Timelines In a world history class, for example, you could put large sheets of paper on your bedroom wall to begin timelines. Because you are studying different countries during similar time periods, you could write each country’s timeline in a different color. Use the same colors to make notes of events and people in those countries. Or maybe des- ignate a different color for each era—that way you could keep track of what was happening when. If you are using parallel tapes (audio tapes used for similar purposes), categorize them by having one tape for each country or one for each century. Flashcards Flashcards or cue cards are a popular learning aid. You can get a bit creative with them. Lucia uses different-sized index cards for differ- ent subjects: 4 ϫ 6 for science topics and 3 ϫ 5 cards for math. Roberta has different colored index cards for various topics, and Timmy writes subcategories in various colored markers. The beauty of index cards is that they are very portable; you can carry them with you throughout the day in your backpack or purse. Here is an example of a cue card. Front of Card Back of Card Audio Recording If one of your learning styles is auditory, try making audiocassettes or CDs on a recording device. Perhaps you want to record a lecture or simply talk to yourself about new information you are studying, recording your observations and connections. Two of the main advantages of using cassettes or CDs for reviewing material is that they can be portable and private if you have the right 114 10 SECRETS TO ACING ANY HIGH SCHOOL TEST the four basic types of chemical reaction combination decomposition single-displacement (single-replacement) double-displacement (double-replacement) equipment. Listen on the bus or while jogging or waiting in a dentist’s office. Tapes and CDs help solidify the material and give greater flex- ibility and variety to your study plan. SOURCES IN CYBERSP SOURCES IN CYBERSP ACE ACE You will find some great study ideas and tips at these URLs. • www.readingmatrix.com/reading/reading_texts.html—How to highlight and take margin notes. • www.mtroyal.ab.ca/CurrentStudents/study_studying.htm—How to study textbooks. • www.maps.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/mindmap/—How to make a mind map (mapping). Just the Facts • Be an active reader, skimming ahead, jumping back, and coming up with questions. • After you read, think back on what you read, looking at the big picture. • Rework sample problems and proofs and study the explanations. • Make decisions about what information is important, and then organize it using mastery techniques such as taking notes, high- lighting, rewriting, outlining, mapping, categorizing, and doo- dling. • Make timeline posters, flashcards, cassettes, and CDs for review, variety, and improved recall. Mastering the Materials 115 . as the memory of picking out your first puppy at the pound. On the other hand, some things belong in short-term memory—they would just clutter up the long-term side. For instance, you learn the. vocab- ulary words to learn. There were Spanish words in one column with the English translations in the other. Jack took the list home and memorized both columns. He put the list on his bedroom mirror,. those words. Then came the test. Jack took one look at it and froze. Señora Solis asked for the English translations of the Spanish words Jack had studied. But she changed the order of the words,