Working with a study budy 8 docx

Practice Tip
Keep track of yourself daily! When are you at your best: most confident,
focused, and clear-headed? What is it that distracts you when you try to
concentrate?
In a notebook, track yourself for at least a week. If it’s reading you’re
concerned about, focus on reading. Concentrate on making things a lit-
tle more comfortable than usual. For example, if you’re eating cereal
and reading the box and you suddenly realize that reading is easier for
you than usual, write down the situation: “yellow box, green large let-
ters, my eyes looking down.” You may very well find that switching to
large-type books is a help, and so is using yellow note paper instead of
white. If you discover that you’re really enjoying your new class because
the teacher often explains concepts in big circles with connecting lines
between them, make note of it and try to repeat it in other learning
situations.
KNOWING WHEN YOU NEED HELP
171
situations that are helpful. Write in your log at least once each day. After a
week or two, you should have a clearer picture of how you learn.
If you are meeting with someone at your school or workplace such
as a learning consultant, psychologist, or tutor, bring your log and review
it with her. The service is usually free for you. When you take an active
part in diagnosing your learning weakness, you’ll be better able to con-
trol it, and even use it to your advantage.
IN SHORT
You’re a unique learner. You’re different from everyone else—and
everyone else is different from everyone else! Each of us has a learning
difference. When you realize how your seesaw of learning strength and
weakness operates, you can use your strength to get a handle on the
learning weakness. You might even find a way to use it to your advantage!

173
A
s you’ve discovered, there are many
parts to studying! Learning how you learn, knowing when
you understand something and when you don’t, making
questions, finding answers, dealing with different classroom situations,
preparing for different kinds of tests, speaking and writing so others will
understand what you mean—these are all parts of the study process. Check
the following lists for publications and organizations useful to you in all
these steps.
In addition to the nationally available resources listed here, your
area is likely to have similar resources. For instance, many public libraries
run programs that offer reading help. Check with your local library, high
school, or community college to find out what’s available in your area.
APPENDIX
A
DDITIONAL
RESOURCES
HOW TO STUDY
174
BASIC SKILLS: WRITING AND READING
Educational Solutions, Inc.
99 University Place
New York, NY 10003
212-674-2988
Assorted materials on math, ESL, reading, speaking, spelling, and
related topics are available.
Becoming A Writer by Bill Bernhardt and Peter Miller (St. Martin’s
Press, 1986)
Now out of print, but excerpts are available from the authors at

The College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
Uses writing exercises to get you to want to write, to be aware of
writing, and to edit your work.
Writing With Power, 2nd Ed., by Peter Elbow (Oxford University Press,
1998)
Helps you get your words on paper and teaches you to write clearly
and effectively.
The Least You Should Know About English, 6th ed., by Teresa F. Glazier
(Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997)
Helps you straighten out words that look or sound like other words.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White (Allyn and
Bacon, 1995)
Helps you keep track of standard American syntax and grammar.
Read Better, Remember More, 2 ed. by Elizabeth Chesla (LearningExpress,
2000)
(order information at the back of this book)
Shows you how to remember what you read by helping you better
understand what you read.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
175
Grammar Essentials, 2 ed. by Judith F. Olson (LearningExpress, 2000)
(order information at the back of this book)
Gives you all the essentials of standard grammar in an easy-to-use
format.
STUDY SKILLS AND TEST-TAKING
Ace Any Test, 3rd ed., by Ronald W. Fry (Career Press, 1996)
A quick and irreverent guide to test-taking, aimed at high school
and college students but also good for adults.

How to Learn Anything Quickly: An Accelerated Program for Rapid
Learning by Ricki Linksman (Citadel Press, 1996)
Like the book you have in your hand, this one focuses on learning
styles, going into right- and left-brained thinking in more detail.
The Secrets of Taking Any Test, 2 ed. by Judith Meyers (LearningExpress,
2000)
(order information at the back of this book)
Specifically for adult learners, this book shows you how to get orga-
nized and gives you tips on taking all kinds of tests, from classroom tests
to civil service or licensure and certificate exams.
LEARNING DISABILITIES
The following organizations can put you in touch with people or organi-
zations in your area for evaluations, support groups, training programs,
advocacy and legal rights, and more. Call or write for free information.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
412-341-1515
HOW TO STUDY
176
National Center for Learning Disabilities
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1401
New York, NY 10016
888-575-7373 phone; 212-545-9665 fax
website: www.ncld.org
The Orton Dyslexia Society
71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10010
800-222-3123 or 212-691-1930
Parents’ Educational Resource Center

Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation
1660 South Amphlett, Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402
800-471-9545 or 415-655-2410
website: www.perc-schwabfdn.org
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CH.A.D.D.)
499 N.W. 70th Avenue, Suite 101
Plantation, FL 33317-9952
website:
You might want to try this helpful book:
Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey (Pantheon
Books, 1995)
True stories of people in different jobs and situations who have
attention deficit disorder.