Tips For
Knowing Your
Child’s Study
Habits
Turn off the TV set
Make it a house rule “TV OFF”
It is study time, it is “NOT TV" time.
A television set that is on will draw teenagers
like bees to honey.
What about the radio?
Should it be on or off?
Contrary to what some say, some teenagers do
seem to function all right with the radio turned
on to their favorite music station.
Designate specific areas for
homework and studying.
Possibilities include the child's room or the kitchen or dining room table. Eliminate as much distraction as possible.
Encourage the use of a small books or pads for writing down assignments so that there is no confusion about when certain assignments must be turned in to the teacher.
Designate specific areas for
homework and studying.
Keeping general supplies on hand is important. Check with your teenager about his/her needs. In fact, make it his/her responsibility to be well supplied with paper, pencils, note pads, notebook paper, etc.
Getting them organized will save them valuable time.
Regularity is a key factor in
academic success.
Try to organize the household so that dinner is
served at a standard time, and once dinner and
family discussions are over, it's time to crack
open the books.
If the student doesn't have other commitments
and gets home reasonably early from school,
some homework can be done before dinner.
You Study Too!
Set a good example for your teenager.
Start a project of personal study, complete with
writing projects and reading assignments, so
you can participate in study time along with
your student.
Let your kids see that you are serious about
learning new things. Show them what a
privilege it is to learn for the sake of learning.
Teach your child that studying is more
than just doing homework assignments.
Encourage your child to do things like:
Take notes as he/she is reading a chapter
Skim the material
Study tables and charts
Summarize what he/she has read in their own words
Make his/her own flashcards for quick review of
dates, formulas and spelling words.
Time is of the Essence
Show your child how to use a planner.
Teach them to write down assignments the moment they are given at school and to transfer them to a dry erase board as soon as they arrive home.
Don't assume your child will understand the importance of an assignment pad. Walk them through the process every day until they're doing it on their own and then check in a couple of times a week.
Time is of the Essence
If they have trouble, ask their teacher to help
by initialing the assignments in the pad. This
won't take more than thirty seconds.
Time management is a critical life skill that
should not be taken for granted!!
Help your child to feel confident for
tests
Taking tests can be a traumatic experience for some students. Explain to your child that burning the midnight oil (cramming) the night before a test is not productive.
Better to get a good night's sleep.
Students also need reminding that when taking a test, they should thoroughly and carefully read the directions.
Cont’d
They should be advised to skip over questions
for which they don't know the answers. They
can always return to those if there's time.
Good advice for any student before taking a
test: take a deep breath, relax, and dive in.
Always bring an extra pencil just in case.
Should parents help with
homework?
Yes-if it is clearly productive to do so, such as
calling out spelling words or checking a math
problem.
No-if it is something that he/she can clearly
handle himself and learn from the process.
Help and support should always be calmly and
cheerfully given.
How best to handle report cards?
To save shocks and upsets, gently discuss from time to time "how things are going at school- with your child. Something casual, such as
"How did the math test go?"
"How did you do on the history report?"
"How's your science project coming along?
Need any help?"
are questions that aren't "third degree" but indicate interest.
Recap
Maintaining direct involvement in your child's education is crucial to his/her academic success.
The ability to plan, organize and manage time will benefit your child in every area of his/her life.
The demands of the classroom are an opportunity to foster those abilities.
Create a home environment where good study habits are primary and appreciated.
Your child will develop vital skills and confidence they will need to face the challenges of life in the classroom and beyond.