Study Habits

If a student works to improve study habits, that child’s school years will be satisfying and effective. School becomes less stressful for the child, the parent, and the teacher.

  1. Studying is basically thinking. Be sure that the child has a quiet place to study, one with no or few distractions. This means no TV, phone calls, texting, or other children playing nearby. One hour of good studying is better than 2 hours of distracted studying.
  2. Be sure the child knows clearly what material he has to study. An assignment notebook is very important when the assignment information is not available online. A student should have a reliable friend to call if necessary.
  3. Help the child determine the amount of time needed to do a good job, and then determine the best time to do it. Some children need breaks; others prefer one sitting. Avoid last minute studying; this is often the reason children do not study well—the chosen time is too late, they are too tired, and/or not enough time was allotted to do a good job.
  4. If a child cannot decode the words in the text fluently, that problem must be solved by appropriate intervention. While the decoding/fluency problem is being addressed, the child will need someone to read the text to him or her so that adequate meaning can be derived. Sending a child to his or her bedroom to study a text (s)he cannot read is ridiculous.
  5. Many teachers in many schools assume that a child knows how to study. Sometimes they provide study guides, but rarely are children taught an effective study method which they can use across the curriculum. It is worth the time and effort to teach such a method.
  6. There are many effective study plans or methods. We prefer an “oldie but goodie,” the SQ3R Study Method, devised by F. P. Robinson in 1970. It is still popular today in many tutoring sites.
       S= Survey
       Q= Question
       R=Reading
       R= Recite
       R=Review
  7. Our Study Habits Self-Help Test might also be helpful, and our FREE Homework Tip also provides valuable information.

Parents and teachers need to be proactive in guiding study habits of students.

 

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