I Cried. I Really Needed That. Thanks

The Hogwarts House as Students (Based on People I Know)

Gryffindor

listens to anime osts while studying

highlights everything, gOD

acts like a roman orator during class reports

“pisses off” the teacher with their jokes but is secretly probably the teacher’s fave student

mnemonics

either studies ahead of time or DOESN’T SLEEP FOR 48 HOURS BECAUSE THEY PROCRASTINATED (there is no in between)

 flashcards galore

gets elected as class president because their friends thought it would be funny (but is actually pretty good at the job??)

determination to succeed even when they’re already too done with everything

Ravenclaw

has 100 highlighters and a system for how to use them

“do you think i’ll still have to take the exam if i die from caffeine overdose?”

really creative bullet journals (or minimalist layouts)

“how do you have such perfect handwriting?” “oh, it’s always been that way.” *actually spent 1000 hours perfecting it*

scrolls through the studyblr tag and calls it studying

posts something on studyblr and calls it studying

procrastinates a lot tbh. 

classical music

gets anxious about not studying. still not studying because they’re too anxious to start. (relatable?)

always getting irrational thoughts about their “failing” grades

Hufflepuff

lots of colorful pens

a e s t h e t i c  study spaces

extra af when it comes to projects (they’ll probably wear a mammoth costume during their report about the ice age. y’know, for authenticity)

working really hard for a subject they are not good at. feeling very satisfied when they get a high grade on that subject.

probably expects the worst so they don’t get disappointed

helping others study

sharing their notes

comforts other students who are having nervous breakdowns but they probably need comforting as well

all-nighters. 

Slytherin

motivational quotes

studying extra hard for a subject someone told them they’re not good at, purely for the satisfaction of proving them wrong

they’re e x t r a af, in general

getting really high grades, but only seeing that one grade that was lower than they expected

either really organized or really messy (but, like, in an organized way)

mind maps and flowcharts

look calm as fuck when it comes to tests but it’s probably because they’re disassociating lmao

working hard not just because they like it, but because they simply don’t like the thought of failing

really supportive of their friends but at the same time bitter when they get higher marks at something (but only because they see it as a sign of personal failure)

has high standards for them themselves. at the same time, they feel like everyone expects too much of them.

Fantasy Guide to Worldbuilding

Language and Culture

You have your land and your people. Now onto what kind of people they are and what they sound like. Culture is the greatest worldbuilding tool you need to master. Language is extra spice.

Culture

Culture is a collection of customs and attitudes formed over time. Culture forms around a land, metaphorical cling film if you will. Land influences culture.

Entertainment: What amuses your people? Bull fighting? Gladiators? Tasteful plays?

Food and drink: What food is common? Is there a delicacy popular in the region? Pasta is Italy’s delicacy. Beer is a common drink in Germany

Taboo: The no-no of society. What can’t be spoken about or done? In Harry Potter, the name of Voldemort is taboo. In our world, for most of us anyway, incest and cannibalism are the major taboos

Myths: Are stories that explain things without evidence from science. The Egyptians thought that a dung-beatle rolled the sun across the sky. Celtic cultures believe that a death is sounded by the scream of a banshee.

Games: What games are played by children or adults? Are card games popular or board games? Is it popular to watch games or gamble on them? How often are they fixed?

Traditions: What do your people do? Do they have holidays? In Incan tradition, human sacrifices were common. On a light note, the Greeks held the Olympics ever few years. Is there traditional ceremonies or words one says on a daily basis?

Values: The Spartans valued Spartan behaviour. Renaissance culture valued skill and honour. What is the important concepts of your people? Strength? Honour? Intelligence? Do people get treated differently when they don’t follow the values of the land?

Meeting and greeting: How do people say hello? Is there a word or saying? A signal? And goodbye?

Language

Language is the heart of a land. You don’t need to create a large lexicon of made up words and rules. You can. I did once, it was fun. You don’t need to show the language in every line. A word here and there can add spice to a story. Language effects accents and way of speaking.

