chs study tips (2) - cabramatta high school · 2020. 11. 30. · start a glossary or use a journal....

Prepared by M.Yang (Literacy Steering Committee, 2020) 1

Study Tips

and Techniques

for Senior

High School

Students


Dear student, Congratulations on starting your new journey as a senior!

Year 11 is a very important year in your schooling, so `what can you do to make the most of it and complete the HSC year with confidence This little book contains some tips and tricks that will guide you through the Preliminary and HSC years. Good luck!


Setting Goals Why set goals? It is important to set goals so that you have something to work towards and stay focused. Use the S.M.A.R.T process to help you set your goals.

Specific means that your goal is detailed and exact. It can be educational and personal. For example Educational – I will improve my test results in English. Personal – I will make more time to talk to family/friends.

Measurable means you can track your progress. For example Educational – I will learn 30 new words in the next fortnight. Personal – I will reduce 50% of screen time on my phone.

Attainable means to choose goals that are action-based, achievable and manageable. For example Educational – I can go to homework centre to get help with my English assignments.

Realistic means to set goals that are relevant to your life. For example Educational – Finish high school and get into university. I want to come a graphic designer.

Time-bound means to give yourself a deadline. For example Educational – Buy new school books and equipment to be ready for term 1 of 2021.


GOAL:

What specifically am I trying to achieve?

How will I measure success?

What steps do I need to take to attain the goal?

Is this relevant to my life?

What is the time frame for the goal?


Study Timetable Having a study timetable can help you maximise and prioritise on the things that are of urgency or importance, and help you find a right balance between concentration, understanding, retention, and rest. A good study schedule can: • Help in achieving desired goals • Help in getting through the exams • Increase study productivity • Achieve better results • Tackle time mismanagement

Proper planning yields better results Without planning nothing can be accomplished. Having a study timetable helps you discover ways to engage with your studies and ways to study effectively. Drawing a study timetable helps you find a balance that you are comfortable with and also helps in developing good study habits and establish good study routines which ensures that all subjects are studied. It is important to have an effective timetable to help you manage the time spent on each subject. Time wasted is never regained Time is the most valuable thing a person can ever waste. Therefore, it is important that time is used effectively when it comes to academic success and sticking to a study timetable. Students often wonder where all of the time went, good time management yields better results, ensuring that the time you spend studying gives you the maximum amount of learning as much as possible. Consider using the template on the following page to create your own study timetable.


How to stay MOTIVATED

while studying Some people say the hardest step in studying is to get started. Once you have taken the first step, the rest is easy. However, other people find it difficult to stay motivated when studying, especially when the end seems a long way away. Although there is no single strategy that will work for everyone, there are plenty of options that you can try to see if they work for you. If they do, you should incorporate them into your ongoing strategy. If not, put them aside and try something else. Here are our top tips for staying motivated while studying: Tip One – Break the task down into manageable chunks A task, such as writing an essay, can be demotivating because it seems to big. Breaking the task down into manageable chinks can therefore help make it seem less daunting. For example, you can start with writing down research topics and then planning your writing. Next, you can start writing a draft. The point is to have clear sections and tasks to do, to make it simpler. Tip Two – Keep you end goal in mind One of the best ways to stay motivated is to remember why you are studying in the first place. ‘Getting good exam results’ is not necessarily very motivating. Instead, try to look beyond that to what the exam results will get you. This can be a place at your chosen university or your dream job. The more detail you can provide for your goal, the easier it will be to keep in mind. Tip Three – Get into a study routine It is generally easier to stay motivated if your studying becomes part of your everyday life and routine. For example, you might choose to arrange a particular time of your day to study. By doing so, you can easily avoid being distracted during your study time because you know that it is set aside for a purpose. Also, your family and friends will get to know when your study time happens, and hopefully avoid you then. Tip Four – Minimise distractions Try to ensure that when you start your study time, you minimise distractions. For example, put away or switch off your phone so that you are not tempted to check it. You should also keep your desk clean and organised so that you can easily access all the learning materials you need to complete your task/s. Tip Five – Try different study approaches It is important to test and trial different study approaches to find out what works best for you. Some approaches can be reading over your notes, writing a mind map or drawing pictures, making up songs or poems to help you remember facts, doing practice questions, or even teaching something to your friends. It is also worth varying your studying to keep you interested. Some days you may want to look at one subject, and try another subject on a different day. Finally, you can try working in different places, and varying whether you work alone or with friends. You can read more here: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/study-motivation.html You can read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/study-motivation.html


Other ways to stay MOTIVATED

while studying

Change pens Use sticky notes

Use colourful pens and highlighters

Take short breaks

Study from Videos

Change study positions Make a checklist

and tick off

Chat with friends about studies


Creating a Study Space Where do you normally study? If the answer is “lying in bed with my laptop propped on my knees while eating Oreos,” then you might want to consider revamping your study space. It is important to have a good space to study so that you can study effectively. After all, if you can’t concentrate or if you are not comfortable, you certainly can’t expect to learn very well. So, it is crucial for you to create a study environment that fosters productivity and minimise distractions. In order to create a study space, follow the steps below:

1.Remove all distractions As in so many areas of life, it’s useful to start with what to leave out and then add things from there. Naturally, what puts you in a studious mood will differ from person to person, but here are some things you should probably avoid in your study space: • Video games • Your phone • Lots of open tabs on your computer • Messy food/drinks/junk food • Other people (unless you are working on a group project)

2.Have easy access to everything you need Now that we have covered what to leave out, let’s discuss what to include. This can be a long list, and much of it depends on what you’re studying. For example, you’ll need different materials for writing an English paper than for preparing for a maths exam. We can sort the items into two different categories – essential and optional items.

