Wondering how to study for exams? I’ll give it to you plain and simple: It’s better to study in short, frequent increments (a little bit each day over a period of time) than to study in one large chunk (like a 4-hour study session). Actual …
The study hack that top students know
I love hacks. Who doesn’t!? As a student myself, I especially love study hacks, and as a teacher too, I especially love sharing a good study hack with others. (Obviously that’s why I started the SchoolHabits blog and YouTube channel.) In general, we should vary …
How to edit an essay: 6 tips for editing your own paper
We are our own worst critics. This is a universal truth that applies to most of us. However, when it comes to editing our own essays, this universal truth often gets chucked out the window! I see it all the time (as a teacher), and …
4 backpack organization tips to tame the chaos
Our poor backpacks get treated like garbage disposals: we throw everything in there from granola bar wrappers to dried out pens, old papers to dead calculator batteries. I’ve even seen things as odd as a bungee cord and a camping canteen. (Yes, the student was …
How to organize old school papers Part 2: Use a Limbo Folder
I wrote a blog post about how to organize old school papers a while ago (read that post – Part 1 – before this one!), but I’m still asked this question all the time. While the minimalist in me is internally shouting “Throw them all …
How to read faster: 4 tips for slow readers
Are you a slow reader? If so, how do you know? Did someone once tell you that you were a slow reader, or do you just feel like you’re reading slowly? Also — does it even really matter that you read slowly? If you are …
What to do when you zone out in class: 4 emergency strategies
I am a super-focused person. I know what I want, I figure out how to get it, and then I take care of business. While I call it “focus” because I want to be nice to myself, those who know me well might choose …
When to take notes in class: 7 clues you should be writing it down
One of the most common questions I get from students is “How do I know when to take notes in class?” I get it. Note-taking can seem hard and mysterious and complicated — especially if we’ve never been taught how or when to take notes …
Assignment notebook tips: How to pick and use an assignment notebook
I’m going to start by giving you the best assignment notebook tip ever: write it down. Write down assignments. Write down due dates. Write down appointments. Write it all down. You could have the BEST assignment notebook in the universe, and it will still be horrible …
How to remember a book you read: Quick study hack for NOT forgetting it all
I have a confession. Sometimes I read something — either a single page in a book, an article online, or even a whole chapter — and I realize afterwards that I have no idea what I just read. I hate when this happens. I teach …