Six Study Tips for High School Students

 As you all know, last Friday was the end of quarter 1 of the 2014-2015 school year.  It's hard to believe that we are already 25% done with this school year!  Now that you have your quarter 1 grades, you may be feeling proud to see the results of your hard work this quarter.  You may also, however, be feeling a little disappointed about how your quarter turned out.  Here are six study skills and tips that you might consider practicing for quarter 2 to help improve or maintain your grades.

1. Develop your own organizational system.  Perhaps you are a student who likes to use folders and notebooks for each of your classes, or maybe you prefer to use a binder for your schoolwork.  Whatever you choose to do, however, adopt an organizational system that will work for you.  You might need to try out a couple of different methods to find the one that works for you, so do not get discouraged.
2. Avoid distractions in your study space.  The best places to study are those free of distractions...so try to find a location that does not tempt you to watch TV, talk with a friend, get up constantly to find a snack, or start a spontaneous dance party.  Ensure that your study space is only for studying and working hard.
3. Reward yourself!  Positive reinforcement is such a useful tool to keep you motivated!  When you have completed certain tasks, reward yourself in small ways.  Need ideas for rewards?  Try giving yourself a 10-minute break to check social media, grab a snack, watch your favorite cat YouTube video, or go for a quick walk around the block.
4. Organize and manage your time.  You know that Owatonna Huskies planner you received at the beginning of the school year?  Use it!!  Successful students keep track of their homework assignments in a planner (or perhaps in an app on their phone) and schedule time to complete such assignments based on how long they anticipate the assignment or project to take.  Remember to prioritize your schoolwork and take care of the most urgent and time-sensitive things first.
5. Take efficient notes.  Because you will likely be the only person reviewing your notes, do not try to make them grammatically correct or overly thorough.  Do your best to shorten your notes as much as you can - this will allow you to take notes at a faster speed  so that you do not fall behind.  Just make sure that you don't shorten them too much, or else you won't remember what they said when you go back to review your notes!
6. Learn how to effectively communicate with your teachers.  Your teachers are a fantastic resource for you, and they want to help you learn!  If you have questions or need some extra help in a class, be sure to ask your teacher for some help.  This shows that you care about your academics, and teachers love to see that you care and are driven to succeed.

Here's to a fantastic second quarter!

This list is adapted from http://www.studypoint.com/ed/back-to-school-study-tips/