We will learn together through video chat and collaborative learning. Students will have the opportunity for self-discovery and will leave the course with a better understanding of their own learning style as well as practical strategies to help them learn and test more effectively. We will typically begin class addressing any questions or concerns, or students can bring questions from their school experiences.  This will lead into the strategy of the week for each learner. All students learn differently and the goal of this course is to identify the best learning strategies for individuals and harness these "powers" for good! We will practice using these strategies through in-class assignments and close with take aways that students can use in their real world classrooms. At the end of the course, students should walk away feeling empowered and confident to take ownership of their schooling experience. 

In this four-week course, students will learn how to utilize their natural learning style to study effectively and help information stick. Students will learn executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, planning, and flexibility. 
Students will utilize the Outschool classroom to participate in live Zoom meetings. 


Week 1: Understanding Who We Are As Learners: The Learning Styles & Active Learning
In our first week, students will be discovering who they are as learners to give a foundation for acquiring the skills they need. This week, students will investigate the three learning styles and identify how they learn best. Students will apply this understanding of their own learning style to become active learners. Students will complete a visual schedule activity where they will have the opportunity to interact with a sample schedule to better understand time management and other important skills. 

Week 2: Note-Taking and How to Study
This week, students will begin to build their toolkit based on their unique learning style. Just like we wouldn't pack a heavy coat to vacation at the beach, we don't want to give a visual learner a toolkit full of auditory strategies. Once students have discovered their own learning style, we will work towards finding strategies specific to them. They will practice organizational strategies when it comes to taking notes and organizing information. Students will put these skills into use by completing a brain dump activity and using a mind-map. If time allows, students will have the opportunity to work on their own visual schedule based on the prior week's example.

Week 3: Test Day
We are going to dive right into test day this week. Through this week's lesson, students will discover test-taking strategies and how to approach different question types. Strategies will be provided for multiple choice, essays, reading comprehension, word problems, and others. Students will learn how to pace themselves on a test and what to do when you weren't as prepared as you thought! 

Week 4: Distractions
Distractions are a huge stumbling block for us all, myself included! It is so easy to get side-tracked by a notification ping or an unexpected phone call. In today's world, we have so many distractions that it is easy for students to get off task! This week is all about getting to the root of those distractions and finding ways for students to keep themselves on track. This includes practical tips, the practice of noting, and ways to avoid distractions before they come! Students will be given resources to help them turn off notifications on devices and we will utilize the schedule created in week one as well as the brain dump and mind mapping activity from week 2 as tools to combat distractions. 


As a teacher, I want students to learn through self-discovery. I strongly believe that students learn best when they are given hands-on opportunities to explore the world, draw conclusions, and have room to make mistakes. I want this course to be a safe place for students to reflect and improve upon their current learning strategies and feel empowered to take control of their educational experience. Course presentations will be uploaded weekly after each class so learners can reference back. 

No experience or background knowledge is necessary for this course. Students should be ready to explore their learning style, and bring any materials from their school to practice these strategies in a real-world setting. 

I believe that we are life-long learners and aim to encourage this same passion in my students. Since creating this course, my students have taught me so much and I have made a few changes to be more efficient and effective as of January 2021. I am so excited to continue watch students grow with this course and am so grateful for the opportunity to work with your child.