How to Create Good Study Habits
How can I help my child study better? Any student can develop strong study skills. Here are a few tips for parents and students to utilize.
One of the most common inquiries I receive as an educational consultant is how can I help my child study better? In high school, life revolves around grades and it’s hard to earn all A’s. Some students excel at each assignment or test, earning high marks for their work. These students may not be smarter than any other student – their results may be the result of their good study habits. Any student can develop strong study skills. Here are a few tips for parents and students to utilize:
Do the difficult tasks first. Does your student dread having something on their calendar? Starting with that task first can help them use their brain power while it's still fresh and easier to stay focused.
Reward progress. A great way to learn good habits is by rewarding accomplishments – all accomplishments. Finished an assignment? Studied for an hour? Rewarding these wins can make a big impact. A reward could be watching a short tv show or part of one, listening to music or checking out YouTube.
Set priorities. With virtual learning, teens have found a new freedom in terms of managing their own schedules. Use that to your advantage. Encourage your student to set up blocks of time and put it on their calendar to tackle the work. Pick times that they are most productive and that will help them be successful.
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Remove Distractions. Shut the tv off, silence the cell phone and put it on the other side of the room/in a drawer. Find a quiet place.
Make a game plan. For this, think of buying a planner or using an online scheduling tool. Help your students carve out time for homework, extracurricular activities, and sleep. Many times, we live by our calendars so this will be good practice for the future.
Use every possible minute. This doesn't mean you need to be working every minute of every day. There is often time wasted between scheduled events as we wait for things to start. You will be pleasantly surprised what can be done in just a few minutes. So, use that time wisely! Here are some ideas:
o 5 minutes - plan out the day, stretch after sitting for a long time, meditate, organize - notes, desk, or room.
o 15 minutes - make a call, answer, or write an email, delete junk mail so it doesn’t pile up, study, or read something for school, take a walk or meditate.
o 30 minutes - exercise, take a nap, read a short assignment or chapter, research a college, meet with your teacher or counselor, study with a friend.
Remember, it takes 21 continuous days of doing something to make it a habit. Start creating your schedules now and apply it to your everyday life.
Gail Nichols, Independent College Consultant for over 12 years. Helping students to find their college is my passion.
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