To ensure that your kids get the most out of study time, they must be organized. Doing so can lead to better habits and overall improved learning and retention. Check out our tips to help your student.
No matter if your student is in grade school, high school or college, they need to study. Most kids get homework starting at a young age, and a dedicated study space gives them what they need to read and complete assignments.
When you have an organized study location, your kids and you know where to go to get their work done. The pencils, paper, computer — everything they need to get homework done — are all conveniently located for them. Good study habits begin with the proper environment.
CREATING BETTER STUDY HABITS
Set up a study location
Give your child(ren) a place where they can study. It should be a designated area be it a desk or other location in your home.
This should include the items they need including pencils, papers, pens, proper lighting — or anything else they will need to complete their work.
It is a great place to keep the laptop or computer and tablets. The kids can access these devices in a safe location, where parents can monitor their online activity.
Schedule time on your calendar
It may seem that your student knows when to study, but by putting this on their calendar, it shows that it is a priority.
Older kids may have a phone or tablet with contacts and a calendar filled with school activities. Have set up ample time to complete their studies.
If your child is younger, add this to your family calendar so that it is visible. He or she will know when it is time to study and when they just get to hang out or play with friends or video games.
Make sure that you adhere to the study schedule. It should not interfere with practices or other events. It should be followed….even if that day they do not have much studying to do. When you make studying a priority, your kids will too.
Make a list
As your student learns that they need to study for a test or if they are struggling in an area, have them write it down. That way, when it is time to study, he or she will know where to focus time so that they get the most of the study session.
Help younger children with this as well. Rotate the study sessions to include the various topics they need to cover in school – even if it entails just reading a book to you.
Best of all, as they complete a task, they can mark it off as done. That checkmark can be liberating!!
Use your alarm
When you start your study session, make sure you send a start and end time so that your child doesn’t overwork his or her brain. Also, it can be helpful to take a break just so so your child can clear his or her mind and doesn’t spend too much time sitting. If they sit too long without taking time away, it can be counterproductive.
Develop systems
Being organized with homework and papers is not a responsibility that should fall on a parent’s shoulders. Of course, when kids are younger, parents must take care of this. However, as kids grow up, they must learn to be responsible for their studies.
A simple way to help them is to have a designated homework binder or folder in their backpack. When at school, they can add papers and homework so they can find them when they get home. That way, they not only have what they need to work on, but can quickly find it and then have a way to get it back to school.
You may also want to get them a planner to keep track of projects. They can add the date that the assignments are due and refer to it to keep track of due dates.
Find the system that works for you and your kids to ensure their work is done timely.
