The Best Study Resources My Teachers Ever Shared With Me (A Running List)

Teachers share resources all the time. Most of them end up in a folder I never open. But a handful over the years have genuinely changed how I study. This is my running list of the ones that stuck, with notes on why they actually helped.

Khan Academy (Recommended by My Math Teacher, Grade 10)

My math teacher pointed me to Khan Academy when I was struggling with quadratics. I'd used it before but never seriously. What changed was that she told me how to use it: watch the video, pause before the example, try it yourself, then watch the solution. That specific instruction made it 10x more useful than just watching passively.

Honest note: It's best for catching up or filling gaps, not for going ahead. The explanations are clear but not always deep.

Quizlet (Recommended by My Spanish Teacher, Grade 9)

My Spanish teacher made us create our own Quizlet sets instead of giving us pre-made ones. At the time I found it annoying. In retrospect, the act of creating the cards was most of the learning. I still use Quizlet for vocabulary-heavy subjects.

Honest note: Works great for memorization. Less useful for conceptual understanding.

The Feynman Technique (Recommended by My Physics Teacher, Grade 11)

My physics teacher explained the Feynman Technique as: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it." She had us write explanations of concepts as if we were teaching a 10-year-old. It was humbling. I thought I understood momentum until I tried to explain it simply and realized I couldn't.

Honest note: This is genuinely the most useful study technique I've ever used for conceptual subjects.

Notion (Recommended by a TA in My First Year of University)

A teaching assistant mentioned she used Notion to organize her research. I started using it for my notes and assignments. The ability to link pages together and create databases changed how I organized my semester.

Honest note: There's a learning curve. Give it a week before you judge it.

Pomodoro Timer Apps (Recommended by My Study Skills Counselor)

My school counselor recommended the Pomodoro technique when I was struggling with procrastination. I use the Forest app, which plants a virtual tree during your focus sessions. Silly, but it works for me.

Honest note: The technique works. The specific app matters less — use whatever makes you actually start.

The Bottom Line

The common thread in all of these is that a teacher didn't just share the resource — they told me how to use it. That context is what made the difference.

How to Actually Use These Resources Effectively

Having a good resource is necessary but not sufficient. Here's how I use each of the resources above effectively:

Khan Academy: Don't just watch the videos. Pause before each example and try it yourself. Then watch the solution and compare. This turns passive watching into active practice.

Quizlet: Create your own cards instead of using pre-made sets. The act of creating the card is itself a learning activity. When studying, use the "Learn" mode rather than just flipping through cards.

Feynman Technique: Write your explanation out, don't just think it. Writing forces you to be specific in a way that thinking doesn't. When you get stuck, that's the signal to go back to the source material.

Notion: Start simple. One database, one page per course. Don't build an elaborate system before you've used it — you'll spend more time organizing than learning.

Pomodoro apps: The technique matters more than the app. 25 minutes of focused work, 5-minute break, repeat. The key is that the 25 minutes must be genuinely focused — no phone, no other tabs.

Resources Worth Knowing About That Teachers Rarely Mention

Anki: More powerful than Quizlet for long-term retention because of spaced repetition. Steeper learning curve but worth it for subjects requiring memorization.

Zotero: Free citation manager. If you write research papers, this saves hours. Most students don't know it exists until they're in college.

Wolfram Alpha: Solves math problems step-by-step and explains the process. Useful for checking your work and understanding where you went wrong.

Google Scholar: Free access to academic papers. Useful for research papers and for finding credible sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know which study resource is right for me?

Try the free version of several and use whichever one you actually keep using. The best resource is the one you'll use consistently, not the one with the most features.

Q: Is Khan Academy enough to prepare for AP exams?

For content review, yes, Khan Academy is comprehensive for most AP subjects. For test-taking strategy and practice with the specific AP exam format, you'll also want to use the College Board's official practice materials.

Q: Are paid study resources worth it?

Rarely, for most students. The free resources (Khan Academy, Anki, library resources) are genuinely excellent. Paid resources are worth considering for high-stakes exams (SAT, ACT, MCAT) where the return on investment is high.

Q: How do I avoid getting distracted while using online study resources?

Use a website blocker to block everything except the study resource you're using. Set a specific time limit before you start. Have a clear goal for the session ("I'm going to complete 3 Khan Academy exercises on quadratics") rather than an open-ended one ("I'm going to study math").