student reading and taking notes

"The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude."

William James

Our unique study skills program is designed to benefit ALL students.  We work within the student's own curriculum, focusing on techniques to improve their study skills and habits. By recognizing the individual learning style of your student, we are able to tailor the program to meet their academic needs. By helping students develop the ability, capacity, and desire to work and study constructively, our tutors encourage the continuation of the learning process.
Examples of previous and current students include:
Struggling students with academic and/or structural needs
Successful students with organizational needs
Discouraged students that have lost confidence in their ability as a learner

Our tutors will guide and direct your student as they gain confidence and pride in their ability as both learner and leader!

Perks of the program:

· Strategies presented in a lively, enthusiastic manner
· Learning partnership with teacher as coach, facilitator, supporter
· Activity-oriented sessions centered on individual student needs
· Extensive modeling of successful strategies/skills
· Genuine interest in and monitoring of student progress
· Systems refined and modified to meet individual needs
· Strategies relevant to the big picture & useful for success in the real world

What do you have to gain?

· Processes to organize & direct effort invested in learning
· Habits for lifelong success
· Increased self-esteem & self-confidence
· Motivation to set and achieve goals – both short term and long term
· Critical thinking, problem-solving & reasoning skills (meta-cognition)
· Time management & organizational skills
· Independence as a learner

Components/Sessions:

Learning Styles (Inventory)

· Students will identify the style that most describes them as a learner (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and “try on” study skills and techniques best-suited for their strengths/learning style
· Structure & organization/time management
· Students will learn to demonstrate self-management & discipline AND develop the ability and flexibility to adjust schedules as needed

Structure & Organization/Time Management

Students will learn to demonstrate self-management & discipline AND develop the ability and flexibility to adjust schedules as needed
· Assignment books
· “To do” lists
· Weekly & monthly calendars
· Subject folders for filing

Goal-setting/Motivation

Students will learn the role that goal creation plays in success and self-confidence/esteem AND become motivated to create their own realistic, attainable academic/organizational goals
 
Procrastination
· Why do people do it?
· What can you do about it?
 
Goal-setting
· What is reasonable/attainable?
· What does a goal look like?
· How do you track your progress?
· What do you do when you meet your goal?

Note-taking/Summarizing/Participating

Students will learn to listen actively, engage in discussions, ask pertinent questions (using Bloom’s taxonomy), interpret information presented & draw conclusions AND use outlining, paraphrasing, highlighting & abbreviating to increase note-taking efficiency
 
· Prepare
· Listen
· Avoid distractions
· Commit
· Challenge yourself
· Be efficient
· Record
· Reflect

Textbook Reading

Students will learn how to monitor reading for understanding, distinguish essential from non-essential information, use graphic features and organizational structures to increase comprehension & group information into relevant topics/categories
 
· SQ3R (Survey, Question, 3Read, Recite, Review)
· Strengthen vocabulary
· Repeated readings
· Refer back to the text

Studying/Concentration/Memory

Students will learn the importance of creating a distraction-free atmosphere and space conducive to effective concentration and studying AND learn some “tricks” to increase memory & information retention
 
· Study space/supplies
· Routines
· Mnemonics
· Acronyms

Test-taking/Managing Anxiety

Students will learn how to form well-crafted essays, select the correct multiple choice response, prepare their mind and body for taking tests