Learning to learn

Tips for learning at a new school: Sometimes it's the little things that help with learning. Tips against forgotten notebooks and homework and for successful classwork...

• A new challenge: Packing the school bag
  The day before, use the timetable to prepare books, notebooks, folders, other materials (see homework booklet) and sports equipment for each lesson.
  Tip: Each compartment is given a different color (notebook cover, folder).
  Tip: Laminate the timetable! Write in water-soluble pen so that changes can be noted quickly.
  - Empty bag regularly.
  Pack only necessary materials.
  - Pack together the first few days.
  Provide support at increasing intervals.
  
  
• 2. two important notebooks: The message notebook and the homeworknotebook
  
  The message notebook makes quick communication possible. Parents → School:
  Excuses, leaves of absence, notices to teachers
  School → Parents:
  Appointments, schedule changes,
  Acknowledgement of receipt, short notices about lateness, missing HA and misbehavior → Must be signed off by parents!
  
  
• Use the homework book correctly
  Enter all assignmentsand materials to be brought.
  If possible, enter on the day the assignments or materials must be ready.
  
  
• 3. a challenge every day? Homework (HA)
  
  60 minutes each day is allowed for students in grades 5 and 6.
  No HA for afternoon classes to the following day.
  Help with time management.
  Create regularity. Encourage independence.
  Practice, practice, practice.... (This is especially true for vocabulary).
  
  
• 4. the real thing: class tests
  Start practicing early (a week before)
  New content needs time if it is to "sit".
  Organize learning: I need to know this by heart, be able to apply that...
  Excited? That's normal!
  
  

"Learning to learn" in three chapters

• 1. concentrate!
  • Concentration is not always easy. You then need self-discipline to concentrate. It is helpful to have long-term goals in mind that can motivate you even if the current topic or the task that needs to be solved does not seem interesting. In order not to make it unnecessarily difficult for yourself to concentrate, you should avoid distractions. The workplace should be quiet and without "temptations" (cell phone, games...).
  • Stress can be a real "concentration killer". If my brain is very busy with another topic (bad feelings, fear of failure), this always pulls me out of concentration. The only thing that helps is to try to turn off this "concentration killer".
  • Good feelings help us focus.
  • Fatigue can also be a real "concentration killer". The only thing that helps is a (short) break. If I've been working for a long time, nothing works. Then it makes sense to recover and continue working effectively and with concentration.

• 2. learn!
  • Learning changes brain cells, so the transmission of information becomes better and faster.
  • We can support our brain in learning: Breaks and sufficient sleep are important for effective learning.
  • Stress and negative emotions are bad for learning. When I learn with anxiety, it becomes more difficult to apply what I have learned.
    • Our brains like to learn: understanding and successful learning makes us happy.
      Our brains don't like dull memorization. If I become active myself (write vocabulary, create learning posters), the material sticks better.
      
      
      
• 3. remember!
  
  • In remembering, neurons work together and a certain pattern of cooperation is revived.
  • The more repetitions, the more active learning, the better memory works.
  • Only after many repetitions (training) are stable connections established in the brain and what is learned is securely anchored in long-term memory.