Welcome to Strategies For Learning!
How is your high school experience going so far? What academic skill do you want to improve upon during our time together? We will be spending the next three weeks together to evaluate, learn, and apply new habits to become more effective learners. We will meet in the Counseling Office twice per week, for seven forty-minute sessions total, at the assigned time. Each session will focus on a different study skill or habit; we will read articles, take self-assessments, participate in discussions, and strive for improvement. Like Winston Churchill once said, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
SESSION ONE: Introduction/Self Assessment
Complete the Pre-Test (handout)
Read the following article:
http://student-tutor.com/blog/top-10-high-school-study-tips/
Complete the Study Skills Checklist & discuss (handout)
SESSION TWO: Identifying Values
Read the following article and watch the video:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_85.htm
Activity: Value Cards
*select your top five -place face up; set others aside
*volunteers to share -why have you chosen a particular value
*what is your strongest value and why; which one do you need to work on the most and
why?
Reflection/Discussion:
Which of your current daily habits/choices are helping you live up to those values? Which habits are not?
How does your use of technology and social media contribute or hinder your ability to live up to the values you identified as personally important?
SESSION THREE: Energy & Time Management
~ We only have so much energy each day
~ Personal choices impact time; these choices are connected to our personal values
Discussion: What choices you make are energizing? Which are draining? What activities do you want to do that you currently don’t feel you have time for?
Watch the following video and read the article:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/videos/time-mistakes-transcript.htm (video)
https://www.educationcorner.com/effective-time-management.html (article)
Discussion:
~Be conscious of how/when you are picking up the phone or visiting sites that are distracting.
~Identify your biggest distractions.
~Monotask
~Pomodoro Technique? -what is it?
~Ways to avoid toggling
~Physical barriers to distraction
Study Environment Handout
Activity: Roberto’s After-School Plans worksheet
Activity: Improving Your Study Habits worksheet
Homework: How much time is used productively? How many moments are spent surfing/testing? Both require ENERGY! Between now and our next session, track your time spent on your cell phone and online. You are welcome to utilize tracking resources. (Examples: IOS app - Moment; Android - Quality Time)
*Handout also available
SESSION FOUR: Setting Goals
Partner Activity: Study Skills Logic Puzzle (handout)
Read the following article:
https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/smart-goals/
Watch the following video:
https://www.brainpop.com/health/personalhealth/settinggoals/
Read the following article:
https://www.goconqr.com/en/examtime/blog/12-study-tips-to-achieve-your-goals-in-2018/
Activity: SMART goal worksheet (handout)
SESSION FIVE: Learning Styles
~ Finding strategies that work best for you
Discussion: Think about each of your classes. What are your most effective ways to learn and retain information? Do you prefer strategies that use digital resources or physical resources?
Read the following articles:
http://www.inspireeducation.net.au/blog/the-seven-learning-styles/
https://www.educationcorner.com/learning-styles.html
Watch the following video:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/knowing-your-learning-style.html
Complete the self assessment :
https://www.schoolonwheels.org/pdfs/3121/Learning-Styles.pdf
SESSION SIX: Organization
Discussion: How long does it take you to figure out all of your assignments, upcoming exams, etc.? Where do you write them down/track them? How are they turned in? What could be done to make the process less time consuming?
Consider - written or online planner - what would work best for you? Maximize productivity?
Read the following article:
https://wehavekids.com/education/How-To-Become-an-Organized-High-School-Student
Watch the following videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pi8ab-mkAo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8-rjSXqr8c
Activity: Digital or paper file system
Create a file folder on laptop/Google for each class or organize your backpack & binders
Create subfiles
Notes
Homework
Handouts
Tests/Quizzes
SESSION SEVEN: Test Prep & Anxiety
Read the following article:
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/test-anxiety
Activity: Test Anxiety Word Search (Handout)
Activity: Test Stress Bingo (Handout)
Post Test
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED STRATGIES FOR LEARNING! KEEP WORKING HARD!