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Study Skills Advice

Effective study must become a habit. It should be carried out according to a timetable based on the subjects studied in school that day. You should study each subject for approximately 30 minutes. You should then take a short break and then study a different subject.
The most important part of study is to just do it. Forget the excuses - I need to do chores first - I need to watch a particular television programme (it will help me in my history/geography etc.) - I need to watch the news - I have an urgent phone call to make - I have to write a letter - and any other excuse you can think of. Don't put it off - many students spend more effort in avoiding the work than they do in actually doing it. Promise yourself rewards. Instead of having a cup of coffee and then going to do your study promise yourself that coffee, or sweet or whatever after you understand a particular topic that you are to study.

A key to getting the greatest return for the least effort is to be organised. The first rule in being organised is to have a timetable that works for you. When you are devising your study timetable, give more time to the subjects that you find more difficult.

But your timetable should not be cast in stone - if you find it is not working for you, keep adapting it to your needs until it becomes really useful for you.

The proper environment is important - a quiet well-lit room with a table or desk and an upright chair. Too dim or too bright lighting will cause eye-strain. A soft chair, or lying on the bed will just make you fall asleep.

Study must be active, not passive. Interrogate the text book. Don't just accept what the author is saying - question it. If the text book doesn't give answers to your questions ask your teacher. Just reading sections of a book will not make you remember the material. Take reasonable sized sections at a time. Look at headings - these will usually give you a good idea of what the section is about. Don't measure your study by the amount of time you spend at it - the true measure is what you now know or understand relative to the start of the study session.

Read each paragraph and highlight or underline the main points. Write these down on paper and repeat them to yourself. Then try to write them down from memory. Check and correct your answer and try it again. Keep a record of your notes for revision later on.

Look out for charts and diagrams - a picture can be worth a thousand words. Copy diagrams and then try to reproduce them.

For subjects like mathematics or technical graphics, go over the examples you have done. Do them again. Once per week you should go over all you have done in each subject. Do this once a month as well, and also when coming up to examinations.

If there are some points you find hard to remember, why not make posters or large notices with the information on them. Then put them in your room where you will see them constantly.

Remember - no music in the background while you are studying. You may think it helps you to relax and to remember things. Two points arise from this - 1) you are not meant to be relaxed, and 2) there will be no music in the background while you are doing your examinations - so get used to it now.

It should go without saying that television, while studying, is a big no-no!

For more advice check out the follow websites:

https://secure.eircom.net/apps/education/login.htm?EGPage=LeftStudy

http://www.careersportal.ie/studyskills/index.php

http://www.careersportal.ie/studyskills/index.php

Trip to Hamlet

Trip to Mondello

School Trips

6Y Trip to Glendalough

On Tuesday 22nd September Mrs Counihan interrupted our hard work by announcing that there were profits from the shop last year and would the sixth years be interested in going to Glendalough for a fun hill walk. The Sixth Years were delighted to have our hard work rewarded by a day out of school.

The next Thursday the sixth years got onto the bus excited and some a little bit nervous of what Mrs Counihan had in store for us. The bus departed at 9:10 with twenty-one sixth years and a prepared Mrs Counihan and Mr Healy. The drive was long but full of chat and a small competition to see how many gummy bears can fit in a mouth (a lot). When we eventually arrived at Glendalough we were glad to be off the bus. Mrs Counihan showed us the hill we would be walking - we soon realised in was mountain walking. We set out about 11:00 and there were a few steps to the path which lead us up the side of the mountain. This had already separated the group in half 1)the ones that wanted to reach the top and 2) the ones that wanted to have an Irish test instead of going further. A quiet pit-stop and we were off on the “adventure”. Once more a few thousand steep steps later and we were sitting on the side. There were mixed feelings. Some were feeling a sense of accomplishment (even it was just the side), some admired the view and the lads enjoyed laughing at the small group of girls that was convinced Mrs Counihan and Mr Healy were punishing them.

After a small break and food, some were determined to reach the top, others not so much. The scenery was amazing and the weather was lovely and warm. When the lads and a few girls had reached the top there was a fortyfive minute wait for the small group that had decided to walk at a much slower pace. Everyone was happy to have reached the top alive. The twenty-one Sixth Years trailed down the mountain, some tired and some falling and some (Mrs Counihan) deafening people with a whistle. We had walked up and down the hill - the only problem was that we were one side of Glendalough and the bus was the other side. Tired and warm, we eventually reached the car park and Mr Healy and Ms Counihan brightened our tired spirits with two words : Mc Donalds.

It was a very interesting but tiring day. on t he way home the bus was somewhat quiet with people falling asleep. However, the competition continued. . It took us roughly three and a half hours to walk 8-9 miles. It was an achievement but, as Ms Counihan said, she does hill walking every Sunday and it’s good exercise. But I can safely say that only a small handful will go “hill walking” with Ms. Counihan and Mr Healy as they showed us up with their power walking.
Submitted by Amba Beaubien (AJ)