Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Styles

Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Styles Brookhurst Junior High School 1st Quarter Guidance Curriculum 2007 – 2008

ASCA Standard or Competency • Academic Development Domain Standards A, B, C • A:A2.4 • A:B1.3 • A:C1.1

Objectives • How to take Cornell notes • How to use a student planner • How to maintain an organized notebook • How to develop good study skills • How to identify your learning style

Cornell Notes • Set up your paper • Take the notes • Apply your thinking to the notes • Reflect on and Review your notes

Set Up Your Paper Step 1: Create Lines

Topic: Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Skills Name: Class: Period: Date: Set Up Your Paper • Step 2: Fill in Information • Topic • Name • Class • Period • Date

Name: Class: Period: Date: Topic: Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Skills Set Up Your Paper Questions/Main Ideas Notes Questions/Main Idea Notes Summary Summary

Topic: Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Skills Name: Class: Period: Date: Take Notes Questions/Main Ideas Notes • While the teacher lectures, while you watch a film, or while you read a text: • Write on the right hand side of the page • Abbreviate • Paraphrase • Use symbols to highlight what is important, or unclear, or to make connections. • Skip lines between ideas Summary

Topic: Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Skills Name: Class: Period: Date: Apply your thinking to the notes Questions/Main Ideas Notes • Alone or with a Study Buddy study your notes, clarifying and completing them. Within 24 hours, use the left hand column to: • Identify main ideas by writing headers • Develop questions for study or clarification • Connect your notes to what you have learned before in that class, in previous years, and in other classes. Summary

Topic: Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Skills Name: Class: Period: Date: Reflect on and Review your notes Questions/Main Ideas Notes • For each set of class notes, you need to take the time and summarize what was presented and learned for that day. • Review the main ideas • Summarize what is important • Explain why that is important • Reflect on how the new concept will enhance your learning Summary

Student Planner 3 Main Sections • Brookhurst Information • Middle School TimeTracker • Destination Character

Student Planner – Brookhurst Information • The first 20 pages on white paper • Pgs. 1-5: Information about personnel with school numbers, academic success, parent responsibilities, and bell schedule • Pgs. 6-15: Benchmark Testing dates and Curriculum for Academic Subjects • Pgs. 16-19: Dress Code and Discipline Policy • Pg. 20: Cornell Notes Template

Student Planner – Middle School TimeTracker • Pgs. 1-9: general information about agenda • Pgs. 10-15: Monthly calendars • Pgs. 16-110: Weekly calendar • This is where you are writing your daily assignments • Use the “TODAY” ruler to mark the current week we are in • pgs: 111-120: Reference material

Student Planner –Destination Character • Pgs. 1-31: Character Education Hard Work Respect Wise Choices Perseverance Citizenship Trustworthiness Caring Responsibility Fairness

Organized Notebook • Supplies: • 3 ring binder • Student planner • class schedule (pg. 120 in student planner) • 8 binder dividers with tabs • Sheet protectors • pens and pencils

Creating an organized notebook • Step 1: Place binder dividers in notebook • Step 2: Use class schedule to write a tab for each class that you have, include periods • Example: Per 1-PE

Creating an organized notebook • Step 3: Place all work from each class in the correct periods • You can also add sheet protectors to each period to place work that still needs to be completed. For example, classwork and homework.

0 Good Study Skills • Get Organized – Use your student planner • Have all supplies ready before you study • Supplies to have: paper, notebooks, calculator, dictionary, pens, pencils, ruler, school books • Keep your backpack organized so you can find what you need without wasting time • Repack your bag at night to avoid rushing to find things in the morning • Don’t forget to pack your homework

0 Good Study Skills • Schedule a regular homework time for each day • Set up a study center • Choose a quiet area that is comfortable, neat, well-lit, and supplied with the materials that you’ll need. • Examples: your room at a desk, in a calm corner of the house, in a quiet part of the school, Homework Lab, or library • Avoid distractions while you study • This includes TV, loud music, windows with activity outside, phone, text-messaging, computers

0 Good Study Skills • Get a Study Buddy • Find someone in each class that you can get help from (phone number, e-mail) • Take breaks so you don’t wear yourself out • Have a snack, stretch, take a short walk • Find out what works best for you • Take Great Notes • Use Cornell Note-taking Strategy

0 What is your learning style? • Instructions: • For these questions, choose the first answer that comes to mind and circle on a, b, or c. Don’t spend too much time thinking about any one question. • Count the number of a’s, b’s, and c’s that you have and write the total number.

0 Visual Learning Style (if you circled mostly a’s) • use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc. • use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips) • take numerous detailed notes or ask teacher to provide handouts • tend to sit in the front to have a clear view of their teachers when they are speaking so you can see their body language and facial expression • are usually neat and clean • often close their eyes to visualize or remember something • find something to watch if they are bored • like to see what they are learning • illustrate ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubble before writing them down • write a story and illustrate it • benefit from illustrations and presentations that use color • use color to highlight important points in text • are attracted to written or spoken language rich in imagery • prefer stimuli to be isolated from auditory and kinesthetic distraction • find passive surroundings ideal

Auditory Learning (if you circled mostly b’s) • sit where they can hear but needn’t pay attention to what is happening in front • participate in class discussion/debates • make speeches and presentations • use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes • create musical jingles to aid memorization • create mnemonics to aid memorization • discuss ideas verbally • dictate to someone while they write down their thoughts • use verbal analogies, and story telling to demonstrate their point • may not coordinate colors or clothes, but can explain why they are wearing what they are wearing • hum or talk to themselves or others when bored • acquire knowledge by reading aloud • remember by verbalizing lessons to themselves (if they don’t they have difficulty reading maps or diagrams or handling conceptual assignments like mathematics)

Kinesthetic Learning Style(if you circled mostly c’s) • need to be active and take frequent breaks • move around to learn new things • work at a standing position • chew gum while studying • dress up your work space with posters • speak with their hands and with gestures • remember what was done, but have difficulty recalling what was said or seen • find reasons to tinker or move when bored • rely on what they can directly experience or perform • activities such as cooking, construction, engineering and art help them perceive and learn • enjoy field trips and tasks that involve manipulating materials • sit near the door or someplace else where they can easily get up and move around • are uncomfortable in classrooms where they lack opportunities for hands-on experience • communicate by touching and appreciate physically expressed encouragement, such as a pat on the back

0 Learning Styles • 3 different Learning Styles • Visual Learners • Learn by seeing and looking • Auditory Learners • Learn by hearing and listening • Kinesthetic Learners • Learn by touching and doing • Keep your learning style in mind when you are organizing and studying

Organizational, Study Skills and Learning Styles