HOMEWORK SKILLS

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HOMEWORK SKILLS
STUDY SKILLS
EXAM WRITING SKILLS
TIPS ON HOW TO APPROACH IMPROVE PREPARED
BY CRAIG M. SMITH DESIGN REVISIONS BY SHAWNA
CROMWELL MATERIALS COMPLIED BY BLACK LEARNERS
ADVISORY COMMITEE HALIFAX NORTH END MEMORIAL
LIBRARY
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• MacDonald's
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• Tim Hortons
• Macdonald Chisholm Trask Insurance

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HOW DO YOU STUDY??
THE BEST WAY TO STUDY IS WITH AS FEW
DISTRACTIONS AS POSSIBLE LIKE
NO WATCHING TV
NO LISTENING TO MUSIC
NO PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES
DONT LEAVE YOUR HOMEWORK UNTIL THE MORNING,
BEFORE YOU GO TO SCHOOL.
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MAKE SURE THAT YOU BRING YOUR HOMEWORK HOME WITH
YOU.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF A QUESTION DONT BE AFRAID
TO CALL A CLASSMATE.
HAVE A DICTIONARY AROUND WHEN DOING YOUR
HOMEWORK.
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IF YOU CANT DO YOUR HOMEWORK AT HOME, USE THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY. ALSO FORMING A STUDY GROUP IS A
GOOD IDEA. SOMETIMES PEOPLE WORK BETTER IN A
GROUP.
HOME
LIBRARY
DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR EXTRA HELP OR USE A
TUTORING PROGRAM.
A TUTORING PROGRAM CAN HELP BRING UP YOUR GRADES.
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HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TEST OR EXAM, BEFORE THE
TEST OR EXAM
1. ALWAYS TRY TO DO YOUR VERY BEST. CONSIDER A
TEST LIKE A MINI EXAM. STUDY AND PREPARE FOR
EACH TEST THAT YOU TAKE LIKE YOU WOULD FOR AN
EXAM.
2. LOOK UP KEY POINTS THAT ARE NOT CLEAR TO YOU
ABOUT ANY SUBJECT.
3. IF THERE IS A REVIEW OF MATERIAL IN CLASS,
THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS.
3. REMEMBER THE 3-Rs OF TESTS AND EXAMS READ,
RECITE (MEANING SAY YOUR LESSON OUT LOUD) AND
REVIEW YOUR NOTES.
4. THE MORE THAT YOU REVIEW YOUR MATERIAL
THROUGHOUT THE TERM, THE FRESHER IT WILL BE IN
YOUR MIND WHEN TEST/EXAM DAY ARRIVES.
5. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST TRY AND GET A GOOD
NIGHTS SLEEP.
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WHAT TO DO THE DAY OF THE TEST OR EXAM
1. GET THERE EARLY. ITS HARD TO WRITE A TEST OR
EXAM IF YOU FEEL RUSHED. THEN RELAX AND FOCUS ON
THE TEST OR EXAM.
2. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS OVER CAREFULLY BEFORE
YOU BEGIN.
3. LOOK OVER THE TEST OR EXAM FROM START TO
FINISH BEFORE YOU WRITE ANYTHING.
4. ANSWER THE QUESTION OR QUESTIONS THAT ARE
EASIEST FOR YOU FIRST. THEN SPEND MORE TIME ON
QUESTIONS THAT ARE WORTH MORE POINTS.
5. WHEN YOU ARE FINSIHED YOUR TEST OR EXAM CHECK
OVER ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS.
6. IF YOU FINISH EARLY TAKE THE TIME TO DOUBLE
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.
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WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU GET YOUR TEST OR EXAM BACK
1. WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN BACK YOUR TEST OR EXAM
READ THE TEACHERS COMMENTS CAREFULLUY. THIS
WILL HELP TO SEE WHERE YOU WENT WRONG AND ALSO
HELP YOU FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.
2. SAVE ALL OF YOUR TESTS FOR YOUR EXAM REVIEW.
3. ASK YOUR TEACHER ABOUT ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT YOUR TEST.
4. DONT BE AFRAID TO TALK WITH YOUR TEACHER
ABOUT YOUR TEST OR EXAM. ASK YOUR TEACHER WHY
YOU DID NOT DO SO WELL ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS. AND
WHAT YOU LIKED OR DISLIKED ABOUT THE TEST OR EXAM.
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HOW TO ASK YOUR TEACHER FOR HELP

• CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND
  YOUR TEACHER
• BEFORE THE START OF MORNING CLASSES
• DIRECTLY AFTER CLASS
• DURING CLASS IF THERE IS TIME
• DURING YOUR LUNCH PERIOD

WHEN?
2. YOUR TEACHER WILL MEET WITH YOU IN THE
CLASSROOM.
WHERE?
HOW?

• 3. HOW TO ASK YOUR TEACHER
• FIRST THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO ASK.
• THEN WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS.
• BE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE.
• REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH
  YOU.

