Study Partner

One great way to stay on target and earn better grades is to pair up with a study partner. A study partner will help you in several ways.

1. A study partner will help you remember a due date or the date of an exam. Never forget another test! Share calendars with your study partner and both of you will know when a big project or paper is due.
2. Your study partner can share flashcards with you and quiz you before a test. Create your paper cards and meet up to study or use online flashcards together.
3. Two heads are better than one, so your study partner may think of practice essay questions that you didn't think of.
4. Study partners can switch papers and pre-grade each other before assignments are turned in. Proofread together and share your thoughts and ideas.
5. A study partner can have your back if you get sick on the day when your paper is due. Arrange ahead of time to pick up and turn in papers for each other in the event of an emergency.
6. A study partner will understand some methods or problems that you don't. You will be able to explain some problems to your partner in return. It's a trade-off.
7. Your partner may be able to help you with your research skills. Meet your partner in the library and learn to use the resources together--then share what you know to help each other out. For example, one partner can learn to search databases while the other learns to find books on the shelves.
8. You can benefit from sharing your strengths. One may be better with grammar, while the other is better with numbers.
9. Study partners motivate each other and reduce the potential for procrastination.
10. Study partners can be there if you forget important tools--like a calculator, dictionary, colored pencils, or notebook paper.

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How to Study Spanish

Some Spanish words sound just like other words, and they're spelled pretty much the same, too. The only difference is that an accent distinguishes one from the other. The image above shows a list of these words. To memorize them, just print up a list of words without accents.

Then, write in your own accent marks in freehand, as you say the meaning out loud. This is a good combination of visual, auditory, and tactile learning.

More Spanish Homework Tips:

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5 Bad Study Habits

Have you ever wondered how you can bomb a test after studying for hours? A poor test result after many hours of faithful studying is a real confidence buster!

If this happens to you, it’s possible that your current study habits are failing you! But you can turn it around.

The process of learning is still a little mysterious, but studies do show that the most effective process for studying involves highly active behavior over a period of time. In other words, to study effectively, you must read, draw, compare, memorize, and test yourself over time.

The following study habits are least helpful when used alone.

1. Taking linear notes

Linear notes are lecture notes that students take when they attempt to write down every word of a lecture. Linear notes occur when a student tries to write every word a lecturer says in sequence, like writing a rambling essay with no paragraphs.

You may be wondering: How can it be bad to capture every word of a lecture?

It’s not bad to capture every word of a lecture, but it is bad to think you’re studying effectively if you don’t mess with your linear notes in some way. You must revisit your linear notes and make relationships from one section to another. You should draw arrows from one related word or concept to another, and make a lot of notes and examples in the margins.

Solution: To reinforce information and to make it sink in, you must also recreate all your class notes in another form. You have to revisit the information and put it all into a chart or shrinking?outline.

Right before every ?new lecture, you should review your notes from days past and predict the next day’s material. You should reflect and make relationships between key concepts before you sit down for? a new lecture.

You should prepare for your exams by creating a fill-in-the-blank test from your notes.?

2. Highlighting the book

Are you guilty of highlighter abuse? Reckless highlighting is the root cause for many bad test grades!

Bright colors on a page make a big visual impact, so it seems like a lot of good studying is going on when you read and highlight.

Highlighting does make important information stand out on a page, but that doesn’t do you? much good if you don’t do something active with that information. Reading highlighted words again and again is not active enough.

Solution: Use the information you highlight to create a practice exam. Put highlighted words onto flashcards and practice until you know every term and concept. Identify key concepts and use them to create practice essay questions.

You should also develop a color-coded highlighting strategy. Highlight new words in one color and new concepts in another, for example. You could also highlight separate topics according to a color code for more impact.

3. Rewriting notes

Students rewrite notes under the assumption that repetition is good for memorization. Repetition is valuable as a first step, but it’s not that effective all alone.

You should rewrite your notes in the shrinking outline method, but follow up with self-testing methods.

Solution: Switch class notes with a classmate and create a practice exam from his/her notes. Exchange practice exams to test each other. Repeat this process a few times until you are comfortable with the material.

4. Rereading the chapter

Students are often encouraged to re-read a chapter on the night before an exam to reinforce what they’ve learned. Rereading is a good tactic as a last step.

Just like the other study habits mentioned above, rereading is only one part of a puzzle.

Solution: Make sure to use active steps like charts, shrinking outlines, and practice tests and follow up with rereading your chapter.

5. Memorizing definitions

Students spend a lot of time using flashcards to memorize definitions. This is a good study method, as long as it’s a first step in the process of learning. As students progress through the grade levels, they are expected to progress in cognitive skills.

Once you've exited middle school, you can't expect to do well on an exam by memorizing the definitions to terms. You must learn to memorize a definition and then define the significance of the new vocabulary terms you encounter. If you're in high school or college, you should be prepared to explain how terms are relevant in the subject, compare them to similar concepts, and explain why they matter at all.

