By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. We treat our backpacks 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 …
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
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. 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 …
How to pick and use an assignment notebook
You’re here because you want to know how to pick and use an assignment notebook. But 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 …
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 …
How to create a study space for kinesthetic learners: 6 tips for remote learning
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. This is Part 3 of a 3-part series about creating a work or study space according to your learning style. Part 1 was about designing an optimal working environment for visual learners and Part 2 was about creating a study space …
How to create a remote learning study space for auditory learners
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. This is part 2 of a 3-part series about creating a work space or remote learning study space according to your learning style. Part 1 was about designing an optimal working environment for visual learners, while this post focuses on how …
How to ask for help in school: 4 tips for getting what you need
By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. We all need help in school at some point. Some of us need help understanding the material, others need help studying, and others might need help staying organized. We all have our strengths, and we all have our weaknesses. The important …