How do you set your students up for studying success? It seems studying is a skill that is rarely taught anymore. It’s up to us to teach and model for our students how to study. Read on for 6 easy, effective studying methods for your middle and high school students.
Study Method #1: Websites
One thing I like to do is create a list of websites that students can use to study for each unit. I list all of the topics under each unit on my class website, and link something for each topic. You can search for each of your topics, and you’re likely to find websites or videos that reinforce the topic. These are great for students because they’re hearing the same information from someone else. It’s usually very helpful to get that repetition, but in a different voice and with a different perspective. For this study method, students have the opportunity to study online at their own pace.
My favorite sources for math websites are Kahn Academy and Math Bits Notebook. I especially love that Math Bits Notebook has online practice available.
Study Method #2: Foldables & Interactive Notebooks
Let’s just start with the disclaimer that Foldables and Interactive Notebooks (INBs) are not for every teacher or for every student. (Some of my students don’t keep an Interactive Notebook as the rest of the class does because it doesn’t work for them, and that is fine.) I rely heavily on INBs because in Geometry there are so many diagrams that accompany our notes, and it is much faster and easier to provide the diagrams for my students.
Foldables and Interactive Notebooks are a study method in themselves. It’s up to students to go back through past lessons, and study their notes. As a math teacher, I always strongly recommend that students go back to the practice questions, cover up the answers, and then re-do the problems on a separate sheet of paper.
Let’s say that you do provide notes, but not in an INB. The same strategy applies. It is important that you model for your students how you want them to study from their notes. (More on that in the next methods.)
Study Method #3: Flash Cards
Flashcards are an oldie, but a goodie. If students make their own flashcards, they get to synthesize the information as they create something that will help them study. They get to review their notes (see above) with purpose. Then, students get to use their flashcards anywhere and everywhere, even without WiFi or data, to quiz themselves until they know the information.
Study Method #4: Quizlet
I have yet to use Quizlet myself, but so many students and teachers in my school rave about this study method. You can create a study set to share with students, and students are able to use the study set to learn the material through multiple choice and fill-in questions, and to study using virtual flashcards, a matching game, a game called “gravity,” and through practice testing. You can even have students create their own study sets, and reap the same benefits as creating and using traditional flashcards.
Study Method #5: Cheat Sheets
In the same vein as flashcards, you can have students create their own cheat sheets. Generally speaking, this study method will work very much the same way as flashcards, but on a single sheet of paper. Some teachers even allow students to create their own cheat sheets, and then use them on a quiz or test.
However, the one downside to allowing students to make their own cheat sheets is that they may not get all of the information that you know is most important. To that end, I created my own cheat sheets for my students. I even created a TPT bundle of all the cheat sheets that I use in my Geometry class. Depending on the amount of time we have, I either give my students a complete cheat sheet, thus narrowing down the information that they need to study, or I give my students a fill-in-the-blank version of the cheat sheet. The fill-in-the-blank option allows students to recall the information that they need. I like to give my students time to fill-in-the-blanks on their own, and then time to either compare with a partner or to look up in the information in their INBs. I then share the correct answers with them to make sure that they are studying the correct material.
Study Method #6: Memorization Quizzes
Note: This study method is to be used sparingly. I like to use this for the formulas that students need to have memorized for the final exam. My high school math teacher used this for the values of the unit circle that the calculator wouldn’t give us exactly. I give students a structured form to fill in as a quiz. The key to minimizing the stress of this quiz is that it is given repeatedly, but only the highest score that a student earns is recorded into the grade book. To help students further, I give them a blank copy of the quiz for them to practice.
Keep in mind you do not have to implement every study method. Websites are great for self-paced study and repetition. Foldables and Interactive Notebooks easily lend themselves to self-quizzing. Flashcards and Quizlet are a great way to practice spaced repetition. Cheat sheets can help alleviate stress by storing the information that students need on one page. Memorization quizzes can be a great way to ensure that students memorize critical information. Pick and choose what will work for you and your students.
