Study JournalsWhat are Study Journals? Why are they important?
Study journals are records of what you have learned. Although they are strictly optional, we highly recommend you build a study journal for each subject you study. These can then become study guides you can refer to in the final preparation for taking your tests if you will be taking any of the college-level exams, or used as records of your high school work if you are following the high school studies program. In the homeschooling community, “notebooking” has been a popular teaching method for several years. Students study certain topics, then draw pictures and write essays about those topics, creating their own textbooks. A study journal follows much the same concept. |
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For each subject you study, you will need the following:
• One 3-ring binder. The inexpensive, flexible binders will work, though the hard-back binders protect your papers better. Watch for the back-to-school sales that start in midsummer to stock up.
• Notebook paper for note-taking and printer/copy paper for print-outs.
• Dividers. (If you cannot find inexpensive dividers and will be studying several courses, consider purchasing a package of brightly colored card stock to use instead.)
• A hole punch.
1) Your first section will be a reading and resources list, a record of all books and websites you use over the course of your studies. This will include those sources provided for you on this website, as well as any books or materials you find on your own, such as reference materials from your local library. Keep a running list and star any sources you found particularly helpful, in case you want to refer back to them later.
2) Place a divider after your resource list. In this next section, you will put notebook paper to be used for notetaking. It is very important that you take good notes, based on what you have studied. Start each study session by marking the date and covered topic or topics. For instance, if you are studying Western Civilization I, you might begin your notes with something like: 08/18/13 Ancient Greek Cities. If you are studying for a specific exam, you should also include the exam outline in this section, so you can refer back to it frequently.
Be especially diligent in taking notes during any video lectures. You can pause the lecture any time to keep from falling behind as you write.
(See this note about using a modified version of the Cornell Note-taking Method, specifically for textbook reading.)
3) Following your notes, you will place another divider. This next section is devoted to “study aids” or other print-outs. During the course of your studying, you may find a chart, article, or list/page of information you find helpful. Print any of these items for this section. For example, if you are studying American Government, you might print a copy of the Bill of Rights, and a chart that breaks down the powers of each branch of the federal government.
4) The last section of your notebook is for any quizzes, review questions, papers, or activities you complete while studying. Many of the free online resources contain such additional work and you may use them to reinforce your learning. (If you are a homeschooler who must maintain grades to meet homeschool accountability laws in your state, you may want to include a grade sheet that you can eventually move over to your portfolio once you have finished your course.)
• One 3-ring binder. The inexpensive, flexible binders will work, though the hard-back binders protect your papers better. Watch for the back-to-school sales that start in midsummer to stock up.
• Notebook paper for note-taking and printer/copy paper for print-outs.
• Dividers. (If you cannot find inexpensive dividers and will be studying several courses, consider purchasing a package of brightly colored card stock to use instead.)
• A hole punch.
1) Your first section will be a reading and resources list, a record of all books and websites you use over the course of your studies. This will include those sources provided for you on this website, as well as any books or materials you find on your own, such as reference materials from your local library. Keep a running list and star any sources you found particularly helpful, in case you want to refer back to them later.
2) Place a divider after your resource list. In this next section, you will put notebook paper to be used for notetaking. It is very important that you take good notes, based on what you have studied. Start each study session by marking the date and covered topic or topics. For instance, if you are studying Western Civilization I, you might begin your notes with something like: 08/18/13 Ancient Greek Cities. If you are studying for a specific exam, you should also include the exam outline in this section, so you can refer back to it frequently.
Be especially diligent in taking notes during any video lectures. You can pause the lecture any time to keep from falling behind as you write.
(See this note about using a modified version of the Cornell Note-taking Method, specifically for textbook reading.)
3) Following your notes, you will place another divider. This next section is devoted to “study aids” or other print-outs. During the course of your studying, you may find a chart, article, or list/page of information you find helpful. Print any of these items for this section. For example, if you are studying American Government, you might print a copy of the Bill of Rights, and a chart that breaks down the powers of each branch of the federal government.
4) The last section of your notebook is for any quizzes, review questions, papers, or activities you complete while studying. Many of the free online resources contain such additional work and you may use them to reinforce your learning. (If you are a homeschooler who must maintain grades to meet homeschool accountability laws in your state, you may want to include a grade sheet that you can eventually move over to your portfolio once you have finished your course.)