Here's a real life example:

1. In middle school you might learn to memorize the definition of propaganda.
2. In high school you might encounter this as a term, but you'll need to memorize the definition and learn to recognize propaganda materials from World War II and other times.
3. In college you should be able to define propaganda, come up with examples from the past and from today, and explain how propaganda has affected different societies at different times.

Solution: Once you have memorized the definitions of your terms, give yourself a short essay practice test. Make sure you are able to define a term and explain why it is significant. Be able to compare and contrast your term to something or someone of similar significance.

The act of testing and retesting yourself somehow makes the information stick.

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10 Great Study Habits

It is never too late to develop great study habits. If you're starting a new school year, or you just want to improve your grades and school performance, take a look at this list of good habits and start making some changes in your routine.

1. Write Down Every Assignment

The most logical place to write down your assignments is in a planner, but you might prefer to keep a to-do list in a simple notebook or in your cell phone note pad. It doesn't really matter what tool you use, but it is absolutely essential to your success to write down every single assignment, due date, test date, and task.

2. Remember to Bring Your Homework to School

It sounds simple enough, but many F's come from students forgetting to bring a perfectly good paper to school with them. Does your homework have a home? Is there a special place where you always put your paperwork each night? To avoid forgetting your homework, you must establish a strong homework routine with a special homework station where you work each night. Then you must get in the habit of putting your homework where it belongs right after you finish it, whether this is in a special folder on your desk or in your backpack.

3. Communicate With Your Teacher

Every successful relationship is built upon clear communication. A student-teacher relationship is no different. Miscommunication is another one of those factors that can cause bad grades, despite good efforts on your part. At the end of the day, make sure you understand every assignment that's expected of you. Imagine getting a bad grade on a 5-page paper because you didn't understand the difference between an expository essay and a personal essay.

Be sure to ask questions and find out what format you should use when you write a paper or what type of questions might appear on your history exam. The more questions you ask, the more prepared you'll be.

4. Organize With Color

Devise your own color-coding system to keep your assignments and your thoughts organized. You may select a single color for each class (like science or history) and use that color for your folder, your highlighters, your sticky notes, and your pens. You'll be surprised to discover how much strong organization skills can change your life!

Color-coding is also a tool to use when conducting research. For example, you should always keep several colors of sticky flags on hand when you're reading a book for school. Assign a specific color the every topic of interest. Place a flag on a page containing information you will need to study or to cite. It works like magic!

5. Establish a Study Zone at Home

Take the time to assess your individual style and your real needs and plan for the perfect study place. After all, if you can’t concentrate, you certainly can’t expect to learn very well. Students are different. Some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions when they study, but others actually study better listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks.

Find a place to study that fits your specific personality and learning style. Then stock your study space with school supplies that will help you avoid last-minute emergencies.

6. Prepare Yourself for Test Days

You know that it's important to study for test days, right? But there are other things you should consider in addition to the actual material that the test will cover. What if you show up for test day and the room is freezing cold? For many students, this would cause enough of a distraction to interrupt concentration. That leads to bad choices and bad answers. Plan ahead for heat or cold by layering your clothing.

And what happens when you spend so much time on one essay question that you don't have enough time to finish the exam? Another way to prepare for test day is to take a watch and be mindful of time management.

7. Know Your Dominant Learning Style

Many students will struggle in a subject without understanding why. Sometimes this is because students don't understand how to study in a way that matches their brain style.

Auditory learners are those who learn best through hearing things. Visual learners retain more information when they use visual aids, and tactile learners benefit by doing hands-on projects.

Every student should examine and evaluate their habits and their natural tendencies and decide how they might be able to improve their study habits by tapping into their personal strengths.

8. Take Fabulous Notes

There are a few tricks to taking fabulous notes that really help when it comes to studying. If you’re visual person, you should make as many doodles on your paper as you can. Useful doodles, that is. As soon as you realize that once topic relates to another, comes before another, is the opposite of another, or has any kind of connection to another—draw a picture that makes sense to you. Sometimes the information will not sink in until and unless you see it in an image.

There are also certain code words to look out for in a lecture that can indicate that your teacher is giving you the relevance or the context of an event. Learn to recognize key words and phrases that your teacher deems important.

9. Conquer Procrastination

When you put things off a lot, you end up putting things off until it's too late from time to time. It's that simple. When you procrastinate, you take the chance that nothing will go wrong at the last minute--but in the real world, things do go wrong.

So how can you battle the urge to put things off? Start with trying to recognize that a feisty little voice that lives inside every one of us. It tells us it would be more fun to play a game, eat, or watch TV when we know better. Don’t fall for it!