Essential items – comfortable chair, your computer/laptop (if necessary), relevant textbooks, notebooks, index cards, pad of paper, writing utensils, calculator or other specific tools (if necessary), good lighting Optional items – whiteboard and dry erase markers (not essential, but super helpful for practising maths, sketching out designs, brainstorming essays etc), thinking or memory aides, healthy snacks that don’t make a mess, inspiring decorations, paper calendar, headphones to block out distractions)

3.Experiment with lighting Lighting is especially important if you’re reading from a paper textbook or ding other paper work. According to a German study that looked at the effects of colour temperature and brightness on the productivity of students, researchers found that the students were more creative under warm light yet concentrated better under cool light. To put this into action, try to study near a window, so you have some natural light coming in. Another tip is to experiment with different brightness levels and colour temperatures until you find something that works well for you. 4.Adjust your study space to the ideal temperature Aside from lighting, the actual warm-cold temperature of the room you’re in can also affect your study progress. Not only can an environment that’s too hot or cold cause you to be consciously distracted, but it can also cause you to make more mistakes in your work. Researchers found that, on average, productivity is highest in a temperature range between 22 degrees and 25 degrees. Below or above that range, errors increase. You can read more here: https://collegeinfogeek.com/create-study-space/


Why expand your knowledge and use of words? You’ll be able to communicate (speak and write) more clearly and concisely, people will understand you more easily, and you will increase the perception (and reality) that you are an intelligent person. Here are 7 tips to improve your vocabulary and learn new words.

1. Read, read and read! The more you read, the more words you’ll be exposed to. As you read and uncover new words, use a combination of attempting to derive meaning from the context of the sentence as well as from looking up the definition in a dictionary.

2. Keep a dictionary and thesaurus nearby. Use whatever versions you prefer (e.g., print, software, or online). When you uncover a new word, look it up in the dictionary to get both its pronunciation and its meaning(s). Next, go to the thesaurus and find similar words (synonyms) and phrases, as well as the opposites (antonyms).

3. Start a glossary or use a journal. It’s a good idea to keep a running list of the new words you discover so that you can refer back to the list and slowly build them into your everyday vocabulary. Plus, keeping a journal of all your new words can provide positive reinforcement for learning even more words, especially when you can see how many new words you’ve already learned.

4. Play some games. Words games that challenge you and help you discover new meanings and new words are a great and fun tool in your quest for expanding your vocabulary. Examples include crossword puzzles, anagrams, word jumble and Scrabble.

5. Engage in conversations. Simply talking with other people can help you learn and discover new words. As with reading, once you hear a new word, remember to write it down so that you can study it later, and then slowly add the new word to your vocabulary.

Access the websites below to help improve your vocabulary:

• Dictionary.com's Word-of-the-Day • English-Word Information • Free Rice: Learn Vocabulary, Donate Rice to UN World Food Program • Get The Words • Improving Vocabulary • Vocabulary.com: Free Word Puzzles and Activities • Vocab Vitamins: MyWordaDay, Grammar, Vocabulary Supplements • WordPlays.com: Word Games

You can read more here: http://www.enhancemyvocabulary.com/improve-expand-vocabulary.html

Learning Vocabulary


Reading Strategies Use

background knowledge

Ask questions!

Identify the author’s purpose

Identify the main idea

Recognise sequence

Recognise cause and

effect

Make inferences

Make predictions

Summarise!

Distinguish between fact and opinion

Find facts and details

Compare and

contrast!

Make connections!

Visualise!

Reread for clarity!

Adjust your pacing


Top 10 Writing Tips

1. Find out all you can about the topic. 2. Stick to the topic. 3. Use the correct text structure and language features. 4. Choose a title that draws attention. 5. Organise your ideas before you begin. 6. Add your own style to your writing. 7. Include interesting information. 8. Use words wisely. 9. Remember that good grammar counts. 10. Reread and revise your writing.

*NOTE* Use PEEL to write your paragraphs!


Colour code your notes.

Customise

your study

timetable

Prioritise

studying the

most importan

t

subjects first


Tips from CHS Students Have you achieved the HSC minimum standard tests? If not, read the tips from the students who have achieved the standards!

chs study tips (2) - cabramatta high school · 2020. 11. 30. · start a glossary or use a journal....

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