Entering middle school can be a difficult transition for many people. Instead of the usual one or two classrooms a day, middle school is a flurry of 4-7 classes a day, memorizing schedules, new teachers, and more difficult classes. While it might seem insane and unattainable to get the same grades you did in elementary school, it will get easier the longer time you spend in middle school. One way to prepare for more difficult classes in middle school is to advance your study techniques before the school year begins. There are many ways to study, but studying isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation most of the time. But, here are a few ideas on how to study for 7th grade.
POMODORO TIMER
A pomodoro timer is a good way to ensure that you keep your focus up while studying and take reasonable breaks in between. Pomodoro timers usually consist of 25 minutes of working, and a 5 minute break in between. It helps level concentration for the 25 minutes you work, and prevents you from taking lengthy and unproductive breaks after working.
NO PROCRASTINATION
At the beginning of the school year, I was so stressed out, and I didn’t know why. Every night I was cramming homework until late at night, and I felt like the assignments weren’t manageable. It took me a long time to realize that the problem wasn’t the assignments, but it was me. When I got assigned homework, I would always focus on the due date of the assignment, and I would plan on doing it the night before it was due. I did this because it brought me short lived relief, but I would be stressed out in the long run, when I was cramming to do assignments, study for tests, and do my extracurriculars the night before the due date. Once I learned that my procrastination was the reason that I was so stressed out, it was time to change it. The good thing about procrastination is that you can reset every weekend. When you get homework assigned on Friday, even if it’s due on Tuesday, make sure you do it over the weekend. If you get homework assigned on Monday, even if it’s due on Thursday, make sure to start it on Monday. While this might seem useless, since you’re doing the same work no matter what, it’s saved me so much time, effort, and stress. Here’s an example. If you have math homework assigned on Friday, and due on Tuesday, and you start it over the weekend, this will give you time to do the easy problems and to email your teacher with questions about the more difficult ones. This aleviates stress and makes it easier on you and your teacher. Along with this, as someone who has tried both, I strongly believe that studying over a longer period of time is much better than cramming the night before a test.
WHITEBOARD TECHNIQUE
The whiteboard technique is a simple yet effective technique that works best for students who are scared about forgetting key things. First, you get stuffed animals, dolls, or any other inanimate toy or object and you align them like they’re a class. Then, you get a whiteboard, a big piece of paper, or even just your notebook, and you rewrite, and teach whatever topic you’re being tested on to your “students”, the way a teacher would. This can be a helpful review to a lesson, and a fun way to study!
While Middle School may seem daunting and new compared to Elementary School, as someone going into high school, I can confidently say that it gets much more manageable. Middle school is a time of learning. Learning about study techniques, how to complete assignments on times, learning about friendships, and learning about yourself. It is important to take everything one day at a time, and to remember all the recourses available to help you at Rosemont.
