Topic: How to Concentrate When Studying

10-second review: Author says never study without a pencil in hand.

Title: How to Study in College. Third Edition. Walter Pauk. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.

Summary/Quote: “For example, if you are reading a textbook chapter, stop after several paragraphs and very briefly, in your own words, write down the key points made by the author. If, after several paragraphs, no words come to you, then you have no other recourse than to go back and read the passage again. This time, read with determination and concentration to make sure that you learn the key points. The secret: Activity promotes and almost ensures concentration. The pencil provides the activity.” p. 76.

Comment: I read with pencil in hand, underlining key ideas and summarizing in a word or two or three in the margin. I save comments for a period of reflection after I have completed my reading. In the margins, I only include brief summaries, almost never in sentences. RayS.

Topic: Advice on Studying in College

10-second review: Effective study habits.

Source: How to Study in College. Third Edition. Walter Pauk. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.

Summary/Quote: “Alex Main of the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, noted that the effective student…usually [studies] at the same time each day…works mostly in a regular study place…works for short periods with frequent rest breaks…reviews notes soon after a lecture…does not lave work to the last minute…does not need exams for motivation.” p. xix.

Comment: I particularly noticed the last piece of advice. Motivation for learning should not come from fear of exams. I remember vividly my taking a course in The Philosophy of Communism because I wanted to know why Communists felt their system was inevitable. While other students drowsed through the instructor’s monotone lectures, I busily took notes because I wanted the answer to my question. I was energized because I had a purpose for learning. RayS.

Topic: Learning in College.

10-second review: “Some students learn best by reading, others by listening and still others by doing things. Of course, you must do all three to learn in college, but each individual does one more effectively than the others.” p. xviii.

Source: How to Study in College. Third Edition. Walter Pauk. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.

Comment: John Dewey said, “You learn what you do.” I tend to learn better by reading when studying, but, for some reason, I cannot visualize directions and need someone to interpret them for me and to show me how to complete the action. Therefore, I need help in setting up a flat-screen and computer and blu-ray. RayS.

Topic: Children's and Young Adult Books

10-second review: How improve teachers’ knowledge of children’s and Young Adult books? Give teachers brief annotations of the latest children’s and Young Adult books reviewed in professional publications like Language Arts, English Journal, (National Council of Teacher of English (NCTE), Reading Teacher and Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (International Reading Association (IRA). The annotations are brief but clearly indicate the story line of each book.

Source: Suggested by LL Godfrey & FB School, “Annotated Bibliography for Third Graders.” 124-131.

Topic: Lesson Planning

10-second review: What are some models for lesson plans? “Lesson study”: Date; site; planning team; title of lesson; goals of the lesson; relationship of the lesson to the California standards; rationale—what do students understand about this topic? What more do we want them to understand? Lesson description: introduction; activities; summing up; evaluation; what we want to look for during the lesson observation; conclusions.

Source: J Hurd & L Licciardo-Musso. Language Arts (May 2005), 392. The elementary school publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Topic: Inservice

10-second review: What is the purpose of teacher inservice programs? “Our belief is that what teachers experience in professional development will transfer to their work with students in the classroom.”

Source: CH Casbon, et al. Language Arts (May 2005), 365. The elementary school publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Comment: A very questionable assumption. I have found that the best way to assure teachers’ transfer of inservice ideas to the classroom is to demonstrate the technique by using it on the teachers so that they can see how the technique works for them. Example: You want the teachers to use the directed reading assignment with students so you use the directed reading assignment with the teachers, preferably something difficult to read. RayS.

Topic: Unusual Methods of Teacher In-service.

1. 10-second review: What are some unusual methods of teacher inservice? “… notebooks to capture the process of their own learning.”

Source: A Donnelly, et al. Language Arts (May 2005), 341.

2. 10-second review: Teachers collaboratively plan a lesson. One teacher teaches it. The others observe and collect data. The lesson is then revised and taught again to a different group of students.

Source: J Hurd & L Licciardo-Musso. Language Arts (May 2005), 388-395. The elementary school publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).