Internet Research

As a Resource Room Mathematics teacher, I find I'm constantly looking for ways to improve the way I deliver my instruction to ensure my students can "get" math.   However, because the population of the students I work with is receiving Special Education services, I also have a study skills course, and find myself constantly trying to work with students to improve their study skills.

It's because of this that I started looking into ways to set up a system/program, which would allow the students access to ways which help them improve their skills.  Yeah, I've put posters on my walls to give pointers and talked over the skills with my students, most of them pay the posters and myself no mind and are more fascinated with posters of animals and the cute little quotes which accompany them. 

Though I primarily limited my searching to Google, I found that it was important to distinguish between "Study Skills," and "Study Skills Lessons."  Otherwise, my research took me to places where most of the sites like TeacherVision.com, which try to lure you into paying for or getting a trial membership (which I ended up doing), because they were wanting to sell me templates, and lesson plans.

Overall, I found more free sites than I anticipated and a wealth of information.  Some of which almost seems daunting and ironically had me feeling like one of the students who's been given a 3 month long assignment at the middle school.  I had to fight the temptation to be overwhelmed and want to throw my hands up in the air out of frustration.

In browsing the sites, I felt as though what I'm attempting to do will be somewhat unique in its approach, as I want it to be appealing to the students, keep them from feeling overwhelmed, and find it useful.  I want what I present to be something the kids will want to go back to, when they need help.  Probably something away from what Middle Tennessee State Univeristy has, which seems a bit away from cutting edge and overwhelming, while at the same time  above someone else's study skills attempt on Wikipedia to give some pointers on studying.  With the Wiki, I felt as though they left a GREAT deal of information out, regarding proper setting, study time, etc.  While it presented as potentially overwhelming, it seemed rather limited in the number of pointers it gave.

Though many of the sites I reviewed may serve as a guide and may help me implement my project, I can't say I'd recommend them for my students.  With a couple of sites, (How to Study and Study Guides and Strategies), I found that their presentation could have one feeling as though developing his/her study skills will be tougher than mastering all of those science terms, and that's really the opposite of what I'm hoping to do.

I think the site I appreciated most was the site put together by the Cook Counseling Center, at Virginia Tech University.  It's from the "Handbook for Virginia Tech Students with Attention Deficit Disorder, and where it may present too much text for my students, it did coordinate the colors decently and it made sure not to have a hundred links on one page.  This decreases the chances of a student feeling overwhelmed and increases the chances of engaging them in the message. 

All of this stated, I'd love to incorporate Brain Research along with Multiple Intelligences and various learning styles in what I bring forward, but I feel as though 1) I'd be biting off a much bigger chunk than I can chew right now and 2) I'd be accomplishing the opposite of what I'm seeking, in keeping my study skills pages simple.  Though someday, I may be able to use LDPride.net to assist me in developing a site, where my students can seek out study skills based on their own individual learning styles, right now, I just want the kids to get the basics!

Maybe as I progress with the project and improve it, I can offer those advanced kids links to sites that will assist them in honing their skills in specific subject matter, such as the Education Atlas, which has links for various sciences, math, history, etc.  For now I believe that aspect of the project is more of something for the future.

One thing that may assist me is that I've also learned there is a desire for others in my department to develop some more curriculum in this area.  While I'm feeling as though I may be treading some new ground in what I'm attempting and that I have a very long road ahead of me, I do know there are a great deal of resources out there.

I've also learned that some of the materials I need are better found in the books I've come across over the years and that my peers, both regular and special education teachers are great resources.  They can help me in determining which areas it is I need to focus the most on, based on their experiences with the students, so that I make sure not to miss out on one or more areas that may be vital in helping students improve their skills.  No matter how it comes out, I think the project as a whole may prove to be very rewarding.