Effective Study Skills GWA Counselor Chats November 15, 2018

Start good habits early on Elementary School Start good habits early on Ease into more responsibility & independence This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

Elementary School Designate a work space Limit distractions like TV, toys, and devices This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Elementary School Develop an afterschool routine Include brief brain breaks, snack time, and extracurricular activities Make a daily homework to do list

Elementary School Check the class blog! Check the agenda Keep a calendar posted with assignment deadlines & goals This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Elementary School Keep it organized Backpack/supplies Binders/Class notes Homework folder Digital files This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.

Elementary School Kids should be kids Keep the stress level down Reach out to the teacher if you have major concerns  This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Middle School Work towards understanding rather than memorizing Have your student verbally explain what he/she is learning Encourage your student to meet with the teacher when he/she does not understand a concept or skill Use graphic organizers to help your student visualize information. Word pictures/show connections and patterns of information https://worksheets.edhelper.com/teachers/graphic_organizers.htm

Graphic Organizers Venn Diagrams Spider webs KWL Charts Flow charts Cause/Effect This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

High School Work smarter, not harder. A little everyday goes a long way. Chunking – break up subject matter over days prior to a test. Allows time to approach teacher for clarification and builds confident. Cramming – not effective and stressful.  Know how your students learn and utilize methods that tie to their strengths.  Go to the source – teachers are available for help after school everyday.  Don't forget to learn. 

10 Highly Effective Study Habits 1. How you approach studying matters. 2. Where you study is important. 3. Bring everything you need, nothing you don't. 4. Outline and rewrite your notes. 5. Use memory games (mnemonic devices). 6. Practice by yourself or with a small group.  7. Make a schedule you can stick to.  8. Take breaks (and rewards!).  9. Keep healthy & balanced.  10. Know what the expectations are for the class.  Source: 10 High Effective Study Habits John M. Grohol, Psy.D. https://psychcentral.com

Establishing a Routine at Home Make a plan together Plan backwards What are the non-negotiables? Have a visible calendar that everyone can refer to. Get ahead just in case Break studying into chunks with breaks in between Take time to unwind Tell me, teach me Even with 8-10 year olds, your routine will have more buy-in if you make it together. Schedules should be created so that the study times are consistent each day, which will help create positive study habits. Schedule study time in a location that has minimal distractions or interruptions. Plan Backwards – Remember our Chat about sleep? Decide on an appropriate bed time and plan back from that.  For older students that get more involved assignments, plan back from the due date and break the assignment up into smaller tasks. For example, on Day 1 go over an assignment's directions and make sure you understand them. Sleep is a non-negotiable, what else? Dinner? Chores? Other commitments? Can't fit them all in? Maybe your child is over scheduled? Make your calendar together, then refer to it to support and remind. Place the calendar or printed schedule in a visible location so that it is easy to see and follow. When writing dates on a physical calendar, use a pencil so that it is easy to make changes if needed or use a white board. Don't create a schedule that is overly rigid or that isn't flexible enough to accommodate emergencies or conflicts that may arise. Look for ways to get ahead when you can, so you can respond to unexpected situations or be spontaneous. We tend to remember beginnings and endings, so break up studying in order to have more beginnings and more endings. Study one course at a time. Have an activity that is different from school that your child do when he\she gets home.  Do something relaxing just before bed time. You might not be able to help with their Physics, but you child could explain their latest lesson to you. If they can explain, they probably understand it. You could read the same book as your child is reading and discuss it together – Start a Family Book Club!

Resources www.understood.org www.ldonline.org www.scholastic.com/parents www.khanacademy.org