students and parents learn to by Valorie Lennox The Review Learning to study smarter, not harder, was the goal for 187 par- ents and students who attended a four-part study skills program at Mt. Newton Middle School this month. Organized by the Mt. Newton Parent Advisory Council, the pro- gram was presented by Bill Hic- key, a counselor at Reynolds Secondary in Victoria, and by} John Sitwell, a teacher at Central Junior Secondary in Victoria. Both developed the study skills} program to help students learn how to handle school work more effectively, “Students were coming to us} _- and asking for help in dealing with | assignments and exams,” Hickey said. Eight to 10) years ago, Hickey | and Sitwell began sharing notes on student needs, which led to the development of a 360-page course entitled Learning Skills for Secon- dary Schools. Designed as a handbook with lesson plans, the course can be “used by teachers to improve stu- dents’ study skills. The program presented at Mt. Newton is a condensed version of the overall course, Hickey said. Organizer Sue Bannister volun- teered to bring the program to Mt. Newton after talking to parents who had taken the four-part course in the past. “I heard good things about it from parents,’ she said. In the past seven years, the program had been offered twice at Mt. Newton. Bannister attended with her own children; Scott, who is in grade 7 at Mt. Newton and Ross, who is in grade 9 at Stelly’s Secondary. “Its very encouraging that there’s so many positive things that students. can do,” she said Thursday, the final night of the program. “Tt teaches how to study smar- ter, not how to study harder.” _A fee of $20 per family was ‘charged for the four sessions, held at the school from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. each Tuesday and! Thursday, for two weeks, Inviting parents! to participate is an impegiant part of the program, ‘study smarter’ ‘A STUDY SKILLS course drew both parents and students to Mt. Newton Middle school this I month for four evenings. Here grade six student Avaleigh Hicks of North Saanich picks up tips from teachers Bill Hickey and John Sitwell, who developed the course. Avaleigh, her brother Graham and mother kim were among 187 parents and students who attended the program which was sponsored by the Mt. Newton Parent Advisory Council. says Mt. Newton principal Betty Clazie. When the parents attend, stu- dents attach greater importance to the course and are better moti- vated, Clazie explained. “For students to have a solid approach from the home on home study skills supports the young- sters at school,” she added. The program is open to children aged 11 and up, Clazie said. Often entire families attend, giving youn- ger students the benefit of impro- ved study skills as well. Although many of those enrol- led are Mt. Newton students, Clazie said families from through- out the district have attended. “Tt walks you through the basic skills related to home study,” Clazie said. Reading skills are reviewed and lips are given on exam preparation, Organization, time management, decision making, listening skills, visual skills and memory reten- tion. Students are advised to budget time as they would bypeet money, putting the greatest effort into school projects which will yield the greatest percentage of their final grade. Students should ask teachers to outline course requirements and to list how grades will be deter- mined. The same procedure should be used in writing a test, with more time devoted to answers which comprise a greater part of the final score. Students were also warned to ensure they understood terms used on a test — and to ask if they were unsure. As an example, John Sitwell described an incident in which a student responded by sketching on the test paper when asked to illustrate an answer. Since Hickey and Sitwell now only present the program three times' a year, Clazie said Mt. Newton was fortunate in being able to host one of the presenta- tions. “ Parents attending the course also agreed it was an worthwhile exer- cise. Donna Wiles came with her son Jason, hoping he would pick up study skills to use through middle and secondary school. Jason is now in Grade 6 at Mt. Newton Middle School. The mother of another Grade 6 student at Mt. Newton, Terry Hill hops son Andrew “‘will get skills so he can get good marks in school and do well — get the most out of what he learns.”’ Kim Hicks brought her daughter Avaleigh, a grade six student. “Her grades were going down. She needed an advantage,” Hicks said. She praised the program. “They're teaching good habits.” Although son Graham, now six, came with his sister to the ses- sions, Hicks said she would like him and his four-year-old brother, Ben, to take the study course when both are older, “T will bring the other children a offer it again,” she said. ltr Aoud Wassnh AINUS hs OASO2R/ CUO IOADW S$! UVOLLOUOPD BUY, BULYLA2D 2a (‘UOSMOG ysereentong) STIV ELIOTST A, OUT THOTT SJUGAS JUSTIND “sInNIIND 2 siry = Ne ION, SRE pen Sige 1 OF RDS LY mt sole ue O} Zurpeoy uoneunoyur AOyJ 000°? TheReview CLOTHES O THE DOOR | SALE! We need the room for our Spring Fashions. 0 es Sale on Jan. 28/92 through until Feb. 15/92 — THE FOLLOWING SELECTED ITEMS WILL BE SOLD AT UP TO... 5 Oo” OFF THE — AI! Long Sleeve Fall Sport Shirts by |. Miller, Hyannisport, Hathaway. | MAI! Wool Slacks by Riviera, Designer Il. MAI! Winter Jackets including selected Leather Jackets. MOver 200 Sweaters by Tundra, London Fog. 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