Section 1: Preparation
Getting Started
What do I do with my time?
Before we can factor in study time, we need to find the time to do it. The chart below represents a typical day. Fill in how you spend your time. There is one untitled slot; if you have another regular activity, you can put it in there.
Section 2: Application What
is
What is Learning?
You have learned a topic when you know a set of facts or details about it and can use your knowledge to explain the topic to someone else or answer questions about the topic. You are expected to be able to demonstrate that you understand the topic.
Learning is a 5-step process:
• Look at the teacher.
• Stay engaged with the material.
• Be prepared for class: books, pens, copy ready.
• Become Ok with trying an answer.
• Ask questions in class.
• Do homework.
Learning and Study? SAMPLE
• Avoid distractions, chatting and phones.
• Take notes.
• Homework done.
• Try examples.
• Stay on task.
• Leave no blanks.
• Follow steps your teacher has shown.
• Try again and again.
• Look for examples and clarifications from your teacher.
• Ask for help at home.
• Practise exam questions.
• Use quizzes and Kahoots.
• Practice makes progress.
What about homework?
You are learning material in class then doing homework on it, so that’s twice you have done the same work.
That’s a lot of opportunity to practise. Shouldn’t you know it? Are you using homework as learning time or throwing it together to get it over with? The same learning rules for class time apply to homework.
Good homework habits
• Set aside the place and time. The same place and time develops a habit. Your brain is ready.
• Decide this is time to help you understand the material, a learning opportunity.
• Minimise distractions – phone, TV, windows to gaze out of.
• Have water with you so you don’t have to leave the room to get some.
• Don’t start homework hungry.
• Plan homework. Lay out what you are going to do. Set some targets. I will learn the Irish verbs for 20 minutes, write them out five times each, and then test myself. I will spend 15 minutes on my Maths questions.
• Start with a tough one – get it done. Or start with an easy one to make a good start. We are all different. Pick the strategy that helps you get going.
• Looking up an answer and just taking it down straight from the book or from Google does not help you to learn. Read the question and plan an answer to make sure you understand it before you write it.
• Make a note of difficult questions. Make a reasonable attempt at an answer, then, next class, ask the teacher for help.
• Build in a 15-minute break per hour of study. But not on your phone. A stretch, a walk outside, a cuppa, a quick chat with someone in the house. Be disciplined: 15 minutes then back to it.
• Do a quick recap on what you have done. Are you happy you know the topics you covered tonight?
Section 3: Skills Learning from the Exam
What are Action Verbs?
Action verbs are words that describe what you need to be able to do with the information you have learned. Action verbs help you to know how to answer a question. Here is a list of some of the most-used action verbs in Junior Cycle.
1. Compare means you must give examples of the similarities and differences between two things. You must write about both terms to answer the question.
2. Describe means to give a detailed picture of something. You can use words, pictures, or diagrams to describe something.
3. Define means you must give the exact meaning of something. Used often in science, it usually refers to a specific term, e.g. density. It means you must learn the definition off by heart and give it back exactly as you’ve learned it when asked for it in an exam.
4. Discuss means to give a balanced review of the facts or opinions about a topic. It should show both positive and negative sides, or different opinions on a topic. You should include a conclusion based on the evidence you have presented.
5. Examine means to look at something in detail. You are trying to uncover information about a topic or situation. You are investigating what happened, why, and who was involved when looking for new information.
6. Explain means to give a detailed account, including reasons, examples or causes. Your answer should help someone to understand the issue better.
7. Identify means to recognise patterns, facts, or details that are important. When you identify something, you’re picking out the key information from a group of possibilities, like finding the main idea in a paragraph.
SAMPLE
8. Interpret means to use knowledge and understanding to recognise trends and draw conclusions from given information. E.g., read tables and graphs and extract information.
9. Justify means to give good reasons and evidence to support an answer or conclusion. E.g., explaining the reasons why one thing is better than another, or why we should take a particular action.
10. Outline is to make a summary in points of the significant features of a subject. Pick out the main points and list them in a logical order.
1. Compare Give the exact meaning
2. Describe Summarise the main points
3. Define List reasons why
4. Discuss Present a detailed picture
5. Examine Recognise trends and draw conclusions
6. Explain Investigate in detail
9. Justify Give a balanced account, two sides 10. Outline 1 Give similarities and differences of both Match the correct term with the key words.
8. Interpret Picking out key information
SAMPLE
7. Identify Detailed account to promote understanding