Going back to school? Great study tips!

I posted this in another thread, but I was worried that no one would see it there, so I reposted it here!

I want all of you to get straight "A"s, to break the "dumb, underachieving stoner" image and maybe amaze the parents and teachers! I work in education and I'm darn good at it. Here's a few things you can do to get better grades. You may not get all "A"s the first semester, but your grades should improve greatly!

First, get a cassette recorder- even an "el cheapo" will do, you aren't recording music! Read your text books into it and replay the text often, while driving, doing housework, etc. I guarantee you will learn it! It is easier than reading and re-reading your text book- just click and play!

Second, begin work ASAP on all assignments. The kids in college though I was crazy because I started on term papers a couple of weeks into class. By the time finals came around, I was done with it and could focus on JUST the finals- while everyone else was going crazy trying to do both for all their classes. I graduated with honors.

Third, type out your notes! Retyping them makes you pay attention to what you wrote. Try to read a sentence, then retype it from memory. Be sure to read it again to check for accuracy.

Fourth, Study in a group! The feedback from fellow students sticks in your mind (usually more than what the teacher said in class!). They did a study on this and kids who worked in groups got better grades with the same amount of studying as students who studied alone.

Fifth, I had a lot of luck writing my papers stoned and cleaning them up straight. The ideas just "flowed". Math (for me) was a disaster when I was stoned, however.

Sixth, Use a reward system. "I won't play my Xbox/get stoned/ have a cookie until I finish this assignment. Just don't do a hurried job- be patient!

Another thing you can do, if you are creative, is to take a tune you know well and set new words to it- the facts you need to learn. I can still recite Poe's poem "El Dorado" that I learned in the 60s! I set it to some music and sang it through over and over. Remembering a song uses a different part of your brain than learning nonmusical stuff. So basically, you have it "written" in two places in your memory, making it more likely that you will be able to remember the facts.

As a tutor, one third of my job is getting kids to believe in themselves. The other thirds are- teaching kids how to study (tricks and tips), and the actual teaching of the facts and formulas. Most of you are just lacking the "tools" you need to learn- you're not stupid, you just don't know how to learn! And HOW to learn is not something most schools teach! I just gave you a few tricks that work for a lot of people. You DO have to work, though. Facts don't just jump into your head, you have to put them there. Very few of the kids I've tutored have remained stuck in their low grades. And I am proud of every one of them! :thumbsup:Go for it! Make me proud!- Granny:hippy:

Thank you storm crow, i bookmarked this thread.

That is a wonderful compliment, Distortion! Thank you! - Granny:hippy:

Bookmarked for me also. Absolutely brilliant ideas.

Bookmarked for me! Thanks for info! this should be made a sticky.

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Originally Posted by Storm Crow

Fifth, I had a lot of luck writing my papers stoned and cleaning them up straight. The ideas just "flowed". Math (for me) was a disaster when I was stoned, however.

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That's how I write all my papers, and why I won't be majoring in math.

damn, i picked a good day to check out this forum again. very helpfull thread Storm Crow.

yeah, some pretty good tips there, but i always write high, and i can do math a lot faster when high too for some reason.....

bookmarked, love! Thank you!!

Book marked. thank you for the study tips i need them lol. i do "ok" in school. but i want to achieve higher grades

Granny, I should be able to rep you as much as I want!

definately some good advice here

yeah you posted that in response to me saying i couldnt get straight A's a little while ago. well im in school now and so far im doing good. :thumbsup:

you're the best granny.

Thanks a lot storm. I've got to concentrate harder on my work this year also. Will be doing some of the hints you just gave.

I'm so happy to hear the jaGerbom! When you get those straight "A"s, be sure to post how the "smoke-in" goes! LOL Hold him to his word!- Granny:hippy:

lol oh i will DEFINITELY hold him to his word. i actually recently found out he smokes sometimes, but that doesnt mean he really feels the need to smoke with me haha.

Anyways, i have some homework to do so im going to get off the computer! haha.

lol, I don't have to bookmark because I have a memory like an iron trap, it's all in there now that I've read it:D. Those are some great tips StormCrow, wish I had someone like you for a teacher! They'll come in handy when I start business school this September.

