so….
if you have five little sessions of studding
as opposed to one big one….. you have five middles.

index cards are great. question on front, answer back
do fill in bank true and false. NEvER do ones with multiple choice…reason being if only one out of four answers is right, you are unconciously picking uo the wrong answers and remembering them as well

go to the first couple of pages of your textbook. many have an onlne cource companinoin and if your subject is say early colonization you can read online in more detail and pick up same info in better detail and maybe in a way that clicks with you more

It looks long with 9 steps, BUT its really really short. The steps are quick and can always be skipped. Especially the calming song and snack, the AIM-ing question game, the index card review and whatever else.

FIRST: Take the time (about 3 minutes) to listen to a relaxing song. I like Yesterday, the lullaby version with out words.

WHILE: listening to the song, I eat raw vegitables or a packet of 100 calorie almonds. I pick a healthy drink.(like green tea, hot or cold, carbonated water with lemon or lime, or water). Maybe, if I want an energy boost that’s still semi-healthy I drink a FUZE with Super Citrimax and Vitamin C.

SECOND: I read through my notes, very very quickly, skimming mostly and reading what I do not understand at all.

THIRD: I make a “question list” or as my previous history teacher called it “an identify and explian answer” list. It sounds more complecated then it is, so let me show you. (using History of course because this is where I learned the method first):
—————————————————————————
What is the Greek word for city-state?
- polis

What three components did most city-states have?
-fort
-city
-the lands and small farming villages that provided its food

What thee things was the concept of a polis was based on?
1. geographical territory
2. community it represented
3. political and economical independence that it produced

Over time, what did the Greek polis come to represent?
-center of Greek identity

What did Greeks see a polis as?
-self-sufficient
-independent

In what four ways were the Greek city-states were alike?
1. covered small areas of land
2. populations of fewer than 10,000 people
3. original forts built on acropolis
4. each had an agora

——————————————————————————

FOURTH: I study by repitition. Sometimes with a “in person” study buddy. Sometimes alone with my dog at the foot of my bed.

FIFTH: I make acronyms along the side of the paper when I come up with them, I always use numbers or letters to help remind me there are “this many” things to know and remember for this question.

SIXTH: After I am done studying from the questions, I use an index card to cover the answer (which is why the answer is always below and NOT next to the question). I usually study in 30 to 50 minute study periods.

SEVENTH: After I think I thouroughly know the questions and answers, I read the chapters quickly as I can out load, it helps me to remember the little details and is helpful for essays unprepared, unknown and “on the spot” during a test.

EIGHTH: Next I Instant Message a friend back and forth the questions and the answers. WITHOUT USING MY NOTES.

NINTH: I reread my notes.

I am done and take the copy of questions with me to class and reread them whenever I have a chance.

Colorcoding is great too.

Yellow: people
Blue: wars
Green: events
Purple: why it is important today
Orange: dates

If you like index cards you can paste the question and answer unto an index card so its semi neat.

GOOD LUCK! Hope this helps.

Pros:
- If you’re tired you have someone to “pull” you
- You get to repeat everything a couple of times, at the speed you’d never achieve if you were studying alone
- You get to think of techniques to remember things together (mnemonics, songs, stupid ideas, silly drawings), and share ideas which might not come to anyone on their own
- You waste no time dragging around the house/checking E-mail/talking on the phone, and you leave that to after studying.
- You must be sure to bring a camera, because funny things happen, especially when all the people are exhausted from work

Cons:
- It might be difficult if you have different goals (for example if you aim for different marks)
- It might be difficult if someone in the group has so little previous knowledge, but only so if they can’t learn on the way
- It might be difficult to find an environment that suits all the people
- You have to think about feeding all the people and if someone has to prepare food for a whole day of studying, be sure to help him/her around (and make sure it’s the food that is easy enough to make and that everyone likes)

So, with exams consisting of 600 pages on average (from 300 to a bit over a thousand), and of between one and three books, it seems that I’ve master the craft of making something – just plain too long

Acting things out, singing rhymes, writing out connections, developing a phrase that is unique to you
are fun ways to tickle those neurons into coming through for you.

Good luck. May you find that this is a great and fun way to invest in lifelong learning!