does-things]

Newly set up weekly spread!

[onyxstudy]

Study Update

So, at this point it's my second day of online school and it's going okay? It's definitely more of a challenge to find time to do school work since I'm working full time, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it.

[liveandstudy]

As a studyblr, I procrastinate. I have weak subjects, and I get stressed easily. I lie to myself, “Yeah, this won’t be tested.” I quit my notes halfway because my motivation runs out, and when it returns, my forgetfulness and lack of organisation means that I don’t remember them. I scroll through my dash and think, “Wow. I’m so much less dedicated, hardworking, passionate than these people. I’m so much less than these people.”

I receive messages in my inbox that say, “Wow. You’re so inspiring.” And I can never fathom how someone could actually believe that. 

And then I do. Because the words we type, documenting our day, and the photos we post, perfectly arranged - they show an impossible, unreal version of ourselves. The best angle of ourselves - neat handwriting, brilliant modesty, impeccable focus, and enviable responsibility.

Just like how you shouldn’t unfairly compare yourselves to magazine covers, because they aren’t real, you shouldn’t compare your educational journeys to those of other studyblrs, because they aren’t a full and unbiased representation of how other people actually study (unglamorously).

[studyblrheaven-deactivated20220]

This is so important!!

[tbhstudying]

plan out your studying don’t try to cram the night before (10/10 would not recommend). figure out when the test is, and plan + space out your study sessions. review the materials several times per week and make sure you have all the topics covered.

review what you learned in class that same day the information will be fresh in your mind, and you’ll have a higher chance of remembering it too.

figure out the most important information + study them what’s the most relevant information? what concepts are important? make sure you know them by heart because those are what will have the most points on the test. don’t hesitate to ask your teacher about what will be on the test.

make a study sheet or a mind map if you can summarize and consolidate all the information you need to know on a single sheet of paper, you should be good to go. you’ll be able to quickly review the topic + you’ll be able to use it to study for your midterms or finals later on.

get a good night’s sleep + eat a healthy breakfast you won’t feel tired and hungry, and you’ll be able to concentrate better.

for last minute cramming:

make a study set on a flashcard website such as quizlet and play the games that they generate from the cards.

try making up a song or mnemonic to help you memorize

study out loud. actually speak the words out loud and record yourself. listen to yourself. this way, you’ll be reading, thinking, listening to, and saying the subject at the same time.

use every bit of spare time that you have. go through your notes on the bus, listen to the recordings that you made, skim through your textbook before class starts, etc etc

look at the end of the chapter in your textbook (if you have one). it’ll typically list out all the main topics + important words to know

visualize yourself succeeding. there’s been a study on students that shows a correlation between a negative outlook and not-so-great test scores

don’t forget to sleep!! if you stay up all night, you’ll only end up being tired and doze during the test (and that leads to silly mistakes)

hope this helped, and good luck! feel free to request here + see more helpful posts here !