Strategies for Effective Studying
Now that you are in high school, time is even more limited. Between going to class, exams, studying, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, friends, work, etc.; it can be a challenge to make it all fit.
When adults say “go study,” do you even know what that means? For gifted students, “studying” can be even more challenging. Many don’t know “how” to study. Often high school is the first time you have taken a really difficult course, so you haven’t had to study as often as a typical learner. Many gifted students lack study habits.
Here are some quick tips to help level up your study habits!
When adults say “go study,” do you even know what that means? For gifted students, “studying” can be even more challenging. Many don’t know “how” to study. Often high school is the first time you have taken a really difficult course, so you haven’t had to study as often as a typical learner. Many gifted students lack study habits.
Here are some quick tips to help level up your study habits!
Time Management
Yes, it all comes down to organizing your time effectively!
- Cramming does NOT work!
- It is actually better to study for thirty minutes on one thing then move to a different topic and spend 30 minutes on that than to cram on the same topic for 3 hours in a row.
- At the beginning of the week, look at your schedule and estimate how much time each task you need to complete will take.
- Study at a set time each day
- Figure out your most productive time of day and schedule your study block for that time
- Try the Pomodoro Technique for studying.
- This helps you break down large tasks into smaller blocks of work. It’s more manageable and you are rewarded with breaks!
- Pomodoro Tracking Sheet
Prioritize
- Reevaluate your to-do list
- What is urgent or most pressing?
- Hard or Easy?
- Some students prefer tackling their hardest task first-it gives them a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue. Others prefer completing an easy task first so they don’t feel so overwhelmed.
- Do The Prep Work:
- If you are going to study later, then you have got to focus when taking in the information. Many gifted students find it hard to study because they were not really paying attention during the instruction. You must be intentional and mindful about the initial reading or instruction. The more diligent and organized you are about note taking the easier it will be to study. The actual writing and taking of notes helps you absorb and hold onto more of the information.
- Try these suggestions:
- Note-Taking:
- Create your own bullet system- use different colors, symbols, numbers, etc for points you would like to come back to or the information you plan to put onto flashcards
- Use abbreviations and symbols: shorten your notes by using abbreviations to save time
- Get Creative: draw pictures, thought bubbles, anything that helps pull your attention to important topics. Connect thoughts with arrows, use different colored pens or highlighters. Mind maps are great ways to visually organize information to study.
- Cornell Notes: Cornell note taking is a specific kind of note taking, and while it may feel awkward at first, it is a fantastic strategy for giving you ideas of exactly what to study when you are reviewing notes.
- Note-Taking:
Use Time Wisely
- Maintain your focus during the study times!
- Turn OFF your devices! Even during the 5 minute breaks, avoid using your phone. You want to stay in the ‘study zone’
- Don’t study right before bedtime- or when you know you are not fully committed or awake
- Avoid Multitasking
- Taking on multiple tasks at once can actually weaken your grasp of information, reduce your memory, and hurt your overall performance.
- Take frequent breaks- if using the pomodoro technique, the schedule builds in short breaks throughout the study block
Strategic Breaks
- It is important to take breaks and reward yourself for your hard work. But make sure you were actually really studying during the study times. Don’t let your mind wander.
- Breaks can be a short walk around the block, doing a quick chore, or even changing to a different subject.
Ways to Study Effectively
The HOW of studying is just as important (maybe more) as the amount of time you spend studying.
Make It Hard
- Desirable Difficulty- the harder you make it, the more likely you are to remember it. Researchers have found that if you learn things easily, there’s a high chance that’ll flow right back out of your brain with the same ease in which it came in. (In one ear and out the other). When you have to work harder to learn something, your learning becomes “effortful,” and that cognitive effort makes it more likely to stick with you long term. Gifted students often struggle with this concept because they think if something is challenging then they are not smart. Actually, it’s the opposite. The harder your brain is working, the more likely it is that information stays in your brain.
- Try this:
- Practice it before you’ve mastered it: start testing yourself on material before you fully know it--sounds counterintuitive, but it means your brain is working harder!
- Try this:
Study in Different Locations
Don't always study in the same place, switch it up!
- this challenges your brain
Stick With It
- Stick with things that feel difficult-even though its uncomfortable
- Start with the hardest questions first.
Flashcards
Turn your notes into flashcards or utilize digital flashcards like quizlet.
Visualize
Visualize tough concepts- turn them into picture or stories
Test Yourself
Mix things up and find pals to study with. You’ll get new perspectives on the material.
Study Groups
One of the most effective study techniques is to give yourself mini-test experiences.
Resources:
Van Gemert, Lisa. “6 Strategies for Effective Studying.” Gifted Guru, 3 Apr. 2020, giftedguru.com/6-strategies-for-effective-studying.
“5 Secrets of Smart Students: Effective Study Tips for High School.” Connections Academy, Connections Academy, 11 Nov. 2022, www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/4-steps-to-forming-effective-study-skills-in-high-school/.
“The Top 6 Study Skills for High School Students.” Crimson Education US, 14 Feb. 2022, www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/study-skills-for-high-school-students/.
Van Gemert, Lisa. “6 Strategies for Effective Studying.” Gifted Guru, 3 Apr. 2020, giftedguru.com/6-strategies-for-effective-studying.
“5 Secrets of Smart Students: Effective Study Tips for High School.” Connections Academy, Connections Academy, 11 Nov. 2022, www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/4-steps-to-forming-effective-study-skills-in-high-school/.
“The Top 6 Study Skills for High School Students.” Crimson Education US, 14 Feb. 2022, www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/study-skills-for-high-school-students/.