AMU Lifestyle Military Well Being

Tiffany’s Tips: Tips for Successful Learning

Tiffany Kyall
Special Contributor, InMilitaryEducation.com

As a military spouse, over the years I’ve learned ways to juggle my school and home life demands (a common trait amongst not only military spouses, but also servicemembers). Here are some tips that I found to be of use and may help you to become more successful in your education.

  1. Take frequent breaks to spread out what you want to accomplish. Got a paper due for a class? Or how about several papers for multiple classes? Start off by setting a goal to complete part of the paper. For example, set a goal to write the introduction and first body paragraph of your paper. Come back to the paper later in the day or week (if time permits) to complete the paper in sections until you have everything completed. Taking breaks or spreading out your work will make it seem more manageable.
  2. Review what needs to be completed. Sometimes, I lose sight of what or when something needs to be done. Making a list or schedule will aid in completing your tasks. You can do this the “old fashioned way” (pen and paper) or use technology to your advantage and input critical dates and assignments on your mobile device or tablet to review. Cross off, check mark, or even reward yourself with a smiley face sticker after you have completed your tasks or assignments.
  3. Do not be afraid to ask for help or clarification. When I was a young girl, my dad advised me to ask for help when I did not understand something. From that point on, , I have always sought out help when it’s needed. Do not feel embarrassed to ask questions (even if you think the question(s) is/are dumb). If you do not ask, then you may never know, or worse could potentially end up doing the assignment completely wrong.
  4. Always review your work. I cannot recommend this to everyone enough. In this day in age, you need to review your work to make sure you are not making careless mistakes or a fool out of yourself. Using internet shorthand, like LOL, is not appropriate for assignments that are being turned in for a grade.. Run spell-check, and read your work out loud to avoid careless mistakes. Be aware of proper grammar – you’re and your, there, they’re and their all sound the same but have very different meanings.
  5. Reward yourself-no matter the size of the accomplishment. Everyone thrives when they are positively encouraged. It sets the stage for healthy study and learning habits. Reward yourself for good grades with an item you have been lusting after – a new purchase, a night out, a good meal. Putting off instant gratification in lieu of a reward for good work gives you the motivation to finish strong and achieve high results. Just make sure the rewards are in line with the goal you’re trying to obtain. For instance, don’t buy yourself a whole new wardrobe for getting an “A” in one class. A more reasonable reward would be that new shirt you’ve been wanting. Save the big purchases for getting earning a 4.0 GPA for the semester or graduating with honors.

 


Tiffany Kyall is a military spouse currently living in Mississippi. She is a current student at American Military University, pursuing an Associates of Science in Web Publishing. Tiffany has a three year old daughter, and two German Shepherds. When not studying for school, Tiffany can be found spending time with her family, tending to household demands, or relaxing by watching television.

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