10. Take Care of Yourself

Some of your personal habits might be affecting your grades. Are you feeling tired, achy, or bored when it comes to homework time? You can change your grades by practicing a few healthy homework habits. Change the way you feel by taking better care of your mind and your body.

For example, between text messaging, Sony PlayStations, Xbox, Internet surfing, and computer writing, students are using their hand muscles in all new ways, and they're growing increasingly susceptible to the hazards of repetitive stress injury. Find out how to avoid pain in your hands and neck by changing the way you sit at your computer.

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Study Skills Assessment

Good study skills can make a big difference in your school performance. Even if you find a particular subject difficult to understand, you will find that being organized and knowing how to tap in to your natural strengths can add valuable points to your scores.

Use the assessment tool below to determine your score. Mark each topic with a score from 1 to 5, with 5 meaning "strongly agree" and 1 meaning "strongly disagree."

1 (low) <-------------> (high) 5

1. I have a specific study space.

Score _____

Students are different. Some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions when they study, but others actually study better listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks. Either way, you should establish a regular time and place for studying. Take the time to assess your real needs and establish a clear routine.

2. I know my best learning style.

Score _____

Do you learn better by seeing, hearing, or acting out the information you receive? In other words, are you a mostly visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Actually, everybody learns by mixture of methods, but one method or type is usually dominant in each person. By determining your dominant learning style you can improve your memory and your grades.

3. I use a student planner.

Score _____

"The paper was due today?"

We've all been there at some point. Somehow, that assignment due date just slipped right up on us without our noticing. That is why organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who can afford to score a big fat "0" on a paper, just because we got lazy and didn't pay attention to the due date? By using a student planner, you can avoid costly mistakes like this!

4. I maintain healthy sleep habits.

Score _____

According to a study by sleep expert Mary Carskadon, PhD, teens should receive more than nine hours of sleep every night. That's a great thought, but is it possible? Think about it--do you ever sleep that long?

5. I always eat breakfast.

Score _____

If you're facing an important test, this might be a good time to change your eating habits. Studies have shown that eating a good breakfast can actually enhance your performance on a test. One study in particular shows that "Breakfast consumption has a short-term effect in improving selected learning skills, especially work memory."

6. I use color to stay organized.

Score _____

When you organize your homework, you can improve your study habits and your grades. One way to do this is to use color-coded supplies, like folders, highlighters, stickers, and flags of various colors. Simply assign a certain color for each specific class, and stick to the rules you establish!

7. I have a handle on procrastination.

Score _____

Do you procrastinate? Most of us put things off from time to time, like studying for a test or starting on lengthy research papers. But giving in to diversions can really hurt us in the long run. Do you recognize the signs of procrastination?

8. I remember my homework every day.

Score _____

I left my homework at home! How many times have you said this? It's a terrible feeling to know you're going to get a failing grade on homework after you actually did the work. It seems so unfair! There are ways to prevent this dilemma and others, but you must be willing to prepare ahead of time to save yourself from future headaches.

9. I study for every test.

Score _____

Believe it or not, some students never study before a test. Do you study effectively for every test? If you're looking for a good way to study, try this tip: Next time you're facing a big exam, try concentrating on essay topics. Essay questions are based on themes and overall ideas. Teachers like to use essay questions because they give students the opportunity to express everything they've learned over the weeks or months, using their own words. Essay test answers reveal more than the bare facts, though. When submitting essay answers, students are expected to cover lots of information in an organized, sensible manner.

10. I'm always prepared for test days.

Score _____

The key to battling test-day jitters is thorough preparation! But full preparation means more than knowing the test material. It's important to prepare your mind and body for the experience of working under pressure.

Now add up all your scores for a total. How did you do?

A total score of 30-50: You have very strong study skills. Congratulations! You know your strengths and use them! You also have great organization skills.

A total score of 20-29: You use some of your strengths, but you could improve your performance by sharpening some of your skills!

Below 20: You may not be performing up to your true potential! By learning to get organized, or by learning more about your personal learning style, you could improve your grades!

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How to Study Spanish

One of the best ways to improve your Spanish is to practice out loud and then listen to yourself.

If you are using a PC with Windows, you probably have a handy built-in recording device to make this easy. All you need is an inexpensive microphone!

Simply click on the START button on your menu and go to:

PROGRAMS - ACCESSORIES - ENTERTAINMENT - and SOUND RECORDER

This recorder is easy to use. Just speak into the microphone and play back your words! It's fun to do and it's a great way to practice and learn.

You can also record brief conversations with a friend. This is a great tool for auditory learners.

More Spanish Homework Tips:

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PSAT Study Guides

Many students take the PSAT during their junior year. This test is actually important for two reasons. It prepares students for the SAT, of course, but it also provides them with a chance at the National Merit Scholarship. Every student should prepare for the PSAT, but study habits differ from student to student. The best approach is practice, practice, practice.

