Study Tips for Students with Learning Differences
Great minds don’t think alike, and these noetic differences are especially evident in the ways we learn. For students with learning differences (LD), the path to cultivating successful study habits begins with analyzing and identifying how you effectively absorb and retain information. Such metacognition involves self-monitoring, strategic planning, and objective assessments of strengths and weaknesses.
Recognizing and responding to your learning patterns never really ends, since your needs will shift over time. In order to ensure academic success in college and beyond, students with LD will need to adapt their study habits to their particular settings and educational goals. For instance, with more unscheduled time and advanced coursework in college, it can be easy to fall behind. Why not start early by modifying your high school study habits?
Strategies for Success:
Look at your graded assignments. Returned homework can be just as informative as tests. What kinds of questions are you consistently missing? Are certain concepts more challenging than others? Did you misunderstand the directions? Focus your study sessions around targeted concepts, and make a list of techniques to employ while completing assessments and assignments.
Read textbooks aloud and paraphrase often. Writing in the margin, committing new definitions to memory, and highlighting information are crucial for better reading comprehension – especially for students with dyslexia or verbal processing disorders. Reframing complex or dense concepts using everyday language also allows material to really stick.
Prioritize the most relevant information. Teachers often use specific phrases to signal importance. “Write this down,” “let me summarize,” and “I’ll write this on the board” are usually signals that something might appear on the test. Highlight the information in your notes or keep a log elsewhere so you can reinforce it later.
Create a working binder, a reference notebook, and a completed assignments file.* The working binder should be able to store all the things you need for class – a pouch for stationery; a planner for recording assignments; and section dividers for homework, notes, handouts, and quizzes/tests. The reference notebook can be the last section of your working binder, and should be an individualized collection of resources you might need to reference quickly in class (such as a timeline of events for history, or a periodic table for science). Finally, the completed assignments file serves as a single place to organize and store finished work. Old assignments and notes are often the best resources to study for a unit or semester exam!
Observe how you use your time. Chart your productivity! Compare your existing habits to your study goals. What needs to change?
Create study routines. Designate a distraction-free space as your “study hole.” Listen to ambient music. Set up a little snack basket and a bottle of water. Sit down and study for 20 minutes, then leave the study hole and take a 5-minute break. Repeat this process, taking breaks as needed.
Proactively seek out support. Talk to your teachers and counselors about instituting learning accommodations. This sometimes requires medical documentation (e.g., for a 504 plan or IEP), but you may be able to set something informal up as well. Does your school offer note-taking services? Do you qualify to receive extra time on tests? Learn to self-advocate and build a network of supporters to lean on when the going gets tough.
*This tip works for all, but we use it most frequently with students who exhibit poor executive functioning.
For more comprehensive support, get in touch. Our team of tutors regularly partners with other experts in the community to help students with LD apply to college, complete standardized tests, master organizational skills, and ace their classes!
