Free Digital Book, Study School: Easy Brain Tools for Every Subject (This Weekend Only)

Finally—my 6th book, Educational Elephant’s Guide, Study School : Easy Brain Tools for Every Subject just launched, and you can download the digital version for free—this weekend only (through Sunday)! Regular price is $3.99.

Study School focuses on life-time learning. For this purpose, the Educational Elephant organized content by subjects rather than grade levels. As we build study skills, however, our grades in school can also improve. Each Study School level reveals fun ideas to overcome challenges, study smart, build on your strengths, and pursue interest-led studies. Students can gain higher test scores in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, history, music, and languages. The book also contains helpful resources for Bible memory. In addition to detailed study tips, the final level lists abundant resources for all types of learners, including students with giftedness and special needs. The bonus clues offer strategies for phonics, mnemonics, and word families to help improve reading skills.

I hope I am not being a bother, but if you enjoy Study School , and find it useful, I would appreciate your help. Can you please leave a positive review? I sure appreciate anything you can do to help get the word out about this new resource! Thanks so much, and may God bless you and yours!

O-kay...thanks for the reply. Although we prefer to think of this as “mental differences”:) (Seriously, however, it is also indicative of a busy writer copying and pasting from my publisher’s web site.) Anyway, please feel free to download the free digital copy to read the whole book, while it is free today and tomorrow, if you are interested in strategies families can use to aid study skills. I have to attend to some family business tonight, but will check back in tomorrow. In the meantime, I see that I may not have included much information in my original post, as I am rushed today. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the book:
STUDY SCHOOL CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 3
LEVEL ONE: STUDY SMART-JUST FOR FUN 5
LEVEL TWO: RESPOND-ABILITY-IT’S UP TO YOU 18
LEVEL THREE: OVERCOME CHALLENGES-NOW SEE ME 29
LEVEL FOUR: READ TO LEARN-OPEN THE DOOR 38
LEVEL FIVE: WRITE TO LEARN-WORDS ALIVE 59
LEVEL SIX: FIVE MATH KEYS-MEASURE AND MIX 78
LEVEL SEVEN: SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES AND HISTORY HEAVEN 120
LEVEL EIGHT: MUSIC, ART, LANGUAGES AND LAUGHTER-MAKE IT GREAT 137
LEVEL NINE: REMEMBER THE BIBLE-FRUIT ON THE VINE 150
LEVEL TEN: USE YOUR RESOURCES – STUDY AND WIN 159
BONUS CLUES FOR LANGUAGE ARTS DETECTIVES 181
ABOUT Educational Elephant’s Guides 19
LEVEL ONE: STUDY SMART-JUST FOR FUN

