STUDY GUIDE
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1. First of all, get organized. I recommend having a separate folder for each
school subject. Keep things to be turned in (papers, reports, homework, etc.) on
one side of the folder. On the other side, place all returned/corrected homework,
tests, handouts, etc. Keep everything—at least until the end of the semester!
You will see why it is important to be able to put your hands on these papers.
2. A week or so before the test, ask the teacher for a study guide.
3. If the teacher does not have a ready-made study guide, ask "What should I
know for the test?" Often, teachers will tell you exactly what you need to know
and where to find it. Write down whatever they say!
4. For math tests: Do the end-of-chapter problems or the sample test. If you can
do these problems, then you understand the most important concepts in the
chapter and you should do well on the test.
5. Also for math tests: Redo any homework problems you missed. Make certain
that you understand where you went wrong the first time. Ask the teacher to
explain any problems you still cannot do.
6. For social studies or science tests: Answer the end-of-chapter and/or end-of-
unit questions. Often, you will find these exact questions on the test! At the very
least, you will have a broad understanding of the most important concepts and
ideas from the unit.
7. Review/organize/rewrite your notes. Take a look at your notes since the last
test. Are they neat? Do they make sense? Is there a better way to organize
them? For example, can you group certain ideas together? Would it make
sense to have one page of dates and another page of important people? One of
the best ways to get information into your head is to organize it and write it
down. Rewrite your notes neatly.
8. Review/organize/rewrite handouts from the teacher. If the teacher took the
time to copy something, she thinks you need to know it. Take a look at all of the
handouts the teacher gave you. Do you understand them? Please don't recreate
all the handouts! Think about creating one page with the most important
information from all of them.
9. Know the definition of all vocabulary words, concepts, ideas, people, etc.
that have been introduced since the last test. These are the highlighted words
found in a chapter. Sometimes, there will be a list of "important words" or
"people to know." Write down all of these words and be sure to include any
word that your teacher takes the time to define for you, as well.
10. Memorize. You will be amazed at how much information you know after
organizing your notes and looking for important words. Still, sometimes you
must buckle down and commit things to memory.
How To Study With Flash Cards
I love flash cards! Here's how to use flash cards to study:
Write the word on one side, the definition on the other, and test yourself. For example,
write electorate on one side of the flash card and "the body of enfranchised citizens;
those qualified to vote" on the other.
Say "electorate," then flip the card over and say "the body of enfranchised citizens;
those qualified to vote." Do this over and over until you can repeat the definition without
looking at it.
After you have learned all of the cards, start with the definitions and see if you
remember the word before turning over the flash card. Speak up! Move around! You will
learn faster if you hear the words out loud (auditory learning) and get your body involved
(kinesthetic learning). Who cares if your little brother thinks you're crazy? He'll be
jealous of your grades!
When you think you know all of the words and definitions, ask someone else to test you.
Missed any? Go back and memorize them. Do this until you know every word.
(Studying is probably the only thing I still do the same way!)
1. Pay Attention: Good Studying Starts in Class
Here's a riddle for you: Did you know that before you even begin studying, you've already started?
Huh? Here's what we mean. When you pay attention in class and take good notes, you are starting
the process of learning and studying.
Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see
the board? Make sure you're sitting in a good seat that lets you pay attention. Tell your teacher or
parents about any problems that are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes.
2. Good Notes = Easier Studying
Not sure how to take notes? Start by writing down facts that your teacher mentions or writes on the
board during class. Try your best to use good handwriting so you can read your notes later. It's also
a good idea to keep your notes, quizzes, and papers organized by subject.
3. Plan Ahead and You'll Be Glad You Did
Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday's test will make for a homework night that's no fun! It
also makes it hard to do your best. We're all guilty of putting things off sometimes. One of the best
ways to make sure that doesn't happen is to plan ahead.
Ask for a cool calendar (something you like and can keep by your desk or study area) and write
down your test and assignment due dates. You can then plan how much to do after school each day,
and how much time to spend on each topic. Are lessons or extracurricular activities making it hard to
find time to study? Ask a parent how to make a schedule of what to do when.
4. Break It Up!
When there's a lot to study, it can help to break things into chunks. Let's say you have a test on 20
spelling words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into five-
word chunks and working on one or two different chunks each night.
Don't worry if you can't remember something on the first try. That's where practice comes in. The
more days you spend reviewing something, the more likely it is to stick in your brain. There are also
tricks called mnemonic (say: new-MON-ik) devices that can help you remember stuff. When you're
trying to memorize a list of things, make up a phrase that uses the first letter of each. For example,
are you trying to learn the eight planets and their order from the sun?
