How do I study?


Studying for math is very different from studying for other subjects. There are some subject areas in which you can study by reading, by memorizing, by listening to class discussions, or by watching other people. In math, you learn best by doing it yourself.

If you find that you are studying but still not doing well, see if some of these tips will help.

  • Take notes in class, and when you study at home. Use 3-column notes, flash cards, a strategy notebook.
  • Ask questions in class and outside of class. Talk with friends, with your teacher.
  • Practice. Practice. Practice.
  • Work Smart!

Take notes... and use them to study


  • Take notes in class. When we do problems on the board, write down how problems are done. Show each step.
  • Review your notes daily. When you do, add key concepts and comments to clarify or help you remember. Write down any questions you have so you'll remember to ask in class.
  • Two-column notes can help. A copy of the important points, complete with sample pages and blank ones that you can copy for your notebook are available in either Word or PDF format.
  • If you need to know a lot of terms or concepts, try three-column notes. Making the notes helps you study, and the three-column format helps you review.
  • Even if you've taken notes on how to solve a problem, try to solve the problem by yourself without looking at your notes.

Ask questions...


  • If you don't understand something, it's important for your teacher to know that as soon as possible.
  • For some people, talking about things is their way of learning. Even if you understand everything, talking with a teacher or friend helps some people reinforce the lessons.
  • If you have questions when you're doing homework, write them down on your homework paper so you'll remember to ask them in class.

Practice...


  • Math is not a spectator sport. You learn best by doing.
  • Practice. Each section of the book has example/sample problems that are fully solved. Practice doing each problem by yourself (even if you've done it already), and then check your answer with the one in the book.
  • Practice by doing your homework. Solve problems. If you get stuck, remember that homework problems for a section of the textbook are solved using methods discussed in that section. So you know the first place to look for help.
  • Do your homework right. When you work problems on homework, restate the problem, write out complete solutions, and show all your work. Don't just scratch out a few lines and check the answer in the back of the book. If your answer is not right, rework the problem; don't just think about it a little and say, "Oh yeah, I know how to do this..." If you can't get the answer, get help. (This tip came from the Saint Louis University web page "Success in Mathematics.")

Work Smart!


Just doing your homework doesn’t necessarily help you learn. Even if you spend a long time on it, you still might not be getting the most out of it.

Here’s what it means to Work Smart:
  • Time: understand how much time is needed to do the homework, and make sure you give yourself enough time.
  • Focus: No distractions (like TV, IM, chat, e-mail, Facebook, phone calls, text messaging, multi-tasking). Work on one thing at a time. For some people, music in the background helps and for others it’s a distraction. You can decide.
  • Strategies: If one way of doing something doesn’t work, try another and another until you find one that works.
  • Resourcefulness: Know where to go and whom to ask for help when you’re really stuck (and “really stuck” means that you’ve already tried several strategies).
  • Use of feedback: Read comments that teachers write on your homework (or listen to what they say) so you’ll know what to fix next time.
  • Commitment: Be committed to finishing your work and doing the very best you can!

By the way... “working smart” doesn’t just apply to math. It can apply to any subject.

(This “work smart” information came from Jon Saphier’s book The Skillful Teacher. Saphier notes that it is based on a model by Jeff Howard.)