BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

1. BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS TIME MANAGEMENT “NOTEBOOKS” 5 MINUTE REVIEW 20 MINUTE WEEKEND REVIEW

2. TIME MANAGEMENT • KEEP PLANNER UP TO DATE AND EASY TO READ • USE STUDY HALL • FLASH CARDS/SUMMARY SHEETS • NO MARATHON STUDY SESSIONS • WEEKLY REVIEW

3. “NOTEBOOKS” • SEPERATE NOTEBOOK FOR EVERY CLASS • SPIRAL / FOLDER • RING BINDER • RESERVE ACCORDION OR FILE FOLDERS

4. 5 MINUTE REVIEW • NIGHTLY REVIEW FOR EACH CLASS • IF NO HOMEWORK THAN 10 MINUTES

5. 20 MINUTE WEEKEND REVIEW 3 GOALS IDENTIFY ASSIGNMENTS FOR FOLLOWING WEEKS ORGANIZE NOTES AND PAPERS FROM PREVIOUS WEEK TRANSFER OF NOTES TO “MASTER” FOLDER MOSTLY ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATION!

6. FRESHMANUPDATES • STUDY HALL • THE LOUNGE • FRESHMAN PLAY • FORTNIGHTS

7. STUDENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION • DON’T WAIT TO ASK FOR HELP • BE PROACTIVE • EMAIL – NOT IN FORM OF INSTANT MESSAGE • HOW TO ADDRESS TEACHING STYLE

8. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE CLASS NOTES? • INFORMATION PRESENTED IN CLASS = CENTRAL CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE • TAKING NOTES FORCES YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER • THE PROCESS OF WRITING HELPS YOU TO REMEMBER

9. TIPS FOR CLASS NOTES • START EACH CLASS WITH THE DATE AND A “FRESH” PIECE OF PAPER & NUMBER THEM SEQUENTIALLY • LEAVE BLANK SPACES BETWEEN CONCEPTS • MAKE YOUR NOTES BRIEF • BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR FORMAT, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. • HIGHLIGHT QUESTIONS OR CONCEPTS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!

10. COMMON CLUES FOR WHAT TO WRITE DOWN • TEACHERS GIVE CLUES AS TO WHAT IS IMPORTANT: • MATERIAL ON THE BOARD • REPETITION • EMPHASIS BY TONE & TIME • WORD SIGNALS: “THE FIRST REASON IS….” • REVIEW AT THE BEGINNING / SUMMARY AT END

11. NOTETAKING – READING ASSIGNMENTS • READING VS DIGESTING AN ASSIGNMENT • THEME VS. DETAILS • IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION

12. READING NOTES EXAMPLE #1 • HEADING: Transformation of the Indus Valley Civilization • “The Indus Valley cities were abandoned sometime after 1900 B.C.E. Archaeologists once thought that invaders destroyed them, but they now believe this civilization suffered “systems failure” – a breakdown of the fragile interrelationship of political, social, and economic systems that sustained order and prosperity. The precipitating cause may have been one or more natural disasters such as an earthquake. Gradual ecological changes may have also played a role as the Hakra river system dried up and salinisationand erosion increased”

13. Reading Notes Example #1 • Theme: Transformation of the Indus Valley Civilization (Use the text heading!!) • Details: - Indus Valley cities abandoned 1900B.C.E. • “systems failure” – breakdown of political, social, and economic systems that sustain order • Cause may have been natural disaster or gradual ecological change

14. Reading Notes Example #2 • “Historians can do little more than speculate about the causes behind the changes and the experiences of the people who lived in the Indus Valley around 1900 B.C.E. Two tendencies bear remembering, however. In most cases like this, the majority of the population adjusts to the new circumstances. But members of the political and social elite, who depend on urban centers and complex political and economic structures, lose the source of their authority and merge with the population.” • WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT DETAILS?

15. READING NOTES EXAMPLE #2 • Historians can only speculate about change during 1900 B.C.E. • Two Tendencies: • Majority of the population adjusts to new circumstances • Political and Social Elite lose authority and have to merge with the rest of the population