Study HabitsStudy Habits

Successful students have good study Successful students have good study habits.  They apply these habits to all habits.  They apply these habits to all

of of their classes.  Read about each study their classes.  Read about each study habit.  Work to develop any study habit.  Work to develop any study

habit habit you do not have.you do not have.

Successful Learners

Study HabitsStudy Habits

Try not to do too much studying at one time.Try not to do too much studying at one time.If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective.  Space tire and your studying will not be very effective.  Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time.  the work you have to do over shorter periods of time.  Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.  Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy. 

Plan specific times for studying.  Plan specific times for studying.  Study time is any time you are doing something Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork.  It can be completing assigned related to schoolwork.  It can be completing assigned reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for a test.  Schedule specific times throughout the week a test.  Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time. for your study time.

Successful Learners

Study HabitsStudy Habits Try to study at the same times each day.  Try to study at the same times each day. 

Studying at the same times each day establishes a Studying at the same times each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating.  When a scheduled study like sleeping and eating.  When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying. prepared to begin studying.

Set specific goals for their study times.  Set specific goals for their study times.  Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress.  Simply sitting down to study has little progress.  Simply sitting down to study has little value.  You must be very clear about what you want value.  You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study times. to accomplish during your study times.

Successful Learners

Study HabitsStudy Habits Start studying when planned.  Start studying when planned. 

You may delay starting your studying because you You may delay starting your studying because you don’t like an assignment or think it is too hard.  A don’t like an assignment or think it is too hard.  A delay in studying is called “procrastination.”  If you delay in studying is called “procrastination.”  If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to.  You may to get everything done when you need to.  You may rush to make up the time you wasted getting rush to make up the time you wasted getting started, resulting in careless work and errors. started, resulting in careless work and errors.

Work on the assignment they find most Work on the assignment they find most difficult first.  difficult first.  Your most difficult assignment will require the most Your most difficult assignment will require the most effort.  Start with your most difficult assignment effort.  Start with your most difficult assignment since this is when you have the most mental energy. since this is when you have the most mental energy.

Successful Learners

Study HabitsStudy Habits Review their notes before beginning an Review their notes before beginning an

assignment.  assignment.  Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are doing an assignment correctly.  Also, your notes may doing an assignment correctly.  Also, your notes may include information that will help you complete an include information that will help you complete an assignment. assignment.

Tell their friends not to call them during their study Tell their friends not to call them during their study times.  times.  Two study problems can occur if your friends call you Two study problems can occur if your friends call you during your study times.  First, your work is interrupted.  It during your study times.  First, your work is interrupted.  It is not that easy to get back to what you were doing.  is not that easy to get back to what you were doing.  Second, your friends may talk about things that will Second, your friends may talk about things that will distract you from what you need to do.  Here’s a simple distract you from what you need to do.  Here’s a simple idea – turn off your mobile phone during your study times. idea – turn off your mobile phone during your study times.

Successful Learners

Study HabitsStudy Habits Call another student when they have difficulty Call another student when they have difficulty

with an assignment.  with an assignment. 

This is a case where “two heads may be better than This is a case where “two heads may be better than one.” one.”

Review their schoolwork over the weekend.  Review their schoolwork over the weekend. 

Yes, weekends should be fun time.  But there is also Yes, weekends should be fun time.  But there is also time to do some review.  This will help you be ready time to do some review.  This will help you be ready to go on Monday morning when another school week to go on Monday morning when another school week begins. begins.

Successful Learners

Preparing to StudyPreparing to Study Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need

it?it?

Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it when when

you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must

share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so that that

you know when you can use it.you know when you can use it.

Is my Study Place free from interruptions?Is my Study Place free from interruptions?

It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may

have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or take have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or take the the

phone off the hook.phone off the hook. Successful Learners

Preparing to StudyPreparing to Study Is my Study Place free from distractions?Is my Study Place free from distractions?

Research shows that most students study best in a quiet Research shows that most students study best in a quiet

environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves

your mood, keep the volume low.your mood, keep the volume low.

Does my Study Place contain all the study materials Does my Study Place contain all the study materials I need?I need?

Be sure your Study Place includes Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and

supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and and

whatever else you might need. If you use a computer for whatever else you might need. If you use a computer for your your

schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place .schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place .Successful Learners

Preparing to StudyPreparing to Study Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or

table?table?

