Study skills

We are having a mini exam for the purpose of learning some study and memory skills. There are lots of ways of studying and we are exploring some of them and practicing them together as a class. Here are a few things we have discussed:

• UNDERSTAND If you understand what you have learnt you will remember it and be able to use it. Go through your notes and highlight parts you are unsure on. Exams do encourage you to check if you have understood what you have been taught. Ask yourself possible test questions and go and get help from videos, books, your teacher, or your friends. 
• TALK When we talk about learning it forces us to think about how to explain things. It is so helpful to study with other people. It also helps us identify information we missed or didn't understand. Use notes from what you have learnt and come up with possible test questions to discuss. We noticed today that when we came up with possible test questions, other people came up with ones we hadn't even thought of.
• WRITE and DRAW. Writing helps you learn how to express what you have learnt and it cements the learning in your head. We remember pictures well so drawing is also really helpful. Highlighting important information or using different colours for text can also work well.

YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE PATHWAYS IN YOUR BRAIN so it is easy to remember and use information. If you focus on understanding, talk lots about your learning, and write or draw things about your learning you will turn pathways into highways!

We have looked at how we can create visual images in our minds and use acronyms and mnemonics to remember information.

Parents, if you have any tips for studying please pop them in the comments section below.