TIPS FOR GOOD STUDYING HABITS

1. Set a daily study time. Avoid procrastination and prevent a pileup of work.

2. Use an assignment notebook. Know what each assignment is and how to do it before you leave your classes.

3. Predict how much time you need for each assignment. Time yourself and work hard to beat your time for each lesson.

4. Time how long it takes you to read 5 pages. This will help you estimate the total time needed. Reread difficult sections and reflect on what you read.

5. Study charts and diagrams. They can be great shortcuts to understanding.

6. Review reading assignments before class. Be ready for class discussion or a quiz.

7. Every time you study, take 10 minutes reviewing previous work. Reviewing is the secret to a long-term memory and makes studying for a major test much easier.

8. Study during the day if possible.

9. After studying about 40 minutes, take a 5-minute refresher break.

10. Set a stopping time at night. This encourages you to work hard and concentrate.

11. Don’t cram hours before a test. Study in half-hour blocks over a few days.

12. Schedule time daily to read, think, reflect, and review. Make connections and associations in your mind between new material and previously learned information.

adapted from A Guidebook for Teaching Skills and Motivation, Second Edition by Bernice Jensen Bragstad and Sharyn Mueller Stumpf.  copyright 1987