Learning Strategy News
November 2025

Are the days getting colder or just cozier? It’s a matter of perspective. Sometimes, there’s no choice but to brave the dark. Sometimes, braving it reveals new skills and new pals. Find your way to both.

What I appreciated most was how these tools encouraged me to connect what I was learning with my understanding. It wasn’t about memorizing. It was about actively breaking things down and making sure the logic made sense. That really improved the way I study.

A student on mobilizing a set of resources their strategist co-created

27

OCT

9 – 10 a.m., Online

Grad students, we know how much writing you’re juggling. Make concrete progress each morning this Reading Week (Oct. 27 – 31) by joining this set of daily writing sprints. Registrants are encouraged to commit to all five mornings but are welcome to attend the number that works for them.

27

OCT

2:30 – 4:30 p.m., Online

Learn the fundamentals of motivation and boost your own. This practical session will cover the nuts and bolts of our Study Hubs program: you’ll become a campus leader by guiding fellow students toward achievable goals.

28

OCT

10 – 11 a.m., Online

Designed to help students in any discipline make sense of any genre of reading, this hands-on, mentor-run workshop is part of a full itinerary of lively Peer Programming:

Catching up on Classes: 
Oct. 30 (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.) & Nov. 4 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.)

Boost Your Motivation: 
Nov. 5 (3 – 4 p.m.)

Managing Your Finals: 
Nov. 7 (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.), Nov. 13 (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.), Nov. 18 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.) & Nov. 28 (2 – 3 p.m.)

Time Management Bootcamp: 
Nov. 7 (12 – 1 p.m.), Nov. 11 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.) & Nov. 21 (2 – 3 p.m.)

30

OCT

10 – 11 a.m., Online

You’ve read about University of Toronto Tutor Training, signed up on Quercus and Folio, and are ready to start. Next steps: get your camera and mic ready to engage in this kickoff workshop.

How does the UT3 work? Find out in this 2-minute video.

3

NOV

12 – 1:30 p.m., Online

They sound like synonyms, but they’re not. Even so, each plays a role in productivity and planning. Graduate students can discover and deploy the principles behind all three in this vital workshop. Our Grad Programming also includes:

Lessen Academic Stress: 
Nov. 10 (1 – 2:15 p.m.)

Navigating the Hidden Labour of Marginalization:
Nov. 14 (11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

Time Management for Grad Students: 
Nov. 17 (1 – 2:30 p.m.)

Create and Sustain Academic Motivation: 
Nov. 20 (12 – 1:15 p.m.)

Time Management: Follow-Up Practice Session: 
Nov. 24 (1 – 2:30 p.m.)

Leverage Academic Feedback: 
Nov. 27 (12 – 1:30 p.m.)

Alleviate Burnout and Revive Academic Energy: 
Dec. 1 (12 – 1:15 p.m.)

6

NOV

5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online

Are you harder on yourself than you’d ever be on a friend? Reframe your stress with compassion and think sustainably about your needs and goals in this reflective offering.

Can’t make it? Browse more stress-dissolving sessions.

7

NOV

1 – 2:30 p.m., Online

Support your learning without supplanting it. While AI can simplify self-testing, it’s crucial to deploy it in ways that deepen your understanding. Join this thoughtful workshop to experiment and problem-solve in dialogue with others.

11

NOV

1 – 2 p.m., Online

If everything’s a priority, nothing’s a priority. Attend to your problem areas while remaining flexible and adaptable with a personalized study plan. This session will show you how (also running Nov. 19, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.).

Next, glance ahead and drill into specific formats with our Exam Prep Workshops, part of Learning How to Learn: 

Exam Prep: Problem-Based Assessments 
Nov. 4 (1 – 2 p.m.) & Nov. 13 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.)

Exam Prep: Short Answer and Essays 
Nov. 18 (1 – 2 p.m.) & Dec. 2 (1 – 2 p.m.)

Exam Prep: Multiple-Choice Questions 
Nov. 20 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.) & Nov. 25 (1 – 2 p.m.)

Exam Prep: How to Cram Effectively 
Nov. 27 (5:30 – 6:30 p.m.)

14

NOV

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Online

Systemically marginalized grad students know firsthand how much harder they have to work to gain recognition. Led by both a learning strategist and a senior peer mentor, this critical workshop will equip students to notice, navigate or decline certain impositions with dignity and integrity. 

Gearing up for a late-night study session? We’ve been there, and we’ll be there for you  as the evening evolves this November 20–21. Our mentor team’s pulling out all the stops to help you unearth mirth under pressure at the Night Against Procrastination (NAP)! 

Register early and keep an eye on your inbox. We’ll be online and on the second floor of the Robarts Library with refreshments, resources, activities and advice.

Are you a University of Toronto student or postdoc who’d like to reduce stress? Are there academic or recreational activities that you’d love to practice more consistently or manage more constructively? Can you attend therapy sessions in downtown Toronto?

You may be eligible to join a research study at the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy. If chosen, participants will receive $150 in gift cards. Details below.

Deciding a week in advance what that week is going to look like, and locking that plan in, has been life-altering. It eases analysis paralysis. I’ve never gotten more done.

A student on how allocating time with intention lightens both workload and cognitive load

Study Hubs are coworking sessions led by trained volunteers, designed to help students get together and get work done. Students can sign up for any session that fits their schedule.

Family Care Office Study Hubs are unique spaces where student parents can connect, carve out productivity goals and reach them.

Queer Study Buddies run Fridays (3 – 6 p.m.) at the Robarts Library for members and allies of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

ADHD Study Hubs run Thursdays (3 – 5 p.m.) in the Gerstein Library. Attendees don’t have to be registered with Accessibility Services. 

Grad Productivity Groups invite grad students to drop in, share goals and work together through two forty-minute bursts spaced by a break. Running online and hybrid, students can sign up for any convenient time.

Grad Writing Groups equip students to share goals on writing projects and commit to consistent attendance. With multiple times to choose from, grad students can build habits that stick.

Learn more about our services, including our growing directory of tutors. Check out our guide to first year. And pinpoint the support you need.

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