Educational Elephant’s Guides feature learning tools and tips for every kid – at home, private school, Internet, or public school – written from a biblical worldview. In Educational Elephant’s Memory School, Ed Elephant shared easy and fun memory tricks. Now, in Study School, students can find easy brain tools to use, as they climb to higher levels in all subjects.
Keep in mind that Study School focuses on life-time learning. For this purpose, the Educational Elephant organized content by subjects rather than grade levels. As we build study skills, however, our grades in school can also improve. Each Study School level reveals fun ideas to overcome challenges, study smart, build on your strengths, pursue interest-led studies and gain higher test scores.
Ed says, “In order to study smart, we need to understand what we already know, and discover what we need to learn. Even if we find learning hard, pointless or boring, we need to see the big picture first – and then remember the details, as well.”
For example, consider Ed Elephant’s story of three blind men and an elephant. Blind from birth, the elderly gentlemen had never seen an elephant before. One day, the men stumble upon an elephant in the jungle. Each one touches a different part of the apparently tame and friendly animal.
The first man describes the elephant’s trunk: “An elephant is like a long hose.”
Another feels the elephant’s foot, and says, “An elephant is thick and hard.”
The last blind man touches the tail of the elephant. He exclaims, “An elephant is thin and little.”
Each man learned something about a different part of the elephant, but none could describe the whole elephant correctly. They discovered facts, but the facts did not make sense. They needed to put all the detailed ideas together, to understand the whole elephant-the big picture.
Ed tells another story, about a foolish wood cutter: A foolish man visits a mighty forest to cut down a tree. He searches for just the right wood to build a table. A wide path marks the way to the biggest trees. “That can’t be right—it looks too easy. I’ll bet I can find better trees in the thicket,” the woodcutter says.
He ignores the path, and soon finds himself lost in a thicket of small locust trees and brambles. The long thorns rip his coat. A sharp branch pokes his eye. Eventually, bleeding and eyes watering, he turns back. He leaves the forest, beaten and discouraged. He couldn’t see the forest for the trees. If only he had stayed on the path!
Just so, some topics may seem overwhelming, difficult and complicated at first, but we do not want to miss the forest. We might lose our way, and find ourselves lost in the brambles! Instead, we can begin our journey by studying the main ideas. We can focus our efforts on learning essential skills and understanding the whole picture in each subject at a time.
In addition, when we study our schoolwork, we must not allow ourselves to turn off the road at every crossroads. We would never arrive where we wanted to go. Most of us would soon find ourselves lost. We can remember our studies, if we focus on essential facts, using the best methods. Concentrate on understanding the most important information first, before climbing to the next level.
Remember: Study the Whole Elephant.
Ed’s stories remind us to study smarter, not harder. Students, parents, and teachers all only have a certain amount of time to learn, process and remember. Each student, however, reaches the next level in a unique way.
Unfortunately, grade level teaching often focuses on all students learning the same minor, unrelated facts with standard materials. This detailed (part to whole) method often confuses students who need to observe the whole picture first.
Although some students can spit back names and dates for a history test they might not retain the information long term. After the test, they only remember a few random, unconnected facts. This often means that they forget the most important information, which would tie the details together. Sadly, studies show that few students know main ideas in history, such as the correct century for the Civil War. Instead, they remember random details, but miss main ideas – the forest.
How can you view the forest, and understand the whole elephant? Ask: What do I already know about this topic? What do I really need to learn and what subjects should I study? Do I need to remember this information for a few days, weeks...or for a lifetime? What reading level should I choose?
If you wish, discover your current grade level in various subjects using resources in the Study School Level 10. Keep in mind, however, that test scores only help you know your current level for various subjects—on one day only. In addition, students often wonder what to do if grade level testing shows higher scores in some subjects, but lower in others. Grade level testing also does not show learning strengths and interests. Pursuing personal interests can motivate students to read more difficult material.
To discover how you learn best, try interest level and learning style quizzes. In addition, for more ideas, survey people who know you best. Ask family and friends about your strengths. Also think about the types of activities you choose for yourself. Your fun choices provide clues to help you easily climb to higher educational levels.
All ages enjoy studying about favorite activities. In addition to exploring strengths, however, include your favorite activities in your weaker subjects. For example, if you love to play basketball, you might enjoy sports-themed materials and games.
Picky, Picky, Picky
Even with interest-led materials, students may struggle to recall too many picky details all at once. All learners eventually reach a limit to how many complex facts they can remember. Therefore, in difficult subjects, first focus on the most useful information. For instance, many kids have a hard time understanding too many new, unfamiliar vocabulary terms. It helps to learn the most used, common words first, which you can practice in reading and writing. After learning these important words, build on your vocabulary by studying word roots and more complex language.
