Study Skills for KS3

[MoverOfPaper]

Does anyone have recommendations for books on how to study? DD is in KS3 and would like to know the proper way of studying. I’m not sure if there is a proper way? She’d like to know how to take notes, both from PowerPoints, where the slide is detailed and only on the screen for a few seconds, and from teacher talk, where the teacher speeds along!
She would like to know if you can revise maths, or you just keep practicing it. And then finally, is making revision cards useful?

I have seen study books for undergraduates but I think she maybe needs something simpler. Maybe she doesn’t need books at all and a website is the way?

I know what I did but I don’t want to
tell her the wrong way, if there’s a correct way.

I would ask the school but it would mean asking so many subject teachers that it seems an insurmountable ask!

This book was recommended to me for DD who had similar questions and she has found it very useful.

The Only Study Guide You'll Ever Need: Simple tips, tricks and techniques to help you ace your studies and pass your exams! https://amzn.eu/ds0nYtt

I'm a Science teacher and for most students, I always recommend YouTube videos as the best way to study; particularly when you are learning something new or something you haven't mastered yet.

Then, assess your knowledge by completing low-stake quizzes (BBC bitesize have some good ones) and assess understanding by answering questions (explain, describe, evaluate etc). These can be found in revision guides.

Most revision guides already condense the information required, so I think note taking is a waste of time. But it does help some people if they're practicing things like definitions to key terms or drawing diagrams.

Speak to your child's form tutor or head of year. Ask them to email your child's teachers on your behalf and then get back to you with all the info on one email.

Also, the teacher shouldn't just be 'speeding along'. They need to ensure their students have a clear understanding before moving on to next part of the lesson.

If your child is unsure about what to write down during lessons, just tell them to ask. The teacher will clarify.

And if there's something they don't understand, make sure they let the teacher know.

I’ll buy that book for her, thanks.

A good idea to ask DDs form tutor to liaise too. I’ve not really worked out home to school communication yet. The few times I’ve done it, it’s been by email and that’s worked. I think we’re supposed to send messages via a diary though, sort of like those reading records. DD won’t let me though!

I can imagine teachers aren’t supposed to speed through things but DD says they do. That might not be the case! I’ve told her just to say she doesn’t understand but she can’t possibly do that because of reasons. I don’t envy the teachers!

Speeding through can sometimes happen, but the teacher should be checking for understanding at multiple points during the lesson.

I would feel so awful if any of my students didn't feel comfortable telling me they don't understand something or to go slower.

Please, please speak to someone at school if your child is struggling and can't let the teacher know. They can make the teachers aware about keeping a closer eye on your daughter without making it obvious to her!

Oh thanks Marmee. I will tell the form tutor then.

DD has also suddenly told me she’s finding reading difficult. As in she reads slowly and she finds it difficult to digest meaning. I’m a bit freaked by this as I’ve always thought of her as a good reader. This does seem to be adding to her problems. Why it’s just now in Y9 that she’s found this issue I don’t know.

All the tutors are supposed to know that DD finds social skills difficult but I think there are different levels of understanding between teachers. Thinking about it some of the teachers are new to DD this year so it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve not been told.