Think: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos to remember Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Your teacher can give you ideas, too.
Another way to break it up is to study regularly instead of just the night before. You can always
review your notes and read over the chapters you're working on. Or, if you're studying math or
science, do some practice problems.
How much studying should you do each night? Your teacher can help you figure it out.
Most brains can only pay attention for about 45 minutes. So if you've been working for a while and
find it hard to pay attention, try taking a break for some water or a walk around the house. Just fight
the temptation to turn on the TV or stop working!
5. Lose the Confusion — Ask for Help
You can't study effectively if you don't understand the material. Be sure to ask your teacher for help
if you're confused about something. You can check yourself by reading through your notes. Does it
all make sense? If not, ask your teacher to go over it with you. If you're at home when the confusion
occurs, your mom or dad might be able to help.
6. Sleep Tight!
So the test is tomorrow and you've followed your study plan — but suddenly you can't remember
anything, not even 2+2! Don't panic. Your brain needs time to digest all the information you've given
it. Try to get a good night's sleep and you'll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.
How To Improve Your Study Skills
1. Acronyms & Mnemonics
Acronyms and mnemonics are two types of memorization techniques that
help students recall word sequences.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics help kids remember a list of facts in a particular order. They
can be written as songs, phrases, rhymes, phrases, or acronyms.
I’m sure these mnemonics are familiar to you…
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas (order of planets +
Pluto)
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (order of operations in math)
Acronyms
On the other hand, acronyms consist of the initials of words in a phrase put
together in sequence so that the full name can be remembered more
easily.
They are usually written in all CAPS and pronounced as a new word.
Some examples… NASA, FACE (music), MLK, and AKA.
When you teach acronyms, consider using text messaging as examples to
help students make connections.
LOL and SMH are two such examples.
2. Active Listening
We all have one or two (or more?) of those students who quietly sit on the
carpet during read-aloud time but are pretty much ZONED-OUT!
They’re quiet, and they may be listening.
But are they actively listening?
Probably not.
This is why it’s important to explicitly teach kids what active listening looks
like.
With the overload of distractions in our environments today, this study skill
is essential for kids.
3. Analyzing Rubrics
Though they take some time to create, rubrics are great assessment tools
because they tell students ahead of time how they’ll be assessed.
The beauty in rubrics is that they allow students to review the standards at
any time while completing a specific assignment.
Learners continuously measure their performance up against the rubric,
adjusting their efforts and productivity as needed.
This indeed is very powerful.
Rubrics serve as great tools for reflecting on one’s efforts and as a result
adjusting actions to yield a more favorable outcome.
4. Chunking Tasks
Chunking refers to the process of taking individual pieces of information
and grouping them into larger units. By grouping each data point into a
larger whole, you can improve the amount of information you can
remember. Probably the most common example of chunking occurs in
phone numbers. For example, a phone number sequence of 4-7-1-1-3-2-4
would be chunked into 471-1324.
5. Create a Test
When framed from a “I get to be the teacher” standpoint, kids love creating
tests for their peers!
When creating a relatively simple assessment from material just learned,
students reinforce the concepts to themselves because
they’re synthesizing that knowledge to build something purposeful.
6. Designated Space
As a child, my family’s kitchen table served as my designated homework
space.
I knew that from the time I arrived from school to about an hour afterwards
meant study time.
It was a steady routine.
There were no ifs or buts about it; I got into a study mindset right away,
completed my work, and that was that.
In a school setting, the entire classroom space is a designated learning
zone. So there’s little challenge there.
However, support parents in setting up those boundaries at home also.
Early in the school year, communicate with parents the benefits of their
child having a designated study area at home.
And it doesn’t have to be a formal desk or room.
A sturdy lap desk works incredibly well as I use one to this very day for
most of my work.
Just something for children to get into the mindset that a particular space is
for work and study.
This helps them to focus, and that space becomes a symbol of productivity.
7. Finding One’s Rhythm
Even after teaching all of these study skills to your elementary learners, it’s
still going to take time for each child to find his or her own rhythm.
Our primary job as educators is to introduce students to all of these study
techniques and support them as they navigate towards those that fit their
unique learning styles.
8. Flashcards
Flashcards are a mainstay.
They’re useful for reviewing vocabulary terms, math facts, history dates ~
just about anything that needs to be memorized.
Flash cards too boring for your class?
