Students of all ages can hone their study skills with these tips that teachers wished they knew when they were students.
Tip 5: Study Buddy!
Want a quick tip to cut the amount that you have to study in half? Partner up! Study buddies are a great way to divide study material, save time, and gain new perspectives.
Here鈥檚 how it works:
- Select a Study Buddy. The best study buddy is someone who you will be able to work well with. It鈥檚 nice to partner up with your friends, but if you鈥檙e going to spend your time gossiping or discussing video game high scores, then it won鈥檛 be time well spent.
- Set a Schedule. Select a time and place to meet up to study.
- Divvy up the Workload. If there are two chapters to study, each student is responsible for one chapter.
- Talk it Out. A study buddy isn鈥檛 about sitting down together and quietly reading side by side. A study buddy helps you learn, helps you discover areas that you need to focus on, and helps you cut down on the amount of studying you have to do on your own.
- Prepare.Before you meet for the first time, do your review.
- Make study notes: write down titles, headings, and keywords, and make a copy for your partner
- Create your own mnemonic devices
- Create a fake test for your study partner
- Teach it. Take turns teaching a unit or section to one another. Review the material, but don鈥檛 read word for word from the text or class notes鈥攂oring! Don鈥檛 know where to start? Even if it seems awkward, just start at the beginning: 鈥淐hapter 5 is about atoms. Atoms are broken down into three basic elements鈥︹�� Your study buddy can help you fill in gaps as well as point out important areas that you might have overlooked.
- Paraphrase. This is just a fancy word for putting it your own words. If you鈥檙e reciting word for word from a textbook you鈥檙e just memorizing. If you can explain it in your own words, then you鈥檙e on your way to real understanding.
- Pay Attention to Class Examples. Sometimes teachers give examples in class that are not in the textbook. Teachers sometimes include these on a test to see if you were paying attention in class. Remember that films, pictures, and handouts can turn up on tests, so don鈥檛 overlook these examples鈥攅ven if they seem silly.
- Share. Your impressions and opinions about the material might offer a new perspective on a subject. A different viewpoint can give you insights and ideas that you hadn鈥檛 considered.
- End with a test. Pass each other the fake tests that you鈥檝e created and quiz one another. Correct each other鈥檚 test and see how you did.
Sometimes teachers assign study groups, usually with 3-5 (or more) students per group. While a larger group might decrease the amount of material that you have to review on your own, it can also be a recipe for disaster. A too-large group can too easily lead to socialization and procrastination, so it鈥檚 important to follow the above tips and stay organized.
Help your child succeed鈥�see the ultimate study guide here.
Related:
Tip 4: Putting it your own words.
Tip 3: The Fake Test
Tip 2: Mnemonic devices
Tip 1: Review with a Pen and Paper
