5 Tips When It Comes To Mind Mapping

Sherlock Approved Study Tips for Visual Learners

Visual learners are those who learn best through what they see. For example, a visual learner needs to see a math problem worked out step by step rather than just listen to the teacher explain it in order to learn. If that sounds like you here some tips on how to get the most out of your study time. 

Not sure what type of learner you are? Take this test at Education Planner and find out!

1) Color Code Your Notes

Color coding your notes can help you visualize the information you learned that day and help you quickly identify the important bits. They also make your notes pretty and colorful. Try assigning each color a meaning. For instance, everything yellow is going to be on the test and everything blue is a homework assignment. 

2) Flash Cards

Flash cards are a great tool for both visual and kinaesthetic learners. To make them more visual learning friendly, copy down the graphs or symbols that your teacher used in the lesson and make a matching game with their definitions. Caution, do not over load your flash cards! With flash cards, the gist is better than a 5 paragraph essay. If you want to make your cards online check out this handy site:

3) Watch Tutorial Videos

Watching a video can be a great way to refresh your memory or learn a new concept. In a tutorial video you can pause, rewind, or fast forward the video whenever a concept is too hard or familiar. The Khan Academy and Youtube are both great resources for educational videos. On Youtube, we love

Minute Physics

Your Teacher Math Help

Khan Academy

4) Rewrite Or Type Your Notes

It may seem repetitive but rewriting or typing your hand written notes is a great way to review the lesson. For visual learners, seeing the information again and again in new ways helps it stick even deeper in your brain. 

New post on the blog! I haven’t posted this kind in a while, but they seem to be so popular I think I’ll start doing it again :)

5 Habits of Organized Students | Study-Hack

Read the post for more details and helpful links!

How I learn languages

So, depending on the level of interest people have in my way of doing things, I might create a more thorough guide in the future. However, in the interest of brevity I will create a very rough step by step guide for people because why not.

1. Pick a language - Pick one you like; don’t worry about it being “practical” or “useful.” If you don’t like the language you’re studying, it’s going to be a miserable experience and learning languages should be fun!

2. Learn IPA - Learning how to read IPA characters (International Phonetic Alphabet) is imperative to being a successful language learner. If you haven’t already, put some time into learning how to read IPA transcriptions because it will save you a lot of time and give you a much better accent when learning the sounds of your target language. Avoid “english-y” transcriptions (e.g. très = TRAY) like the plague. They’re bad and people who make them should feel bad.

3. Learn the alphabet/writing system - Usually it doesn’t take a super long time, and if you’re studying a language like Japanese or Chinese it’s best to get used to using the writing system from the very beginning. You’re gonna have to deal with it eventually so you may as well hop right in. Relying on latin character transcriptions will only put off the inevitable.

4. Learn the pronunciation of your target language - I advocate a pronunciation-first approach. This will be easier or harder depending on how many unfamiliar sounds there are in your TL, but it’s worth going over the phonology (sound system) of your language early and getting used to how its sounds interact. If you don’t learn proper pronunciation in the beginning, you’ll ingrain incorrect pronunciations into your brain which will be hard to undo later on. You don’t have to try to make your accent perfect, accent reduction can come later, but it’s worth spending some time on. This is especially true for language with odd sounds or features (tones, voicing distinctions, etc.)

5. Pick ONE course/book - A problem I see a lot, and one that I have fallen into many times myself, is hording language learning resources. In the beginning, and especially for beginner polyglots, it is better to pick ONE really good course or book to follow, and focus on mastering the material within. If you try to split your time between too many resources or books or websites, you’ll quickly become overwhelmed. Some books/courses/series I recommend that can commonly be found for all languages are: Teach Yourself, Assimil, Duolingo, Linguaphone, and Pimsleur among others. You can always use one of those while you keep searching for more resources, but resist the temptation to dig into multiple books at once.

6. Use an SRS to learn vocabulary/grammar - SRS’s (Spaced Repetition Systems) are my bread and butter when it comes to memorization. Put simply, they are tools for spending your studying time more efficiently, and they warrant an entire post by themselves. Rote memorization is for the birds, so use a spaced repetition system such as Anki, Supermemo, a Leitner Box, or Memrise to avoid wasting your time. (Use Anki. Just use Anki. You’ll thank me later.)

7. Don’t translate - I used to learn vocabulary and grammar using English translations, but you’ll soon find that it’s only useful to an extent as your vocabulary gets bigger and you start running out of unique ways to translate synonyms. A more robust approach to flash card creation can be found in the book “Fluent Forever” by Gabriel Wyner, which I would definitely recommend reading. The short version is: use pictures instead of English translations for picturable words, for more abstract words and grammar concepts, use example sentences with cloze deletion cards (easy to create using Anki. seriously, just use anki.)

