Mindful study skills reduce three key student concerns in ways that raise their test scores. Disagreement, deadpan boredom, and difficult-to-grasp facts – transform into learning gems that pay forward IQ-worthy points from their awesome brains and higher grades in their ledgers. How so?
Concern 1 – You disagree with core concepts in your text. Ask – How can I offer a different or personal point of view when I disagree – without losing points?
We know from new neural discoveries that venting is bad for brains, prevents learning that lasts, and creates new neuron pathways for more venting. In contract, mindful tone tips below allow you to add your personal views to enhance any text.
Before offering your point of view –
a). Affirm others who differ in a specific example.
b). Thank others for unique insights on the topic.
c). Respect all views by valuing diversity on the topic.
d). Ask open, engaging questions that draw others in.
Concern 2 – You’re bored with a topic that rarely relates to you. Ask – How can I increase interest to gain test points for a topic that bores me?
New neural discoveries show that boredom causes chemicals that shut down learning, create stress, and can even shrink your brain over time. In contract, choices below allow you to apply new facts to improve something you already love to do.
Before boredom escalates into deadpan distractions –
a). Apply one specific new fact to improve something you already love to do.
b). Jot down problems on one side of paper and personal possibilities on the other.
c). Gather peer or parent insights to add to your ideas on the topic.
d). Ask yourself a motivational question that a genius might ask, such as, How would I motivate a disengaged friend to build curiosity for this topic?
Concern 3 – You don’t understand difficult concepts. Ask – How can I connect one new fact to a familiar concept in a way that makes difficult topics easier to grasp and remember?
Neural discoveries show that new facts fly into your working memory, which acts like the brain’s temporary sticky note. Complex facts make more sense and stick to your grey matter when they hook onto a familiar and related concept you already know.
Before difficulties defeat your study session –
a). Connect one new fact with something specific you already know about that topic.
b). Jot down one quick idea that may clarify the topic to others, and then look up key words in the dictionary to tweak your idea.
c). Consider the topic from an artist, comedian, parent, and peer perspective and jot down one idea they might offer to help clarify.
d). Ask yourself how this topic could be summarized in one brief sentence a much younger student understood. Then write that sentence.
Looking to ace your next test? Ready to replace stress or test anxiety with sheer adventure and delightful challenge. Simply add these few mindful tips, and your awesome brain will do the rest to help you capitalize on any topic you learn.
Here are 25 additional study-related ideas – drawn from newly discovered neural facts that ramp up test takeaways.
Use the chart below to create your own active study guides or test prep tasks for each of the 25 mindful tasks, and watch your test results sky rocket in new ways. 
Or, if you are looking for study guide materials, related to brain facts, but require no prep on your part, check out my TpT ready-to-roll curriculum here that contains tasks and printable guides for each of the 25 brain facts.
Be sure to let us know how you make out and what we can do to support your test prep and study sessions. Best, Ellen
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Created by Ellen Weber, Brain Based Tasks for Growth Mindset