HOW YOU LEARN

Just as you dress and talk in your own style, you learn in your own style. Some kids do better in school - not because they are smarter than everyone else - but because they learn better than other kids in the type of school situation they find themselves. School success is not so much a result of how smart you are, but of how you get smart. Once you know how you get smart, you can get even smarter - faster and easier. How well you learn something depends on how you do it, how often you do it and how hard you try.

Take this survey about conditions that make you learn your best.

Circle as many letters for each question as you want. There are no wrong answers. This is just a survey to get you thinking about your learning style. Once you know your style, you can work to improve it.

1. I learn best by
a. watching
b. listening
c. writing things down
d. acting things out
e. teaching other people
2. I prefer to prepare
for tests
a. with other people
b. by myself
3. I do my homework
a. one subject at a time
b. switching back
and forth among many subjects
4. I like to improve
my skills (such as
musical instruments or sports)
a. by reading about famous people with those skills
b. by practicing on
my own
c. by practicing with a team or group
d. by trying to figure out new things for myself
5. I study best
a. at the last minute – stress makes me work better
b. by pacing myself over time – I’d rather avoid the stress
6. I like to study
a. when it is very quiet
b. with music playing
7. I like to ask questions that begin with
a. what
b. who
c. when
d. how
e. why

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