Side note: “Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.” A country without a language is a country without a soul. Ireland is a county with two main languages: Irish (Gaelige) and English. Colonization almost stamped out the language. The Irish language is difficult to learn but it brings pride to me as Irish girl to know parts of it. It breaks my heart not to be fluent in my native language even after almost fifteen years of study. Language is not just words. It is the heart and soul of a land.

So helpful! Thank you! 💖💖💖

Hey guys, so I’m nearing the end of my senior year, and it’s been great so far! I accomplished my academic tasks efficiently and didn’t burn myself out, and I think the main contributor to my success as a student is my organization system. This system has been refined throughout my high school years, but I think now I’ve finally found the most effective methods.

Please remember that this isn’t the only organization system you can adopt; this is just the one that works the best for me, and I hope that by sharing it with you, you’ll gain a new perspective on how to stay organized as a high school student.

The first thing I wanna talk about is my notebook system, which I briefly mentioned in my Guide to Note-Taking.

My notebook system comprises three types of notebooks: the Everything Notebook, the subject notebook, and the revision notebook.

The Everything Notebook

The first stage is in-class notes. I only bring one notebook to school every day. I call it my Everything Notebook, and this is where I write down all of the notes I take in class. This way, I don’t have to lug around six notebooks where I’m only going to use a few pages in each of them that day.

Subject Notebooks

At the end of the day, I would revise my notes and compare them to the syllabus so I know where we are in the learning process. I would then transfer my class notes from my Everything Notebook to my different subject notebooks. This is stage two. I also start to jazz up my notes because I use the notes in my subject notebooks to study for tests.

In addition to my class notes, I include material from my teachers’ notes that they might not have elaborated on, as well as points in the syllabus (I’m currently taking A2) that were only glazed over briefly, or not at all, in some cases. (Note: this does not mean they completely skip a chapter or topic; it’s more like they missed a few bullet points that should be in my notes but aren’t. An example would be if we’re learning about phenol reactions and the teacher forgot to mention the use of FeCl3 as a test for phenol.)

Revision Notebooks

Stage three comes a little later, when exam week is just around the corner. Essentially, I rewrite and improve my notes from my five different subject notebooks into a single revision notebook or binder. (Recently, I’ve opted for a revision notebook because they’re lighter and easier to carry around.)

Because my teachers don’t always teach in the order of the syllabus, the first thing I do is organize my notes according to the syllabus. I would then fill in any other missing gaps in the material that hadn’t been filled in stage two.

When compiling material for my revision notebook, I use as many sources as possible: my own notes, my teachers’ notes, youtube videos, online sites, and my favorite, the mark scheme! I add in some answers from past papers (explanations only, so no calculations) mainly to secure marks. It’s safer to memorize definitions straight from the mark scheme than from the textbook or from handouts. I also do this to ease my memorization, especially for topics that require lengthy explanations. It’s a lot easier to remember the 6 points I need to explain the principles of NMRI than to remember everything in the four-page handout my teacher gave me.

Folders and binders are essential to organizing your papers. Some people keep a single accordion folder for all their papers, but for me it’s just too heavy to carry around all the time. The same goes for subject folders that are brought to school every day.

Instead, my binder/folder system comprises my Everything Folder and my subject binders.

The Everything Folder

The folder I carry with me to school every day is this A4 folder I got from Tokyu Hands. It has 5 pockets, one for each day of the week, so all the papers I receive on Monday will go behind the first divider, and so on.

Some people also keep blank papers in their folders; I don’t because my school has its own lined paper and graphing pads that I keep under my desk that I use if a teacher asks us to do an assignment on those papers. If I do work at home, I prefer to just use a plain A4 paper or a legal pad.

Subject Binders

At the end of the week, I’ll sort my papers into my subject binders. Sometimes I’ll keep some papers in the folder if I think I’ll be needing it the next week. This usually only applies to worksheets because all my teachers’ notes are available on Google Classroom, so I can access them even if I don’t physically have them.

Each of these binders have sections inside them:

Physics: 1 for handouts, notes, and tests, 1 for Paper 4 (Theory), 1 for Paper 5 (Practical Planning). I included extra tabs to mark the different topics in the handouts section.

