Student Academic Success Strategies

Icon:

Nameplate:

Developer Settings

Tool Key:

checklist

Tool Configuration:

{"tool":"checklist","version":2,"description":"Success in school depends on the student acquiring effective 'academic survival' skills such as study skills, time management, and homework completion. The Academic Survival Skills Checklist Maker is a free application that allows teachers, students, and parents to assemble 'how to' checklists that can be used to train students in essential academic-support skills. These checklists are a great way to promote student independence and accountability! (For suggestions on how to use these checklists, download Jim Wright's <a href=\"../../sites/default/files/pdfs/pdfs_tools/wright_Common_Core_acad_survival_skills_checklist_overview.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Academic Survival Skills Checklists: 5 Ways to Help Students to Become Effective Self-Managing Learners</a>.)","directions":"Click <a href=\"../../sites/default/files/pdfs/pdfs_tools/Wright_2012_Academic_Survival_Skills_Checklist_Maker_Manual.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">HERE</a> to download the full <a href=\"../../sites/default/files/pdfs/pdfs_tools/Wright_2012_Academic_Survival_Skills_Checklist_Maker_Manual.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Academic Survival Skills Checklist Maker manual</a>. \n<ul>\n<li>To browse 'academic survival skill' elements, select any of the categories from the 'Select Checklist' drop-down menu. Survival-skill ideas for the selected category will then load into the 'Selected Checklist' box. Click on the arrow next to survival-skill ideas that you would like to add to your customized survival-skill checklist and those ideas will load into the 'Your Checklist' box. Items in this box will go into your plan.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li>You can edit or add your own notes to any survival-skill idea in the 'Your Checklist' box by clicking the 'edit' button that appears next to it. A window will open and you will be able to make your edits or  type in your notes. </li>\n<li>When you are ready to download your customized academic survival-skills checklist, you can do so by clicking on the tabs of the report choices below. You can download PDF or RTF (Microsoft-Word-ready) documents and can email these documents to others.  You can also apply a unique name to any checklist that you create by typing that name into the 'Report Title' box that appears near the bottom of the page under 'Printing Options'.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li>If you have already created a free account on Intervention Central, you can save your customized academic survival-skill checklist to that account. Just click the 'Save' button at the top of the page.</li>\n</ul>","abbreviation":true,"lists":[{"editable":true,"title":"Homework","description":"Homework includes ideas to assist in correctly and consistently completing assigned homework in a timely manner.","items":[{"text":"WRITE DOWN HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS CORRECTLY. Make sure that you have copied down your homework assignment(s) correctly and completely. If necessary, approach the instructor before leaving the classroom to seek clarification about the homework assignment.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"ASSEMBLE ALL NECESSARY HOMEWORK MATERIALS. Make a list of those school work materials that you will need for that night's homework assignments and ensure that you have them before going home. School materials may include the course text, copies of additional assigned readings, your class notes, and partially completed assignments that are to be finished as homework. Additionally, monitor your work supplies at home (e.g., graph paper, pens, printer cartridges) and replenish them as needed. ","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"USE AVAILABLE SCHOOL TIME TO GET A START ON HOMEWORK. Take advantage of open time in school (e.g., time given in class, study halls, etc) to get a start on your homework. Getting a head start on homework in school can reduce the amount of time needed to complete that work later in the day. Also, if you start homework in school and run into problems, you have a greater chance of being able to seek out a teacher or fellow student to resolve those problems proactively and thus successfully complete that assignment.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"CREATE AN OPTIMAL HOMEWORK SPACE. Create an organized space at home for getting homework done. The space can be temporary (e.g., kitchen table) or permanent (e.g., a desk in your bedroom). It should be quiet, well-lit, and include a table or desk large enough to lay out your work materials and a comfortable chair. ","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"SCHEDULE A REGULAR HOMEWORK TIME. Homework is easier to complete if you set aside sufficient time in your schedule to do it. If possible, your daily routine should include a standing time when any homework is to be done. In deciding when to schedule a homework period, consider such factors as when your energy level is highest, when surrounding distractions are less likely to occur, and when shared resources such as a computer or printer may be available for your use.