November/December 2011-Parent Tip on Study Skills
Beginning in about 4th grade, tests seem to increase exponentially for students. Suddenly, there may be a couple tests a week. One of the keys to helping your son or daughter study successfully is for them to have a quiet place to study. This could be an area in their room, a space on the kitchen table or in a designated study space away from distractions. Once you have that in place for your child/adolescent, below are some other keys to successful studying:
If you have any other questions about study skills or tips for home organization, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor
- Provide a place for your child to put important papers, assignments and long term project directions. This is a great way to make sure those important documents don't end up in recycling.
- Use a planner. Most schools give out planners for students-beginning in about 4th or 5th grade. This is a great resource that is underused and undervalued! Sign off every day (even if you don't need to) for the first few months of school to get you and your child in the habit of planning and discussing work.
- It is important to estimate how long each assignment will take ahead of time. I use a white board at my house to break the assignments down into chunks. "Saturday, finish the book, Sunday-write a rough draft of the summary", etc. One helpful tool to practice time management is an APP called "Time Timer" which shows a visual Red amount that decreases as time elapses. This is helpful in breaking down study sessions or completing assignments. It is well worth the $5 dollars!
- It is important to have good communication with their teachers-especially if there is a question about expectations. A quick email to clarify will go a long way.
- Praise your child for remembering to bring materials home, studying for tests and turning in long term projects. A little encouragement will go a long way.
If you have any other questions about study skills or tips for home organization, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor