Why is it so tough to get students to study effectively for tests and quizzes?
Because schools rarely teach students how their brains actually work… nor give them the specific tools to work with their brains in a smart way. Should we expect students to know how to "drive their brain" (so to speak) without providing them an owner's manual and driving lessons?
I've got you covered because study skills is my specialty!
Every day I work with scattered and overwhelmed students to give them an easy-to-understand roadmap for how their brains really work. As I do this, I peek into hundreds of classrooms all over the United States. I see how well-meaning educators (like you!) prepare students for test taking, but also how much of this guidance falls short.
The good news: this is easy to change, and requires little extra effort on the parts of teachers, tutors and coaches! I created The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically to give educators like you the EXACT tools you need to transform your students into independent, strategic learners by teaching them (1) how their brains work, and (2) the tools to put that knowledge into action.
It's not rocket science, but it does require a formula and framework that is easy to learn -- so read on and I'll tell you more about it!
Are You a Teacher, Tutor, School Counselor, Administrator, or Academic Life Coach?
Have you been banging your head against the wall of your students’ motivation, watching your kiddos struggle with low grades and/or insane stress? Do you wish they would just put in a little effort and study already?!
A few years ago, I learned some basic brain facts that forever changed the way I coach students about studying. Since then, I've been perfecting a new model called The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying™, and frankly, I'm shocked to watch how much FASTER my clients are learning how to study strategically.
The keys to this model are:
- Solid brain theory backed by all the latest research in cognitive behavior and neuroscience,
- Teaching tidbits that are engaging, memorable, and broken down into bite-size chunks that students actually remember, and
- A strong toolkit of clear, easy-to-implement study strategies that students can easily put into action.
Because this framework for coaching students is too effective to keep to myself, I've created a course for educators -- The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically -- to teach you how to incorporate these tools into your curriculum, coaching sessions, and after school programs. Educators who graduate from this 5-week course are confirming what I thought would be true: these tools are easy to- incorporate into classrooms and tutoring sessions, and are improving students' abilities to think -- and act! -- strategically about their own learning.
Join me? Join this fabulous cohort of other educators? Ready to be inspired, not just by the tools you’ll learn but also by the INCREDIBLE cohort of educators who will be taking the course alongside you?
Read on for more details...
Let's change the world one creative study technique at a time!
"My major take aways are the Study Cycle and the organization of studying, which has always been a problem for me to get across to students. The routines you’ve given us -- the Senses, the "Hone It Notes" procedures -- have given me an organized process to give students. The other thing that I want to say is that I haven’t had a cohort like this since I was in grad school: people who I can bounce ideas off of, go to the Facebook group and say, “Hey guys! What about this?” I haven’t had that kind of collegiality in years. You have given us this enormous resource in each other."
~ Adam Sanford, College Intructor & Academic Coach in California
WHY THE BRAIN? WHY “ANTI-BORING”?
Because a student’s brain is the resource center for their entire life -- from which we all feel, think, speak, move, act - and LEARN! We should know how to use it, teachers and students alike.
Many students feel broken and stupid because learning doesn't come easily to them. Once they learn about the brain, they feel relieved, smarter, and more in control. Students are hungry for this info.
Most brain theory is taught in complex, scientific language that is intimidating and boring. However, the Anti-Boring tools are memorable, actionable… and even kinda fun.
THE BENEFITS:
I have developed a clear, step-by-step roadmap to help you:
EXPLAIN COMPLEX BRAIN THEORY
...in simple, engaging, hilarious ways. Students make better choices on homework and studying when they truly know how brains work.
INSPIRE TEENS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
...for their own learning, seeing themselves as powerful choice makers rather than victims to the school system.
MAKE STUDYING EFFECTIVE (AND FUN!)
...so students are 100% ready for every test. Students will know how to harness the power of effective note-taking, quizzable study tools, and creating solid study plans because of the tools you teach.
OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION
...in your students, sparking consistent action by providing them with brain-friendly tools for taking charge of time management, and their lives.
Plus, a super valuable benefit for busy educators:
NO NEED TO RE-INVENT THE WHEEL! I'VE DONE ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR YOU.
