Poor Study Habits

All too often, students perform poorly in school simply because they lack good study habits. In many cases, students don't know where to begin, don't fully understand the material, are not motivated by it, or feel that there was too much work given to them with too little time to complete or study it. If their studying skills do not improve, these students will continue to test poorly and not perform to their fullest potential.

Some students have problems getting started. Begin to study early, with one or two hours per day. Then, slowly build your study time and quality as you approach the exam or test. make a list of the material you have and separate it by priority. Do what you feel is most important first and save what you feel is least important until the end. Using this method of studying, you ensure that you finish more significant work in case some unexpected interruption occurs. Also, keep an organized notebook filled with useful information. Review your notebook during study halls, between classes, and at home. Finally, take planned breaks while studying to give your mind a rest and let the information sink in.

In other instances it seems that there is just too much to study and not enough time in which to study effectively and remember the materials. Preview the reading, notes, etc., and organize your information into categories, outlines, hierarchies, and charts. One of these charts is known as a Venn Diagram. it can be used for comparing and contrasting by drawing a circle for each item you are studying. Each circle overlaps another, indicating the similarities between each item. The remaining space of each circle indicates the differences. Another technique to separate a topic is called a "spider" or 'webbing' graph. This diagram consists of a main idea or subject. Branches or "legs" connect subjects to the main idea. For example, if you were researching the Civil War in the United States, the center of your graph would be "The Civil War." Some subjects connected to the main idea could be Battles, Slavery, Union, etc. Then, you can get even more specific by adding more branches to these ideas. This will help organize your information, and by writing out a chart, you will probably remember more than if you were just reading.

Some students simply do not understand the information that they are to study. First of all, list what you need to study for the test or exam. Ask your teacher what areas you should concentrate most on. You might even ask fellow classmates who perform better on test how they approach studying. Make up your own mini-tests and trade them with another student, so as to quiz each other. Team-studying can prove to be very beneficial. Finally, make flash-cards to study such things as mathematical formulae, vocabulary, matching, or identification of characters.

If you find that you still have trouble in a class, you can always ask the teacher for extra help. This may require going to him or her in the morning or after school. Additionally, check out your school or community for tutors; often cost is minimal, and some people even tutor for free. Above all, do not feel embarrassed to ask for help.

If you have honestly tried all of the above suggestions and still have trouble with your studies, then maybe check with your guidance counselor about a course with a different ability level. Or, you may need to be tested to determine if there is a problem that may be affecting your studies that you are not aware of. Quite often, simple solutions can go a long way in helping you develop good study habits.

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Copyright © 1996 Julianne , Anthony , Brandon . All rights reserved. Revised: August 16, 1996.

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