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"DEVELOP A DAILY HOMEWORK PLAN. Before beginning your homework each day, take a few minutes to review all of your homework assignments and to develop a work plan. Your plan should include a listing of each homework task and an estimate of how long it will take to complete that task. It is a good rule of thumb to select the most difficult homework task to complete first, when your energy and concentration levels are likely to be at their peak. At the conclusion of your homework session, review the plan, check off all completed tasks, and reflect on whether your time estimates were adequate for the various tasks.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"DO NOT PROCRASTINATE ON LARGER HOMEWORK TASKS. Some homework assignments (e.g., term papers) require substantial work and successful completion of several related sub-tasks before attaining the final goal. It is a mistake to put off these larger assignments until the night before they are due. Instead, when first assigned a comprehensive task, break that task down into appropriate sub-tasks. Next to each sub-task, list a target date for completion. When compiling a daily homework plan, include any sub-tasks with upcoming due dates. Monitor your progress to ensure that you remain on schedule to complete the larger assignment on time.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"USE HOMEWORK SUPPORTS SUPPLIED BY YOUR TEACHER. Make use of homework guides or resources of any kind offered by your teacher. For example, be sure to review the course syllabus for information about upcoming homework, as well as any print or online listings of homework assignments for the day or week. Take advantage of teacher office hours to drop in and get help with homework as needed.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"GET YOUR HOMEWORK ORGANIZED. When several homework tasks are assigned daily from several courses, the total volume of work can quickly pile up. Adopt simple but effective organizational strategies to keep track of all the paperwork. For example, consider maintaining two file folders labeled 'Work in Progress' and 'Completed Work'. Make a point of emptying the 'Completed Work' folder each day by turning in the finished homework.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"NOTE AREAS OF HOMEWORK CONFUSION. If you are stuck on a homework item, be sure to note the specific reason(s) that you are unable to complete it. For example, you may have difficulty with a homework item because you failed to comprehend a passage in your assigned reading (note the problem by highlighting the confusing passage), do not know the meaning of a term (note the problem by writing down the unknown term), or do not understand the teacher's assignment (note the problem by writing a comment on the assignment worksheet). By recording the reason(s) that you are unable successfully to complete a homework item, you demonstrate to your teacher both that you made a good-faith effort to do the work and that you are able to clearly explain where you encountered the problem and why.","notes":"Homework"},{"text":"CHECK HOMEWORK QUALITY. Students can improve homework performance by adopting quality self-checks. For example, before turning in any homework writing task, you might apply the SCOPE revision tool: check your composition for Spelling-Capitalization-Order of words-Punctuation-Expression of complete thoughts. If your teacher has given you rubrics or other rating forms to evaluate the quality of your work, these also may be useful for evaluating your homework.","notes":"Homework"}]},{"editable":true,"title":"Note-Taking","description":"Note-Taking includes those skills and strategies necessary for recording and reviewing class notes of high quality.","items":[{"text":"SELECT AN OPTIMAL CLASSROOM LOCATION FOR NOTE-TAKING . Sit at a location in the classroom where you can hear the teacher clearly, see the board or overheads easily, and have few distractions.","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"ORGANIZE NOTES USING A LOGICAL FORMAT. Find an organizational format for your notes that works for you. Consider using visual cues such as indenting and text-based cues such as number or letter outline format to indicate the sequence and interrelationship of ideas. ","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"MONITOR INSTRUCTOR CUES ABOUT IMPORTANT MATERIAL. When taking notes, pay attention to cues given by your instructor about what lecture content is important and should be included in your course notes. Cues signifying important lecture material include (1) information written on the blackboard or whiteboard; (2) instructor labeling of specific ideas or facts as important (e.g., \"One crucial factor leading to the Civil War was...