1. Research and Education Association PSAT/NMSQT Guide

This comprehensive guide offers a study schedule, subject reviews and drills, and practice exams with a detailed explanation of correct answers. Includes a CD (Windows) with two tests: one diagnostic and one timed, like the real thing. The computer tests are scored instantly. Great value for the price.

2. Barron's PSAT/NMSQT Guide

This guide starts you off with a pre-test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. It follows with six full-length practice tests and extra sample questions. No CD included. Extra study tips and vocabulary-building advice, as well. Good value for the money.

3. Cracking the PSAT/NMSQT

This is the Princeton Review guide. It includes strategies, techniques, a vocabulary list, and two full-length practice exams with full explanations. No CD with this book but the Princeton Review offers good PSAT study guidance on their web site, free for all to use.

4. Kaplan PSAT Guide

Kaplan offers good pointers and three practice tests. With the purchase of the book you also qualify for more help online. This book is usually the least expensive of the major guides.

5. 11 Practice Tests for the SAT and the PSAT

If you enjoy practice tests, you might want to select this comprehensive study guide. You can practice for the SAT and the PSAT, and enjoy access to online tools, including a diagnostic test with instant scoring. You'll also get advice on specific colleges and their admission policies. It's a great value.

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Group Study

Looking for ways to improve your study skills?
If so, don’t neglect one tool that has worked since the early days of one-room school houses—the study group.

Many college professors agree that group study enhances students’ performances, both in class discussions, as well as on tests.

Why does it work? Group study pays off because it brings about changes in two ways: it forces students to alter their old ways of thinking and it changes their less effective patterns of behavior.

In a group environment, students are less likely to procrastinate. After all, it’s easy to put off an assignment when you only have yourself to answer to, isn’t it? But when you know you have a whole group of people counting on you, you’ll be more likely to get the job done.

Group study also encourages students to explain things aloud. By speaking to and listening to others, students often improve on recall ability, or ability to remember information on test day.

Students who study with others are also forced to become more organized. Once you learn to date and label your notes, you’ll see that organized notes make much more sense at the end of the week than the jumbled, mix and match variety.

One more great benefit of group discussion is that the many perspectives improve your chances of anticipating test questions. Group members will always bring up ideas and thoughts you’d never considered. The various views are sure to pay off on test day!

Finally, you’ll likely find that the benefit of group study reaches far beyond the good results on test day. It will build self-confidence that you can use for the rest of your life. Speaking to small groups will prepare students for speaking to larger groups in the future—or more official groups such as college admission panels or hiring boards.

So go ahead and start building a group of like-minded students who share your goals for success. Be sure to develop a set of study rules to establish the “where’s” and “how’s” and stick by them. The results will show on report card day!

Find Out How to Form a Study Group

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Foreign Language Study

Are you struggling with verb conjugation and wondering why you're putting yourself through this? In truth, foreign language may well be the single most valuable skill you can develop in today's society.

Foreign Language Study is Brain Exercise

When we speak our native languages, we know where to place our verbs and adjectives without even thinking about it. When we study a foreign language, however, we have to really think about what we’re doing.

Foreign language study forces us think about the structure and role of language in a whole new way. This deliberate examination of language gives your brain a workout.

Many students find that their native language skills improve greatly after they’ve learned a foreign language.

Foreign Language Fluency Will Improve Your College Application

Want to really stand out to college officials? Find a way to flaunt your foreign language skills.It’s true that most students take a foreign language in high school, so taking classes alone won’t do the trick. But learning a foreign language and really putting it to work—that will make you stand out.For example, you can volunteer to answer phones in your church or local community or you can assist second language students in a nearby pre-school or medical office. If you don’t like to work with the public, you can translate written work in your spare time. You can definitely use this to impress college officials.

Increase Your Career Opportunities With Foreign Language Skills

There’s no doubt about it: foreign language skills are becoming more and more important in today’s society.In the United States, Spanish language skills are becoming essential in the workplace. In Canada, French skills are important.If you think about it, foreign language skills are important in most occupations these days.

• Academic World: Professors often travel to foreign countries to attend conferences and share research.
• Business: Global communication is essential in business today.
• Communication and Media: Your skills will be so valuable to any organization when you can increase communication. You may be interested in translating documents or working on TV or Radio.
• Education: Just think—you could teach anywhere in the world. Think big!
• Government Services: Some studies show that 80 percent of government jobs require foreign language skills.
• Travel Industry: Do you love to travel? With an exciting career in the travel industry you can work and play at the same time!
• Intelligence/Law Enforcement: Ever dreamed of becoming an international spy? You can—if you study foreign languages.

As you can see, foreign language skills will open your eyes to new sights, opportunities, and experiences around the world. The possibilities are endless!

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