As a Hudson Valley Parent, and former students ourselves, we know the stress and frustration associated with studying. Fortunately Anne Crossman wrote Study Smart, Study Less which addresses this issue. This compact book guides you through all the necessary study steps, and explains how to work with yourself instead of attempting to force information into your brain.
Most people, including myself before reading this book, work against themselves when they study. Each person has learning strengths, weaknesses, and even a generalized learning type. Crossman teaches you how to classify your learning type as: auditory, visual, or kinesthetic.
Is your child getting left behind?
· Auditory learner: Learns best when hearing instructions or being told information
· Visual learner: Learns best when seeing instructions or information
· Kinesthetic learner: Learns best when performing an action or actively learning information
Once you know this, she then explains numerous study methods for every type of learner, and even for combinations of learning types. With methods like paper flaps (more advanced and fun version of flash cards), rhyme liners (rhyming information so you can remember it), and foreign translation(a tape recorder with sentence repeition) – which is a great method for learning and mastering a second language. Learning any subject becomes easier and dare I say it, fun!
Tips for improving your child's math skills
Crossman also gives numerous tips to improve your study habits, and even a way to get information into that long-term memory bank in your brain. Little things like doing homework in bed, with music/TV on or simply doing homework in certain clothes can have a disastrous affect on how much and how quickly you learn.
Most people might insist on listening to music or not even think about what they’re wearing while studying, but Crossman explains that by changing into a homework outfit it signals to the brain that it’s homework time. She also goes onto explain how listening to music may give you the illusion that you study faster, but really you absorb less information and time goes by faster. So by following these and other handy tips concentrating and getting into your work becomes much easier.
So before you put on that AC/DC tune, drink some coffee, put on some PJ’s, and cram for that next geometry exam, think twice.