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HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR SCHOOL BINDER
NEAT
MESSY
HERE ARE A FEW INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW
1. FOR A 3-RING BINDER USE A SUBJECT DIVIDER. IF
YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE 3-RING BINDER USE A
SUBJECT DIVIDER FOR EACH SUBJECT.
2. LABEL EACH BINDER OR SUBJECT DIVIDER WITH THE
SUBJECT NAMES SO CAN EASILY FIND THEM. COLOR
CODING IS GOOD FOR EXAMPLE -IS
ALWAYS GREEN -IS ALWAYS
BLUE
FRENCH
MATH
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• 3. KEEP A COPY OF YOUR TIMETABLE IN FRONT YOUR
  DAILY BINDER SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF
  CLASSES AND BE PREPARED.

• PUT ABOUT 20 PAGES OF LOOSE LEAF IN EACH
  SECTION OF YOUR BINDER. PUT A FEW PAGES OF PLAIN
  PAPER AT THE BACK OF BINDER FOR SCRAP PAPER TO
  USE FOR (DIAGRAMS, GRAPHS, OR MATH QUESTIONS).

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5. WRITE DOWN YOUR DAILY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND
THEIR DUE DATES ALL IN ONE PLACE IN THE FRONT
PART OF YOUR BINDER. (OR) IN A SEPARATE
NOTEPAD. KEEP A CALENDER AT HOME TO MARK DOWN
DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS, AND TO KEEP TRACK OF
UPCOMING TEST, EXAMS, AND HOLIDAY DATES.
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WHATS THE DEAL WITH HOMEWORK ANYWAY?!

1. HOMEWORK EXPLAINS IDEAS TAUGHT IN CLASS.

2. HOMEWORK IS GIVEN TO COVER A TOPIC NOT COVERED
IN CLASS. MAYBE A SET OF MATH QUESTIONS.
3. HOMEWORK IS GIVEN TO PRACTICE SKILLS TAUGHT IN
CLASS.
4. HOMEWORK IS GIVEN TO GET READY FOR TESTS AND
EXAMS.
5. HOMEWORK IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE A CHANCE FOR
SELF-EXPRESSION (THIS MEANS YOUR OWN PERSONAL
MARK, FOR EXAMPLE WRITING A SHORT STORY FOR
ENGLISH CLASS, NO ONE ELSE WILL WRITE THE SAME
STORY THAT YOU DO).
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WHAT IS A COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT??

• THE ASSIGNMENT FOLLOWS THE TEACHERS
  INSTRUCTIONS.

2. THE ASSIGNMENT IS NEAT COMPLETE (ALL
QUESTIONS FINISHED) HANDED IN ON TIME (ON THE
DUE DATE)
3. A COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT ALSO MAKES YOU FEEL
GOOD AND BUILDS SELF-CONFIDENCE.
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE TEACHERS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT ASK.
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HOW IMPORTANT IS BREAKFAST??
BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE
DAY.
WHEN YOU DONT EAT BREAKFAST YOU LACK THE BRAIN
POWER TO STUDY AND CONCENTRATE IN CLASS. BY
NOT EATING BREAKFAST YOU MAY NOT TAKE IN ALL THAT
IS BEING TAUGHT IN CLASS.
EATING BREAKFAST WILL LEAVE YOU FEELING MORE
ENERGIZED AND FUELED FOR THE DAY.
YOU WILL PERFORM BETTER ON TESTS AND EXAMS AND
YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL WILL IMPROVE.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 TITLE
PAGE PAGE(S) 2-4 STUDY
DISTRACTIONS/STUDY HABITS PAGE 5 HOW TO
PREPARE FOR A TEST OR EXAM BEFORE THE
TEST/EXAM PAGE 6 WHAT
TO DO THE DAY OF THE TEST OR EXAM PAGE 7
WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU GET YOUR TEST OR EXAM
BACK PAGE 8
HOW TO ASK YOUR TEACHER FOR HELP PAGE(S) 9-11
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR
SCHOOL BINDER PAGE 12
WHATS THE DEAL WITH HOMEWORK ANYWAY?! PAGE 13
WHAT IS A
COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT?? PAGE 14
HOW IMPORTANT IS
BREAKFAST?? PAGE(S) 15-16
STUDY HABITS CHECKLIST PAGE
17 WHY IS CLASSROOM
DISCUSSION IMPORTANT?? PAGE(S) 18-19
WHY IS TAKING NOTES IMPORTANT?? AND
HOW TO TAKE NOTES IN CLASS