While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a

desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need.

Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter. Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter.

Does my Study Place have enough storage space?Does my Study Place have enough storage space?

You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure

you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your

desktop or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials desktop or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials

that can get in the way. that can get in the way.

Successful Learners

Preparing to StudyPreparing to Study Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?

A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain

that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too

comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which

you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.

Does my Study Place have enough light?Does my Study Place have enough light?

The amount of light you need depends on what you are The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. doing.

The important thing is that you can clearly see what you The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need need

to see without any strain or discomfort.to see without any strain or discomfort.

Successful Learners

Preparing to StudyPreparing to Study Does my Study Place have a comfortable Does my Study Place have a comfortable

temperature?temperature?

If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it If it

is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. unclear.

Select a temperature at which your mind and body function Select a temperature at which your mind and body function

best. best.

Having a good Study Place is Having a good Study Place is important for good studying.important for good studying.

Successful Learners

Managing your TimeManaging your Time

There are only so many hours in a day, a week, There are only so many hours in a day, a week,

and a term. You cannot change the number of and a term. You cannot change the number of

hours, but you can decide how to best use hours, but you can decide how to best use

them. To be successful in school, you must them. To be successful in school, you must

carefully manage your study time. Here is a carefully manage your study time. Here is a

strategy for doing this.strategy for doing this.

Successful Learners

Managing your TimeManaging your Time At the beginning of a term, prepare a Term At the beginning of a term, prepare a Term

Calendar. Update it as the term goes on. Here Calendar. Update it as the term goes on. Here is what to do to prepare a Term Calendar.is what to do to prepare a Term Calendar.

1.1. Record your school assignments with their due dates Record your school assignments with their due dates and your scheduled tests. and your scheduled tests.

2.2. Record your planned school activities. Record your planned school activities.

3.3. Record your known out-of-school activities.Record your known out-of-school activities.

Successful Learners

Managing your TimeManaging your Time Each Sunday before a school week, prepare a Each Sunday before a school week, prepare a

Weekly Schedule. Update it as the week goes on. Weekly Schedule. Update it as the week goes on. Here is what to do to prepare a Here is what to do to prepare a Weekly ScheduleWeekly Schedule..

1.1. Record your daily classes. Record your daily classes.

2.2. Enter things to be done for the coming week from your Enter things to be done for the coming week from your Term Calendar. Term Calendar.

3.3. Review your class notes from the previous week to see if Review your class notes from the previous week to see if you need to add any school activities. you need to add any school activities.

4.4. Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be involved during the week. involved during the week.

5.5. Be sure to include times for completing assignments, Be sure to include times for completing assignments, working on projects, and studying for tests. These times working on projects, and studying for tests. These times may be during the school day, right after school, may be during the school day, right after school, evenings, and weekends.evenings, and weekends.

Successful Learners

Managing your TimeManaging your Time Each evening before a school day, prepare a Each evening before a school day, prepare a

Daily Organiser for the next day. Place a √ next Daily Organiser for the next day. Place a √ next to each thing to do as you accomplish it. Here to each thing to do as you accomplish it. Here is what to do to prepare a is what to do to prepare a Daily OrganiserDaily Organiser. .

1.1. Enter the things to do for the coming day from your Enter the things to do for the coming day from your Weekly Schedule. Weekly Schedule.

2.2. Enter the things that still need to be accomplished Enter the things that still need to be accomplished from your Daily Organiser from the previous day. from your Daily Organiser from the previous day.

3.3. Review your class notes for the day just completed Review your class notes for the day just completed to see if you need to add any school activities. to see if you need to add any school activities.

4.4. Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be involved the next day.involved the next day.

Successful Learners

Managing your TimeManaging your Time Your Weekly Schedule should have more Your Weekly Schedule should have more

detail than your Term Calendar. detail than your Term Calendar. Your Daily Organiser should have more detail Your Daily Organiser should have more detail

than your Weekly Schedule. than your Weekly Schedule.

Using a Term Calendar, a Weekly Schedule, Using a Term Calendar, a Weekly Schedule, and a Daily Organiser will help you make the and a Daily Organiser will help you make the best use of your time.best use of your time.

Successful Learners