StC News

StC Boys Learn Core Study Skills

Sixth-graders learn how to most effectively take notes, write, research and paraphrase. 
 
Sometimes how you study can be just as important as the time you put in. In Jon Piper’s sixth-grade Global Thinking class, students are learning how deep reading techniques, critical thinking and clear writing can boost the quality of their work. 

As part of a broader study focusing on global leadership, Piper’s students are profiling examples of historical or present-day leaders. With the help of the Middle School Resource Team, led by faculty Claudia Segneri and Brook Schurman, Piper's sixth-graders are learning how to extract the most important research information in the form of notes and then translating these ideas into their own words. 

“For many of them, research is still a new skill. They need to learn to read for comprehension,” said Segneri. “Then it shows they can truly express their learning.” 

As part of the course, students construct a biography of a leader of their choice. They conduct research, take notes, determine what information is most relevant and produce a written report.

In previous years, study skills were taught separately based on semesters, but teachers observed that students who learned how to study most effectively in the first group had an advantage. “The boys that had it in the first trimester were more prepared for the rest of the school year,” said Piper. 

The results of teaching study skills within regular classes are encouraging. Based on lessons learned from previous years, these core study skills are now being integrated into the regular curriculum, something Piper appreciates. “Instead of these skills being taught as a stand-alone class, we interweave them into the core curriculum.”

“They show you things you can start using now and later in life,” said August Wood ‘26. Wood, who chose to profile the Dalai Lama for his assignment, saw the tangible value in the Resource Team visiting his class. “You’ll be a step ahead. They kinda take it to the next level.”
 
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