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Overview of

 I AM A GOOD STUDENT A Study Skills Program
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I AM A GOOD STUDENT - Presentation
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I AM A GOOD STUDENT - Handout

Overview of I AM A GOOD STUDENT A Study Skills Program


Teachers open the door...You enter by yourself.

Ancient Chinese Proverb

 

Introduction: I AM A GOOD STUDENT

The study skills program, I AM A GOOD STUDENT, is designed and formulated to be used with students in the regular education setting as well as with students who have learning special needs. As such, the concepts incorporate multisensory approaches with an added emphasis on organizational skills. The acronym I AM A GOOD STUDENT represents various ideas that are needed to achieve in successful academic situations and pursue goals needed to maximize one's life situation. Each letter of the title is developed and coordinated both for its concrete need as a study skill strategy and its greater place in the responsible enfolding of the youngsters' life situation. The triad of home, school, and student is developed, used, and encouraged throughout the program. Thus, enforcing the idea that the youngster does not and cannot achieve and maintain success without support from the home and the school.


I is for the INTEREST that is needed to enable a learner to experience what is in life and to open up potential vistas. In this section the youngster learns to see the direct application of what he or she is doing in school to the real world and his emerging place in that world. 


A is for the need to ACTIVATE and MOTIVATE. Children need to activate the desire to learn. This can be done by involving them in situations that demonstrate the challenge of learning and the rewards of accomplishment in such enterprises with their peers. Motivation results from an involvement in programs designed to demonstrate the pay offs of effective studying, which then results in better education, which then leads to better job opportunities and the resulting "better life". 


M is for the need to MANAGE one's time before, after and during a learning experience. Managing and taking control of the learning situation maximizes time utilization and provides space for recreational activities. 


A is for  AFFIRM with both verbal and non-verbal affirmations, that are needed to reconfirm the concept that each child is capable, valuable, worthy and good enough to put forth the effort needed to succeed in this program. 


G is for the need to GATHER the available information in the area of effective student learning and develop the necessary skills. 


O is for ORGANIZE. Youngsters need means and methods to organize desks, lockers, schedules and assignments. 


O (the second O) is for OUTLINE. A student will learn to outline textbooks, notes and various assignments. Skills are provided to develop this concept. 


D is for the need to DECIDE. The student is made to be aware of the fact that the choices are his or hers and in so doing directs their efforts in a positive way towards the use of effective studying methods. 


S is for STRATEGIZE, which provides the student with a means to learn strategies such as listening and textbook reading designed to assist studying. 


T is for TEST. In this section the student is exposed to test-taking techniques and methods for test preparations. 


U is for USE and UNDERSTANDING of the multisensory approaches stressed in this study skills program. 


D is for DO, DEVELOP and maintain good study skills and study habits. 


E is for EVALUATE by which students assess their progress in the appropriate use of the study skills techniques and their impact on the students' learning situations.


N is for NORMALIZE, which is ways to make proper and appropriate study skills a normal part of the students' lives with the hope that habituation occurs and these skills become habits. 


T is for TRY. The students are made to realize that an attempt to try these skills is viable and rewarding and in so doing they are offered the opportunity to train and discipline themselves to the ultimate benefits of good study habits. So that someday they can say: I AM A GOOD STUDENT!

Principles of Learning

Before we actually get into the program, learning principles that have evolved over the years need to be reiterated. These specific principles form the foundation upon which this program is built.

  • Learning happens when students feel a sense of satisfaction with what they are learning.
  • Learning matters to them. Learning is a means to accomplish certain purposes - stickers, grades, smiles on teaches’ faces, parental love and approval, social approbation, the prospect of adult success.
  • Learning happens when students have a sincere desire to remember what is learned.
  • Learning happens when students participate in the learning process and learn by doing. The "cognitive" aspects of learning have to be "done" by the students. This belief is related to the ancient proverb:

I hear and I forget

I see and I remember

I do and I understand.


  • Learning happens when it is related to previously learned material. Thus, we begin to build on our already existing knowledge.
  • Learning happens when individuals become aware of their progress.
  • Learning happens when material is repeated several times. The repetitions are not in the form of meaningless drill, but practice in meaningful situations.
  • Learning happens when students use a combination of the senses

Parent Involvement
Various research projects have proven that one of the secrets of super achieving students is the level and amount of parental involvement: 

  • From early on parents can instill in their children the love for learning. 

  • Parents can set high standards for their children and hold them to these standards. 

  • They can encourage their students to do their assignments but not do the work for them. 

  • Parents can "talk up" education and the important role it has played in their lives. 

  • Parents can show children by their example - turn off the television and read, schedule time for homework, share their experiences.

Activities for Parents Which Encourage Their Involvement

1. Demonstrate the advantages to be gained from appropriate learning through the playing of commercial or created games. This demonstrates the challenge of learning and the reward of accomplishment.

2. Parents can set excellent role models regarding the value and worth of education. Talk up school. Talk about positive experiences. Provide magazines, books, newspapers and other reading materials in the home. Conduct discussions of local, national, and global news. Be a role model for positive talk rather than purely negative talk concerning school and learning.

3. Establish a time for study - no TV. Either use the time for homework or for reading. Set consistent limits on study time - minimums and occasionally maximums.

4. Provide recreational and leisure outings - museums, zoos, cultural and historical sites. Learning is not restricted to a school environment but to all arenas of life.

5. Encourage on going education - learning is a lifelong process rather than a time limited format.

6. When assisting your children in their studies, remain as unemotional as possible. Remain steadfastly your children's advocate and protector.

7. Fully accept your child as he or she is. Modify your child's behavior but not your child. Please remember your child is not his or her grades.

8. Provide a physical environment conducive to learning.

9. Maintain a family calendar of activities

10. Affirm your children on a regular basis - catch them doing well and acknowledge it. By using these techniques, parents can greatly influence their youngsters’ feelings about themselves and their academic and life pursuits.

11. Help your children make choices through discussion, sharing of experiences and citing examples of good and poor choices that you as parents may have experienced.

12. Help your children schedule time to study for tests and use the appropriate test taking skills.

13. Once the study routine has been established, maintain a consistent schedule to make studying a habit.

14. Good study skills can only be valuable if they are used. TRY THEM
0 Websites to help further the goals of I AM A GOOD STUDENT


1. Buck County Community College-The Basics of Effective Learning: A community colleges website for students who need to improve their study skills which can be used by students in middle and high schools to get a head start on improving their skills. http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/studyskills.htm

 

2. Super Summary Reading Guides for Works of Fiction and Non-Fiction:  http://www.supersummary.com/

 

3. How to Study: Tips on Improving Study Habits for College http://www.howtostudy.org/

 

4. How to Study.com: Another How to site to build your study skills: http://www.how-to-study.com/

 

5. Infoplease Study Skills: A useful site to get expanded help in study skills: http://www.infoplease.com/homework/studyskills1.html


6. LessonPlanet.com: www.lessonplanet.com/ and then put in the Search Box: Study Skills.  You will get loads of templates to help your students to work at improving their study skills by better organizing themselves


7. Study Guides and Strategies: A treasure chest of guides and activities to enrich students learning at all grade levels http://www.studygs.net/


8. TeAchnology: Worksheets to assist students to expand their study skills with fun activities.       http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/time_savers/studyskills/


9. University of Redlands: Academic Skills Worksheets: for students entering college: http://www.redlands.edu/student-life/7266.aspx


10. Wikipedia Study Skills Guide  use this online encyclopedia to build your study skills and at the same time to acquaint you with this huge online resource http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_skills
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Handout Overview of I AM A GOOD STUDENT Program