Guide to Good Studying
Eight smart steps for parents:
As parents, you want the best education for your children. This includes appropriate curricula and instructional strategies, as well as a positive learning environment. Learning, however, is not automatic. Good studying habits are the key to successful learning, and the path to building effective study skills begins at home.
Study skills include careful listening, accurate interpretation of information, meaningful note-taking, thorough reading of assigned materials, preparing for tests and effective time management. Encouraging good study habits in your child early ensures that he or she will make the most of classroom instruction. Moreover, a good start is self-reinforcing and provides a solid base of skills on which later achievements can build.
Parents can be teachers of study skills. They set expectations for responsible behavior and work quality, and they monitor assignments performed at home. Parents who adopt a consistent routine and foster good study skills habits are also teaching important life skills such as responsibility and persistence.
It is never too late to begin teaching your child effective study habits. Ideally, you should begin at preschool age, giving your child tasks that are age appropriate. This will prepare your preschooler for formal education and provides a sense of belonging.
If your child is older, you may have to modify established behaviors by reinforcing time management awareness. Most important is cooperation from the entire family and commitment from each family member to help maintain a home environment that is conducive to studying and learning.
Following are eight smart steps to guide you in helping your child develop strong study habits for life. Remember that you are your child's first teacher, and that his or her attitude toward learning and responsibility will be positively influenced by your consistent involvement and support.
1. Promote productive study time
Your child should first review all projects and activities assigned in school, then allot the necessary time to complete them. Short 15- to 20-minute periods of study, with a brief break between each, are most productive. Discuss with your child the value of understanding the overall purpose of the assignment, but also how larger assignments might be broken down into a logical series of smaller, more manageable parts.
2. Assist in goal setting
Goals provide motivation and, when achieved, bolster self-confidence and self-esteem. Help your child to set short-, medium-, and long-range objectives. A short-range goal might involve achieving a specific grade on the next test, and long-range goals could include preparing for college or a career. Guide your child in setting realistic, yet challenging, goals.
3. Establish regular review
Your child should review the information learned from assignments on a weekly basis. A regular review provides additional opportunity to reinforce materials and to aid in retention. This process ensures that your child's learning will progress in manageable segments, and that he or she will be able to integrate the details for the daily assignments into a larger picture. The weekly review, which should include a summary of activities and highlights written from memory, also provides a valuable head start on the test preparation.
4. Interact and guide--but don't take over
Your involvement with your child's studying should be more interactive than supervisory. Homework is intended to reinforce class work and should be completed independently. Think of yourself as a coach whose role is to guide the student and help him or her develop critical-thinking skills. Asking directed questions, such as "What do you think needs to be done?" or "How did you arrive at that conclusion?" helps a child become an effective problem solver. You can also help build independence by giving your child the physical space and time necessary to complete assignments. Hovering over your child will hinder his or her motivation to work independently.
5. Emphasize all assignments
If your child is objecting to a homework assignment or complaining that it's busy work, you may want to discuss the problem with the teacher. Be careful, however, not to insulate your child from work just because he or she has a negative opinion of it. It is also important that you not undermine or destroy the teacher's authority. Your child's sense of responsibility will be reinforced by learning to manage situations that he or she may not like -- without your intervention.
6. Monitor and reward progress
Keeping tabs on your child's progress is important and is most effective if you keep discussions general, being careful not to "grill" your student on specifics. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open by talking about upcoming topics, tests, projects and events. Throughout the process, use rewards as needed to reinforce your standards of quality and to keep your child motivated. While success has its own rewards, your child will flourish even more having earned your praise and having met established goals.
7. Assess any problems and seek help if necessary
If you see a need for extra attention, consider what type of assistance will most likely benefit your child. He or she may require help in improving study habits or individualized attention to bridge a learning gap. Another option to consider is an enriched curriculum to keep him or her interested and challenged. By seeking solutions now, you can help overcome current problems and prevent them from creating further difficulties for your child.
8. Allow your child to face consequences
If your child has not completed an assignment on time, or has not exercised the self discipline necessary to meet certain goals and objectives, you must let him or her face the consequences. These may include the loss of privileges or even failing a test. This too is part of learning.
Building a foundation
Once good study habits are established, they are easy to maintain. Consistency and discipline are key components. By letting your child know your expectations and the rewards or consequences of his or her efforts, your are providing security and motivation.
A helping hand
If your child follows a good study routine and continues to struggle in school, you may want to consider exploring supplemental education options. Supplemental education services offered by A+ Academic Services include a range of programs to enrich your child's educational experience and to help bridge learning gaps. Skills assessments would be done to pinpoint individual strengths and weaknesses to help teachers and parents better understand why the student is not working to his or her potential. A study skills program with A+ Academic Services would emphasize:
Eight smart steps for parents:
As parents, you want the best education for your children. This includes appropriate curricula and instructional strategies, as well as a positive learning environment. Learning, however, is not automatic. Good studying habits are the key to successful learning, and the path to building effective study skills begins at home.
