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Learning Strategies
At Accessible Learning, our Learning Strategists work collaboratively with students with disabilities to develop personalized academic success plans. Whether you're navigating challenges with time management, attention, mental health, or other disability-related impacts, we're here to support you.
Together, we'll identify strategies that align with your strengths and goals, building a practical toolkit that covers key areas such as time management, study skills, and organization. Our aim is to help you gain the confidence and skills to apply these strategies independently throughout your studies at Laurier.
Meet Your Learning Strategy Team
What Does a Learning Strategist Do?
A learning strategist works with you to:
- Understand how your disability may influence your academic experience.
- Identify barriers that may affect your learning.
- Develop effective study habits, time management routines, and focus strategies.
- Build confidence, motivation and academic independence.
Appointments are personalized to reflect your unique needs, goals, and learning preferences—ensuring the support your receive is meaningful and relevant to your academic journey at Laurier.
Do I Need Learning Strategy Support?
You will benefit from meeting with a Learning Strategist if you:
- Struggle with time management or staying organized.
- Feel overwhelmed by deadlines and academic expectations.
- Experience challenges with focus, memory, or getting started on tasks.
- Want to try new approaches to studying, reading, or writing.
- Believe your disability may be impacting your learning or academic performance.
Don't wait until things feel unmanageable—learning strategy support is most effective when accessed early and often.
How to Prepare for a Learning Strategy Appointment
To get the most from your Learning Strategy appointment:
- Reflect on any challenges you are experiencing in your courses or studying.
- Bring helpful materials like your course syllabus, assignment details or calendar (if you have one).
- Come with an open mind—we will explore new tools and techniques together and guide you every step of the way.
Remember - we are here to support you in building the strategies that work for you! No pressure—just a collaborative space to help you thrive at Laurier.
Book your Learning Strategies Appointment
Earn Your ASk Certificate
Appointments with a Learning Strategist in Accessible Learning can count towards the Student Success' Academic Skills (ASk) Certificate. This is great way of recognize your effort as you build your academic skills!
Speak with your Learning Strategist if you want to learn more or if you are already working towards your ASk Certificate.
What Students Say
"I felt lost in the semester with no one to talk to and you really helped me get through my slump and make it through. As well as helping me with numerous strategies and general information" - First-year Business Administration student.
"I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for helping me organize myself for exams. I wrote my exam yesterday that I was really worried about passing, but I think it went a lot better compared to the midterm! All your tips for the multiple-choice questions and doing practice tests worked a lot! I really appreciate you and everything you have done to make this exam season a lot less stressful than the past ones" - Third-year Science student.
Resource Library
Discover the curated collection of tools and resources below designed to support a wide variety of learning needs and preferences.
Our digital resources are always changing. If you don't see what you're looking for, let us know—we're happy to help you find or create what you need.
Studying and Learning
Do you feel distracted when you try to study or get work done? Does your mind wander or are you sensitive to background noise? These techniques help create an environment for deep focus.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Are easily distracted or experience mental fatigue .
- Find it hard to maintain attention on one task .
- Difficulty filtering out background noise or environmental distractions .
- Need structured breaks to stay productive .
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Pomodoro Technique – Work for 25 minutes, break for 5; repeat. Remember to use your phone only on your timed breaks.
- Focus-Friendly Environment – Use noise-canceling headphones, declutter workspace and silence your phone.
- Distraction Log – Write down intrusive thoughts and revisit later.
- Mindful Transitions – Reset focus between tasks with breathing or stretching.
- Single-Tasking – Approach one task at a time and while on the computer use a single-tab browser.
Recommended Apps
- Forest App - Forest helps you stay focused on the important things in life. Whenever you want to stay focused, plant a tree.
- Cold Turkey - Block websites, games and applications to boost your productivity and reclaim your free time.
- RescueTime - Improve your focus and automate your time tracking. Goal tracking, website and application blocking.
- StayFocused - Boost your productivity by limiting the amount of time you spend on time-wasting websites.
- MindBell - Rings a mindfulness bell as a reminder throughout the day to momentarily stop and consider what you are currently doing.
- ActivityWatch - Automatically monitors how you spend time on your devices—tracking productivity, time spent on various projects, and screen habits—to help you better understand and optimize your daily routines.
- SelfControl - Free Mac application to help you avoid distracting websites.
- PawBlock - Browser extension that allows you to block distracting websites.
Handouts and Other Resources
- Brown Noise - YouTube Video
- White Noise - YouTube Video
Do formulas and numbers feel overwhelming? These hands-on methods can help math “make sense” and easier to remember.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Need step-by-step guidance to understand math.
- Benefit from hands-on or visual problem-solving.
- Struggle with remembering formulas or solving multi-step problems.
- Need repeated practice and structured feedback.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Method of Loci – Place math steps in “mental rooms” to recall.
- Worked Examples – Study step-by-step solutions before practicing.
- Error Analysis Logs – Track your mistakes and learn from patterns.
- Use Manipulatives/Visuals – Draw diagrams or use apps to understand.
- Spaced Practice – Spread out your math review over time.
Recommended Apps
- Photo Math - Step-by-step explanations of math concepts.
- Wizprep - Explains introductory calculus concepts for natural sciences, presenting them concisely and making them easier to understand.
Handouts and Other Resources
Do you study for hours but forget everything during the test? These memory-based techniques help you store and retrieve information more effectively.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle to remember what they’ve studied.
- Forget information quickly without repeated exposure.
- Trouble retrieving facts or concepts during tests.
- Looking to improve long-term retention of academic material.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Retrieval Practice – Quiz yourself without looking at your notes.
- Spaced Repetition – Review at increasing intervals (Day 1, 3, 7…).
- Mnemonics & Acronyms – Use memory devices (e.g., PEMDAS, BEDMAS).
- Dual Coding – Combine visuals (diagrams) with written text.
- Method of Loci – Use memory palaces to organize information spatially.
Recommended Apps
- Quizlet - Interactive flashcards, practice tests and study activities.
- Anki - Flashcard program that helps you spend more time on challenging material, and less on what you already know.
Handouts and Other Resources
Do you start the semester with good intentions but lose steam? These strategies help build momentum and keep you on track when motivation is low.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Find it difficult to stay motivated over time.
- Procrastinate or lose momentum on long tasks.
- Benefit from external accountability or small wins.
- Need help creating structure to achieve goals.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Goal Setting – Set small, achievable goals with deadlines.
- If-Then Planning – “If it’s 10 AM, then I will review Chapter 3”.
- Success Journal – Track daily wins to boost motivation.
- Break the Task Down – Divide into chunks with short breaks.
- Accountability Buddy – Work alongside someone, in person or virtually.
- Assignment Planner - Try out Laurier's assignment planner, it can break up your assignment into smaller tasks and set deadlines each step of the way.
Recommended Apps
- Forest App - Forest helps you stay focused on the important things in life. Whenever you want to stay focused, plant a tree.
- MindBell - Rings a mindfulness bell as a reminder throughout the day to momentarily stop and consider what you are currently doing.
- Flown - Try body doubling to beat procrastination. Stay accountable and get in the flow.
- Flow Club - Virtual co-working sessions for body doubling.
- Assignment Planner - Laurier's assignment planner helps by breaking assignments into smaller tasks and set deadlines each step of the way
- PawBlock - Browser extension that allows you to block distracting websites
Handouts and Other Resources
- Goal Tracker Template - Word
- Goal Tracker Worksheet - Word
Do you reread the same paragraphs without remembering what you read? Do you highlight everything, making it hard to review later? These strategies help you engage with reading and retain key information.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle with focus and attention while reading.
- Have difficulty processing and organizing large amounts of text.
- Find it hard to remember or understand what they’ve just read.
- Need more structure to stay engaged during reading.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Highlighting with Purpose – Highlight only keywords and definitions, not entire sentences. Read the paragraph first before you highlight anything.
- Margin Notes/Self-Questioning – Write questions or keywords in the margins and answer them as you go.
- Chunk & Summarize – Read 1–2 paragraphs, then summarize in your own words.
