Hello everyone,
Thank you for visiting my blog!
Today, I am going to give you some studying tips that you can use for classes, tests, professional development, etc. I will also give you step-by-step instructions on how I study. But, before I do that, I feel that I should tell you about my academic achievements. This way you understand the possible end result of these studying tips.
After three years in college, my overall GPA is 3.88. This means that I have received only three Bs throughout college; the rest have been As.
Honors I have received:
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society of Education
President's scholars (three semesters)
I have also been awarded four scholarships.
These are just some examples of the rewards you can receive from working hard and studying right. Here are the 5 tips and tricks that I use to help me study:
Tip #1: Change pen color
As you can tell by the picture above, I love colorful pens! Not only will they make note-taking fun, and make your notes pretty, they also help you organize your notes.
You can assign the different colors to mean different things. For example: red=dates, blue=people, orange=event, pink=vocabulary words, etc.
Another way to organize through colors: green=definitions, orange=headings, pink=subheadings, blue, green, and purple=regular notes.
You don't have to stay consistent with the color method you choose....Mine changes from page to page (or even half way through the page). It's just what ever works best for you.
Thank you for visiting my blog!
Today, I am going to give you some studying tips that you can use for classes, tests, professional development, etc. I will also give you step-by-step instructions on how I study. But, before I do that, I feel that I should tell you about my academic achievements. This way you understand the possible end result of these studying tips.
After three years in college, my overall GPA is 3.88. This means that I have received only three Bs throughout college; the rest have been As.
Honors I have received:
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society of Education
President's scholars (three semesters)
I have also been awarded four scholarships.
These are just some examples of the rewards you can receive from working hard and studying right. Here are the 5 tips and tricks that I use to help me study:
Tip #1: Change pen color
As you can tell by the picture above, I love colorful pens! Not only will they make note-taking fun, and make your notes pretty, they also help you organize your notes.
You can assign the different colors to mean different things. For example: red=dates, blue=people, orange=event, pink=vocabulary words, etc.
Another way to organize through colors: green=definitions, orange=headings, pink=subheadings, blue, green, and purple=regular notes.
You don't have to stay consistent with the color method you choose....Mine changes from page to page (or even half way through the page). It's just what ever works best for you.
Tip #2: Listen to music
Listening to music can help keep you focused and get rid of any distractions. For example, music can drown out any back ground noise, such as people talking.
I recommend using music apps like, Pandora, Milk music (For android phones only, but it's my favorite), iheartradio, and Spotify.
On these apps, you are able to pick the genres of music you want to listen to. For studying, I recommend classical or instrumental; anything without lyrics. Listening to your favorite songs that make you want to sing and dance can be distracting. This is why the relaxing, classical music is the way to go when you're studying.
Tip #3: Change scenery
When studying for long periods of time, it can be tiring sitting in the same spot the whole time. By changing rooms, seats, or even go to a different place, you can regain focus and wake yourself up.
I once spent eight straight hours writing a paper in the same spot...I will never do that again. But if I had changed my scenery, it wouldn't have been as bad.
Tip #4: Meal times are for relaxing
If you've been studying all day, leave meal times for relaxing. Either go to a restaurant or somewhere to eat... or go to a room other than where you're studying, and watch tv or spend time with your family.
This gives you a break from studying! You'll feel refreshed and ready to work when you return from your break. When I spend my whole day studying, this is my only free time that I allow myself... besides my ten minute breaks every hour (refer to my previous blog).
Tip #5: Preparing for exams
Use index cards when studying for exams. Go through your notes and write down all the important information that could be on the test onto index cards. Review these index cards daily, especially on the day of the exam.
I find that using index cards helps me the most when studying for an exam. You could even have someone quiz you by holding up the cards you made.
Now, I am going to go through the four steps I use when studying:
When you go to a class, you should take notes on what is being covered that day.
1. Re-read your notes from class. This allows you to understand the information that is important for you to know.
2. Highlight the information that is important to know or learn more about.
If you have been assigned to read textbook chapters or PowerPoints:
3. Skim read assigned materials. But, read in detail the topics discussed in class or that are in your notes (highlighted information).
4. Go back to your lecture notes and add any additional information learned from the assigned materials. These additional notes can either be added to sticky notes and placed on the page of lecture notes, or added on a new page.
Please note that these studying tips and tricks work for me but they may not work for everyone. I hope that you find studying tricks that work for you, and that some of today's tips are useful to you.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading today's blog post! Make sure to read my previous blog about time management, if you haven't already.
Leave a comment below of your studying tips and tricks.
Inspirationally,
Ally