World Almanac for Kids
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/
Once I jumped off the very busy home page, I found this almanac very
easy to use. Students can find
information about animals, inventions, space, sports, and research who was
born on their birthday.
Encarta Homework Help
http://encarta.msn.com/homework/
Nestled among how-to-get-help-with-your-homework articles, are a
handful of short features on improving your study skills. My favorites are How to Memorize Almost Anything ("Break
the list into small manageable groups or chunks.") and How to Do More
Work in Less Time ("Remove distractions, such as TV, games, or people
who might disturb you.") Although
I remember doing homework with the television on, as a mom I rail against my
kids when I see them trying to do the same.
Homework Helper: Study Skills
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/studyskills1.html
"There is no secret to being a good student -- all it takes is
a lot of hard work!" But
to ensure that your hard work is productive, first dive into these three
great articles from Information Please: Taking Notes, Reading Textbooks,
Studying for Tests. I was never
taught study skills (am I showing my age here?) but as I read this advice, I
did recognize a few tactics from my own arsenal. For example, I always
browse through a book (or textbook) before reading it. Apparently, getting
an overview of the material first increases retention.
How to Study
http://www.how-to-study.com/
Peter Canavan, a Florida teacher and guidance counselor, divides
his recommendations into ten sections.
In addition to listening and reading comprehension, How to Study
includes three sections on using index cards for learning vocabulary (make
your own flash cards), writing a research paper (use one for each
bibliographic source) and public speaking (write a single idea on each
card.) Even in these days of electronic information, the versatile index
card survives and thrives!
University of North Carolina: Study Habits & the Ten Traps
http://www.unc.edu/depts/unc_caps/TenTraps.html
The appeal of top ten lists is universal, and the Ten Traps of
Studying doesn't disappoint. Here's one I remember from college: "I'm
Gonna Stay Up All Night 'til I Get This."
Unfortunately exhaustion takes its toll both physically and mentally,
and recall improves when study time is spread out over time (not crammed
into a single session.) Whenever you study, remember to take plenty of
breaks; the experts seem to agree on ten minutes every hour.
