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!