The whole recording thing might only work for auditory learners though, which I'm definately not. I found my best study method (and this probably doesn't apply to a lot of people) was simply to read the facts, write them down again in my own words, then spend the majority of my study time pacing the house and playing video games while reciting them to myself over and over and over. I stayed up smoking endless bowls of hash for a week while doing that, and I ACED my World History and Canadian History finals:jointsmile:

Gandalf, What ever works for you, is the right way for you to study! Attacking your studies in different ways is a good thing- you never know what will, or will not, work for you. Hey, when the semester ends, post your grades, or the percentage of change in your GPA! It will be interesting!- Granny:hippy:

This is the first school year I will be starting out a 'stoner'. I have done pretty well for myself and am gonna be starting at one of the best universities in the country next week but I've never had to balance somethin like smoking every day and taking 18 credits lol. I'm just worried I won't be able to balance as well. I mean I know I'll get okay grades no matter what.. I need to keep a 3.2 to stay in a program I have been admitted too. So I guess I just gotta keep my priorities straight??

Haha I think the "not gettin high until you finish an assignment" tip will do me well. At least ideally..

You are too sweet storm crow.

+rep for caring about your younger stoners

Go to class high
Study high
Take the test high
Get high grades!

LOL, WEsmokED...

Granny, EXCELLENT tips. Us stoners know how to have a good time, but when you gotta crack down on the books, you better do so- or else you'll have Granny to deal with. Why disappoint Granny? Don't you love her? Then put down the bong, and study!

Good luck this semester, everyone! We're in it together!

I think there should be a section for homework help- even if we're not all mathematicians and english scholars, some of the higher educated members still have a lot to contribute to, and we could help with homework problems of a smaller to moderate nature.

What say you, Mods?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WEsmokeED

Go to class high
Study high
Take the test high
Get high grades!

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Hahaha that's great.

Im going to use the advice from this thread. Ill let know what my gpa is come Febuary.Thanks SC.

Thanks for that. Those definitely help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Storm Crow

Third, type out your notes! Retyping them makes you pay attention to what you wrote. Try to read a sentence, then retype it from memory. Be sure to read it again to check for accuracy.

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My brain just processes the individual words instead of the paragraph as a whole so this doesn't work for me. Just thought I'd enlighten you.

Oh yeah, thanks. :D

thank you!

Nice thread Storm Crow.

Here are somethings that worked great for me:
1. Write in pencil. Get a good mechanical pencil and eraser (the pen-like ones that you can adjust how much of the eraser comes out works great). Use this to write your notes or do work. It's great to be able to erase mistakes, it makes everything cleaner and easy to read.

2. When taking notes. Write clear/neat and give yourself plenty of space, even if you have to make multiple pages. I used to try and cram everything on one page. Sentence after sentence, back to back, line after line. Aboslutely no spacing. It helps when studying if everything is spaced out. It won't be confusing, and it will be easier to remember that image in your mind. Always have a header that says what class the notes are for, and what the date is.

3. Be organized. However you like to do it, do it. I like binders with tabs, and binder paper. Say one tab for notes, one for tests/quizzes, one for homework, one for handouts. Whatever works best for you. It's great to be able to quickly and easily access a topic. With your notes in chronological order, you can do this even better.

4. Have a good study area. Something with good desktop space. A good chair (not too comfortable though), well lit, and relatively distraction free.

5. Keep something to remind you when things are due. Dry/erase boards work great. You can lay out your classes on it, and put up when different things are due. Color coding different things helps too. I would put homework one color, quizzes another, and tests/papers in red. It's easy to just look at the board and figure if you should be studying or if it's ok to go out to that party or whatever.

6. When you go to class, pay attention. It's important to soak in what they're saying, and if you don't understand something, don't be afraid to have the teacher explain.

7. Be committed and stay motivated. Show up on time and put in effort. When you're at class, or have declared a time frame dedicated to work, then keep focused during that time. Give yourself breaks when you need them. Eat good, get enough sleep and exercise. Don't overwork yourself. Manage your time well.

OK, Let's add flash cards to the list of good study aids! In science, learning the vocabulary is half the battle! Pick up some 3x5s and use them for vocabulary, history, whatever! Again, they are easy to use in those "wasted minutes" (waiting for the microwave to cook a potato, commercials during the game, riding in a car...)

That was a great post of more tips! Anyone else? If we keep this up, this study thread might get stickied yet!

You guys use a lot of these tips this year and we might end up with a "Straight "A" Stoners" club here! Wouldn't that just blast the heck out of the "dumb, lazy stoner" stereotype! The more stereotypes and lies we break about cannabis, the closer we are to legalization! Bet you never thought getting good grades could be revolutionary activism! LOL- Granny:hippy: