What is Study? Study has been defined as the systematic pursuit of understanding.

The Ten Study Habits of Successful Students Successful students have good study habits. They apply these habits to all of their classes. Read about each study habit. Work to develop any study habit you do not have. Successful students: 1. Try not to do too much studying at one time. ( NO CRAMMING!!!) If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy. 2. Plan specific times for studying. Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork. It can be completing assigned reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for a test. Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time. 3. Try to study at the same times each day. (BE CONSISTENT) Studying at the same times each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating. When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying. 4. Set specific goals for their study times. Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress. Simply sitting down to study has

little value. You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study times. 5. Start studying when planned. (Discipline) You may delay starting your studying because you don't like an assignment or think it is too hard. A delay in studying is called "procrastination." If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to. You may rush to make up the time you wasted getting started, resulting in careless work and errors. 6. Work on the assignment they find most difficult first. Your most difficult assignment will require the most effort. Start with your most difficult assignment since this is when you have the most mental energy. 7. Review their notes before beginning an assignment. Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are doing an assignment correctly. Also, your notes may include information that will help you complete an assignment. 8. Tell their friends not to call them during their study times. Two study problems can occur if your friends call you during your study times. First, your work is interrupted. It is not that easy to get back to what you were doing. Second, your friends may talk about things that will distract you from what you need to do. Here's a simple idea - turn off your cell phone during your study times. 9. Call another student when they have difficulty with an assignment. This is a case where "two heads may be better than one." 10. Review their schoolwork over the weekend. Yes, weekends should be fun time. But there is also time to do some review. This will help you be ready to go on Monday morning when another school week begins. These ten study habits can help you throughout your education. Make sure they are your study habits.

Participating in Class Class participation is a valuable part of learning. In many cases, participating in class is an important criterion that teachers use to assign final grades. Many students are reluctant to participate in class. This may be because they are shy or are fearful of being judged and criticized. Other students participate in class, but do so inappropriately. Here are some suggestions that can help you be an effective class participant.

Be sure to come to class prepared. Do all assignments and readings and review your notes from previous class sessions. This will help to prevent you from making uninformed comments or asking inappropriate questions.

As you prepare for class, think about important questions and concerns that may come up in class. Be sure that you are prepared to handle these. Try to sit close to the front of the class. It's hard to stay uninvolved when you are in close proximity to the teacher. Listen to what the other students say. You can then build off their comments to make your own. Have confidence that your opinions will be valued by your teacher and by the other students. Be constructive when you react to something another student says. You can disagree, but don't go into an "attack mode." Don't "hog" the class. Teachers and students alike resent someone who seems to have something to say about everything. Don't be afraid to be wrong. Learning is a change in behavior based on experience. You can learn from being wrong. Don't be afraid to ask questions. This is a good learning technique. Also, the chances are that other students in the class have the same questions as you do, and they will appreciate your asking. Be sure that your questions and comments are relevant to the class topic. Don't waste the time of the teacher and other students by going off track. Don't take it personally if others disagree with what you say. Your class should be a good forum for give and take.

Finally, here is a suggestion for students who are shy. Come to class early so that you can talk to some of the other students. This will help you to establish a personal connection with them so that you will feel more comfortable about participating in class Get involved in your classes. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by participating.

Improving Concentration Many students have difficulty concentrating while studying. Being able to concentrate while you are studying is essential to doing well in class and on tests. Here are 10 suggestions for improving your study concentration:

Study in a quiet place that is free from distractions and interruptions. Try to create a space designated solely for studying. Make a study schedule that shows what tasks you need to accomplish and when you plan to accomplish each task. This will provide you with the structure you need for effective studying.

Try to study at the time of day you work best. Some people work well early in the morning, others late at night. You know what works best for you. Make sure you are not tired and/or hungry when you study. Otherwise, you won't have the energy you need to concentrate. Also, maintain your physical fitness. Don't try to do two tasks at the same time. You won't be able to concentrate on either one very well. Concentration means focusing on one thing to the exclusion of all else. Break large tasks into a series of smaller tasks that you can complete one at a time. If you try to complete a large task all at once, you may feel overwhelmed and may be unable to maintain your concentration. Relax. It's hard to concentrate when you're tense. It's important to relax when working on a task that requires concentration. Meditation is helpful to many students. Clear your mind of worrisome thoughts. Mental poise is important for concentration. You can get distracted by your own thoughts. Monitor your thoughts and prevent yourself from following any that take you off track. Don't daydream. Develop an interest in what you are studying. Try to relate what you are studying to you own life to make it as meaningful as possible. This can motivate yourself to concentrate. Take breaks whenever you feel fatigued. There is no set formula for when to take breaks. You will know when you need to take a break.

Studying without concentration is like trying to fill a bucket with water when the bucket has a hole in its bottom. It doesn't work.

Math Study Skills Math is a unique subject. It involves symbols, formulas, specific procedures, textbooks that look different, and many unique words and terms. Consequently, it is important to use study skills that apply particularly well to math. Here are some you should use.

You can't learn math just by reading and listening. Much of math learning involves actively doing. This means that you must do all of your math homework and assignments. This is essential to learning how to use formulas and procedures. Math is a sequential subject. What is taught on a given day is based upon what was taught before. Once you fall behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Cramming at the last minute will not help you. Be certain to attend every class and keep up with your teacher. Math is a difficult subject that becomes increasingly complex. You may have to spend more study time on this subject than on your other subjects. Don't try to memorize your way through math. There are simply too many formulas and procedures. Try to master the key concepts. This will reduce the amount of information you will need to remember.

