Content Area Learning and Study Skills

Chapter 7: Content Area Learning and Study Skills

Study Guide Contents

Notes and Concepts

Part 1: Introductory Notes and Key Concepts

Part 2: Study Questions

Part 3: World Wide Web Resources

Interactive Pages

Chapter 7 takes a look at how we can support content area subjects. The chapter makes suggestions about study skills (time management, memorization, and test-taking skills, listening and notetaking skills, and textbook usage skills) and related content enhancement tools to teach content information. These topics are very practical since all students we work with require skills/support in one or more of these areas.

Some Informal Assessment Ideas Suggested in This Chapter:

observations of personal study skills

evaluation of prior knowledge about a given topic

evaluating the use of relationship charts, graphic organizers and outlines

student portfolios

Look for the following key concepts/ideas as you read:

Teaching Content Area Information and Vocabulary

Evaluating Instructional Materials

Assessing Students' Prior Knowledge

Adapting Textbooks

Developing Listener Friendly Lectures

Adapting Class Assignments and Homework

Constructing and Adapting Tests

Process Skills

Go to Part 2- Summary of Ideas

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Part 2: Study Questions

Students with learning and behavior problems often need instruction in study and test taking skills.

Read Chapter 7. Use the following questions to guide your reading and find meaning in this chapter:

Describe the role that concepts and related vocabulary play in content learning.

List the strategies for determining which concepts and vocabulary to teach.

Explain how to evaluate the considerateness of texts, including readability.

Explain how to adapt textbooks using study guides, highlighting, and alternative reading materials.

Describe how to develop listener-friendly lectures.

Discuss how to make and adapt class assignments, homework, and tests.

Discuss how to use before, during, and after learning activities such as advance organizers, semantic feature analysis, semantic mapping, discussion webs, and concept diagrams to teach content.

Explain how to teach personal development skills such as scheduling, self-regulation, notebook organization, and classroom participation.

Describe how to teach students to take notes from lectures and learning from text using learning strategies such as Multipass.

Identify strategies for remembering content information such as key word mnemonics and strategies for taking tests.

When you finish studying this chapter, please go to the class interactive pages and take the self test for Chapter 7.

Go to Part 3- World Wide Web Resources

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World Wide Web Resources

Examine the following World Wide Web links and consider their perspectives based on information from Chapter 7.

Study Guides and Strategies from the University of St. Thomas http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/
A vast collection of useful materials to support study skills and learning. Don't miss this site!

USA Today - Education Website
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/home.htm
This education site is part of USA Today. In addition to online resources, USA Today's education program offers a new and improved daily education guide called "Experience Today," training, thematic resource guides, and a customer service team dedicated to educators. This site includes ideas for the classroom and lesson plans.

Project STAR: Science Teachers as Reformers
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/edhd/programs/STAR/
The mission of Project STAR is to improve K-8 science teaching and learning.

The National Science Teacher Association
http://www.nsta.org/
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.

The National Social Studies Teacher Association
http://www.socialstudies.org/
This site consists of four parts: a) The National Standards for Social Studies Teachers; b) the program standards for the initial preparation of social studies teachers; c) guidebook for colleges and universities seeking to meet NCSS/NCATE program standards for the initial preparation of social studies teachers; and d) a list of teacher education programs approved by NCSS through the NCATE accreditation process.

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| General Info | Online Study Guides | Interactive Pages |

Study Guide Contents			Notes and Concepts
Part 1: Introductory Notes and Key Concepts Part 2: Study Questions Part 3: World Wide Web Resources Interactive Pages			Chapter 7 takes a look at how we can support content area subjects. The chapter makes suggestions about study skills (time management, memorization, and test-taking skills, listening and notetaking skills, and textbook usage skills) and related content enhancement tools to teach content information. These topics are very practical since all students we work with require skills/support in one or more of these areas. Some Informal Assessment Ideas Suggested in This Chapter: observations of personal study skills evaluation of prior knowledge about a given topic evaluating the use of relationship charts, graphic organizers and outlines student portfolios Look for the following key concepts/ideas as you read: Teaching Content Area Information and Vocabulary Evaluating Instructional Materials Assessing Students' Prior Knowledge Adapting Textbooks Developing Listener Friendly Lectures Adapting Class Assignments and Homework Constructing and Adapting Tests Process Skills

			Part 2: Study Questions
Students with learning and behavior problems often need instruction in study and test taking skills.			Read Chapter 7. Use the following questions to guide your reading and find meaning in this chapter: Describe the role that concepts and related vocabulary play in content learning. List the strategies for determining which concepts and vocabulary to teach. Explain how to evaluate the considerateness of texts, including readability. Explain how to adapt textbooks using study guides, highlighting, and alternative reading materials. Describe how to develop listener-friendly lectures. Discuss how to make and adapt class assignments, homework, and tests. Discuss how to use before, during, and after learning activities such as advance organizers, semantic feature analysis, semantic mapping, discussion webs, and concept diagrams to teach content. Explain how to teach personal development skills such as scheduling, self-regulation, notebook organization, and classroom participation. Describe how to teach students to take notes from lectures and learning from text using learning strategies such as Multipass. Identify strategies for remembering content information such as key word mnemonics and strategies for taking tests. When you finish studying this chapter, please go to the class interactive pages and take the self test for Chapter 7.