(We all love made-for-you templates and tools, don’t we?! You’re already an expert at the content you teach, and I’m sure you don’t want to spend a bunch of time writing new curriculum.)
“When I saw the way the material was presented, it was kind of a game changer. Your course was beyond learning styles, beyond the surface level stuff we do in the classroom. Teaching young people how to actually study and to learn, and engage on their own, is something we teachers don’t always do. We should, but we don’t. This curriculum allowed me to look at things so differently. Honestly, this is the best material I have ever seen.”
~ Alison Grant, High School Family and Consumer Science Teacher and Academic Coach, Ohio
SO HOW EXACTLY DOES THIS COURSE WORK?
The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically is an online course that incorporates BOTH self-paced learning and interactive training calls.
It runs over eight weeks -- from September 17 to November 9 -- but you have access to all the materials for much longer, so that you can spiral back until you’ve fully mastered all the tools.
In this course we practice what we preach by blending cutting edge neuroscience with accessible brain boosting lessons designed to help you turn your students into independent, strategic learners.
We don’t just teach you great tools; Gretchen models those tools as she teaches, so you learn by watching and doing.
This course is designed for learners in all locations. Training calls are intentionally offered two different times to allow for folks in most time zones to have live access to Gretchen.
Here are the 3 main methods of instruction:
A 7-MODULE SELF-PACED COURSE which models how to talk to students about their own learnng. You will be guided through The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying modules in order to see exactly how Gretchen teaches study and time management tools to students. You will also receive extra "behind the scenes" guidance for how to incorporate these tools effectively into classrooms and coaching/tutoring sessions.
8 INTERACTIVE TRAINING CALLS, including Q&A with Gretchen, role play and opportunities to practice teaching these tools to fellow cohort members, and crowd-sourcing from the wisdom of other participants. These calls are timed to cover most time zones in the world; everyone should be able to attend 4 or more! Recordings of each call will be available so you can catch up on any trainings you miss.
AN ONLINE PORTAL OF RESOURCES including (1) "how-to" videos explaining the theory and practice behind these brain-based tools, (2) real-time videos of students learning these study tools, (3) printable resources including a workbook, and (4) discussion with current an previous course participants via Facebook. You can revisit course materials as many times as you need over the next 2 years to fully grok them.
In this program, you will receive the benefit of all the years of research and experimenting I've done with students - without having to recreate the wheel. In fact, most teachers and coaches implement what they learn immediately in their classrooms and coaching sessions, which leads to an even more powerful learning experience. Click here to view the course syllabus.
"The biggest take away from The Art of Inspiring Students is that I had the inspiration to go DO SOMETHING with all the information we have about how our brains learn best. I read a lot research about learning and the brain, and I think about it a lot. But how do you present it to students in a quick, easy and “sticky” way? If I said to students, “What would really help you is spaced retrieval, and check out this great research paper about why,” that is not helpful. Because you offer your information in bite-size pieces, I can easily dip into a tutoring session if I’m overhearing a tutor stumbling with how to help a student and give a tiny little Gretchen Wegner lesson, and I know they’ll have a take away that will stick with them and make a difference in how they think about their learning and what they can DO to learn more effectively."
~ Anna Hasbun, Owner of Stepping Stones Learning Enrichment Center in San Marino, California
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
This is an eight-week course organized around eight weekly modules. Each module consists of: (1) a video-based homework assignment from The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying, (2) a live training call, and (3) a 5ish minute mini-lesson to practice teaching your students that week.
Week 1
The Study Cycle and the Keys to “Sticky” Learning
We start by helping you master this simple, elegant theoretical model for how learning happens in the brain. By the end of this module, you will have a deep understanding of the Anti-Boring™ framework for how to turn students on to their own learning power.
Weeks 2 and 3
Train the Brain and Master the Study Senses
Once you’ve mastered to Study Cycle, go deeper by learning the six most important brain concepts that are embedded within this deceptively simple model. Practice simple ways to teach these complex brain topics to your students in easy 5ish minute mini-lessons.
Week 4 and 5
Powerful Notes & Quizzable Study Tools
Walk away with multiple tools for how to encode information in new ways, including a unique two-step process for taking notes. We will also learn a number of self-quizzing methods, so that students have no excuses when it comes to proving what they know to themselves and others.