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• STUDY HABITS CHECKLIST
• (CIRCLE YES (OR) NO)
• DO YOU ALWAYS STUDY IN THE SAME PLACE? (YES NO)
• IS YOUR STUDY AREA QUIET? (YES NO)
• DO YOU LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU PLAN TO
  STUDY SO YOU HAVE NO DISTRACTIONS? (YES NO)
• IS YOUR STUDY AREA PROPERLY LITE? (YES NO)
• IS YOUR STUDY AREA AT A COMFORTABLE WORKING
  TEMPERATURE? (YES NO)
• IS THE CHAIR THAT YOU USE FOR STUDYING
  COMFORTABLE? (YES NO)
• DO YOU START YOUR HOMEWORK AT THE SAME TIME EACH
  DAY? (YES NO)
• DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES ON
  HAND (PENS, PENCILS, BOOKS, LOOSE LEAF, ETC.)
  WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR HOMEWORK? (YES NO)
• DO YOU MAKE SURE THE TV IS OFF, THE STERO IS OFF,
  AND THE COMPUTER IS OFF IN YOUR STUDY AREA? (YES
  NO)
• DO YOU HAVE YOUR HOMEWORK WRITTEN DOWN IN THE
  FRONT OF YOUR BINDER (OR) IN A NOTEBOOK? (YES
  NO)
• DO YOU START YOUR HOMEWORK AS SOON AS YOU GET
  HOME FROM SCHOOL? (YES NO)
• DO YOU USUALLY FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK EARLY IN THE
  EVENING? (YES NO)
• DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN DESK OR TABLE TO STUDY AT?
  (YES NO)
• DO YOU TAKE SHORT STUDY BREAKS (5 MINUTES)? (YES
  NO)

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• 15. DO YOU DO THE HOMEWORK IN LEAST FAVORITE
  SUBJECT FIRST AND DO THE HOMEWORK IN YOUR BEST
  SUBJECT LAST? (YES NO)
• 16. DO YOU HAVE A SEPARATE BINDER OR BOX TO PUT
  ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED
  BACK TO YOU, TO USE FOR REVIEW LATER? (YES NO)
• 17 DO YOU REVIEW YOUR SUBJECT NOTES EACH NIGHT?
• (YES NO)
• NOW TOTAL THE NUMBER OF (YES) ANSWERS YOU
  CIRCLED.
• (TOTAL (YES) )
• NOW TOTAL THE NUMBER OF (NO) ANSWERS YOU
  CIRCLED.
• TOTAL (NO) )
• A) IF YOU SCORED (13 TO 17 (YES) ANSWERS)
• YOU HAVE GOOD STUDY HABITS.
• B) IF YOU SCORED ( 9 TO 12 (YES) ANSWERS)
• YOUR STUDY HABITS NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT READ
  OVER THE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL AND SEE WHERE YOU
  NEED IMPROVEMENT.
• C) IF YOU SCORED ( 8 OR LESS (YES) ANSWERS)
• READ OVER THE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL AND TALK WITH
  YOUR TEACHER ABOUT WHERE YOU NEED TO FOCUS.

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WHY IS CLASSROOM DISCUSSION IMPORTANT??
SHARING IS GOOD
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY IS IMPORTANT, BY SHARING
YOUR IDEAS AND OPINIONS IN A CLASSROOM DISCUSSION
GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND ALSO
HEAR YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES IDEAS AND OPINIONS.
PUTTING DOWN CLASSMATES ENDS A HEALTHLY
DISCUSSION
IN A CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ALL INPUT IS GOOD. NO
QUESTION (OR) SUGGESTION IS DUMB. IF YOU FEEL
THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE SHOT DOWN YOU ARE LESS
LIKELY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.
LISTENING AND RESPECTING ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
BY KEEPING AN OPEN MIND TO YOUR CLASSMATES IDEAS
AND OPINIONS MAKES FOR A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE
CLASSROOM DISCUSSION.
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WHY IS TAKING NOTES IMPORTANT??
TAKING NOTES HELPS YOU REMEMBER THE IMPORTANT
POINTS FOR A TEST OR EXAM.
TAKING NOTES HELPS YOU THINK, CONCENTRATE, AND
ORGANIZE MORE CLEARLY FOR TESTS AND EXAMS.
HOW TO TAKE NOTES IN CLASS WRITE DOWN ONLY THE
IMPORTANT POINTS (YOUR TEACHER MAY STRESS THAT
CERTAIN PARTS OF THE LESSON ARE IMPORTANT POINTS
TO REMEMBER). WHEN WRITING NOTES IN POINT FORM
USE YOUR OWN WORDS. USE SHORT FORMS TO SAVE
TIME EXAMPLE FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2003 (LONG
VERSION) FRI. MAR. 7/03 (SHORT VERSION) USE
NUMBERING WHEN NEEDED EXAMPLE 1)
LIQUID 2) ICE 3) . . . . . . .? PAGE 18
THE DATE
WATER CAN BE FOUND IN THREE FORMS...
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PUT HEADINGS ABOVE IMPORTANT POINTS AND
UNDERLINE THE HEADING. HEADING 1). . . . . . .
. 2). . . . . . . . 3). . . . . . . . 4).
. . . . . . . 5). . . . . . . . (IMPORTANT
POINTS) PAGE 19