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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. |
| Ask questions in class and outside of class.
Talk with friends, with your teacher. |
| Practice. Practice. Practice. |
Take notes... and use them when you 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. |
| We learn about a the two-column note taking format for organizing
your notebook pages. 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. A blank form is
available in Word and PDF
formats. There are also some samples in Word
and PDF formats to remind you how
to use them. |
| 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." That page has lots of information on
studying.) |
For more information on studying, check the Studying
page in My Web Links.
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