Tag Archives: Granville Sawyer

GradeUP! Challenge #6: You Can’t Study Your Textbook!

Higher Education, Mentoring Students, Success In College, , , , , , , , , ,
  • studying-studentIn the last post, I talked about how to use your textbook to prepare for and get the most out of your classes. You’re a few weeks into the semester so you’re probably preparing for a test on the material you’ve covered so far – let’s talk about how you prep for that.

First, don’t use your textbook to study for your test – it was never meant for that. The textbook is a reference source of all information about certain topics and concepts – you can’t remember all of what is in there. That’s why there are study guides that go with textbooks. However, you need to create your own custom study guide, one that works for you, not a generic one written by someone else. The best way to fully grasp the information that you’ll need to retain for an exam and use as a foundation for more learning is to process what’s in the text – not memorize the text. Here’s how you do that:

  • Get organized. Gather together everything you need to know and understand for the test – text, notes, handouts, your syllabus;
  • Using the textbook do the following;
    • Read a portion of the material you are responsible for on the test;
    • Close your book and summarize what you read in your own words – don’t look back at the book and don’t use or copy what the author wrote;
    • Read the section in the book again to see if your summary includes all of the important points;
    • If you missed some of the material, it means either you didn’t remember or you didn’t understand so go over that material again, summarize it;
    • Repeat the process for the next section of the text and repeat until you have created your own outline for all the material you are responsible for knowing for the exam;
  • Use this same technique for any additional resource material you need to know for the exam. Use the syllabus to make sure you’ve covered all the material you’re responsible for;
  • Don’t use anyone else’s study guide – you must do your own. This process creates a study guide specifically tailored to the way you process and learn material;
  • Now, use your study guide to prepare for the test. Don’t study the book or that stack of class notes – you’ve covered that in creating your guide so everything you need to know is in it.

Yes, this will take time – a lot longer than just reading the material but it is the best way to actually understand and be able to use what you learned when test time comes because doing your study guide well requires that you understand everything you outlined. You can’t finesse this – you’ve either got it or you need to go back to your resources and get it. Getting that understanding and creating your study guide is when learning takes place. When you’re finished, you will know and understand everything in it because that is the only way you could have done the guide well. A bonus, you’ve already started your comprehensive study guide for finals!

In Chapter 11 of College In Four Years, “How to Use Your Textbook the Right Way,” you’ll find more information on how to outline different types of study material to maximize understanding and ensure it works well for you.

Next GradeUp! Challenge, Tuesday, February 24.

GradeUP! Challenge #5: How and Why You Should Do The Textbook Two-Step

Mentoring Students, Success In College, , , , ,

iStock_000002370989Medium - Open Book For WebsiteStep One: Get the assigned textbook for all of your classes.

Step Two: Read your textbooks before class.

To pass a class and you have to read the textbook. Sounds simple but some students don’t realize how essential reading the textbook is to passing a class. However, to do well in a class, you have to read your textbook BEFORE the material is covered in class. Textbooks are expensive but they are essential to doing well in your classes so use them in a way that gives you the most return on your investment (ROI).

That ROI starts with taking the time to read assignments carefully before class with a focus on understanding. Make notes about what you don’t understand and ask about these things when your professor covers the material in class. If you don’t read before class, you will be trying to do all of the following during class:

  • Listen to and understand what your teacher is saying to you;
  • Understand what he/she writes on the board;
  • Take notes that make sense, are clearly written and can be read and understood without trying to decipher scrawls or misspelled gibberish;
  • Look at the book and understand what is in there for the first time; and
  • Ask questions about the material being discussed.

It is impossible to do all of these tasks at the same time. Many try – all fail. To get the most out of the textbook and class lectures you have to two-step – get the textbook and read it before class. Only then will you:

  • Know what you understand and what you don’t understand;
  • Be able to write down questions to ask in class based on your understanding of the material.
  • Ask questions in class when the teacher starts to cover material that you don’t understand. “I don’t understand that,” is a valid question – you don’t have to sound like you understand everything to ask a question and, it is your professor’s responsibility to facilitate your understanding – in class or later, one-on-one.
  • Take notes to make sure you have the answers to your questions written down so you won’t forget them.
  • Review your notes after class and before you start your homework making sure you understand what was covered in class.

Doing the Textbook Two-Step leads to better understanding of course material, a better grades and a better ROI on your textbook investment. There’s more on effective study and learning strategies in Chapter 12 of College in Four Years.

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College Success on CBS Radio Washington’s “Community Focus” with Dr. Justine Love

Coaching, First Generation College Students, Higher Education, Success In College, , ,

GMS with Dr LoveSo glad to have the opportunity to talk good talk with Dr. Justine Love, Community and Public Affairs Director for CBS Radio Washington, WPGC 95.5 FM. We discuss what parents, mentors and stakeholders can do to help pre-college and in-college students get the most from their college experience.

Community Focus with Dr. Justine Love, airs Sunday, January 25 at 6:00 am. on WPGC 95.5 FM. If you miss the broadcast, the entire interview will be available on GranvilleSawyer.com, Monday, January 26.

Special thanks to Fred Robinson, Director Government/Political/Issue Marketing, CBS Radio Washington, for facilitating this interview.

College Is An Entrepreneurial Venture

Coaching, First Generation College Students, Higher Education, Mentoring Students, Non-traditional Students, Success In College, The Costs and Benefits of Higher Education, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Josh Smith, Granville Sawyer and Molly Matthews on Biz Talk with Josh
Josh Smith, Granville Sawyer and Molly Matthews on Biz Talk with Josh

Molly Mahoney Matthews and Dr. Granville M. Sawyer were recent guests for two shows on CBS Radio’s Biz Talk With Josh. Host Joshua I. Smith interviewed Matthews and Sawyer and the topic was Bookends, an innovative approach to college as an entrepreneurial venture that prepares college students to graduate in four years with business and entrepreneurial skills. Bookends pairs the higher education experience of Dr. Granville M. Sawyer, Jr. with the entrepreneurial/business management success of Molly Mahoney Matthews using the information and insight from Molly Matthews’ book, Unsinkable: Find A Job, Create A Career, Build A Business and Dr. Granville Sawyer’s book College in Four Years: Making Every Semester Count.

Click the player to listen to an excerpt from the show:

Interested in learning more about Bookends for your organization or institution? Complete the contact form below.

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