It’s that time of the year again: The constant gray skies set a melancholy backdrop for an already difficult time in a student’s school year. With the holiday season falling further and further in the past and the promise of spring break still far out of reach, a phenomenon known as “the third quarter slump” can really hit hard. If you’ve never heard of such a thing, it can easily be explained as a trend where students’ grades and scholastic motivation drop in the third academic quarter. Even though this is traditionally the most difficult time of the year, it’s not a death sentence. There are many different strategies and tips to combat the third quarter slump. Here is an in-depth look at a few.
The first tip is to use all of the resources available. This may sound obvious, but there are many underutilized studying and tutoring resources at Franklin. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after school, the SUN program offers tutoring in all subjects until 5:00 p.m. In case you lose or forget your copy, the library has a copy of every textbook issued to Franklin students for core classes.
Every Portland Public Schools student has access to a Multnomah County Library card that gives them access to around 2.8 million books as well as access to research databases which contain countless peer-reviewed scholarly articles and academic journals. To login to your Multnomah County Library account, the username is 01 and then your student ID. Your Library Connect number and the default password is an eight-digit code of your birthday in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Even if you aren’t interested in these resources, the library can be a quiet place to study for tests and do homework. It’s the only place in the school where you can freely print and it is a reliable, quiet place for studying. “I think that the environment sometimes feels like it’s easier to focus because you are in a space that is intended to be academic,” says Ayn Frazee, Franklin’s librarian. “[Students] tell me frequently that sitting down in the library to get stuff done is easier here than at home.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another tool that can be used to increase academic success in students, and it can be really helpful when used ethically. AI tools like Diffit can adjust the reading level of any given text and also find credible sources similar to the ones you chose, without actually writing your paper for you. AI is an emerging technology, and the guidelines and expectations around it are still developing. Make sure to properly cite generative AI tools and talk with your teacher about what is acceptable to use and what isn’t.
Another main component of success in school is memorization. Whether it’s memorizing dates for a history test or remembering a formula for a math test, memorization is often very repetitive and is hard to stay focused on. However, there are some strategies that can train your brain to retain important information more efficiently and effectively.
The best strategy to implement while memorizing anything is to test yourself. Psychologists call this retrieval practice, and it reinforces your memory in a special way. “It allows you to know [that] you remember something,” says John Dulonsky. He’s a cognitive psychologist at Kent State University and the author of “Study Like a Champ: The Psychology-Based Guide to ‘Grade A’ Study Habits.” Dulonsky states, “It turns out that retrieving something correctly helps you remember it in the future.” Retrieval practice builds muscle memory of getting the answer right, similar to how athletes or musicians build muscle memory of playing their sports or instruments. Practice tests and flashcards are two great forms of retrieval practice. Doing this right before you fall asleep can even further engrain information into your brain.
Knowing your learning preferences can be incredibly helpful as well. Enjoying your methods of studying can help you stay focused. For example, if you enjoy watching videos more than reading, try to use more video resources than text versions when studying to help you stay motivated. Of course, some types of learning require specific tools that may not always fit your preferences. “Imagine we’re learning a foreign language, and we have to go speak. You can read [the language] if you’d like, but research shows that the person who likes to read is going to do a lot better talking to someone in the language if they hear it,” Dulonsky explains. Studying efficiently means understanding that not all learning preferences are applicable to all situations.
Other important ways to prepare for tests don’t necessarily relate to looking over material. Good sleep and nutrition are very important for improving performance on tests. Being confident in your abilities can affect your performance too.
Lastly, accepting the fact that learning isn’t going to be easy is very important. “Easy isn’t necessarily good,” says Dulonsky. “It’s often the speed bumps that are important for learning.” Using studying tips and tutoring support systems aren’t shortcuts but rather are different ways to achieve success. Understanding and anticipating the fact that school isn’t easy will help you get work done as well.
In the end, using the tutoring support systems and memorization strategies will hopefully make your studying experience less difficult and help you make it through the third quarter slump unscathed.
