Penn Foster recently sent me my first two study units,
Learning Strategies and Introduction to Catering. To say that I’m grateful for
the first study unit would be an understatement. Being a student is something I
haven’t experienced for 22 years, so the suggestions that Penn Foster makes in
the Learning Strategies study unit are quite helpful.
The truth is, I have been very excited about taking these
classes, but petrified about the studying aspect of it. I often tell my kids to
study, but in the back of my mind I’m wondering exactly how they do that. How
do you just sit down to a bunch of books and try to memorize what’s inside?
Even when I was younger I had no clue how to do this, perhaps that’s why I
froze on test day.
One of the first things Penn Foster teaches you is how to
study. In this first unit I’ve not only found out what type of learner I am
(auditory), but I’ve also been introduced to the SQ3R ( Survey, Question, Read,
Recite, Review) method of studying. In the SQ3R method of learning you’re
suppose to glance over the material you’re about to read, turn headings into
questions, read your material, recite it then review it. This may seem pretty
basic to some, but to a person like me, it was a whole new way of learning.
Another suggestion Penn Foster makes is that you tell your
family when you’re studying they can’t bother you. Unfortunately Penn Foster
doesn’t live with me and the men. I don’t mean to complain but the fact is I
must hear the words, “mom where is… Honey have you seen my…” a million times a
day. So until the men in my household can find their own socks, keys, toilet
paper and so on, this is one learning strategy that will never happen, but I
can dream.
With my new-found knowledge of studying I was ready to take
my first exam and I’m proud to say that I aced it. I got a 100% and I’m quite
proud of this. So far I’ve been able to balance things pretty well. In the past
few days I’ve not only read through my entire study guide, I’ve absorbed the
material within and retained it, made Thanksgiving dinner, kept up with my
son’s home schooling, done all of my domestic goddess errands…all of this while
battling a cold and a fever. I only hope my next study unit goes as well.