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We often spend a tremendous amount of time working to learn things, but often neglect looking at our entire process of learning. How do we know that the method we are using is the most effective for us? If it is important to learn new things, should we not find the best and most efficient way to complete this task. Think about it this way, if you are in sixth grade and it takes you fifteen hours a week to study and you are getting lower As. Would it not make sense to find method of studying that is more efficient, meaning you would learn the same amount in less time? You could take that time into making sure that you could get high As. Study skills are the methods we take to input information. Just as there are different learning styles, there are different study skills that work for some students, but not others. Students need to learn what works best for them, this usually comes down to trial and error, but after you have a good handle on it, it becomes a breeze as long as you stay consistent. We all need to remember that study skills are not just for students. Adults who do not have a process should take notice of this section as well. No two students learn in exactly the same way, but there are broad categories of learning styles.

The following worksheets contain a set of questions whose answers will help classify the primary (and possibly secondary) learning style of each student. Once you know how they learn, you will have an opportunity to be a more effective teacher by tailoring your lessons, worksheets, and quizzes in a way that your students will more easily absorb. These worksheets will help you get to know and understand yourself better as a learner. You can grow infinitely as a students from taking your time with this section. Each set of worksheets also contains tips on how to maximize a student's learning style by presenting information in a way they can more easily assimilate.

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Printable Study Skills Worksheets

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Understanding Your Learning Style

Everyone is special and unique with different ways of doing things, including different learning styles. A specific style of learning indicates how your brain gathers and processes information.

Visual Learners

"Seeing is believing" and visual learners typically learn by what they are able to see or visualize. Approximately 65 percent of the population are visual learners. People who learn better visually usually like to have front row seats, whether in the classroom or at a sporting event or movie theatre for the best view.

Tips for the Visual Learner

Use charts, maps, posters, and videos whenever possible to study. Watch the person speaking and observe their body language and facial expressions. It’s usually best to study alone in a quiet atmosphere.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners are very good listeners who prefer hearing materials rather than reading it.

Kinesthetic or Tactile Learners

Kinesthetic or tactile learners absorb information through the sense of touch, physical activity, and experimental projects. These individuals prefer the hands-on approach to learning new things. Roughly five percent of the population are kinesthetic or tactile learners that study best in situations that require them to be active in some manner.

Tips for the Tactile Kinesthetic Learner

Get comfortable when studying such as lounging in a chair or comfy couch. Kinesthetic learners are probably the only ones who can study effectively by laying across the bed.

What Type of Learner Are You?

The following chart will help you discover your individual learning style. Answer the questions in the far left column and then see which of the responses best fit that situation.

Strategies for Taking Good Notes

Often, students don’t realize how important it is to take good notes. Taking good notes is an acquired skill that can serve as an important tool for understanding key concepts and preparing for tests.

Cornell’s 5Rs of Note Taking

Use the worksheet at the end of this chapter to use the Cornell system, or divide your notebook paper into 5 sections as shown on the worksheet.

Mind Map Method

Mind mapping is a creative technique that can help note takers quickly identify the structure of a subject and understand how all of the pieces fit together.

Periodical Method

Using this simple method is excellent for reviewing main subjects and key ideas. Divide a sheet of paper into three columns.

Interactive Notes

Sometimes referred to as the “BFA System” (Before, During, and After), interactive note taking is a simple way to process reading assignments and develop ideas for easier recollection.

Reading for Changes

This method of note taking is when the student looks for changes or shifts in the text to help prompt memory recall, and is probably more useful when reading fiction.

Title Talk

This is an easy pre-reading method of note-taking that teaches students how to create their own ideas and predictions by linking the title with the text. Write down the title of the book or chapter in the center of your page.

Cornell 5R System

A concept outline of the Cornell Note Method.

Episodic Notes

A template to help you work through it.

Interactive Notes Template

Make sure to turn background printing on.

What’s the BIG Idea?

List the reasons why you thought this was the main idea of the book or chapter. Include relevant page numbers.

Study Methods That Work

Creating acronyms and acrostics are great strategies to help you remember information because they offer cues for facts and ideas that need to be recalled later.

Location Method

Use this method to memorize certain items on a list by imagining where each one is located in a specific location such as a room, closet, or cupboard.

PRWR Method – Preview, Read, Write, Recite

Repeating things over and over is a highly effective way to commit information to memory. Read out loud to yourself or in a study group.

Study Trees/Webs

Using a study tree or web that branches out is an excellent way to fill in the gaps for areas that you have not memorized yet. This is a good study method for scientific or technical subjects where you need to know a lot of information for just a few main points.

Flashcards and Note Review

Flashcards are excellent tools for memory recall that can be used in a variety of ways. They are great for studying just about any topic including spelling words, maps, places, and facts, as well as multiple-choice or short essay exams.

Study Groups

A study group can be very helpful when preparing for exams, reports, or class discussions. Some students are reluctant to ask questions in a large classroom setting but find it much easier in a small study group.

Practice Exams

"Practice makes perfect" and like homework review, practice exams are recommended when preparing for tests that involve problem-solving techniques for classes like mathematics, science, physics, etc. They are also good when getting ready for multiple choice exams.

Getting Ready for the Big Test

Set up your study schedule based on how much time you have before the actual test, whether it's a couple of days, weeks, or months. Once you have a schedule, make sure you stick to it! Last minute cramming will only increase your anxiety which could make you more forgetful.

What to Do During the Test

Always read the instructions carefully. Although you may have taken similar tests, never assume you know how each one is going to go. If you are unsure about anything, ask the teacher before proceeding.

Strategies for Specific Types of Test

Be prepared by bringing whatever materials are needed such as pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, etc.

Tips for True-False Tests

Always read the ENTIRE question or sentence before answering.

Where to Study

Most students find its best to study in the same place each day such as the bedroom, sitting at a table at the library or in the family kitchen, on a comfortable couch in the living room, or at a classroom desk in study hall.

Tips for Take Home Exams

Start working on the take home exam right away to give yourself plenty of time. Don't wait until the last minute to try and complete it.

Tips for Oral Exams

Prepare for an oral exam the same way you would for a written exam by studying in advance.

Tips for Multiple-Choice Tests

Study well in advance so that you are familiar with keywords and phrases.

How to Calm Your Nerves Before and During the Test

Some students have extreme test anxiety that can actually interfere with their performance on exam day. Reasons for this may be pressure to perform well, previously failed exams, or the fear of failure.

After the Test

Take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on a job well done!

Homework Box

Use a Homework Box to keep all of your supplies in one place so they are ready when you are. This will prevent you from having to stop in the middle of studying to find something. Grabbing your homework box should become part of your daily routine when it's time to study.