Try digital multiplication tables or quizlet flashcards.
9. Grade Sheets
Let me tell you…
I love grade sheets for grades 4 and up.
Grade sheets keep students accountable for their own work.
Of course as a teacher you’ll keep track of grades, but it’s a powerful thing
indeed when students keep track regularly, too!
It does take time for younger students (4th/5th graders) to do the
calculations the first few times, but with time, they definitely get it.
Download this student grade sheet to see if a similar type of grade sheet
would work well in your classroom.
10. Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are staples in most classrooms and pair well with
almost any assignment.
They break down essential ideas into smaller chunks so that the
information is easier to digest.
11. Group Study
I have a love-hate relationship with group work because there’s always that
one individual in the group who doesn’t want to do much of anything.
But when it’s done well, group work is fantastic because the labor is shared
which increases productivity.
Plus, kids have ample opportunities to hear others’ thought processes and
ideas.
This stretches their schema and exposes them to alternative points of view.
12. Highlighting
Have students use highlighters with caution because some students tend to
highlight EVERYTHING on a page instead of just the essentials.
On the other hand, highlighters are great study tools when you need the
main ideas of a selection to “pop out” for elementary students.
As a prerequisite…
Students need a good grasp of how to find the main idea of a piece of text
(which takes lots of modeling).
Without proper modeling, a highlighter turns into a fun pen that kids use to
showcase [Link] on the page.
13. Limiting Distractions
Cell phones, TVs, YouTube, the Internet ~ distractions dominate our
spaces.
It takes a lot of self-discipline to turn these things off, but there must be
times where they aren’t present if students are to get any work done.
Limiting distractions doesn’t mean elimination.
It means just that…limitation.
We see adults [Link] driving, at the store check-out, at restaurants –
all the while on their phones.
So imagine kids…
They see this action all around them and think it’s normal to be tuned into
tech 24/7.
But there must be balance.
14. Making Connections
When reading, we subconsciously make connections…
• How does this relate to something that happened in my life?
• Did I read this in another significant text?
• What does this text have to do with the world at large?
Having these three key questions in mind will help students take their
reading comprehension and understanding of concepts to the next level.
15. Mindset
Mindset is truly an important concept to reflect upon.
None of the study skills for elementary students on this list will work if
learners don’t have the appropriate mindset.
There are two types of individuals.
Those who say…
I’m going to be successful at this and do whatever it takes (ethically) to get
me there.
And others who say…
Yeah…okay. I’ll do the work when I feel like it or have more time. OR It’s
just too hard. I’m done.
Of course we all want those kids who think like the former, but that’s not
reality.
That’s when we begin diving deeper into encouragement and mindset
exercises specifically designed for kids.
Furthermore, partnering with parents in helping kids develop a positive
mindset is a must.
16. Multimedia Strategies
This study skill appears to be in direct contract to limiting distractions, but
it’s really not.
Yes, technology is a BIG distraction.
However, exceptions present themselves in all situations.
Technology can be a wonderful addition to the teaching and learning
process, but it depends on how one uses it.
Videos, podcasts, and even apps benefit kids in an educational sense
when they serve a genuine purpose.
And that’s key.
17. Note Taking
How many people take notes and actually go back and read what they
recorded?
Not many, right?
Within the right context, though, note-taking does improve retention of
information.
Elementary-aged children don’t need too much note-taking practice since
the structure of elementary school is more hands-on, interactive, and group
focused.
But there will be times that you want your learners to take notes.
For note-taking to be a beneficial study skill for young learners, it must…
• tie to the gist of what the speaker is saying.
• summarize the main points of the lesson.
• use standard & unique abbreviations
• minimize or eliminate erasures.
Want to help your elementary students learn note-taking but don’t know
where to start?
Have them interview staff and/or peers during the first week of school and
take note of interviewees’ responses.
This could be part of a building community unit or lesson.
BrainPOP videos also serve as a great resource for practicing note-taking.
18. Organization
Organization streamlines the learning process and reduces waste time.
An organized notebook, desk, backpack, workspace, and assignment also
show that one cares about his personal property.
19. Parent Partnerships
It takes parents and teachers working together to help a child reach her full
potential.
Yes, teachers can be effective working without parent support, but let’s not
fool ourselves into thinking that parent involvement is less important than
that of the teacher.
There is no denying the fact that when a parent positively involves herself
into her child’s education, the result is generally more fruitful for the child.
So communicate with parents regularly so that they reinforce study skills at
home.