\"); (3) instructor repetition of key points; (4) significant time devoted during lecture to particular points or concepts; (5) reviews of previously covered material given at the start of class; and (6) summaries of material given at the end of class.","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"BE PRECISE WHERE IT MATTERS. Much of your notes will be paraphrased in your own words. If you want to remember the exact wording of a key statement from your instructor, though, put the statement into quotation marks. Use abbreviations to save time--and be consistent in their use. Be careful and correct in writing down specific formulas, definitions, and important facts shared by the instructor.","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"KEEP NOTES BRIEF. Notes should be brief and to the point. During lecture, record notes in the form of key terms and phrases, rather than wordy sentences, to allow you both to keep up with the instructor and to have time to reflect on the content. ","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"LABEL YOUR NOTES. Use a uniform header each day to label your notes, including the date, speaker, class, and topic. (Such a header is especially useful if you are taking notes on loose sheets of paper that will later be added to the appropriate notes-binder.) Number the pages for easy retrieval and referencing.","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"REVIEW YOUR NOTES FOR CONTENT. Leave space after each entry in your notes. Soon after class, review your notes and add additional comments or expand descriptions as needed to make your notes more intelligible.","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO FILL IN MISSING CONTENT. All note-takers occasionally miss important content and must find ways to fill in those information gaps. If the instructor is moving so fast that you cannot fully capture the ideas presented, jot down key terms or phrases and then approach the teacher later to ask for help in filling in the missing content. Also, consider making an agreement with other students in the class to share notes with each other as needed to fill in gaps--and to borrow copies of each other's notes on days when one of you is absent. ","notes":"Note-Taking"},{"text":"USE INSTRUCTOR-SUPPLIED NOTES AS A HELP-NOT AS A CRUTCH. The act of note-taking requires that the student actively engage with and learn challenging course content. Therefore, if the course instructor supplies the class with copies of lecture notes, do not simply accept these notes passively. Instead, take your own notes during lecture and use the instructor's notes after class to fill in any gaps in your notes.","notes":"Note-Taking"}]},{"editable":true,"title":"Organization","description":"Organization includes ideas to promote routines, uncluttered work environments, and efficient work habits.","items":[{"text":"MAINTAIN AN ORDERLY WORKSPACE. Organize your home workspace so that you have a place for all of your materials and can quickly find what you need. (Organized does not mean super-neat. The goal is that you can locate an item when you need it.) Group similar items (e.g., reference books, writing materials) together for rapid access. Make a point of picking up after each work session.","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"MANAGE THE PAPERFLOW. Have a system for handling paper documents. For most students, this simple organizing system can effectively manage paper documents: (1) Work in Progress: Maintain a folder for current work-in-progress, including any pending assignments and related materials; (2) Reference Materials: For each course, reserve a section of your notebook to store those documents that you are saving for reference, including the course syllabus, past tests, and other review materials; (3) Trash/Recycle: Throw out any papers that you no longer need for pending work or future reference. Also, consider the OHIO rule for most paper documents: Only Handle It Once!","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"MAINTAIN A CURRENT 'TO DO' LIST. In paper or electronic format, maintain a running list of errands to complete or upcoming tasks to be accomplished. Place time in your schedule to carry out these miscellaneous jobs and check off each task as you complete it. Label those tasks that are high-priority to ensure that you accomplish the most urgent items first.","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"BACKPACKS AND LOCKERS: SCHEDULE REGULAR CLEANOUTS. Stuff accumulates. Make a point at the end of each week to clean out and straighten your backpack and school locker. Toss out documents that you no longer need. Put away in their rightful storage place clothing, food containers, electronics, and other objects that otherwise start to collect and clutter.","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"SCHOOL SUPPLIES: CREATE A GO BAG. Obtain a 'go bag' (zippable pouch or other container) large enough to hold a basic supply of school supplies, including pens, pencils, paper, a calculator, and other essential work materials. Keep the go bag in your backpack as a handy way to find work materials for any course. Check the go bag daily and restock as needed.","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"CREATE ROUTINES FOR RECURRING MULTI-STEP TASKS. Routines convert open-ended tasks into a structured, predictable, easy-to-follow sequence. The value of routines is that they allow us to complete tasks efficiently and almost without conscious thought--through force of habit. Examples of recurring tasks that could be turned into predictable routines are preparation for school, homework sessions, and exercise. To convert a task to a routine, (1) select a time in your schedule when you will carry out this recurring task, (2) write down the steps that make up the task, and (3) list any materials that you will need to carry out the task. For the first few times that you carry out a newly-scripted routine, make a point to monitor your performance (Did you do the task at the scheduled time, follow the steps, have all materials ready?). With practice, that task quickly turns into a comfortable routine.","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"REDUCE YOUR MEMORY LOAD: CREATE CHECKLISTS. For any recurring situation in which you are in danger of forgetting to bring materials or carry out important tasks, create and use checklists. For example, a student's checklist may list items often forgotten in the rush to leave for school in the morning: \"Lunch, homework, sports clothes, calculator.