The Tool Box of Learning Strategies©

Updated 11/132008
This site changes often be sure to reload the page!
I have decided to make some changes to the Learning Strategies section of the website. It is hoped that shifting perspective from "Learning Strategies" to looking at each strategy as a tool used to build success, students will be able to build a useful "tool box" they can take with them to any class or learning environment and build success. Look for the following icon on the calendar pages.

By clicking on the icon you will be sent to a webpage which outlines a specific targeted study method (a tool for learning) geared to the material the toolbox was associated with on the calendar. Also, this page will have listed all the tools (learning strategies) found in the "toolbox."

Tools for the Toolbox

Photosynthesis and Respiration Tool

Tired of cramming the night before the exam? Tired of spending long nights reading and not remembering what you have read the next day? Tired of "studying" for the exam and then not doing well. Then keep reading........

You need to find SOME strategies to help you learn and understand the material (Notice the word "some"). There is no one strategy that covers all types brain activities you will be required to do. Learning vocabulary words uses a different strategy than learning to work a math problem. Some people use one strategy to learn vocabulary words that is different from someone else, yet both are successful and make good grades.

Why am I failing some alternative suggestions to success specifically related to my classes.

Studying is NOT READING your notes or the textbook over and over! This method is the biggest waste of your time, the least effective and the biggest mistake Gifted students make! The material you are now learning is not like the material you had to learn before: it's tougher, deeper and involves much more critical thinking. To study effectively you must be actively involved with the material - you need a new strategy.

Learning Strategies to try (Hopefully more to come!)

Get a Game plan - The key to success is organization, organization, organization!

Classification Circles - A great way to review!

SQ3R - How to study your textbook and notes more effectively by increasing retention of the materials you are reading.

Note Cards - Use this to organize your notes! Texas Instruments has a program for the TI83+ and TI84 called StudyCards (TI's Website). Here's a link to some study cards I have used.

Parents you can help too! - here's some ideas to try.

KWL - Use for textbook, notes or any new topic

Monitor how you are learning and make appropriate changes to your strategy. This is called metacognition.

TV or Radio should not be on while studying. Some students believe they can concentrate and affectively study while the TV is on. Educational research has shown this is not true and some researchers suggest that even having music on decreases concentration especially when the music has lyrics. If you must have some background noise, then play music which does not have lyrics - such as classical music such as WRR Classical 101.1 or soft jazz.

Shorten study time, but study more frequently. Research has shown that the human brain really only remembers the first and last 10 to 15 minutes of a study session. Study sessions should be no longer than 30 minutes and then take a break. The break should be something completely different from what you were studying. You should spend 30 minutes per day studying biology not 2 hours for two days before the exam.

Take advantage of open lab time. Have a partner set up specimens and quiz you over the material and then you quiz them. Even just stopping by the lab for a quick look at the organisms we are studying and quizzing your self should help reinforce the material. Repetition is the key to taking information out of short term memory and storing it into your long term memory.

Come in and see me about concepts that are not understood.

LINKS TO OTHER SITES
I take no responsibility for content on these websites
Study Guides and Strategies
Study Methods
Methods of Study
Study Skills Self Help Information
11 Free Tips: Improve Studying Results
 Student Academic Services - Study Skills Library
Helpful Study Skills Links
Cramming Tips (ONLY AS A LAST RESORT!)
UT Learning Center
 Center for Learning and Teaching at Cornell University

You're visitor no.
 Hit Counter
Reset on 10/15/2006

Mr. Todd Watkins
Science Department
James Bowie High School
2101 Highbank Drive
Arlington, TX 76018
 Email: wwatkins@aisd.net

©Todd Watkins 2006 "All Rights Reserved."
October 15, 2006