STUDY SKILLSSTUDY SKILLSFOR SUCCESSFOR SUCCESS

Ms. Dawn RobertsonMs. Dawn Robertson

Guidance CounselorGuidance Counselor

HSMSE SCHEDULEHSMSE SCHEDULE Alternating A/B Day ScheduleAlternating A/B Day Schedule Math and Enrichment EVERY DAYMath and Enrichment EVERY DAY

Bell ScheduleBell Schedule8:00 - 9:258:00 - 9:259:30 - 10:559:30 - 10:5511:00 - 11:4511:00 - 11:4511:50 - 12:3511:50 - 12:3512:40- 2:0512:40- 2:052:10 – 3:352:10 – 3:35

99thth 1010thth 1111thth 1212thth

MathMath Algebra/Algebra/GeometryGeometry

TrigonomeTrigonometrytry

Calculus I Calculus I & II& II

Calculus IIICalculus III

ElectiveElective

ScienceScience BiologyBiology ChemistryChemistry PhysicsPhysics ElectiveElective

EngineeringEngineering Intro to Intro to Engineering Engineering

Design Design

Civil Civil EngineerinEngineerin

g& g& ArchitecturArchitectur

ee

Digital Digital ElectronicsElectronics

POEPOE

Or Or

Mt. SinaiMt. Sinai

Thesis Thesis Project Project

(PLTW)(PLTW)

Or Or

Mt. SinaiMt. Sinai

HistoryHistory World World Civilizations I Civilizations I

World World CivilizationCivilization

s IIs II

American American HistoryHistory

Economics Economics

GovernmentGovernment

EnglishEnglish English I & IIEnglish I & II English English III& IVIII& IV

English V & English V & VI VI

English VII English VII & VIII & VIII

Physical Physical EducationEducation

PE I & IIPE I & II PE III & IVPE III & IV

Health & Health & MusicMusic

PE IV & VPE IV & V PE VI & VIIPE VI & VII

LOTELOTE German I & II German I & II or Spanish III or Spanish III

& IV& IV

German III German III & IV or & IV or

Spanish V Spanish V & VI& VI

German V German V & VI or & VI or CCNY CCNY

Spanish Spanish

Optional Optional ElectiveElective

The The PermanentPermanent TranscriptTranscript

Grades will remain on transcript for Grades will remain on transcript for academic careeracademic career

Obtain records from middle school of Obtain records from middle school of any regents exams taken and high any regents exams taken and high

school credits earned- check records school credits earned- check records for accuracyfor accuracy

Talk to middle school guidance Talk to middle school guidance counselor about transcriptcounselor about transcript

ACADEMIC ACADEMIC CHALLENGES:CHALLENGES:

Time ManagementTime Management 8-4 school day8-4 school day A/B dayA/B day HomeworkHomework

Ego ManagementEgo Management Academic rigor Academic rigor Natural talent Natural talent

WHAT WORKS FOR WHAT WORKS FOR YOU???YOU???

Develop a system to help keep you Develop a system to help keep you organized.organized.

BINDERSBINDERS A Day BinderA Day Binder B Day BinderB Day Binder Enrichment folder/notebookEnrichment folder/notebook

NOTEBOOKSNOTEBOOKS Folders Folders

BUY A STUDENT PLANNER BUY A STUDENT PLANNER ASAP!ASAP!

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

Keep all assignments in one place.Keep all assignments in one place.

Don’t depend on the web, but use Don’t depend on the web, but use the school website to double the school website to double check assignments.check assignments.

Try to do all homework the night Try to do all homework the night you get it.you get it.

TIME MANAGEMENTTIME MANAGEMENT Consider creating a HW schedule, in which you Consider creating a HW schedule, in which you

structure your time to help keep you focused. structure your time to help keep you focused. Spend no more than 45 minutes on a HW Spend no more than 45 minutes on a HW

assignment .assignment . If you are struggling with the assignment, write what you If you are struggling with the assignment, write what you

can, displaying your process.can, displaying your process. Write questions and be specific about what you do not Write questions and be specific about what you do not

understand.understand. Breaks: No more than 15 minutes!!!!Breaks: No more than 15 minutes!!!! No multi-tasking!!! websites, computer games, No multi-tasking!!! websites, computer games,

phone calls, IM, Internet surfing, T.V., e-mail phone calls, IM, Internet surfing, T.V., e-mail friends, etc. Focus on the assignment ONLY- and friends, etc. Focus on the assignment ONLY- and then have fun when you are finished!then have fun when you are finished!

Listen to music, only if it helps you to focus, not if Listen to music, only if it helps you to focus, not if it’s distraction.it’s distraction.

Study at least 2 days before an exam.Study at least 2 days before an exam.