8. Speak the language! - Probably the only thing I actually learned from He Who Shall Not Be Named (anyone who’s been in the polyglot community for longer than 30 seconds knows who I’m talking about.) It seems simple but you should really speak the language as much as you can straight from the beginning. “But how can I speak the language if I’m not fluent or if I’ve just started?” Simple, use what you know, and do whatever it takes to make yourself understood. It really doesn’t take much, maybe 100 words or so (a day’s worth of work if you’re dedicated) to start to be able to put sentences together. Learning phrases is even better for this. For this reason, a phrasebook (Lonely Planet is a popular choice) is a worthy investment.

9. Immerse yourself as much as possible! - Watch TV, read books, nespapers, and articles, and listen to music in your TL. Get yourself used to being around the language. Ideally, you’d be able to move to the country or region where the language is spoken and truly immerse yourself, but for many total immersion can be either unrealistic or overwhelming. It’s totally possible to give yourself enough contact with the language and even create a 100% immersion environment all from the comfort of your home. The important thing is to have contact with the language and get used to being around it. This is where you’ll pick up on the rhythms of the language, tonality, intonation, all that good stuff. More importantly, it will get you used to how FAST people talk.

10. Keep looking for things you don’t know. - This is probably the best advice I could give anyone. There are things out there that you don’t even know you don’t know, so the best thing to do is to keep surrounding yourself with new facts, new vocabulary, new grammar structures, etc. If you’re looking for a new course/book, look for one that seems like it has a lot to teach you. Don’t rehash things you already know, it’s a waste of time. This is the basic principle of SRS’s, don’t review until you forget. Going back over concepts you already know is pointless and it contributes to “plateau syndrome” (when it feels like you’re not making any progress in your TL). Review what you need to, when you need to, only so long as you need to. Learning one new concept is worth more than going back over two you’ve already mastered.

11. HAVE FUN - The road to fluency is long. Like super long, I can’t stress this enough. You may not be fluent in 3 months, a year, two years, maybe even 5 years. It all depends on how much time you are willing to spend on the language and to a VERY VERY SMALL DEGREE how talented you are. The important thing is to not rush it and enjoy the experience. If you’re not having fun, modify your goals and your approach until you are.

This is nowhere near everything I have to say, but it’s a start. These are just some things I wish I had known when I started studying languages. So if it helps at least one person well hey that’s enough for me. :D

hey, everyone!! because this community has so much to offer in the way of advice, i decided to compile some of my favorite posts so they’re easily accessible and they can help all of you guys :))

(these are all original content from amazing studyblrs and i claim credit for none)

+general school advice

everything you need masterpost for students

everything you need to succeed in school

things top students do

ultimate school masterpost

university success tips

5 things to do at the end of a semester

+notetaking

a guide to the cornell note-taking system

annotating books

guide to pretty notes

how to effectively take notes

how to take notes

how to take notes from a textbook

mindmaps

notebook organization

notetaking system

notetaking 101

taking lecture notes

tips for notetaking

+organization

how to keep your school bag organized

how to organize

student organization tips

+printables

form your habits

printables masterlist

5 page study & revision planner

+studying

all-nighters

behind in school? get back on track in one day

exam masterpost

finals week masterpost

finals week masterpost 2

find your study spot

guide to happy(ish) revision

guide to kicking booty on exams

homemade textbook studying

homework completion tips

how to go through your readings

how to highlight

how to study

how to study (from the lazy perspective)

lazy study tips

online tools for studying

secret study tips

study tips for auditory, visual, and tactile learners

study tips masterpost

study tips review

study tips to actually get shit done

the 5-day study plan

tips on staying focused

5 things to do the morning of an exam

8 tips on getting started

2015 uni study tips

+supplies/stationery

journal & planner masterpost

journal/sketchbook resource masterpost

supply masterlist w/ reviews

another supply masterlist

studyblr alternatives (inexpensive stationery)

