As the kids have gotten older, I've realized that they need to work on their study skills to be successful in high school, college, and in life. I was actually looking for a product to use with them when we were offered a chance to review Level 3 (5/6-10/11) from Victus Study Skills System.
"The Victus Study Skills System is a system approach to study, not just isolated skills and individual components to be mastered, but rather a way of thinking abut study."
Victus Study Skills System offers students of all ages an opportunity to learn how to study effectively. Studying is something all students have to do at some point in their life. Sadly, most students are never given the opportunity to learn the proper way to study. Wouldn't knowing how to study be extremely effective? How many students would feel more confident, achieve higher grades, and succeed in life? It would be a great lesson for all schools to teach.
Victus Study Skills System offers various levels for students.
Level 1: Primary (K-2/3)
Level 2: Elementary (2/3-4/5)
Level 3: Middle/High School (4/5-10/11)
Level 4: High School/College (10/11-College)
Student Planner (Levels 2,3,4)
For families homeschooling students of multiple ages, this system is perfect! The lessons are the same for all 4 levels, so they all can be taught together. Each level comes with a student workbook for the student to complete and a teacher's guide book to help teach the lessons. The company also offers a power point presentation and classroom videos for helping parents and students learn.
For this review, we received physical copies of all three levels and the student planner. So we received the following books: teacher edition, student workbook primary grades, teacher supplement for primary grades, student workbook elementary, teacher supplement elementary, student workbook (level 3), student workbook college, and student planner.
" For the sole true end of education is imply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain."
~ Dorothy Sayers
I've always loved that quote from Dorthy Sayers. It has been my goal throughout our homeschooling journey to teach my children how to learn. If you teach them how to read and how to discover new things, their learning will never end. We spend our lives learning new ideas. I strongly believe that learning should never stop.
The Victus Study Skill System believes in four important concepts....
1. Zeal without knowledge is not good, but zeal with knowledge bears fruit.
2. Results come from the process.
3. Any system with all the components must have an aim or purpose.
4. An effective system of study has the greatest likelihood of aiding success.
The system has four objectives for the students: understand that there are specific steps and strategies, build specific skills and provide specific tools, develop positive attitudes, and understand more fully their own role.
How Did We Use the Victus Study Skills System?
For this review, I will be focusing on Level 3 (5/6-10/11). Both Michael and Therese were in that grade range so it worked out perfectly. The very first thing I did was read the teacher edition book.
This is the core book. It explains everything you will need to know. It will help you understand the philosophy behind the program and how to teach your students. The teacher edition book is broken up into 3 sections.
This is the core book. It explains everything you will need to know. It will help you understand the philosophy behind the program and how to teach your students. The teacher edition book is broken up into 3 sections.
Section 1
Suggestions and procedures which help you understand the foundation of the course
Section 2
Provides the lessons
Each lesson has the purpose, preparation, and at least one procedure with the student view.
It's recommended to follow the instructions to provide the most success for your student.
Section 3
The Appendix
This just contains supplemental materials that can be used throughout the lessons.
I definitely recommend reading through the teacher's edition before starting the program. It will answer any questions you will have.
There are 10 lessons total in this system. It should take a students five, 1 hour sessions to complete the program. We tried to do one lesson a week, but sometimes life happens.
The student workbook is broken up into three sections.
Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
How do I get there?
Each section covers a variety of ideas and suggestions. After reading the the course aim, Michael and Therese immediately jumped into the program. The first thing they did was figure out where they were with their study skills. They quickly saw that they had plenty to improve upon.
As they worked through the system, they both realized that they needed to set realistic goals and had to work on achieving those goals. All those days of nagging about not procrastinating started to sink in. If we want to achieve our goals, we need to work towards them. Writing them down and then doing nothing will not get us to the finish line. Having the books address different areas of their lives was important. They saw how setting goals can help them with their school work, community service, reading list(this was a big one for Michael), spiritual growth, physical fitness, and personal life. This well-rounded approach allowed both of them to see and understand why it's important to set goals, make plans on how to achieve them, and finally reach their goal.
Goals + Objective + Action Plan = Success
One section we are just starting to look at is the "my summer goals."
We are finalizing our summer plans and the kids are starting to work on setting their goals. Community service hours, swim team, shooting, summer reading list, summer jobs, math catch-up, etc. I currently have them working on how to get all this done with our scheduled vacations. I hoping this will be a great tool for them to set their goals and accomplish them. Maybe this mama can have a little more relaxing summer now that they are older!
Goals + Objective + Action Plan = Success
One section we are just starting to look at is the "my summer goals."
We are finalizing our summer plans and the kids are starting to work on setting their goals. Community service hours, swim team, shooting, summer reading list, summer jobs, math catch-up, etc. I currently have them working on how to get all this done with our scheduled vacations. I hoping this will be a great tool for them to set their goals and accomplish them. Maybe this mama can have a little more relaxing summer now that they are older!
I plan on using Level 4: (10/11-College) next year with both kids, since our goal is to get them both ready to take college classes at the local community college. I think they'll be ready, but I'm not sure if this mama will be.
What Did We Think of Level 3?
Right off, I loved the study habits checklist. This allowed Michael and Therese to see where their strong areas were and where they needed to improve. I didn't have to say a word. They read through the habits and answered truthfully. I think they both realized that mom might know them better than they think.
I will admit, neither of them had great study skills when they went through the checklist. I felt the checklist was a great way for them to see where they were and where they needed to be.
I will admit, neither of them had great study skills when they went through the checklist. I felt the checklist was a great way for them to see where they were and where they needed to be.
The workbooks were presented in an easy to understand fashion. Both of them found the material easy to comprehend and follow. I did purchase a second workbook for them both to complete the program. I liked how the system presented all areas of life. This allowed them to see how everything in life is connected. If we slip in one area of our life another area can and will eventually be affected. I think this is an important point for them to learn. They often live in their own "little bubble" not realizing how the real world truly works. This is a fantastic program to help show them this.
I was surprised with how honest they were with their lack of goals. In the beginning, both Michael and Therese admitted they set goals, but both admitted that they are not great at accomplishing them or getting them done.They admitted to slacking and completely forgetting about them. They both have agreed this system has helped them see so how to prioritize and stick to their goals. I'm hoping to see a big change in them over the next few months as they implement these new procedures in life. I have noticed both of them looking over the chapters in their science books before reading...something they never thought of doing before.
I did look over the student planner. It's like most student planners. My kids had paper planners in the past, but now rely on their planner they have on their phones/tablet. I prefer paper planners. I do think writing out your goals helps you focus on them more and maybe remember them just a little bit.
I was surprised with how honest they were with their lack of goals. In the beginning, both Michael and Therese admitted they set goals, but both admitted that they are not great at accomplishing them or getting them done.They admitted to slacking and completely forgetting about them. They both have agreed this system has helped them see so how to prioritize and stick to their goals. I'm hoping to see a big change in them over the next few months as they implement these new procedures in life. I have noticed both of them looking over the chapters in their science books before reading...something they never thought of doing before.
I did look over the student planner. It's like most student planners. My kids had paper planners in the past, but now rely on their planner they have on their phones/tablet. I prefer paper planners. I do think writing out your goals helps you focus on them more and maybe remember them just a little bit.
Learn more about Victus Study Skill System!
Want to learn more about the other levels from Victus Study Skills System?
Just click below, head on over, and read the other crew reviews!
Till Next Time,
Monique
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