- SQ3R Method – Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review.
- Concept or Mind Mapping – Create a visual web of connected ideas.
- Planning- Ensure you block time off on your calendar for each class weekly to complete your readings
Recommended Apps
Bored with your readings, struggling to focus? Try the free version of these apps that read text aloud.
Handouts and Other Resources
- Chunking & Summarizing- Video
Are your notes messy or incomplete? Do you struggle to listen and write at the same time? These strategies help you capture key lecture points efficiently.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Find it hard to take notes while listening.
- Trouble organizing their notes or identifying key points.
- Benefit from visual or pre-structured note formats.
- Miss information when trying to multitask in class.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Skeleton Notes – Use pre-made outlines or slides during class.
- Abbreviation Systems – Use common symbols and shorthand.
- Cornell Note-Taking – Cue column, note section, and summary.
- Review Weekly – Schedule weekly time to revisit, review and revise notes.
- Slides in Advance- Getting the lecture slides in advance will help you focus on notetaking about what the instructor is saying and not copying the slide.
Recommended Apps
- GENIO - Take notes in person or online, audio record, and upload text and slides all in one place.
- EverNote - Notetaking and task-management application
- Notion - All-in-one platform for organizing information, managing tasks, and collaboration.
- Apple Notes - View, edit, create and share your notes with Notes on the web as changes sync across your devices with iCloud.
Handouts and Other Resources
Do you spend too long trying to make things perfect? Avoid starting because you’re afraid it won’t be “good enough”? These strategies help you manage high standards and focus on progress, not perfection.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle to start or finish assignments because of pressure to get it “just right”.
- Spend excessive time on small details.
- Experience anxiety or burnout from overworking.
- Have trouble submitting work unless it feels 100% complete.
- Need support in breaking down large tasks and building self-trust.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- The 80% Rule – Remember “Done is better than perfect.” Aim for 80% quality on the first attempt—you can revise later if needed.
- Time Limits for Tasks – Set time boundaries to avoid hyper-focusing. Use timers (Pomodoro = 25 min work, 5 min break) and stick to them. Treat the limit as a “soft deadline” to move forward.
- “Good Enough” Checklist – Create a short checklist of what must be included in the task. Once all items are checked, the work is considered ready—even if it doesn’t feel perfect.
- Break It Down, Then Start Small – Divide the assignment into micro-steps (e.g., open the doc, write the title, jot three bullet points). Starting with a small step reduces overwhelm and builds momentum.
- Self-Compassion Reframes – Catch perfectionist thoughts (“It has to be amazing”) and replace them with supportive ones (“This is a first step, not the final product”).
Recommended Apps
- Focus To-Do – Timer-based tool to prevent overworking and encourage regular breaks.
- Notion – Use for tracking small, manageable tasks within bigger projects.
- Mindful Affirmations – App for Apple users with gentle reminders and mindset prompts
- Google Docs Comments – Leave self-comments to flag ideas for future edits, rather than fixing everything now
- Forest – Stay focused for a set time, then “let go” once the timer ends
Worksheets & Resources
Do you delay starting assignments, even when you know they’re important? Do you wait until the last minute, feel overwhelmed, or avoid tasks altogether? These strategies are designed to help you recognize avoidance patterns and build momentum with realistic action steps.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle with executive functioning, particularly task initiation and self-regulation.
- Become overwhelmed by big or unstructured tasks.
- Wait for motivation to strike before starting work.
- Benefit from structured routines, small goals, and external accountability.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- The 5-Minute Rule – Commit to working for just 5 minutes. Often, starting is the hardest part.
- Implementation Intentions – Use “If–Then” planning: If it’s 4 PM, then I’ll open my reading notes.
- Time Blocking – Schedule short, focused work blocks with built-in breaks to reduce overwhelm.
- Temptation Bundling – Pair work with something enjoyable (e.g., studying at a café with a treat).
- Just Start Anywhere – Begin with any part of the task — it doesn’t have to be the beginning.
- Work With a Friend or Body Double – Use virtual or in-person co-working for accountability.
Recommended Apps
- Forest – Grow a virtual tree while staying focused.
- Pomodoro Timer – Web-based Pomodoro tracker.
- Focus To-Do – Combines a Pomodoro timer with task lists.
- Flown - Virtual co-working spaces to get started with others.
- Flow Club – Virtual co-working spaces to get started with others.
- MindBell – Use mindful bell intervals to return your focus gently.
- Google Calendar – Set recurring focus blocks and deadlines.
Handouts and Other Resources
- "More Than One Way to Start" Worksheet - Word
- Productivity Flowchart - Word
Do you forget forget what you just read five minutes ago? These strategies help you lock in the important points.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Read but have trouble recalling key ideas.
- Need multi-sensory strategies to retain content.
- Struggle to engage deeply with text or summarize meaningfully.
- Need active strategies for comprehension and memory.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Teach-Back Method – Summarize out loud as if explaining to a peer.
- Summarizing – After each section, say what you remember and then make bullet point notes.
- Mental Imagery – Visualize scenes or flow of ideas like a movie.
- Elaborative Interrogation – Ask and answer “who, what, where, why and how”.
- Dual Coding – Draw concept maps, mind maps, or timelines of what you read.
Recommended Apps
- Anki - A flashcard program helping you focus on the challenging material, spending less time on what you already know.
Handouts and Other Resources
Do you leave lectures with messy or unclear notes? Wondering how to turn them into something useful for studying? These strategies help you transform your class notes into active, effective study tools.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle to recall lecture content after class.
- Need step-by-step routines to process and reinforce material.
- Learn better through repetition and organization.
- Benefit from breaking study into manageable parts.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
The Study Cycle Framework – A 5-step process:
- Preview: Skim the topic before class (e.g., syllabus, headings)
- Attend: Be present and take notes during lecture
- Review: Within 24 hours, clarify and clean up your notes
- Study: Use active strategies (see below) to quiz and test yourself
- Check: Self-assess your understanding regularly
Note Transformation – Rewrite or type notes using methods like:
- Cornell Notes (Divide your page into cues, notes, and summary)
- Mind Maps or Concept Maps
- Color-Coding or Highlighting Key Terms
Make It Active
- Convert notes into flashcards or practice questions
- Teach the content out loud to yourself or a peer
- Create summary sheets for each topic
Weekly Review – Schedule a 15–20-minute weekly review session per course to go over past material and reinforce memory using spaced repetition
Recommended Apps
- Notion – All-in-one workspace for organizing notes, flashcards, and summaries
- OneNote – A flexible digital notebook with tagging and visual tools
- Coggle – Easy-to-use mind mapping app for connecting concepts visually
- Quizlet – Turn your notes into flashcards, games, and quizzes
- Focus To-Do – Combines Pomodoro timing with task lists to stay on track
- Anki - Powerful spaced repetition tool for long-term retention
Handouts and Other Resources
- Visual Notetaking – Word, PDF
Planning & Time Management
Big assignments feel overwhelming? Not sure where to start? These strategies help you break large tasks into steps and reduce procrastination and anxiety.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle with task initiation and time estimation.
- Avoid or delay starting large projects.
- Get overwhelmed without a clear plan.
- Benefit from structured checklists and intermediate goals.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Chunk the Assignment – Break into 4–6 clear steps (e.g., research → outline → draft → edit).
- Use a Backward Timeline – Start with the due date and assign mini-deadlines.
- Checklist Everything – Turn each step into small, checkable actions.
- Use a Progress Tracker – Visualize your movement across the task.
- Write Just One Paragraph or Section First – Don’t wait to “feel ready”.
Recommended Apps
- Trello – A visual project management tool using boards, lists, and cards for organizing tasks and tracking progress.
- Notion – An all-in-one workspace for notetaking, task management, and project organization.
- Google Tasks – A simple to-do list app integrated with Gmail and Google Calendar
- myHomework Planner – A digital student planner to track assignments, tests, and classes in one place
Worksheets & Resources
Fallen behind and don't know where to start? Feeling overwhelmed by multiple late assignments or missed material? These tools will help you get back on track without panic.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Experience dips in momentum due to burnout, illness, or life interruptions.
