Academy Adventure Week: The Strong CORE of Learning

[fblike] Hannah Rodgers

Coming from a high school where you excelled, most Academy students did not need academic reinforcement (studying) to be successful. But here at the Gatton Academy, this might just have to change. Your classes will be more challenging; your projects will require attention; and with you in charge of your own free time, motivation to sit down and put your attention to coursework might be difficult. Developing a healthy study routine is key! Here are some tips to help you get started:

Collect – Material isn’t just going to fall from the sky and plop right into your hands. Go get it. Class attendance is mandatory at the Academy and you can use your class time wisely to TAKE NOTES. Notes are sacred. Take them well.

Organize – Plan ahead! Whether that means setting alarms to remind you to review your notes, or allotting time each day after dinner to make notecards with a classmate, arrange to maximize your learning potential. For example, if a teacher has PowerPoints, print them off beforehand and look them over to prepare yourself for the day’s lesson. These are good study tools for later.

Rehearse – Repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, repe- Oh hey. There are many ways to get information to stick, but one of the best is, you got it, repetition. Go through vocabulary note cards after class, shuffle, and then repeat again later. Or rewrite your notes on another page. For presentations, or for auditory learners, say your piece five times to a mirror, then turn around and try to recite it.

Educate – Finding feedback to your strategies is important. If what you’re doing doesn’t work for you, don’t just give up! Talk to your peers or an Academy staff member for suggestions. Also, your teachers have Office Hours to talk with students. Utilize this resource! Your teachers may know more successful study habits than you do. Allow them to critic your methods and offer advice.

The most important thing to remember about study habits is that they should be tailored to YOUR individual needs. If it’s not working, don’t give up! There’s a method for everyone.