LIBRARY BLOG

It’s that time of year again to get back into the routines of homework, testing, and studying. It can be tough figuring out how to balance schoolwork especially in the beginning of the year. Below you can find some tips that might help you out.

Give Yourself a Break

It can be easy to make yourself cram everything into one study session before a test, but that isn’t always the best option. Instead, study for only an hour at a time over the course of a few days that way it can give your brain a break.

Find your Study Station

Designate a certain spot to be your “Study Station”. This area will be where you complete your assignments and study. Make sure that it is a quiet and comfortable area with very few distractions. This will help your brain focus and get things done faster.

Never Give Up!

Even if your grades go down or you don’t understand a topic, keep going! Get help from a teacher, classmate, or tutor. Always remember that mistakes are okay, just don’t lose hope and keep trying your best!

Get Help on YouTube

Having trouble understanding a lesson? Go to YouTube! There are plenty of videos of teachers and professionals explaining lessons if you need a little extra help from someone else.

Make a Plan

Organize yourself using a planner or calendar and schedule study time that way you don’t have to stress about when you will fit in time to study. In addition, mark down when things are due and what tests are coming up, so you don’t forget.

Visit Homeworkla.org for Extra Help

This website offers free online tutoring and test preparation for ages K-adult. This is a great resource to use if you have a test coming up, need extra help with a topic, or need an essay to be reviewed!

Learn How to Get Rid of Distractions

It is important to limit distractions while studying so that you can focus. Here are a few ways that you can limit distractions while studying:

• Use paper materials to review and study rather than ebooks, quizlet, or websites
• Turn off your phone completely or turn your notifications off
• Sit in a quiet space and if you need noise use a noise machine or play instrumental music
• Make sure your workspace is organized

Highlight the Important Things

Instead of making yourself read over everything in your notes each time, highlight the key words and focus on learning the basics. Doing this will help you retain the meaning in a way that makes sense to you, and it will also help you study faster.

Make Sure You Understand Rather Than Memorize

Although it can be tough not to just memorize what is needed for the test, it is important to understand and retain the information so that the next lesson is easier to understand.

Use Visuals

Pictures or diagrams can help you understand the material better by breaking it down in a different way. In addition, if you write or draw out the visuals yourself, it can help your brain understand and remember what you are studying even more!

Recommended Books

-Emily Daigle, Youth Services Clerk