\" Or a student may consult this simple checklist at the end of class : \"Write down homework assignment, collect work materials for homework, make sure today's homework is turned in before leaving class.\"","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"CREATE MEETING LOGS FOR TEACHER CONFERENCES AND STUDENT WORK GROUPS. As a student, you may not attend many meetings. However, whenever you conference with a teacher or attend a student study or work group session, it is a good idea to write a brief 'log' entry summarizing the outcome. It is particularly helpful to write down meeting notes when you have committed to the teacher or your peers to do something: e.g., to email your summary of a research article to members of your study group or to turn in a missing assignment to your teacher by the end of the week. Jotting down a brief entry right after the meeting helps you to remember your obligations and encourages you to put those obligations into your schedule or onto your 'to do' list--where you know they will not be overlooked. ","notes":"Organization"},{"text":"USE ELECTRONIC REMINDERS AND PROMPTS. As smartphones and other personal digital devices become more common, you can take advantage of their features to better organize your life. For example, set your cell phone alarm to remember important appointments or daily tasks. Or send yourself an email with a reminder of a task to be completed before you go to sleep.","notes":"Organization"}]},{"editable":true,"title":"Study Skills","description":"Study Skills relate to the systematic, purposeful review, practice, and mastery of academic material.","items":[{"text":"MAINTAIN A STUDY SCHEDULE. Maintain a regular (e.g., daily) study schedule with sufficient time set aside to review course content and information.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"AVOID DISTRACTERS. When studying, avoid distracters (e.g., cell phone, television, Internet) that can erode study time and divert attention.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"CREATE AN ORGANIZED STUDY SPACE. Prepare the study environment by organizing a space and setting out all necessary work materials before beginning study.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"SET STUDY GOALS. Prior to a study session, define one or more specific study goals to accomplish (e.g., to review information for an upcoming quiz; to locate key information to include in an essay).","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"MAKE A STUDY AGENDA. If studying multiple subjects in one session, create a study agenda for that session with a listing of the key information to be reviewed for each subject and the time allocated for that review.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"DO THE TOUGH STUDY WORK FIRST. Tackle the most difficult or challenging study objectives first during study sessions, when energy levels and ability to concentrate are at their peak.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"VARY ACTIVITIES. Mix up study activities during a study session (e.g., alternating between reading and writing) to maintain engagement and interest.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"CHUNK A LARGE STUDY TASK INTO SMALLER UNITS. If studying a large amount of material in a single session, 'chunk' the material into smaller units and take short breaks between each unit to maintain focus.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"TEACH CHALLENGING CONTENT. When studying complex or challenging material, assume the role of instructor and attempt to explain or describe the material to a real or imagined listener. Teaching study material is an efficient way to verify understanding.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"HIGHLIGHT QUESTIONS. When reviewing notes or completing course readings, use highlighters, margin notes, sticky notes, or other notation methods to flag questions, unknown vocabulary terms, or areas of confusion for later review with teacher or tutor.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"SEEK HELP WHEN NEEDED. Approach the teacher or tutor for help as needed to answer questions or clear up areas of confusion identified during study sessions.","notes":"Study Skills"},{"text":"AVOID CRAM SESSIONS. Stay away from all-night cram sessions before major tests. Cram sessions are ineffective because they are inefficient and often leave students exhausted and unable to perform their best on exams. Instead, distribute study and test-review time across multiple days and consider allocating an upward limit of about 1 hour per study session to maintain focus and energy.","notes":"Study Skills"}]},{"editable":true,"title":"Time Management","description":"Time Management includes strategies for using one's time efficiently and effectively to complete academic work, while reserving sufficient time for other