Chemistry: same as Physics.

Economics: 1 for Paper 3 (MCQ), 1 for Paper 4 (Case Study and Essay). A lot of my Economics material is online, though.

English: 1 for Paper 3 (Text and Discourse analysis), and 2 for Paper 4 (Language Topics, which includes 1 for Child Language Acquisition, 1 for World Englishes). Past papers, handouts, and notes all go under their respective topics.

Mathematics: I just keep everything together because I never revise math and just constantly do past papers.

This makes it easier for me to revise each subject because I can just take one binder with me instead of a messy folder with everything just shoved in there.

I keep a magazine file for each of my A-Level subjects (English and Mathematics are combined). All my textbooks, revision guides, and subject notebooks are kept here, so if I need to revise one subject, that’s the magazine file I’ll take out.

These magazine files prevent any small things (like my book of flashcards) from being shoved to the back of my bookshelf, or materials from different subjects from getting mixed up.

In my senior year, I mostly plan using this app called Edo Agenda. It syncs across all my devices for free and has all the features I need: a to do list to organize tasks, monthly and weekly calendars to organize events, a journal to organize notes and memos.

I used to bullet journal regularly, but it takes too much time during weekdays, so now I just bullet journal for the therapeutic effects it gives me, and I use an app for organizing tasks and events. Sometimes at the end of each week, I’ll transfer my tasks to my bullet journal and then decorate the page, but again, this is just for its therapy.

Organizing your school supplies is just as important as organizing your papers and notes. With a more organized backpack and pencil case, you won’t waste time looking for your things at the bottom of an abyss.

Pencil Case

I don’t find it necessary to bring so much stationery to school unless I plan on making notes at school (usually during revision week).

Backpack

Because we’re already in the revision term, I don’t really carry a lot of things in my everyday backpack, just the following:

Pencil case

Everything Notebook

Everything Folder

Revision notebook

Kindle

Phone

Wallet

Earphones

Calculator

Speaker

Drinking bottle

A pouch with things like a hairbrush, pads, and lip balm

And that’s all for now! I hope this post will help you organize your school life (if you haven’t already) or at least provide some useful insights on some ways to stay organized as a high school student.

That’s so me omg i have a book -new- that I haven’t read it even once for two years

im a simple girl.. i see book, i buy book, i let book sit on my shelf for months unread

MASTERPOSTS

studiying’s printable masterpost by @studiyng

planner printables by @studywithnerdyglasses

free printables masterpost by @chemistrynerd2020

daily planner + today … + weekly planner + 24/7 weekly planner + monthly planner + revision planner and etc by @theorganisedstudent

free 2016 calendar printables by @gracelearns

PAPER PRINTABLES

note taking outlines by @studygene

note outline printables by @studygene

TO DO LIST PRINTABLES

to do list and weekly agenda by @paperplanners​

to do list by @thearialligraphyproject

weekly to do by @studeying

detailed weekly planner by @diehardstudyblr

20 printables to do do list

daily planner by @cmpsbls​

daily planner by @arystudies​

planner pack by @studysanity

assingnment overview / tracker printable by @studeying

goal getter printable BY @janicestudies

cute to-do list printable by @studeying

exam study pack + study planner by @ennui-for-me

study printable pack by @marialearns

2016 PLANNER PRINTABLES

planner 2016 printables  by @plantstudies

2016 planner printables (with stickers) by @marias-studyblr

cute printable planner by @48jn​

printables + stickers by @cmpsbls

free planner 2016  by @muna-mm-mi

monthly printables by @thearialligraphyproject

OTHERS

how to make printables by @cmpsbls

pomodoro printables by @cmpsbls

7 free budgeting worksheets

form new habits by @burymewithmyplanner

english printables by @meddiestudies

monthly budget template by @ahhnahsfinalyear

how to write like jk rowling

foreshadow foreshadow foreshadow

become a master of chekhov’s gun everything you mention should pay off a hundred pages later or a couple of books later! the diary they had to go back and get? it has voldemort in it! the locket they were polishing? it’s a horcrux! old irrelevant lady? actually a squib watching over you!

