Boost Your Academic Success: Study Skills & Test-Taking Workshop

1. Welcome toHUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER & A.E. Wright’s IMPROVE YOUR GRADESworkshop Study Skills & Test-Taking 1

2. Today… • Maximizing homework time • Achieving better study skills • Improved test-taking skills • Better grades • What parents can do to help • QUESTIONS 2 1. U.S. Census Bureau

3. I don’t have any homework I know my grades will get better…they just will! What am I ever going to use this for?? I just didn’t try THIS time My actual grade is much higher 3

4. Noone in the class is doing well…it’s not me She’s just not a good teacher. I just don’t care what I get in that class I’m stupid! 4

5. What are some of thewarning signs? • Takes you all night to do homework • Miss assignments • Consistent drops in grades • Attitude and mood changes • Excuses and rationalization 5

6. What’s getting in the way? • Skill gaps • Not knowing how to study • Low self-confidence • Disorganized • Low motivation • Lack of support 6

7. 10 Strategies To Deal With it All… 7

8. 1. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF !! • Believe in your abilities • Recognize your individual talents • You have to want it! • Develop the confidence to do well now AND for your future! 8

9. 2. BE ORGANIZED • Use an assignment notebook • Use a 3-ring binder for class notes • Use different folders for each class • Have phone numbers for classmates; find out what you’re missing • Keep your locker and backpack neat • Get organized before going to bed • Pick 1 day/week to reorganize yourself

10. 3. MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL • Use class time and study halls • Create your own study plan • Homework DOES NOT = Studying! • Plan for a ½ hour of homework & studying PER NIGHT, PER SUBJECT! • Prepare for things that may go wrong 10

11. 4. BE SUCCESSFUL IN CLASS • Learn how to adapt to different teachers • Be in school, on time, every day • Be prepared for each class • Sit in front of the class if possible • Always do your homework • Participate in class 11

12. 5. TAKE GOOD NOTES • Preview material the night before • Be an active listener • Are you only writing down what you see on this screen or are you actually listening to the information I am saying? • Take notes to help you pay attention • Recognize important information • Take notes that are easy to read • Use abbreviations for speed writing • Go over your notes as soon as possible • Rewrite if necessary 12

13. Get lecture notes if you are absent • Take notes while reading your textbook to help you stay focused • Use an outline format • Make your own study guide by writing recall questions 13

14. KNOW GOOD READING TECHNIQUES • SQ3R • Survey: titles, headings, pictures, graphs, charts, etc. • Question: turn boldfaced subtitles into questions • Read: read with the purpose of answering your questions • Recite: stop periodically to check for your understanding • Review: go back to answer your questions, answer chapter questions, review material a little every night 14

15. 7. STUDY SMARTER • Find a good place to study • Get started on something easier, but don’t save the most difficult assignment for last! • Know your learning style • Organize your study time • Know HOW to study • Use tricks to help you memorize information 15

16. DEVELOP TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES • Be prepared … then relax • Develop a plan how to approach the test • Read ALL your answer choices • Mark questions you want to return to • Don’t spend too much time on a single problem • Increase your odds on multiple choice • Try to “Predict”/estimate the answer first • Eliminate choices you KNOW are incorrect

17. Look for key words in True/False questions • Improve your math test scores: • Estimate what the answer will be • Show your work • Check your answers • Go over returned tests • What questions did you miss? • Where was that information and how can you avoid missing it when studying next time?

18. Know how to approach ESSAY questions: • Plan your time • Write appropriate amount: line length typically = expected answer length • What is the question asking? • Brainstorm and outline • Write neatly and in complete sentences • Support your point • It’s an essay, not a conversation with your friends (open, support, closing) 18

19. 9. REDUCE TEST ANXIETY • Study enough to feel confident • Get a good night’s sleep • Mentally practice going through the test • Be confident and think positively! 19

20. 10. GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT • School teachers • Guidance counselor • Peers / study groups • Parents / family (allow them to help) • Library / Internet research • Outside tutoring professionals 20

21. How can parents help? • Be in contact with your child’s teachers • Many teachers email out weekly progress reports • Check grades/assignments online frequently • Know what’s expected from each teacher/class • Understand teacher’s policies: • how they deal with late assignments • frequency of homework assigned • format of tests • recommendations for them to be successful/how to study for their tests • Be supportive – don’t nag

22. SPECIAL OFFER When your child’s academic future is involved, don’t wait! You’ve taken the first step towards helping your student by attending this workshop. Now take advantage of this special offer! For workshop attendees only: An Individualized Study Skills Evaluation for Only $69 PLUS the full evaluation fee will be applied towards your tuition if you choose to enroll in our program. **Must call to book evaluation before 9/26/14; evaluation must be done prior to 9/30/14 22

23. Questions ??-------------------------------------------- Thank you. This workshop has been presented as a public service by Huntington Learning Center 5989 Topanga Canyon Blvd (at Oxnard) Woodland Hills, CA (818) 716-0050 www.HuntingtonHelps.com 23