Survey! Question! Read! Recite! Review!

Before you read, Survey the chapter:

·         the title, headings, and subheadings

·         captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps

·         review questions or teacher-made study guides

·         introductory and concluding paragraphs summary

Question while you are surveying:

·         Turn the title, headings, and/or subheadings into questions;

·         Read questions at the end of the chapters or after each subheading;

·         Ask yourself, "What did my instructor say about this chapter or subject when it was assigned?"

·         Ask yourself, "What do I already know about this subject?"

Note:  If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration. This variation is called SQW3R

When you begin to Read:

·         Look for answers to the questions you first raised;

·         Answer questions at the beginning or end of chapters or study guides

·         Reread captions under pictures, graphs, etc.

·         Note all the underlined, italicized, bold printed words or phrases

·         Study graphic aids

·         Reduce your speed for difficult passages

·         Stop and reread parts which are not clear

·         Read only a section at a time and recite after each section

Recite after you've read a section:

·         Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read or summarize, in your own words, what you read

·         Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words

·         Underline or highlight important points you've just read

·         Use the method of recitation which best suits your particular learning style but remember, the more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read - i.e.,

TRIPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing, saying, hearing-QUADRUPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing , saying , hearing, writing!!!

Review: an ongoing process.

Day One

·         After you have read and recited the entire chapter, write questions in the margins for those points you have highlighted or underlined.

·         If you took notes while reciting, write questions for the notes you have taken in the left hand margins of your notebook.

Day Two

·         Page through the text and/or your notebook to re-acquaint yourself with the important points.

·         Cover the right hand column of your text/note-book and orally ask yourself the questions in the left hand margins.

·         Orally recite or write the answers from memory.

·         Make "flash cards" for those questions which give you difficulty.

·         Develop mnemonic devices for material which need to be memorized.

Days Three, Four and Five

·         Alternate between your flash cards and notes and test yourself (orally or in writing) on the questions you formulated.

·         Make additional flash cards if necessary.

Weekend

Using the text and notebook, make a Table of Contents - list all the topics and sub-topics you need to know from the chapter. From the Table of Contents, make a Study Sheet/ Spatial Map. Recite the information orally and in your own words