As another example, students often receive a confusing explanation of an adverb. Naturally, we get stuck in the brambles as we struggle to understand this complicated meaning. We can’t “see the whole elephant.”
Instead, consider: What should students know about adverbs? To “see the elephant,” just remember that an adverb “adds to a verb.” Most adverbs also end in “ly.” Once you learn those easy facts, you know enough to get by. Later, study the more confusing exceptions and complications.
Even when we find school too complicated, overwhelming and difficult, however, we still need to try our best. The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1, https://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-1.htm).
Another verse presents another side; it reminds parents to not incite (cause) children to anger (Ephesians 6:4, https://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-4.htm). Parents and teachers can avoid needless anger and frustration by asking, “Must my kids remember this? Or am I inciting them to anger?”
Three ‘R’s and a ‘B’—Bible, Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic!
Avoid frustration. In addition to learning the most important facts, study smart by focusing on the basic three ‘R’s: Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic.
Ed says, “I know, I know, you spell it “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic”—but most people find three ‘R’s easier to remember, right?”
Christian homes, however, might choose to study the three ‘R’s and a ‘B’ (for Bible). In a Christian worldview, believers “seek first the kingdom of God.” Early Americans used the Bible to teach reading to five year old youngsters. We can, too. We can also improve our reading and Bible skills through writing activities. A strong reader can read books (including the Bible) independently. Chapter Nine: Fruit on the Vine, explores fun Bible study and memory methods. Beyond the basic “Three ‘Rs’ ( Reading, ‘Riting, ‘Rithmetic) and a ‘B’ (for Bible), consider other subjects as extras – especially in elementary school.
Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic in an Orderly World
Students require strong reading and writing skills to excel in all extra subjects and areas of life. In addition, basic arithmetic helps us think logically. It reminds us that God has created an orderly, logical, mathematical world. Everyone needs math to play games, buy, sell, cook, tell time, and share with others. You use math every day, and math proficiency depends on developing basic skills.
Today, schools often sprinkle extracurricular learning goals into core subjects. These ideas take valuable time away from basic skills. In addition, required content may involve opinions, not facts. For example, “all students should learn to recycle” states an opinion. Schools teach about conservation over and over, at every grade level and subject, in many ways. In some schools, kids spend more time studying environmental issues than basic math or reading. With that much repetition, kids remember to recycle. Unfortunately many students can not read the newspaper that they put in the recycle bin.
If you enjoy a specific subject (such as environmental science), however, relating your interests to reading, writing and mathematics goals can strengthen basic skills. Still, if possible, put off unnecessary testing in extra subjects—especially in early grades.
Although many schools focus on “science standards,” “social studies standards,” “citizenship goals,” “strands” and “outcomes,” material often repeats over and over each year. Why? Educators do not actually expect students to remember this material in detail until high school. Therefore, it pays to keep long term goals in mind, but focus on learning the basics, first. If necessary, backtrack and review missing information in social studies, science, and the arts.
Remembering to Think Ahead
As much as possible, plan for future learning goals. In some cases, students and parents can not choose what to learn. If so, kids can still focus energies reviewing and studying essential material outside of school. Melissa attended a public school, but her mom and dad felt she needed more practice in basic skills. Her parents purchased interesting workbooks, which she used at home. Melissa found the materials so fun, she thought they were games!
Although extra study with high interest materials can help improve basic skills, keep your destination in view. Look ahead! Elementary school prepares you for middle school and high school. Find out what you’ll need to learn to graduate, and start preparing, at your own pace, using interesting materials.. Believe it or not, you can start planning for college or career as early as elementary school!
Don’t waste today’s opportunities, however. Ed Elephant quotes this often Latin phrase: Carpe diem. Written by Horace, a Roman poet, it means, “Seize the day!”
Just so, find the easiest way, each day, to remember what you need to know. You will enjoy the learning journey more, and possibly even complete your education years earlier than other students.
Use books such as E.D. Hirsch’s Core Knowledge Series to find out the most important information to learn at each grade level. What Your Child Needs To Know When: According to the Bible, According to the State, With Evaluation Checklists for Grades K-8, by Robin Sampson (published by Heart of Wisdom), provides evaluation checklists to help guide Christian families.
You can also build a plan for learning goals with a scope and sequence. Keep track of progress with World Book’s free Typical Course of Study (https://www.worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study.aspx) and ABeka’s Scope and Sequence (https://www.abeka.com/HomeSchool/ScopeAndSequence.aspx). Both resources tell what to teach and when, from early elementary grades through Grade 12.
As you master an essential skill in each area, simply check it off the checklist. Keeping track of your most important goals will help you determine the direction of your studies. You can avoid studying less important details, which distract you from your path.

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