By Mark Kance, M.A.T.
Developing effective study habits are essential for a child’s academic success. Typically, children who have good study skills are likely to perform better in the classroom. Students with weak study skills can become frustrated, waste time and often receive low grades.
“Knowing how to study makes learning more enjoyable and leads to greater confidence in the classroom and in everyday life,” says Mark Kance, M.A.T., Executive Director of the Sylvan Learning of Hamilton.
“By focusing on key areas, such as time management, organization, effective note-taking and test-taking strategies, students can see improvements in all aspects of their schoolwork.”
The education experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students in grades K-12 & college, recommend the following tips to help students improve the study habits of students:
• Manage time. Students lead busy lives. It’s never too early to learn how to use their time wisely. Encourage children to estimate the time they will spend on a homework assignment and work efficiently to complete it within that timeframe. Teach your child to break complex activities and projects into smaller tasks. Then, establish a timeframe for completion.
• Emphasize organization. For some students, having color-coded binders for each subject helps them stay on track throughout the school year. Keeping class materials organized helps test preparation, so work with your child to determine the best method for him. Organization minimizes late nights completing homework assignments, cramming for tests at the last minute and can ultimately reduce student anxiety concerning school.
• Keep a schedule. Your child should keep a schedule of all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. As part of that schedule, she should include specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more efficient your child will become.
• Take effective class notes. Most students take notes in class, but often when they review them, they can’t make sense of the content. Encourage students not to write down every word the teacher says. Instead, tell them to listen carefully when a teacher elaborates and briefly summarize the main ideas. Then, each night while the material is still fresh, the student should rewrite or summarize the material.
• Develop test-taking strategies. Being well prepared for a quiz or test helps reduce the student’s anxiety on exam day. Build confidence and tell students to avoid cramming the evening before an exam by reviewing test material in the three weeks leading up to the test.
Visit www.SylvanLearning.com or call 800-EDUCATE.