Week 6
Make Rock-Solid Study Plans
Finally...bring all the Anti-Boring™ tools together. Help students make effective study plans and inspire them to space out their studying so that they maximize their brain’s ability to learn without cramming.
Week 7
Anti-Procrastination Tools
What good is a great study plan if students don’t follow through? Learn the most important time management tools to help students overcome procrastination and initiate work at home.
Week 8 - Wrap Up & Bonus Module
The Power of Tracking Habits and Grades for Long-Term Behavior Change
Get a sneak peek at Gretchen’s most productive coaching tool for tracking student habits, and helping them see the link between their habits and their grades.
"Your course is thoroughly engaging and challenging. You confirmed things I believe, entertained me, and made my brain hurt. As a teacher with 25 years of experience who has been soaking up all of the cutting edge research about learning and the brain, I believe that this course is a treasure. Thank you, Gretchen, I already see the huge value of this course for experienced and new teachers alike."
~ Patti F., English Teacher and English Department Head, Maine
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Here is the schedule & outline for each week's training call, all of which are on Wednesdays:
- February 13, 2019 - Training Call #1 - Kick Off 4:30pm - 6:00pm PST / 7:30pm -9:00pm EST.
- February 20, 2019 - Training Call #2 - Practice Lab 8:30am - 9:45am PST / 11:30-12:45pm EST.
- February 27, 2019 - Training Call #3 - Q&A 4:30pm - 6:00pm PST / 7:30pm -9:00pm EST.
- March 6, 2019 - Training Call #4 - Q&A 8:30-10:30am PST / 11:30am-1:30pm EST.
- March 13, 2019 - Training Call #5 - Practice Lab 4:30pm - 6:15pm PST / 7:30-9:15pm EST.
- March 20, 2019 - Training Call #6 - Practice Lab 8:30-10:00am PST / 11:30am-1:00pm EST.
- March 27, 2019 - Training Call #7 - Q&A 4:30pm - 6:30pm PST / 7:30pm -9:30pm EST.
- April 10, 2019 - Training Call #8 - Wrap Up. 8:30am - 10:00am PST / 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE
In addition to the above modules, you will also receive:
- The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying™ online course, which introduces you to all the Anti-Boring™ tools and models how to teach these to students.
- An online portal to access training materials and call recordings for up to two years.
- Lifetime access to a private Facebook community in which to collaborate with cohort members and other educators who have taken this course
- A printable graphic of the Study Cycle to post on your walls and hand out to your students.
- Sample scripts for the most important mini-lectures to master when coaching students about study skills.
- Short video excerpts from Gretchen’s coaching sessions with teens, to see the Anti-Boring™ tools in action.
- Other great stuff I haven’t imagined yet! I love creating tools that my course participants need to support their learning. If you discover there are additional resources that would be helpful, please ask. If I have time and the ability, I will happily make them for you.
- A Certificate of Completion for your records and to show to your school administrator. If you are a member of the International Coaches Federation, you get CCE's as well.
"I learned so much! This is such a super way to help kids. This was one of the most helpful courses I’ve ever taken as a teacher. I’m always amazed at how much you share in your courses. It’s all so relevant for a teacher. I really like it that it’s based on brain science, too.”
~Tami Andrews, Tutor and Former Teacher in Oho
REASONS YOU MIGHT NEED THIS INFO RIGHT NOW
- You’re a teacher, tutor or coach sick and tired of watching students prepare ineffectively for exams. You've tried all kinds of strategies to get students to follow through, but they don’t seem to take action. You want a new, streamlined strategy that actually works!
- You’re bored with the tools and tips that you’ve been teaching students to help them with time management, studying, and organization. You know that the strategies you teach work, but you’re ready to re-energize your own teaching.
- You are jazzed about all the brain science you’ve been learning, but haven’t yet figured out how to translate those complex ideas (e.g. “spaced retrieval practice!” “elaborative interrogation!”) in ways that keep students’ interest.
- You don’t have time to write your own curriculum, and would love to be handed some strategies that you can implement immediately that will motivate students to take action.
- You find yourself repeating the same lessons over and over again, and students still don’t seem to take action. You suspect that something is amiss in the way you’re teaching students, but you’re not sure what.