20. Post-It Notes
When students need to jot down essential information quickly, sticky notes
serve that purpose well.
Check out these simple ideas for using post-it notes to enhance reading
comprehension.
21. Problem Solving
As long as the material and subject are grade-appropriate, problem solving
is a great skill to practice daily.
How can students use the tools and knowledge they already possess to
figure out a math problem?
… to figure out the gist of what the author is saying?
…to reflect and retest a hypothesis from a science experiment?
Problem solving is a life-long skill.
22. Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is more of an instructional technique, but it’s a great
study skill for elementary students because it gives them an opportunity to
apply all the skills and strategies they’re learning.
Culminating units are a good time to incorporate project-based learning
activities.
During these times, take the opportunity to observe how well students are
applying certain study skills.
23. Read, Cover, Remember, Retell
The strategy Read, Cover, Remember, and Retell is helpful to students
who struggle to remember the main ideas from a piece of text.
So here’s how the strategy works…
Take a paragraph or any piece of text you’d like the child to read.
After he or she reads the text, he covers it with his hand, thinks about what
he just read, and then retells the main points.
If he has trouble retelling, he repeats the process up to 3 times.
After the third unsuccessful attempt, move to an easier text.
This is such a great strategy for improving reading comprehension in all
subjects.
Think about using this study skill strategy with math problem solving…
If a child can’t retell the main points of the story problem and determine
what issue needs to be solved, then she’s going to have a really hard time
solving that word problem.
That may mean the word problem is a bit too hard for her, so have her
tackle an easier one first!
24. Reciprocal Teaching
This list of study skills for elementary students wouldn’t be complete
without reciprocal teaching.
Reciprocal teaching puts students in the teacher’s seat. They teach a skill
or strategy to a partner, small group, or the whole class.
This strategy works well at home, too, for students can teach parents the
skills and strategies they’re learning at school.
This in turn helps their parents see how well they’re absorbing information.
Keep this in mind…
People remember…
• 10% of what they READ
• 20% of what they HEAR
• 30% of what they SEE
• 50% of what they SEE and HEAR
• 70% of what they SAY and WRITE
• 90% of what they DO.
25. Reviewing Work
Check over your work before turning in.
I always said that to students when they worked on class assignments.
Once, after saying this phrase for the 3rd time to a student (who had
obviously not looked over his work), I motioned him to sit next to me so that
I could see exactly how he reviews his work.
To my surprise, he had NO IDEA what to do.
Unfortunately, I had assumed that he knew what I meant when I
said, check over your work.
From that point forward, I explicitly taught my 3rd and 4th graders how to
review their work strategically and thoroughly before submitting.
26. Scan/Skim
Skimming is looking over a text quickly to get the gist of what it’s all about.
Scanning means you’re looking for a particular piece of information within
a text.
In a restaurant, we skim/scan the menu.
Booking airline tickets?
You’ll skim to see the average price of tickets.
Got a message ding on your phone?
You’ll scan or skim the message to see who’s calling and/or what they
want.
If you decide to teach only a handful of study skills for elementary students,
make skimming/scanning one of them.
As you can see, it’s such a practical skill that’s used daily in various
contexts.
And when it comes time for the reading standardized tests, scanning and
skimming will definitely come in handy.
27. Stamina/Rest Periods
We’ve all had those students that get squirmy reading or working at their
desks for extended periods of time.
It really isn’t natural for kids, even adults, to sit still for too long.
But developing in students healthy amounts of stamina is key to them
completing work within an appropriate time frame.
Depending on your grade level, you can do this by having students work in
increments of 5 to 10 minutes.
Gradually increase the chunks of time until you’ve reached a maximum of
30-45 minutes before breaking.
28. Text Features
Explicitly teaching text features using fiction and nonfiction books
encourages better comprehension.
These elements serve as signals for how students should approach the
reading.
• How do you use an index?
• What’s the purpose of a table of contents?
• Why are some terms in a nonfiction text in bold?
• Subheadings have different-sized fonts than main headings. Why?
• What’s the goal of an epilogue/prologue?
Helping students understand these text features and their purpose will no
doubt increase understanding of whatever they’re studying.
29. Time Management
For those students who procrastinate with getting assignments done and
have a hard time managing time…
Time management is an essential skill that will guide their actions
throughout life, not just during school days.
30. Visualizing
Visualizing means to have a picture or series of images in your head as
you read a text.
This supports the reader in “being part” of the action, and as a result,
he/she remembers more events from the text.