Overview

The primary goal of the Study Skills class is to develop a repertoire of skills necessary to complete work independently and efficiently in a traditional classroom setting. The following form the basis of this structured curriculum:

• time management;
• organization;
• study strategies;
• note taking;
• outlining;
• textbook and library usage;
• research techniques; and,
• public speaking.

The Process

Once students have moved from a twice-a-day tutorial to a once-a-day tutorial they are placed in a Study Skills class. This class meets daily for 40 minutes and aims to teach skills first in isolation and then guide students in how to apply these skills to contextual situations.

Curriculum

First Year: Students learn “the basics” – study environment, time management, note taking, hidden curriculum skills, organization of both hardcopy and digital information, and so on.

Second Year: The second year focuses on introducing students to additional learning strategies to the ones they learned during their first year. Students spend time exploring their learning styles, and this information, coupled with analyzing their learning tasks, helps them decide which strategy they will use in various situations (e.g., using a graphic organizer versus columns while taking notes).

Students involved in the Language Arts program do not have a designated study skills class. Instead, they receive intense study skill instruction within their content area classes that is related to test taking preparation and research for both research papers and public speaking.