Study skills include careful listening, accurate interpretation of information, meaningful note-taking, thorough reading of assigned materials, preparing for tests and effective time management. Encouraging good study habits in your child early ensures that he or she will make the most of classroom instruction. Moreover, a good start is self-reinforcing and provides a solid base of skills on which later achievements can build.
Parents can be teachers of study skills. They set expectations for responsible behavior and work quality, and they monitor assignments performed at home. Parents who adopt a consistent routine and foster good study skills habits are also teaching important life skills such as responsibility and persistence.
It is never too late to begin teaching your child effective study habits. Ideally, you should begin at preschool age, giving your child tasks that are age appropriate. This will prepare your preschooler for formal education and provides a sense of belonging.
If your child is older, you may have to modify established behaviors by reinforcing time management awareness. Most important is cooperation from the entire family and commitment from each family member to help maintain a home environment that is conducive to studying and learning.
Following are eight smart steps to guide you in helping your child develop strong study habits for life. Remember that you are your child's first teacher, and that his or her attitude toward learning and responsibility will be positively influenced by your consistent involvement and support.
1. Promote productive study time
Your child should first review all projects and activities assigned in school, then allot the necessary time to complete them. Short 15- to 20-minute periods of study, with a brief break between each, are most productive. Discuss with your child the value of understanding the overall purpose of the assignment, but also how larger assignments might be broken down into a logical series of smaller, more manageable parts.
2. Assist in goal setting
Goals provide motivation and, when achieved, bolster self-confidence and self-esteem. Help your child to set short-, medium-, and long-range objectives. A short-range goal might involve achieving a specific grade on the next test, and long-range goals could include preparing for college or a career. Guide your child in setting realistic, yet challenging, goals.
3. Establish regular review
Your child should review the information learned from assignments on a weekly basis. A regular review provides additional opportunity to reinforce materials and to aid in retention. This process ensures that your child's learning will progress in manageable segments, and that he or she will be able to integrate the details for the daily assignments into a larger picture. The weekly review, which should include a summary of activities and highlights written from memory, also provides a valuable head start on the test preparation.
4. Interact and guide--but don't take over
Your involvement with your child's studying should be more interactive than supervisory. Homework is intended to reinforce class work and should be completed independently. Think of yourself as a coach whose role is to guide the student and help him or her develop critical-thinking skills. Asking directed questions, such as "What do you think needs to be done?" or "How did you arrive at that conclusion?" helps a child become an effective problem solver. You can also help build independence by giving your child the physical space and time necessary to complete assignments. Hovering over your child will hinder his or her motivation to work independently.
5. Emphasize all assignments
If your child is objecting to a homework assignment or complaining that it's busy work, you may want to discuss the problem with the teacher. Be careful, however, not to insulate your child from work just because he or she has a negative opinion of it. It is also important that you not undermine or destroy the teacher's authority. Your child's sense of responsibility will be reinforced by learning to manage situations that he or she may not like -- without your intervention.
6. Monitor and reward progress
Keeping tabs on your child's progress is important and is most effective if you keep discussions general, being careful not to "grill" your student on specifics. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open by talking about upcoming topics, tests, projects and events. Throughout the process, use rewards as needed to reinforce your standards of quality and to keep your child motivated. While success has its own rewards, your child will flourish even more having earned your praise and having met established goals.
7. Assess any problems and seek help if necessary
If you see a need for extra attention, consider what type of assistance will most likely benefit your child. He or she may require help in improving study habits or individualized attention to bridge a learning gap. Another option to consider is an enriched curriculum to keep him or her interested and challenged. By seeking solutions now, you can help overcome current problems and prevent them from creating further difficulties for your child.
8. Allow your child to face consequences
If your child has not completed an assignment on time, or has not exercised the self discipline necessary to meet certain goals and objectives, you must let him or her face the consequences. These may include the loss of privileges or even failing a test. This too is part of learning.
Building a foundation
Once good study habits are established, they are easy to maintain. Consistency and discipline are key components. By letting your child know your expectations and the rewards or consequences of his or her efforts, your are providing security and motivation.
A helping hand
If your child follows a good study routine and continues to struggle in school, you may want to consider exploring supplemental education options. Supplemental education services offered by A+ Academic Services include a range of programs to enrich your child's educational experience and to help bridge learning gaps. Skills assessments would be done to pinpoint individual strengths and weaknesses to help teachers and parents better understand why the student is not working to his or her potential. A study skills program with A+ Academic Services would emphasize:
- time management
- study strategies, organizational skills
- reading techniques
- listening, note-taking, outlining skills
- test-taking strategies
