Learning how to be a student in the classroom and at home is vital for success. If there is a weakness in study skills, there is often a disconnect between a students intellectual abilities and his/her output. Learning how to “do school” Is empowering and exciting for a student. These skill sets are also applicable far beyond an academic environment. The following strategies are taught as needed based on an individual’s teaming profile:
- Stress and Time Management — Students learn to: (1) utilize visual calendars and time organizers to keep track of long term assignments, due dates, chores, and activities, (2) create checkilsts and to do lists estimating how tong tasks will take, (3) break long assignments into chunks and assign time frames for completing each chunk, (4) Use management software and (5) recognize stress responses and develop various relaxation techniques to counter these.
- Test Taking — Students learn to: (1) create effective study guides for different types of tests, (2) correctly interpret test questions, (3) answer questions in a strategic order, (4) recognize and analyze test information while studying and (5) remain focused and calm in a testing environment
- Listening Skills – Students learn the importance of and techniques for effective listening. They also learn to recognize common roadblocks and ways to self-monitor during a conversation andior lecture/presentation.
- Textbook Reading Comprehension and Retention — Students team a variety of active reading strategies, such as SQ4R, to approach textbook reading. Many students need a systematic approach to improve reading comprehension. Taking into account how information is processed, we apply basic memory principles. We use a slower, more methodical approach to work the material into long-term memory in small chunks using organization, elaboration, rehearsal, feedback etc.
- Improving Concentration and Memory – Students develop self-monitoring techniques for attention and mnemonic strategies for retention and recall of information.
- Control of the Study Environment – Students will learn how to set up a study space that is conducive to focus and productivity in accordance with their individual learning profiles.
- Note Taking — Students develop a note-taking approach that lends to effective test taking, paper writing and presentation requirements. Students learn the benefit of editing and reviewing notes for greater analysis, retention, and recall of subject matter.