Math Test Taking and Studying Strategies

This class will be largely an interactive format and will cover the following: 
Day 1: 
10/15 minutes: Discussion
 - how students study for math, differences between studying for math and studying for other subjects, challenges when studying or learning math (i.e., time to complete problems, remembering formulas, applying formulas, specific issues to certain subjects or topics, such as, proofs in geometry, confidence on using processes, struggling with word problems, etc)  
- strategies for specific individual struggles and more general struggles that are common among students

30 minutes: Studying Methods
- review different methods students can use to study math in depth (this can be applied to other subjects as well as math) including: teaching others, using different methods of showing their work, using practice tests, reworking problems, color coding methods, working backwards methods, and recording instructor with video or audio

10 minutes: Studying Methods for Finals/Large Assessments/College Entrance Exams
- how to use multiple choice answers to help you solve, tips to study general topics for large assessments that cover a wide range of material

10 minutes: Brainstorming session
- students will brainstorm together or in breakout groups of another method to help them study (can be general or specific to them)

Day 2: 
5 minutes: Recap/Finish Discussion from Day 1
- recap of day 1 topics, instruct on which methods students prefer or would like to try, discuss new methods from brainstorming session

40 minutes: Test Taking Strategies and Solutions
- explore common testing issues: running out of time, stressing about time, not having enough space for your work, what to do when you realize you made an error on a problem, organization, doing problems in your head, not writing enough work on problems, forgetting formulas, getting distracted, and any other issues students in class may have 
- instruct students in strategies and methods to help with each issue when studying or during the actual exam
- review examples of how showing your work and staying organized are crucial and the impact of those strategies on gaining (partial or full) grade points (will also go over how that will help you if you have to revisit a problem)

10 minutes: Practice 
- have students grade example problems (one that is sloppy and unorganized vs one that is neat and organized)
- compare grades and discuss what the students learned from this process

5 minutes: Closing Discussion
- students have an opportunity to ask questions and develop a personal plan with identified issues and learned problem solving techniques to work on 

In this class, I will be using power point presentation via screen share on Zoom for the methods and strategies. We will come together as a class to engage in discussion and brainstorming sessions. During this, students might be put into breakout sessions to discuss in smaller more focused groups. Students are recommended to take notes on during each day when going over methods and strategies for studying and test taking.