HSMSE Support ServicesHSMSE Support Services

Progress ReportsProgress Reports Peer tutorsPeer tutors

Lunch and after-school tutoringLunch and after-school tutoring Advisory GroupsAdvisory Groups

CounselingCounseling

Created by Linda Created by Linda LeechLeech

Academic Advisor - Academic Advisor - Student Support Student Support

ServicesServicesMinnesota State Minnesota State

University, MankatoUniversity, Mankato3/33/3

Successful Note Taking

Why take notes…Why take notes…

Notes provide an outline of the Notes provide an outline of the main points and factsmain points and facts

Improves your retention of the Improves your retention of the materialmaterial

Helps you master the subjectHelps you master the subject Provides you with a study guide Provides you with a study guide

to help you prepare for teststo help you prepare for tests

Why you should Why you should improve improve

your note-taking your note-taking skillsskills

You’ll be more alert in boring classesYou’ll be more alert in boring classes You’ll learn more in each classYou’ll learn more in each class Time in class will be more meaningfulTime in class will be more meaningful You’re creating outlines to study fromYou’re creating outlines to study from You’re developing a life skillYou’re developing a life skill

Memory tends to Memory tends to fade soon after classfade soon after class

Ways to improve your memory:Ways to improve your memory:Review your notes immediately if possibleReview your notes immediately if possibleReview all notes within 24 hours or better Review all notes within 24 hours or better yet, before going to sleep that nightyet, before going to sleep that nightRead your notes out loudRead your notes out loudReview your notes regularly, not just right Review your notes regularly, not just right before a testbefore a testReview your notes with a study buddyReview your notes with a study buddyLong term memory is what counts when you Long term memory is what counts when you are taking a test and in your future careerare taking a test and in your future career

Reviewing your notesReviewing your notes Actors memorize lines Actors memorize lines

for a play by reciting for a play by reciting their lines out loud their lines out loud repetitivelyrepetitively

Know when to Know when to efficiently use your efficiently use your short term memory short term memory vs. long termvs. long term

By reviewing your By reviewing your notes you will notes you will hopefully see the hopefully see the structure being builtstructure being built

Cornell System of Note Cornell System of Note takingtaking

Draw a vertical line top to bottom, Draw a vertical line top to bottom, 1 ½ inches from the left edge of the 1 ½ inches from the left edge of the paperpaper

Write your notes to the right of the Write your notes to the right of the lineline

Reserve the area to the left of the Reserve the area to the left of the line for key word clues & sample line for key word clues & sample questionsquestions

Fill in the left-hand column when Fill in the left-hand column when you review your notesyou review your notes

Highlight the main ideasHighlight the main ideas Show the relationship among the Show the relationship among the

main ideamain idea Organize minor points, related Organize minor points, related

details, facts, and examplesdetails, facts, and examples

Give yourself plenty of room here

Possible test question

Review map on pg 12 in textbook

Jot down questions you may have

Name

Class

Date

ListeningListening Be alert in class and participateBe alert in class and participate Listen for material not in the textListen for material not in the text Don’t call it quits early! The final 10 Don’t call it quits early! The final 10

min may cover as much as first 40min may cover as much as first 40 If you disagree, don’t tune out!If you disagree, don’t tune out! Learn your instructors signalsLearn your instructors signals Instructors often emphasize main Instructors often emphasize main

pointspoints Listen with 2 purposes in mindListen with 2 purposes in mind

To learn the material presentedTo learn the material presented Identify test questionsIdentify test questions

Listening continued…Listening continued… If you take notes constantly, you may If you take notes constantly, you may

record all the important points but be too record all the important points but be too busy to think about thembusy to think about them

The human brain can process incoming The human brain can process incoming spoken info about 400 words per min and spoken info about 400 words per min and people speak less than 100 wpmpeople speak less than 100 wpm

Before you write evaluate importanceBefore you write evaluate importance Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor to Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor to

slow down or repeatslow down or repeat Capture the main point and condenseCapture the main point and condense

When instructors talk fast When instructors talk fast or you can’t understand or you can’t understand

them…them… Take more time to prepare for classTake more time to prepare for class Be willing to make choicesBe willing to make choices Exchange copies of notes w/classmatesExchange copies of notes w/classmates Leave empty space to fill inLeave empty space to fill in See instructor after class and show what you missedSee instructor after class and show what you missed Use a tape recorder (w/permission)Use a tape recorder (w/permission) Take notes on your text leaving lots of room for Take notes on your text leaving lots of room for

lecture notes to be added in during classlecture notes to be added in during class Go to the lecture againGo to the lecture again Learn shorthand and abbreviationsLearn shorthand and abbreviations Ask questionsAsk questions Ask the instructor to slow downAsk the instructor to slow down

Take shortcuts whenever possible…

Drop out nonessential words, like “a”, “the”, etc.

TidbitsTidbits Noting your own ideas is a Noting your own ideas is a

good way to maintain your good way to maintain your concentrationconcentration

Highlight your notes or Highlight your notes or use symbols, underline, use symbols, underline, different colors, etcdifferent colors, etc

Underline, or put a star in Underline, or put a star in the margin for material the margin for material you’ll be tested onyou’ll be tested on

Write down assignments Write down assignments in your planner right awayin your planner right away

Use post it notes to write Use post it notes to write down any questions for down any questions for the teacher or your tutor.the teacher or your tutor.