7 school supplies that make studying easier

+time management & productivity

how to beat laziness

how to manage time through post-it notes

how to stick to your schedule

productivity tips

time + task management

timeful

the science of procrastination and how to beat it

+writing

how to actually write an essay in an actual nutshell

how to: lab report

how to organize essay notes

how to plan and write literature papers

how to write an essay

+self-care

getting a good night’s sleep

how to relax before studying

5 things to do to enjoy life

+misc

friendly reminders

how to learn languages

hello again dear friends!!! a lot of you have asked me how to stay productive during holidays + this is just a tiny masterpost to help you make the most out of your holidays :]

wake up early!!! this helps you get stuff done

also don’t sleep too late at night [unless it’s christmas eve or new year’s eve then i understand why you’re still up]

take time for yourself!!! practice your hobbies, take baths, go on vacation, sleep a little bit more…take a day to do whatever you may feel like doing, holidays shouldn’t be stressful [here are some ideas]

finish that book you wanted to finish or start a new one!! remember life is not just studying all the time

prioritise what you need to do + get your homework done asap!!! do the trickiest tasks first so you just have simpler ones left to do [if any]

revise!! this will help you just in case you have any important exams coming up after the holidays or just to keep your mind refreshed on the material you did in class

make a list of goals you want to accomplish next year!!

find time to go shop for gifts [if you do that sort of thing]

keep in contact with your family and friends!!! the holidays are the best time you get to talk to your family and friends, hang out with your friends and visit your relatives

organise your desk/room etc!! this helps you to free your mind and helps you stay productive [plus it’ll be prepared for the next scholastic term]

try to fit in time to exercise or go for a nice walk

avoid procrastination!! don’t waste your time no matter how good it may feel, you’ll thank yourself later [check out some apps here to accomplish this]

if you have any school projects, try to get most of them done during the holidays!! lord knows you’ll have a lot to do during the school year so any little extra work will help

try making your decorations instead of buying them [here are some ideas]

create shopping lists in advance!! these will help you make sure to get what you need and avoid buying what you don’t need [be it food, gifts, decorations etc.]

do some online shopping!! as you might be well aware of, january is the perfect time to treat yourself, take advantage of those sales

+ my masterposts

notes, studying, and self-study resources

self-study resources

supplies

igcse resources

improving your handwriting

how to studyblr

literature masterpost

organisation

aesthetically pleasing notes

annotating

studying a foreign language

really great apps

math

college + uni

motivation

biology

space!!!!

chemistry

physics

summary writing

the discursive/argumentative essay

the narrative essay + the descriptive essay

the ultimate english masterpost!!

stress relief

what i’ve learnt throughout my years of being a student

+ more

this is just about everything i wanted to say so i hope this helped a lot of you out!! happy holidays + remember to make the most of them while you have them <3

-helena xx

I’m starting College in two months, and I have a lot of bookmarked websites and resources that I know will help me when I move out. I know for a lot of us, College seems light years away, but lemme tell you, it’s coming up fast. So without further ado, here is my college masterpost.

college in general!

tips for freshmen

a student’s guide to college

best apps for students

the “secret” to doing well in school

develop discipline

get stuff done!

how to be a successful student

tips from successful students

how to create structure in your life

how to choose your college major

should I double major?

11 tips about college they don’t tell you in high school

9 myths about college

how to conquer your freshmen fears

10 mistakes made by college students

4 tips for scheduling classes

food!

broke college kid recipes

college kid cookbook [pdf]

restaurant coupons [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] [ x ]

official ramen website

100 dirt cheap college kid recipes

college recipes website

make food out of what you already have

recipes that take 30 minutes or less

study snacks

study snacks #2

how to save money when buying food

random college stuff!

rate my professors

online class schedule website

cargo collective

cupcake ipsum

final grade calculator

college dorm room stuff!

packing list

packing for college

dorm stuff for cheap

cutesy dorm stuff

how to make your dorm room cool

dorm organization

different ways to hang fairy lights

how to display polaroids/photos

textbooks!

online textbooks; mostly science and math

cookbooks to textbooks

business textbooks

reddit has some good textbook resources

bookboon

online math books

ebookee

freebookspot

free-eBooks

getfreebooks

bookfinder

oerconsortium

project gutenburg 

booksee

bookzz

textbook tips

cheap textbooks l x l x l x l 

research!

