Schools in Zimbabwe are scheduled to open on the 9th of January for the first term of 2023 hence the need to list some tips learners can use to have a successful term. Pindula News presents below 12 tips that were first published by princetoreview.com
1. You don’t need ONE study space
A well-stocked desk in a quiet place at home is key, but sometimes you need variety. Coffee shops, libraries, parks, or even just moving to the kitchen table will give you a change of scenery which can prompt your brain to retain information better.
2. Track more than HW in your school planner
Keeping a calendar helps you plan ahead, but you’ve got more going on than just homework assignments! Make sure you’re marking your extracurricular work, and social commitments too. (Tests, games, and holidays are just a few examples of reminders for your planner.)
3. Start small
If you’ve got a big assignment looming, for example, CALAs or a research paper, stay motivated by completing a piece of the project every few days. Write one paragraph each night. Or, do 5 algebra problems from your problem set at a time, and then take a break.
4. School supplies (alone) don’t make you organised
Come up with a system and keep to it. Do you keep one big binder for all your classes with colour-coded tabs? Or do you prefer to keep separate notebooks and a folder for handouts? Keep the system simple, if it’s too fancy or complicated, you are less likely to keep it up every day.
5. Get into a routine
When will you make the time to do your homework every day? Find the time of day that works best for you (this can change day-to-day, depending on your schedule!), and make a plan to hit the books.
6. Learn how to create a distraction-free zone
A study on workplace distractions found that it takes workers an average of 25 minutes to return to what they were working on pre-interruption. Try turning off your phone notifications or blocking social media (temporarily) on your computer so you can concentrate on the homework tasks at hand.
7. Get real
When you’re looking at the homework you have to get done tonight, be realistic about how long things actually take. Gauging that reading a history chapter will take an hour and writing a response will take another 30 minutes will help you plan how you spend your time.
8. Use class time wisely
Is your teacher finished lecturing, but you still have 10 minutes of class left? Get a jump on your chemistry homework while it’s still fresh in your mind. Or use the time to ask your teacher about concepts that were not clear the first time.
9. Look over your notes each night to make sure you’ve got it
Fill in details, edit the parts that don’t make sense, and star or highlight the bits of information that you know are most important. Interacting with your notes will help you remember them. You can also use Homework Help to get your questions answered 24/7.
10. Study a little every day
Cramming might work in the short term, but when comes time to study for midterms, you’ll be back at square 1. You need to review the terms later for you to store them for a long period of time.
11. Don’t let a bad grade keep you down
A rough start to the term doesn’t have to sink your grade point average. Take proactive steps by checking your grades regularly online and getting a tutor if you need one.
12. Make a friend in every class
Find a few people you can contact from each of your classes if you have a homework question or had to miss class (and do the same for them!). Then when it comes time to study for exams, you’ll already have a study group.