- You’re an academic life coach and you specialize in helping students with goal-setting, motivation and mindset. You realize you need some more concrete academic tools to offer to students when they’re floundering.
“Early on in my business, I realized I was missing study skills. I can’t absolutely know that a student will succeed if they don’t know how to study. I can help them with the big picture question — what are you passionate about? what is your role on this earth? — but I couldn’t definitely know that a student would be able to succeed unless they could succeed in their classes. In the beginning I tried to compensate with what I thought I knew about study skills, which turned out to be not much. The Anti-Boring Approach course was everything I needed, and it was so interesting!”
- Eda Chen, Life and Career Coach & Education Consultant, Owner of Elan Advising, California
Are you ready to inspire your students to study strategically?
"Before your course I thought that studying was sitting down and trying to soak in the information. As long as students were spending time doing something, I thought that was sufficient. Now that I’ve taken The Art of Inspiring Students, I realize that you have to be using some really good strategies. The course taught me specific study tools and how to use those strategies effectively, and then how to break up my time studying so that I wasn’t trying to cram the night before the test. Now those are the things I can teach my clients and the other students at the high school where I work.”
- Natalie Borrell, School Psychologist and Academic Life Coach, Owner of Life Success for Teens in Ohio
30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE:
What if I don't like the Anti-Boring Approach Coach trainings? Do you have a refund policy?
Yes. My team and I are fully committed to helping you learn the Anti-Boring Approach tools and (if applicable) lay the foundation for a thriving academic coaching business. You are welcome to test drive the materials for two weeks from the start of your participation in the training. If you do the work and don't feel we've delivered on our promise to you, we'll happily refund 100% of your money.
Important: To be eligible for a refund we require all completed work from the Modules thus far. This means that you must take action in this program. We know that if you take action and do the work, you'll get results. If you do the work and don't get value, then we don't deserve the money and we'll cheerfully refund you 100% of your tuition.
We do this because we are looking for serious and committed students only. We take our learning environment seriously, and maintain a very high standard of positive, encouragement, and inspired, action-oriented learning.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
+ How much time do I need to budget to take this course?
Every week you can budget the following amount of time: 1 hour for working through the module in the Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying, 1 hour to watch the "how to teach these tools" in the Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically online portal, and another 1.5 hours to attend the training call or watch the video. Some people work faster and slower, so you can add or subtract some time based on well you know yourself. Also, it is not uncommon for people to get behind, and need a few additional weeks to finish working through the modules. You have access to the online portal for up to 2 years after taking the course, so you will have plenty of time to catch up if you need to. You will still get full value from attending the live training calls even if you fall behind in the homework.
+ I'm confused. What is the difference between The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying and The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically?
Good question! The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying is my signature curriculum designed to teach students and their parents all the brain theory and corresponding strategies they need to rock their time management, organization, and study skills. I also use this curriculum as the foundation for my course for educators, The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically. In this course, you get access to The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying tools PLUS an in-depth exploration of why these tools work and how to teach them to students for maximum success.
+ What if I live in a different time zone and will be asleep during the live training calls?
This course is designed so that most time zones around the world can enjoy some live (and lively!) interaction with Gretchen and the training cohort. If you cannot make a training call, the recordings will be posted by noon PST the day after the call. Also, we will collect your questions two days before the Q&A calls; this way you can still have your question addressed even if you can't make it to the call live. We encourage you to watch the recording, and then engage with the lively discussion in the Facebook group so that you can get the most out of the call. If you tag Gretchen on your Facebook post, she will also engage in discussion with you!
+ What age groups are the Anti-Boring™ tools appropriate for?
All ages! Every student needs a handbook for how their brain works, and some concrete strategies to put these concepts into action. The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying is geared towards middle school students and higher. I’ve even had grad school clients benefit from these tools. For those of you teaching elementary-age students, you will need to make some minimal changes to the way you present these theories and tools. However, past participants in this training reported that these changes were minimal and that their younger students easily understood and benefitted from learning the Anti-Boring tools.
+ What if I missed the start of the course? Can I join late?