important activities.","items":[{"text":"CREATE A MASTER SCHEDULE. Develop a Sunday-through-Saturday weekly master schedule for the quarter, semester, or school year. In that schedule, (1) fill in school classes and study periods, (2) include any regularly scheduled activities such as commuting, sports, clubs, lessons, or part-time jobs, (3) block out time for essential activities such as eating and sleeping, and (4) include adequate time for recreation. In the remaining blocks of open time in the schedule, reserve a minimum amount of time each day for study. Update this schedule whenever a significant schedule change occurs. TIP: Consider labeling several time-blocks as 'open' in the master schedule to accommodate occasional unforeseen study or other time requirements.","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":"KEEP A DAILY CALENDAR. Whether you use a paper or electronic version, keep a calendar to track your changing daily schedule. When constructing each daily calendar schedule, it is most efficient to start with the structure of the master schedule and then add any additional events scheduled to occur on that day.","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":"SCHEDULE PREVIEW AND REVIEW TIME FOR DEMANDING COURSES. When possible, reserve time before a challenging class to preview material to be covered and time soon after the class session to review lecture notes. Write these preview and review slots into your master schedule. ","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":"WHEN SCHEDULING, START WITH OUTCOME GOALS. When developing a daily or weekly schedule, first list any important goals to be accomplished by the end of that scheduled time-period (e.g., to produce a 5-paragraph essay; to complete a college application; to transcribe a set of paper notes into electronic format). After developing the schedule, double-check to ensure that you have incorporated sufficient time and the correct sequencing of activities into that schedule to attain those key goals.","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":" USE UNEXPECTED POCKETS OF FREE TIME EFFICIENTLY. Have a plan to make efficient use of small amounts of unscheduled time that become available. Tasks suitable for brief pockets of open time could include reviewing and revising lecture notes, starting a homework assignment, studying note-cards to prepare for an upcoming test, and updating your study schedule for the following day.","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":"ALLOCATE DOUBLE TIME FOR SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC TASKS. When deciding how much time to schedule for a substantial academic task, predict the time required--and then double that estimate. People often reserve too little time for demanding tasks--so doubling your time estimates can correct for this over-optimistic bias.","notes":"Time Management"},{"text":"TIME MANAGEMENT: REFLECT AND REVISE. At the end of each week, review your time-management planning efforts with a critical eye and note areas needing improvement. For example, investigate whether the amount of time that you typically set aside for study or other activities is sufficient, whether you are actually sticking to your general schedule, and whether there are important but overlooked activities or tasks that need to be added to your schedule.","notes":"Time Management"}]}],"reports":[{"id":1346951191196,"title":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist: Notes","description":"This report includes (1) your selected Academic Survival Skill Checklist items and (2) a column for notes.","columns":[{"header":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist","type":"item","width":18},{"header":"Notes","type":"blank","width":10}]},{"id":1346952560167,"title":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist: Labels and Notes","description":"This report includes (1) your selected Academic Survival Skill Checklist items, (2) a column labeling each item's Survival-Skill category, and (3) a column for notes .","columns":[{"header":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist","type":"item","width":20},{"header":"Survival-Skill Category","type":"notes","width":10},{"header":"Notes","type":"blank","width":10}]},{"id":1346952130703,"title":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist: Observation Form","description":"This form includes (1) your selected Academic Survival Skill Checklist items, (2) a column to verify whether the student possesses each survival skill (Y/N), and (3) a column to list the information used to verify each skill (Observation/Interview/Work Product).","columns":[{"header":"Academic Survival-Skill Checklist","type":"item","width":20},{"header":"Student Displays Skill? (Y/N)","type":"blank","width":10},{"header":"Data Source? (Observation/Interview/Work Product)","type":"blank","width":10}]},{"id":1346952807930,"title":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist: User-Entered Annotations","description":"This report includes (1) your selected Academic Survival Skill Checklist items and (2) a column to display any user-entered annotations that you saved as part of your checklist .","columns":[{"header":"Academic Survival Skills Checklist","type":"item","width":18},{"header":"User-Entered Annotations","type":"user","width":10}]}]}

Student Academic Success Strategies - Checklist Maker