Laura

phonics

elementary (k-6th)

elementary science

study skills

I presently tutor with college students who I help with study skills in writing classes. I have taken workshops on study skills. I have substituted in public schools for three years where I encountered relaying study skills to students who needed help. I have home schooled one of my children for the secondary grades 8-11. Study skills were largely a part of my job as the main head teacher while administrating home based learning. I have done note taking in classes for others who need help with their note taking and study skills. A person’s learning style will greatly influence the type of study skills that need to be implemented for academic success. Listening to audio resources for an audio learner would be a great study skill. Reading related outside sources would be a good study skill to apply for visual learners. Kinetic learners would benefit from watching and helping a mechanic fix a car, which might be something they have learned from a book in class. I am working on a teaching certificate and have had various teacher training classes which broach the subject of study skills quite often. Planning your time is one key to academic success. The best advice I ever received about study skills came from a teacher who required that each of her student’s get a calendar and write down the daily activity of their lives by the hour for two weeks. Most people will find in doing this that they have over scheduled their life or they are wasting a lot of valuable time. By looking at a calendar and actually seeing the hours of our lives scheduled, we can make more realistic decisions about the use of our time. This simple task allows us to take a closer look at time we use for working and leisure. The best way to go about this is to write the time of each class and the amount of time you think you will need to study for that class. Developing good study habits actually involves paying attention to the small things, and making the necessary changes. Get plenty of rest, eat right and plan some relaxation time. This brings a balance to life and produces better results from what we do spend time doing. Implement specific strategies in specific study skills. Sometimes the methods we use in studying are not suitable for the subject, or they are not the most affective learning tool for our personal learning style. Using class time wisely is a good first step. Use the time given in class to complete an assignment. The teacher and other learning resources are readily available for questions and research. Many teachers offer some class time to work on assignments as well as study hall times made available in order to finish homework within the school day. The next thing I mention may sound obvious, but many times students don’t do this. Read the book or reading assigned. Also, if you miss class, make sure you get the assignment from the teacher or another student. Skipping assignments mean missed points and missing points causes a drop in grades. Begin to study for tests early in each chapter. Time allows accumulation of knowledge and re thinking over the subject from many different perspectives which brings a deeper understanding of the subject. Use tutors and other study helps on line or from the library in order to get a better grasp on the meaning of your subject. Make your hardest class you priority class. Give it the most time for studying. Ask other students questions. Sometimes a concept explained from a peer’s point of view is much easier to grasp. Ask questions in class and take many notes. We don’t always remember what we think we will. Notes are a great reference for triggering memory. Study your notes many times before a test. Repetition is one of the keys to learning. Work with a winning attitude. Attitude really affects the outcome of success or failure. The wrong study atmosphere doesn’t produce good grades no matter how much time you put into it. After you have scheduled your study time, find a comfortable place to study with all the supplies you need for reference. Take breaks from studying over long hours. A 10 minute break is suggested for every hour of solid, intense study. Some people study better with partners and others would rather study alone. Some people study better while listening to music and some prefer silence. Find what works for you and follow it. If there is something you do not seem to understand or you are struggling with the subject in general ask the teacher to spend little time outside of class to explain it to you or find a tutor. Get plenty of rest the night before a test. The morning of the test, spend a very short amount of time reviewing such as fifteen minutes. Place the books and studying aside and set your mind to perform well.

spelling

proofreading

English

literature

I have taken various literature classes and am presently a writing tutor at a local community college. My job involves helping students write interpretive essays on a variety of literary works on a regular basis.

writing

I have been an English writing tutor at a local community college since March 2011. Many students have returned to me to report very high grades after having tutored them in writing their college essays. I am capable of teaching all ages how to write since I have taught writing preparations and formats while substituting in local public schools for K-12 since 2008.

Spanish

reading

grammar

vocabulary