Re: Study Skills Class?
Posted by Sara on 10/09/08
I strongly agree with you - common sense is my guide more than
research. Our 'study skills' classes were as dreaded as they
were ineffective.
And here's why they were ineffective I think - the traditional
approach to 'study skills' adds more steps to the process that
is school and preparing for it. Kids are already challenged
by the 'normal' number of steps in the process - weak kids,
kids with weak skills are particularly challenged. When we
add more steps, it only makes things more complicated, more
obtuse and more challenging, not less challenging.
Our 'study skills' teacher would take my weak kids - who had
great trouble taking notes for various reasons - and she'd
tell them to take more notes than the strong kids... well, if
they could do that, they might not be such weak students.
She'd tell them to underline even more sentences in their
books, to read all the bubbles and sideline blurbs in the
text, to review their extensive notes every night not just in
the week before the test etc. etc.
What's groundbreaking about any of that?? On top of not being
able to even more, now these kids were doing poorly in 'study
skills' class too.
I could go at too great a length - sorry - I hope your school
does a better job with it.
> Hi All,
> We are being told that next year we'll be adding a study
> skills class to our school offerings. ALL students--6th,
> 7th, and 8th--will be taking a study skills class each
> day. Don't get me wrong--I think study skills are
> important. That said, I'm not a fan of this artificial,
> packaged way to teach it. In my mind, it seems to make
> the most sense to integrate study skills and strategies
> right into the curriculum. Do any of you know of current
> research regarding integrating study skills into the
> curriculum and its success? I am going to start some
> research, but I figured I'd ask here first to see if
> anyone is a guru in this area.
>
> Thanks for your help!
> drea
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Study Skills Class?, 10/07/08, by drea.
- Re: Study Skills Class?, 10/09/08, by Sara.
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