By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Schools are officially back in session beginning the week of Aug. 7, and a handful of students between grades 6-12 will have some extra study tips and strategies to take with them as they begin the new school year.

A two-day seminar aimed to help students use assessments to discover their learning style and strategies was held at First Baptist Church of Helena Aug. 1-2, where dozens of students signed up to participate.

Gwen Hood led the seminar and the summer of 2017 marked her fourth time teaching the class.

Some of the topics covered in the seminar included time management/planning skills, organization, note taking, handling distractions, anxiety, scanning and skimming, test taking, outlining and more. In-class exercises were also conducted.

Kingwood Christian School 10th grader Mason Collins attended the seminar and explained some of the things he learned after hearing about the seminar on Facebook.

“I just learned how I need to be learning and my learning style,” Collins said. “It just taught me how to study better and tips on the right learning style.”

Hood went over several learning strategies that included tips on time management.

Hood emphasized using timers when studying by alternating between studying material and taking short breaks, especially for those students who can’t sit still for long periods of time.

Other tips included removing distractions from a study space, always having scrap paper near by and to stay disciplined, especially when it comes to the timers.

Hood said students from all over the county attended the seminar.

“We had students attend who were from Cornerstone, Kingwood, Spain Park, Helena, home school and more,” Hood said. “I think it’s something that’s important for anyone no matter what school or grade level for students to learn their learning style.”

Hood was also appreciative of First Baptist Church of Helena for letting her and the students use their facilities.

“They’ve just been so gracious to us,” Hood said. “Pastor Greg Walker has told me that he doesn’t want the church to not be used during the week and we’re so glad he lets us come and use the building.”