Study Skills – The Journey So Far…
The aim of this page is to keep parents and carers informed on the academic skills being covered during study sessions and Academic division meetings.
Please use the information on this page to question your son about his study and how he is utilising these very important skills to be the best he can in his academic pursuits.
Most of these skills were covered in year 7 but it will take most boys a little time to work out which methods and practices best suit their learning style!
Organisational Skills – Ongoing
We are constantly working with the boys so they maintain a high level of organisational skills. Throughout the term we will randomly check lockers, diaries, notebooks and study skills folders.
Lockers
All boys should have their lockers neatly arranged with books vertical and showing a clearly labelled spine or folder. This allows boys to move smoothly between lessons and also to locate work/books quickly.
Diaries
Diaries are issued to each boy and these are viewed as one of the most important organisational tools.
All boys should have their diary with them during lessons and study. They contain a wealth of information including;
- School and Personal Prayer
- Effective Study Advice
- Planning and Writing Essays
- Referencing Your Work
- Academic Award Information
- Study timetable planning sheets
They are utilised as a tool to plan assignments and can be used to communicate messages between students, parents, teachers and supervisors. The following presentation was given to the boys explaining how to use the College diary.
Study Skills Folder
Each boy should have a designated folder to develop his study skills and notes. It should be divided into sections for each of his subjects. It is to be used for;
- Mind Map summaries of subjects and topics
- Summary notes (SQ3R)
- Keyword glossary for each subject with definitions
- Flash cards
- Any revision handouts
- Past examination papers
Study Skills Session 2 – Year 8 2010
The second study session of the year focussed on the importance of being an active listener.
Please see the presentation below for further information.
Study Skills Session 1 – Year 8 2010
The first study skills session of the year focused on how to create a study timetable and the setting of personal goals. We do encourage all boys to take up the challenge of planning a study timetable around their commitments and needs. We also looked at self-discipline and why it is so important when taking up the challenge to diligently follow a study routine. The second part of the presentation was an introduction to the setting of S.M.A.R.T learning goals. All boys were asked to come up with goals for 2 subjects, a sporting skill, a study skill and a personal goal.
Please see the presentation below for further information.
Study Skills Session 1 – Year 7 2009
This is the first video shown to the boys during year 7 as part of the presentation “An Introduction to the World of Study”.
This video was used to tie in with the powerpoint presentation below. We focused on the main points in the video and how they translate from the sporting arena into the academic world at Joeys.
Study Skills Session 2 – Year 7 2009
This session focused on the creation of mind maps as a tool to summarise information. The boys were told to create a mind map for a subject. They were also told that they are a great tool for highlighting areas of weakness in a particular topic or subject. Simply grab a sheet of paper and using your mind only create a mind map for a particular topic. Any areas of weakness will show up by the lack of detail you are able to add for that particular concept or topic.
Here is the handout given to the boys and a copy of the video used to demonstrate how to create amazing mind maps.
Study Skills Session 3 – Year 7 2009
This session was aimed at getting boys to think about planning and looking into the future. The session discussed the importance of “chunking” assignments into managable pieces of work. Boys were given a copy of the assignment planning sheet and stepped through how to plan work to ensure all deadlines are met.
Here is a link to the assignment planning sheet as shown below – Assignment Planning Sheet
Study Skills Session 4 – Year 7 2009
This session of study skills involved a review of mind maps, keyword lists, flash cards with an introduction to study timetables and taking notes.
Hint: Click on the document to view in full screen mode
Study Skills Session 5 – Year 7 2009
Preparing for exams was discussed in session 5.
The video and presentation below were used to help the year get ready for exams with a focus on how important it is to get help early and how to memorise information by making connections with the existing information and knowledge inside our heads.
Study Skills Session 6 – Year 7 2009
This session introduced the boys to the SQ3R method of summarising and taking notes. The aim was to give boys a method to take large amounts of information from a textbook and read for understanding. Here is the presentation;
Further information on SQ3R at Study Guides and Strategies