write buried clues! like the fact that ginny has a diary is buried under a list of things the weasleys forget and go bring back on the way the king’s cross or the fact that there’s a locket is listed among a ton of things they’re cleaning!

you can also downplay the importance of characters before the big reveal like how harry asks sirius about his brother and he brushes him off as a stupid young boy who joined the death eaters

speaking of characters, jkr says character is plot and that explains how she writes such strong characters take my favourite one for instance sirius black he’s the textbook case of ‘break your characters’ he’s in an abusive household for eleven years, then thrown into a war, and loses his best friend in the whole world, is wrongly imprisoned for twelve years and then jailed in the house of his childhood while everyone is working and YET he is unfailingly kind and doesn’t stray into the dark

and write flawed characters like the kindest, gentlest, wisest character dumbledore. he was not to be trusted with power. 

also speaking of characters, write killer motivations that aren’t always foregrounded classic example is snape’s motivation to lie to voldemort for years. is it right and good? debatable. is it powerful? yes.

next up, worldbuilding. jkr makes us forever in awe of her world and till date we’re all bemoaning the fact that we can’t go to hogwarts and YET there’s a dark side to that world it’s a distorted mirror of our own

write visual spectacles that make your readers go whoa. my favourite moment was the dragon breaking out of gringotts. it was emblematic of injustices in the wizarding world but boy did it make a good shot.

use extended metaphors

give! every! minor! character! their! own! subplot! even! if! it! doesn’t! make! it! into! your! story! standard example: dobby!

make us nostalgic. like hagrid taking harry out of privet drive in the last book just like in the first

in that vein, ring composition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

be preoccupied with morality and mortality

take away everything your hero has. his parents. his father figure. his wand.

be unkind to your hero but let him win

give children everywhere something to hope for

finally, jkr said by writing harry potter, she came to know for sure that love is the most powerful force use writing to explore your convictions 

if you’re going to tell me what a terrible person jkr is, make your own post this is a writing blog and i worked really hard on scrutinising aspects of her writing which is objectively wonderful

how to write like jk rowing * how to write like shirley jackson

If you found this helpful, consider buying me a virtual coffee to keep me writing.

Alright I’m gonna say it- Fallon Carrington from Dynasty 2017 is like Redeemed Azula in a happy world. She is not evil but she’s definitely not a saint.

Yep. So much.

I want to travel

Cute.

hey guys !! this is my first masterpost hahaha exciting so exams are coming up soon (for me), aka those early may dates.. here is just a bunch of resources that i found !!

study tips 101

i have terrible memory! how do i study? by @estudying

conquering procrastination by @studybudyblr​

how to stay focused, motivated, and on track by @briellestudies​

how to study for math by @enfpfocustudyblr​ (making a math masterpost soon)

focus and motivation by @katsdesk​

study methods by @heystudy​

“the oh god it’s the night before the exam” by @renaistudying​

another test is tomorrow by @getstudyblr​

stress help by @highschoolering​

101 study tips by @study-early​

6 things people don’t tell you about studying by @behindonstudying​

ap testing tips by @katsdesk​

3 steps in studying by @milkystudies​

studying from ..

how to study from textbooks by @strive-for-da-best

four steps to reading textbooks by @kimberlystudies

lecture notes by @strive-for-da-best

revision notes by @raistudy

how to: flashcards by @pseudocodead

more flashcards by @studydiaryofamedstudent

how do i study ?? / being organized

study schedule by @mindofamedstudent

pomodoro printable by @cmpsbls

printables masterpost by @studie-s

vocab and formulas printables by @studeyh

how to maintain good notes by @skeletonstudy

typing notes by @study-well

colorcoding by @kimberlystudies

highlighting by @studygene

highlighting pt 2 by @ayetstudies

how to use sticky notes by @etudiance

organized study spaces by @etudiance

sketches for notes by @staedtlers-and-stabilos

how to revise by @youaretheairinmyalveoli​

if any of these links are broken, please message me so i can update it. hope you find these helpful !! 

- xoxo j

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