Dyslexic students should go into college knowing their learning styles and a handful of study habits that work well for them.
Making the switch from high school to college is filled with decisions. Students, no longer under the roof (and eyes) of their parents, must decide what kind of study tactics work best for each course they take. They also need to figure out what, where, and when to study—outside of the comfortable routine they might have established in high school. No two professors are the same, and each has his or her preferred way of teaching. As a student, knowing what your strengths and weakness are can help you construct a study method at the start of each term that best fits each class’s material. Dyslexic students, especially, should go into college knowing their learning style(s) and a handful of study habits that work well for them. The better aware students are of their study strengths and weaknesses, the quicker they can establish good individualized study habits for their classes.
Dyslexic students should also be aware of the importance that reading comprehension plays in college, and be able to transfer material from the textbook to the lecture hall. Students should know what methods of comprehension work best for them, whether it’s reading with a highlighter in hand, typing or dictating notes onto a laptop, or having the pages read out loud to them with the help of text-to-speech technology.
Having an idea of your ideal study situation is a also good tool to have in college. Where and when do you study best-- Alone in your room? Late at night? Immediately after a lecture? Campuses are filled with varying study spots, from silent library rooms to group study lounges to coffee shops. If you don’t have a grasp on what kind of study environment you learn best in, you might waste your great, personalized study habits in an environment that distracts you.
There are many resources available as one transitions from high-school to college. It is important to start getting these practices ingrained before college. (Although if you are in college, it’s not too late!) Familiarize yourself with a few resources, starting with some great recommendations that cover tips for in and out of classroom for both students and parents in the Essential Study Tips for Successful College Students.
Success starts here!