Yes! You are welcome to join at any time. You will simply need to be willing to either (1) devote some time to catching up to the cohort or (2) be comfortable with being behind the others. Not to worry though: you will have plenty of time to watch all the recordings and catch up at your own pace, as you have access to the recordings long after the course is over. If, however, you have stumbled upon this course after the closing date, you have the option work through the recordings in a self study capacity. Please contact Gretchen's team at officewiz [at] gretchenwegner [dot] com to find out if this is a good option for you.
+ Is there a discount if I bring a number of educators from my school into the training?
Please do! You’ll have a much richer training experience if you’re learning with your community. I’m happy to offer a discount. Contact Gretchen Wegner to inquire about discounts for multiple faculty members.
+ Can I get professional development hours for this course?
Yes! Once you have finished all the training calls and all the homework, you can request a Certificate of Completion. Educators who need proof of Professional Development for their schools will receive a certificate that acknowledges you have done 25 hours of learning. For those wanting International Coaches Federation (ICF) hours, you will receive a certificate acknowledging 6 hours of Core Competency training and 19 hours of Resource Development, for a total of 25 hours.
+ Can I get ICF credit for this course?
Yes! I’m delighted to be able to offer continuing education credits for the International Coaches Federation. See above for details.
+ What if I want to bring you into my school or organization for professional development?
Please reach out to me and let’s talk about this. It’s certainly possible, so I’d want to find out more about the unique needs of your school before I make a proposal about how we’d do this. Regardless, though, I recommend taking this course first so you are clear that the tools I teach would be useful at your school. Then, we can talk about how to move forward with professional development.
GOT A DIFFERENT QUESTION? ASK AWAY!
Write an email to gretchen@gretchenwegner.com and copy my team officewiz@gretchenwegner.com. One of us will help you out as soon as we can!
Are you ready to inspire your students to study strategically?
"I'm a bit obsessed with the whole process you taught us. I love the Study Senses, I love the Study Cycle. I use it when I'm teaching or prepping a lesson. LOVE IT!!! A huge shift!"
- High School Teacher and 2017 Course Participant
WHO I AM & WHY I CREATED THIS PROGRAM FOR YOU
I’m Gretchen Wegner. I’ve been an Academic Life Coach for students for over ten years.
During that time I’ve worked with hundreds of students and peeked into thousands of classrooms all over the country. I’ve seen what teachers assign that works -- and also what gets in the way of students’ ability to learn independently and study strategically.
Before that, I was a middle and high school social studies teacher.
Before that, I wrote curriculum for non-profits serving kids all over the country.
Before that, I was an egg-head student who got bored easily, and had to invent all kinds of interesting tricks to keep myself focused during school and studying.
So I come by this work naturally -- with 33 years combined experience that has culminated in my signature method for helping students become rockstar learners: The Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying™.
Why did I create the the companion course for educators, The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically? Because you asked.
Well, not YOU exactly. But lots of educators like you. Thanks to the success of YouTube Channel and my podcast, I started getting tons of emails from other teachers and Academic Life Coaches, asking me if they could “pick my brain” about how I teach study skills to students, and how I run my academic coaching business.
I didn’t have time for a lot of complimentary one-on-one chats with folks… and so I created this course, and my Anti-Boring Approach Coach Training Program, to answer everyone’s questions.
But that’s not the only reason I created this course.
I was fired from my teaching job.
Well, not exactly fired. More like: the administrator in charge at the Independent School where I worked chose not to re-contract me. He saw I was a creative educator and out-of-the-box thinker, but was trying to rebrand the school with more “traditional” approaches to teaching and learning.
Turns out, this was the best thing that ever happened to me. When I got over my disappointment, I discovered the fields of cognitive science and academic coaching, and I’ve never turned back!
As one member of the 2017 cohort of The Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically said to me, “I’m glad you lost that teaching job, Gretchen. Without it we wouldn’t have you, your inventive approach to study skills, and all these amazing tools that you’ve created.”
It is my honor to be able to meet so many creative, inspiring and inspired educators all over the world. The folks who are attracted to my work are some of the most dynamic, creative, student-centered, movers and shakers in education that I’ve ever met.
If you’ve read this far down the page, you must be one of them too! :-)
Please join me! Together, let’s change the world one creative study skill at a time.