- Feel paralyzed by overdue tasks.
- Need a system to triage, plan, and rebuild routine.
- Benefit from structured recovery tools and accountability.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Academic Triage – Make a list of all outstanding work. Rank by urgency, due date, and grade impact.
- Work Backward from Due Dates – Create a timeline by counting backwards from each deadline.
- Communicate With Instructors – Ask for extensions or flexible deadlines where possible.
- 2-Hour Daily Recovery Block – Commit daily time to chip away at backlog.
- Let Go of Non-Essentials – Focus on the highest impact tasks first.
Recommended Apps
- myHomework Planner – A digital student planner to track assignments, tests, and classes in one place.
- Google Calendar – An online calendar for scheduling events, deadlines, and setting reminders.
- Remember the Milk – A task management app to organize to-do lists and set reminders.
Worksheets & Resources
- Catch Up Planning Template - Word
Do you have a hard time organizing your thoughts or starting your paper? Do you feel overwhelmed trying to write everything in one go? These tools help you plan, structure, and complete essays more easily.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Struggle with organizing their thoughts or structuring arguments
- Find it difficult to plan and break tasks into manageable steps
- Avoid writing due to overwhelm or perfectionism
- Benefit from visual planning tools and sentence scaffolds
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Mind Mapping – Use a visual brainstorm to generate and connect ideas before writing.
- Graphic Organizer – Map out paragraphs and supporting points in bullet form before drafting.
- Sentence Starters & Transitions – Use templates to help begin and link paragraphs.
- Follow a Framework (e.g., POWER) – Plan, Organize, Write, Edit, Revise. Each letter should represent a step of the process. Take each step and separate them on different days.
Recommended Apps
- MindMup - Online Mind Map creation.
- Canva - Online Mind Map maker.
- MindMeister - Online Mind Mapping
- Laurier Assignment Planner - Create an assignment plan with deadlines
- Mural - Online graphic organizer
Handouts and Other Resources
- Writing Checklist Template - Word
- Graphic Organizer Template - Word
Do you find it hard to set, track, or follow through on goals? These strategies help you stay focused and build success gradually.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Lack direction or feel unsure how to break down long-term tasks.
- Need help turning vague goals into actionable steps.
- Struggle with tracking progress or adjusting when things change.
- Benefit from external structure, visuals, or routine check-ins.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- SMART Goals – Make goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
- Backward Design – Start with your end goal and plan steps backward
- Visual Trackers – Use charts, apps, or calendars to track progress
- Weekly Review – Reflect each week and adjust your plan
Recommended Apps
- Focus To-Do - Focus To-Do is an easy-to-use time and task management application that helps you to manage tasks anywhere and anytime and helps you to perform tasks efficiently.
- MindBell - Free Android app that functions as a mindfulness bell and meditation timer, designed to help users cultivate mindfulness and presence throughout the day.
Handouts and Other Resources
- SMART Goals Worksheet - Word
Do you lose track of deadlines, handouts, or digital files? These strategies help you stay on top of your materials and responsibilities.
Who This Helps
Students with disabilities who:
- Frequently lose track of materials or deadlines.
- Struggle to manage multiple responsibilities at once.
- Need visual systems or routines to stay on track.
- Benefit from structured planning and reminders.
Strategies to Apply and Instructions
- Weekly Planner – Schedule due dates and review your week every Sunday.
- Color-Code Your Subjects – Use one color per class across notebooks/folders.
- Digital Folder System – Create weekly folders for each course.
- Master To-Do List – One list for academic tasks, broken down by course, or day of the week.
Recommended Apps
- iStudiez - Manage your schedules, track assignments, and monitor your grades.
- Google Calendar.
- myHomework - Access your planner anytime and anywhere.
- Remember the Milk - Web-based task and time-management on your smartphone or computer.
- Notion - All-in-one platform for organizing information, managing tasks, and collaborating with others.
Handouts and Other Resources
- Sunday Night List Template - Word
- Task Checklist - Template - Word
- Basic Task List Template - Word
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