Once you learn a procedure for solving a problem, that same procedure can often be used to solve other problems. When presented with a new problem, try to apply your past learning to the new problem. Learn the vocabulary of math. Often, a word used in math has a different meaning than that same word when used outside of math. For example, volume in math refers to the amount of space within a solid figure. Outside of math, volume can refer to a book or to loudness. Write new math words and terms and their math meanings in a special place in your notebook. Math is a subject that makes many students very anxious. As simple as it sounds, having confidence in yourself can reduce your anxiety.

These math study tips can help you succeed in math. But don't be too proud to seek help when you realize that you need more than tips such as these, and super effort to succeed.

What is Procrastination? Procrastination is putting off or avoiding doing something that must be done. It is natural to procrastinate occasionally. However, excessive procrastination can result in guilt feelings about not doing a task when it should be done. It can also cause anxiety since the task still needs to be done. Further, excessive procrastination can cause poor performance if the task is completed without sufficient time to do it well. In short, excessive procrastination can interfere with school and personal success. Why Do Students Procrastinate? There are many reasons why students procrastinate. Here are the most common reasons: 1. Perfectionism. A student's standard of performance may be so high for a task that it does not seem possible to meet that standard. 2. Fear of Failure. A student may lack confidence and fear that he/she will be unable to accomplish a task successfully. 3. Confusion. A student may be unsure about how to start a task or how it should be completed. 4. Task Difficulty. A student may lack the skills and abilities needed to accomplish a task. 5. Poor Motivation. A student may have little or no interest in completing a task because he/she finds the task boring or lacking in relevance. 6. Difficulty Concentrating. A student may have too many things around that distract him/her from doing a task. 7. Task Unpleasantness. A student may dislike doing what a task requires. 8. Lack of Priorities. A student may have little or no sense about which tasks are most important to do. (Machel Monday)

How Do I Know if I Procrastinate Excessively? You procrastinate excessively if you agree with five or more of the following statements: 1. I often put off starting a task I find difficult 2. I often give up on a task as soon as I start to find it difficult. 3. I often wonder why I should be doing a task. 4. I often have difficulty getting started on a task. 5. I often try to do so many tasks at once that I cannot do any of them. 6. I often put off a task in which I have little or no interest. 7. I often try to come up with reasons to do something other than a task I have to do. 8. I often ignore a task when I am not certain about how to start it or complete it. 9. I often start a task but stop before completing it. 10. I often find myself thinking that if I ignore a task, it will go away. 11. I often cannot decide which of a number of tasks I should complete first. 12. I often find my mind wandering to things other that the task on which I am trying to work.

What Can I Do About Excessive Procrastination? Here are some things you can do to control excessive procrastination. 1. Motivate yourself to work on a task with thoughts such as "There is no time like the present," or "Nobody's perfect." 2. Prioritize the tasks you have to do. 3. Commit yourself to completing a task once started. 4. Reward yourself whenever you complete a task. 5. Work on tasks at the times you work best. 6. Break large tasks into small manageable parts. 7. Work on tasks as part of a study group. 8. Get help from teachers and other students when you find a task difficult. 9. Make a schedule of the tasks you have to do and stick to it. 10. Eliminate distractions that interfere with working on tasks. 11. Set reasonable standards that you can meet for a task. 12. Take breaks when working on a task so that you do not wear down.

13. Work on difficult and/or unpleasant tasks first. 14. Work on a task you find easier after you complete a difficult task. 15. Find a good place to work on tasks. Above all, think positively and get going. Once you are into a task, you will probably find that it is more interesting than you thought it would be and not as difficult as you feared. You will feel increasingly relieved as you work toward its accomplishment and will come to look forward to the feeling of satisfaction you will experience when you have completed the task.

Motivating Yourself to Study If you find that you lack motivation to study, welcome to the club. Just about every student experiences this problem at one time or another. Motivation is important for good studying. When you are motivated, you will find it easy to stay focused over a period of time. When you are not motivated, you will not only find it difficult to stay focused, but you will find it difficult to get started in the first place. Here are some ways to increase your motivation to study. 1. Reward yourself for studying. For example, after a successful study session, have a treat like a nice big ice cream cone. Go crazy and add some cherries and nuts. 2. Study with your friends. Dont make it party time, but you can have fun as you do this. 3. Remind yourself of your long-term goals. Achievement of your goals likely requires educational success. Educational success requires studying. 4. Eliminate distractions. If you are surrounded by things you would rather do than study, you will probably do those things instead of studying. 5. Develop interest in what you have to study. This will make studying more enjoyable. 6. Take breaks. When you feel that you need to take a break, try to stop at a point where it is logical to stop. This will make it easier for you to resume studying after your break. 7. Establish a comfortable environment. You will be more inclined to study if you feel comfortable. 8. Establish reasonable goals for a study session. You probably wont get very far if you look at your study session as "mission impossible." 9. Use a motivational poster. Place the poster where you can see it as you study. The poster should include positive words and a picture depicting success. You can buy one or even make your own. You can also read inspirational stories about real people who have achieved success through effort. 10. Just do it. Once you do, you will feel a lot better than if you are worried about getting it done.

Whenever you experience difficulty sitting down to study, follow the suggestions above to motivate you to do what you have to do.