By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. Have you ever read a poem, made it to the last line, only to realize that you have absolutely no idea what it’s about? Cool. Keep reading. Students begin to analyze poetry in elementary school, and often have to do so …
How to annotate text using the Highlight and Rewrite strategy
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. Knowing how to annotate text is basically a super power. It’s a skill you’ll need for your entire academic experience, no matter what class you’re in or what your major is. For this annotation strategy, you’ll just need the basics: a …
A strategy for how to understand what you read: Remote learning edition
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. Reading is one thing. Understanding it is another. No joke though. We’ve all read a whole page before without understanding one word on it. Am I right? I’m right. If you’re taking an online course or doing remote learning, understanding what …
How to take notes with ADHD – or if you’re just easily distracted
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. Note-taking is a skill. The more you do it, the better you get. Even the most focused students get confused about note-taking. But throw ADHD or just general distractibility into the mix, and taking notes during class can seem impossible. The …
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 …
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 …
6 study techniques for visual learners
Visual learners process and remember information better when the material is presented visually as opposed to orally. Therefore, visual learners often struggle in lectures but thrive in classes that encourage engagement and provide visual stimulation. (Think PowerPoints, videos, posters, SmartBoards, etc.). If this sounds like …
How to improve your handwriting: 6 tips for better penmanship
Despite the fact that computers are taking over the world (sort of) and most students use a word processor to type up essays and notes, there’s still a need for good old pen and paper. But with so much time spent typing, many of my …
How to take notes in a lecture class: 5 strategies
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. If you are a student of any age, you need to know how to takes notes during a lecture class. This is an essential skill. The strategies below should help you refine your note-taking habits so you’ll nail that open-notebook test, …