Essential Study Skills

A Holistic Approach to Learning (Prepared for Life)

Children - Educational
169 Pages
Reviewed on 03/07/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

A veteran teacher and trainer with a thirst for lifelong learning, Ray LeCara Jr continues to work with students of all ages online and in-person. Married, he resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and their senior Golden Shepherd rescue.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

Essential Study Skills by Ray LeCara Jr is a guide to the best studying practices and completion of assignments, focusing not only on scholars but students of all ages and all levels up to university and career studies. This comprehensive guide offers excellent advice for lifelong learners committed to academic success and becoming productive and well-balanced societal contributors. LeCara gives practical tips on how to develop effective schedules, prevent procrastination, prioritize, and the best ways to remember and retain information. Other helpful tips include advice on notetaking and overcoming stress and anxiety related to completing tests. LeCara's book is terrific and readers will reference it repeatedly when needed.

Essential Study Skills by Ray LeCara Jr is an insightful, stimulating, comprehensive, and well-researched guide for becoming a successful life-long learner. I particularly enjoyed it because I'll be starting a new course soon, and I learned valuable techniques to succeed, like notetaking and revising each day's lesson. Understanding your learning style and how to adapt or even adopt new learning styles best suited for each subject was an interesting takeaway. LeCara has an in-depth understanding of how best to learn and takes a holistic and human approach to education; that we are people first. Once we care for our human needs in a balanced way, we can be productive and at our best in other endeavors like academics, sports, and work. Essential Study Skills will help all students young and old be good life-long learners able to set realistic schedules that help them to achieve their goals.

Ann Linus

"Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration," says Thomas Edison. Ray LeCara Jr’s Essential Study Skills aims to teach students how to put in the sweat equity for genius outcomes. With the aid of images, tables, and charts, this book examines, in great detail, issues that affect students’ study and learning habits, from focus to time management to stress management. Among my favorite discussions are Triggers and Four Learning Modalities. The first describes several morning triggers that usually influence the whole day, and the second describes several learning styles. Under Go Digital, the author recommends planning applications that aid time management and organization. The impact of friends and family on a student’s performance is a factor that is taken into account. The book presents a holistic approach to learning, and this review is only the tip of the iceberg.

I value Ray LeCara Jr's honesty throughout this practical and in-depth work, Essential Study Skills. He doesn’t try to portray learning in a false light, but his tone was equally encouraging. The use of charts and pictures made certain concepts easier to understand and remember, and there was a “Reflection” section at the end of each chapter to help the reader recall the chapter’s lessons. I was particularly impressed with the editing because I didn’t find any mistakes whilst I read. Although it is written with academic advancement in mind, the information it contains can be used to advance in any area of life. The target audience for this book is students, and I believe they will benefit from it. Teachers will also find it helpful in guiding their students. Based on my experience, I can recommend this book.

Pikasho Deka

Learning is not easy. In fact, at times, it may not even be enjoyable. The trick is to learn the strategies necessary to engage and find success, no matter the situation. Essential Study Skills by Ray LeCara Jr. offers readers a deeper understanding of what it means, and how, to be a lifelong learner. LeCara emphasizes five fundamental areas essential to academic success. These are focus management, time management, active engagement, academic anxiety, and scholastic stress. The book shows how to avoid procrastination, prioritize key aspects of learning, develop healthy habits, and fight fatigue and lack of interest to focus on the objectives at hand. It also delves into the different types of active management styles and provides helpful insights on how to avoid internal and external pressure.

With so many distractions that divert your attention nowadays, such as social media and the internet as a whole, books like Essential Study Skills have become a must-read for students, teachers, and parents alike. Author Ray LeCara Jr. offers readers some easily applicable strategies, tactics, and tools to help you yield better results, as well as find the learning process all the more enjoyable. Apart from the learning techniques discussed, this workbook also contains sections for journaling and practicing alongside online templates, worksheets, and links to forums that provide additional information about the subject matter. LeCara has a keen eye for detail and meticulously organizes the content, making it accessible and easy to grasp. Highly recommended.