Wolfram/Alpha

american fact finder

internet public library

perfect for research site

encyclopedia.com

scholarpedia.com

google books

school stuff!

collaborate with others while studying

film school thesis generator

online whiteboard

inkflow visual notebook 

flashcards study helper

how to get and maintain good grades

Cornell note taking method

homework help

onenote

how to make organized notes

khan academy

organize your folders

group projects!

do group projects online together

public speaking tips

annoying powerpoint mistakes

Prezi

Emaze – similar to Prezi

Rawshorts – video presentation

studying!

get motivated to study

learning how to study

study hacks

manage your time while studying

Apps for Mac Users that help with studying

productivity tips

about power naps

studyblue.com

memorizing dates

make a good study guide

note-taking like a pro

how to pull an all-nighter

how to study like a Harvard student

writing essays!

how to write an essay

how to write an essay #2

writing checker

bibliography help l x l x l x l

essay typer

guide on punctuation

inflated/concise writing

BeeLine reader

ZenWriter

“avoid saying ‘very’”

word definition site

writing guide masterpost

written kitten

what makes a good essay

how to edit yourself

editing checklist

finals!

block distractors while studying

huge amount of resources while studying

finals survival guide

how to survive finals

exam survival guide masterpost

studying for an important exam

how to answer multiple choice tests

how to answer exam questions

how to be an effective test taker

how to win at finals

english!

cliffsnotes

sparknotes

no fear shakespeare

help you read l x l x l x l

how to take care of your books

math!

mathway

square root calculator

cubed root calculator

expression simplifier

help you with math

easy unit converter

any calculator you may need

algebra solver

scientific calculator

science and social studies!

all about space

animals

improve your geography knowledge

historical photos and stuff

symbols and meanings

genetics and evolution

lectures on everything

TED.com

AP Bio masterpost

money and budget!

the ultimate guide to saving for retirement

student loan debt article that’s really helpful

college investor website

budgeting website

scholarships masterpost

student loan calculator

what to buy each month of the year

how to coupon

what to do when you can’t pay your bills

is your cell phone bill too high?

how to save money

how to do taxes

discounts your student id can get you

pay off your student loans

places that give student discounts

7 money tips for college students

how to survive college on a budget

save your money on cords

how to balance a checkbook

travel!

check this website before booking your seat

student travel site

ultimate packing list

traveling for cheap

rate my study abroad

travel accessories

the best way to pack a suitcase

how to read a map

how to apply for a passport

travel budget calculator

should you travel abroad?

house!

what is a mortgage?

first apartment checklist

stuff nobody tells you about your first apartment

how to take care of a cactus

the care and keeping of plants

first apartment tips

moving out masterpost (might overlap some)

how to be an adult and take care of yourself!

how to grow the fuck up masterpost

how to avoid a hangover

8 ways to take care of yourself

how to organize your life

the first gynecologist exam

how to schedule a doctor’s appointment

what you should bring to every doctor’s appointment

how to pick a health insurance plan

a list of stress relievers

how to get free therapy

what to do if you get pulled over

list of crisis hotlines

15 things to keep in your car during the winter

hygiene/beauty masterpost

how to clean things up!

when to wash things

how to clean your bathroom

fabric care language

how to do laundry

organize your closet

how to fix a leaky faucet

how to keep a clean kitchen

how to remove stains from your carpet

career stuff!

resume cheat sheet

job prospects

time management

how to find the right career

how to do an interview

how to write a cover letter

ways to boost your resume without a job

how to boost your resume with stand-alone projects

10 skills to make you more employable

companies that hire felons

how to be a better person!

life tips

life tips for college

life tips for lazy people

read the news

leave your child traumas behind

how to lover yourself

100 life tips

how to boost your self-esteem

how to avoid asking for help

how to stop being a pushover

how to stop procrastinating

safety and well-being!

free online therapy

free condoms

HIV morning after pill

self-defense tips

safetrek app

kitestring app

creepface app

phone number for aggressive guys

easy self-defense tips

check the website security

how to deal with mental illness masterpost

stress analyst

stop paying so much for prescriptions

make your own makeup remover

self-harm recovery masterpost

tips for getting good sleep

tips for waking up better

dealing with the worst-case scenario

free pads and tampons

random things!

every time zone laid out for you

when should I go to bed?

keep your laptop in tip-top shape

makeup under $10

free online courses

free online courses #2

learn languages online for free

workout masterpost

fact check politicians

heimlich maneuver

DIY masterpost

buy a ton of candy in bulk

get your lenses cheap

08•29•15 School Prep ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait for school to start! Spending this last week before school DIYing supplies, planning, organizing, and shopping. I hope you all enjoy your last week of summer, or if you’re already in school, good luck!

An example of how I set up my bullet journal - a fancy page with an overview of to do list and column setup for detailed day to day tasks. Read more about how I use bullet journals here!

23/08/15 2:52 PM // reviewing this week’s tasks and adding some embellishments to the previous pages of my bullet journal. and yes, I do hold a pen like that ✒️

Here are my mind-maps for additional science that a lot of people have been asking for - hope they’re helpful 😊