| Poor performance on exams and assignments has | | | | 3. Coming Attractions |
| compelled teachers to come up with creative ways to | | | | Coming attractions are a type of equalizer for the |
| help their students learn proper study habits. Recently, | | | | slower students to catch up with the class braniacs. |
| three veteran educators have come up with their own | | | | By previewing future lessons and materials, the |
| game plans to win the battle against academic | | | | students developed confidence and initiative; knowing |
| mediocrity; they have devised ingenious methods in | | | | that they can catch up or even be ahead of the class |
| teaching study skills. | | | | lessons simply by turning one page further. |
| 1. The Breakfast Club | | | | 4. Set an example! Students model themselves after |
| One teacher tried every strategy she could think of to | | | | adults in their lives, so don't think for a moment that |
| get her students to develop some semblance of study | | | | they aren't watching how organized you are! Give |
| skills; she used the lunch period and after school hours | | | | students examples and show them your calendar (or |
| to meet but her study sessions couldn't compete with | | | | a modified/simplified version) and explain it. |
| extra-curricular activities or family responsibilities. By | | | | 5. Tip of the day. Set aside a few minutes at the |
| process of elimination, she offered to meet her | | | | same time everyday to go over a study skill such as |
| students during mornings; add some pancakes and a | | | | time management, setting goals, study environment, |
| catchy name - the Breakfast Club was born. | | | | graphic organizers. Then, once students have some |
| 2. Defining Good Study Habits | | | | ideas, integrate and reinforce these skills with each |
| A teacher noticed that her students believed in urban | | | | assignment, with examples. |
| study myths such as the amount of time spent | | | | 6. Practice makes perfect. Most students can read |
| studying is directly proportional to comprehension; good | | | | about and understand the concepts and ideas, but |
| grades depend on the teacher's good graces, and plain | | | | need help applying them. Integrate skills like note taking |
| simple luck. Instead of dispelling the myths head on; she | | | | and outlining into the class whenever possible. Give lots |
| came up with creative suggestions that rival the urban | | | | of examples. |
| myths in terms of the interest factor but teaching the | | | | These teachers advise those who plan to come up |
| student how to study: study while waiting in the lobby; | | | | with similar study skill building programs to not be |
| while setting hair or applying make-up; and taping a | | | | discouraged if participation level is low at the start; |
| review sheet on the bathroom to be read while | | | | after all, every great journey begins with a single step. |
| shaving, brushing teeth and so on. | | | | |