Study Habits Take Work
Follow
By VANESSA W. SNYDER
Go study. Just study. All you need to do is study. Good grades don’t just happen, you have to study.
If I had a dime for every time I uttered some version of those words to a student or my own children, I’d have a nice little slush fund. The reality is most kids are not born with a study gene.
I hate to admit that I’m having a bit of an epiphany.
How many of us can say someone actually taught us how to study? I’m thinking back on my childhood and I’m sure no one took the time to show me how to study my schoolwork. Thankfully, I wanted to be a good student and I did decent in school. I did the best I could with what I knew. But now, I wonder how much better I would’ve done as a student if someone taught me how to study.
I had this revelation recently after helping my daughter study biology and French. Previously she had been studying on her own. After seeing less than favorable results, I decided to get more involved. We made flashcards, took notes and identified key information from her textbooks. I drilled her on the information and the outcome was much better. She learned the benefits of really studying and I learned the importance of teaching her study habits and supporting her.
Even in my classroom, I implement study skills into instruction because I realize students don’t necessarily arrive in my room with the ability to study new material. Many times, students really put forth the effort to study but don’t know where to begin.
Parents, you can help in this effort. If your children are struggling, show them what it means to really study. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some tips to get you started:
*Review tests/quiz dates with your child so you can begin studying early (and relieve stress).
*Break up your study sessions over a period of time (the reason for starting early).
*Help your children organize their study material, previewing textbooks, notes, handouts.
*Assist your children in picking out key information in chapters.
*Create practice questions and drill your children.
*Teach your children mnemonic devices (tricks to help them remember).
*Use a song if that’s your children’s learning style.
*Use highlighters, flashcards, visuals, manipulatives to assist the study process.
*Work in a quiet, comfortable area.
