Currently I’m doing tests at high school, I’m not a very fan of geography, but I have to read and study 26 pages in one day to pass on the test, I’m struggling by constantly losing focus and concentration by thinking or imagining something more interesting (what happens after tests, what games I’ll play when my pc comes back, what I’ll play when my wireless USB Controller arrives, fun stuff), and I keep re-reading the same 3 line text again and again to make sure I’m aware of what I’m reading and not just saying words.
by Irrelevex_Irrelevant
3 Comments
Write down notes while reading **out loud**. Seriously, out loud.
Then study with just the notes after half an hour or so and again, say stuff you are learning out loud.
Then simplify the notes into just single important words and try telling yourself all the information that comes to mind to that simple word out loud.
Voila, you have learned something.
Some suggestions:
* If you are able to record your own voice on a PC, smartphone or whatever, record the section. Then you can play it back as much as you like. You may find listening easier than reading (and you only need to read it through, once).
* Make notes as you read (or listen), even if it’s just a list of bullet points. When you’ve done that, do it again,and try to make better notes.
Learning from books is a real drag, but being able to learn from books is a very useful skill to have. You will need it if you go to university. I couldn’t do it at school or at university, and it was a real problem (although I could read just fine). I may have had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), but it wasn’t known about, back then.
Make a summary. You’ll get less distracted when you’re actively writing stuff down than when you’re just reading it.
Tips for a summary:
* Write down all titles, chapters, chapter numbers…
* Write down key words and write key phrases in your own words.
* Use arrows to see the links between the words/phrases you wrote down.
* You can choose yourself how extensive you want to make it, and it also depends on your textbook, but I usually write one page for every 8-10 pages in the book.