Author: Vikki Carrel, CALT
Practical study skills are critical to success in school and college. Learning can be extremely gratifying, but it takes hard work. Students are constantly trying to improve their study skills because good grades will impact their future. Unfortunately, many students do not enjoy school because studying may not come naturally, and it requires self-discipline.
Parents are constantly looking for ways to improve their teen’s study habits. Below you will find 6 ideas to share with your teen that may help them reach their academic potential and succeed in school.
First, it is important that you understand there are unique learning styles. It is critical to understand which style works best for the student.
- Visual learners utilize visual images because they think in pictures.
- Auditory learners specialize in hearing information but may struggle to recall written information. They prefer learning through sound or music.
- Kinesthetic (tactile) learners prefer an active, hands-on approach to learning. This is because they learn best when using the sense of touch.
- Logical learners use reasoning.
- Verbal learners do their best learning using words through speech and writing.
- Social learners thrive in a social setting learning environment.
- Solitary learners learn best when alone.
Having an idea of the type of learner that your teen is will help you with your direction when sharing these tips. Six step to share with the student:
1. Set up a schedule for studying. Avoid cramming.
- It is essential that you allocate definite times in your schedule to study.
- Review your various obligations (work, chores, activities, etc.) and figure out in advance when you can study. Schedule study time.
- Keep in mind that you need to be alert and awake, therefore be realistic about how long you can study. No longer than 90 minutes is best.
- Allow time for breaks. A break can be energizing and revive a loss of concentration.
- Write down the schedule that works and stick to it.
- Cramming is an effective study strategy for most students.
2. Study where you can concentrate. Minimize distractions.
- Avoid social media and put away cell phones.
- Find a location to study where distractions are minimal.
- Set yourself up for success turn off other distractions such as television before starting to studying. Do not depend on willpower to carry you through such distractions.
3. Reward your studying.
- Take breaks during long periods of studying and reward yourself with a snack, a TV show, or texting a friend.
4. Improve your reading comprehension.
- Preview chapters section by section.
- Stay actively involved and focused.
- Identify the key points and supporting details of each section within a chapter.
- Review the critical points at the end of each chapter.
5. Highlighting – effective or ineffective?
- Highlighting is not very effective because it is a passive activity. It does not engage the brain.
- Do not turn your reading material into a coloring book by running your marker through sentences here and there.
- Highlight only the main ideas, key supporting details, and technical terms.
6. Use various areas of your brain.
- One way to store memory in more locations of your brain is by reading and then writing out notes. This makes your brain interpret the information you have just read.
- By using other areas of your brain, you can store memory in more locations that enhance recall.
Better grades rely on better study skills, and it’s vital to understand that constructive study habits depend on two key factors; isolating the content that needs to be learned and applying strategies to recall critical information.
Monitoring stress levels is also vital and will ensure better results for students. Practical study skills are one of the aspects of learning that guarantees better grades and better retention of learning materials.
Author: Vikki Carrel, CALT
Vicki Carroll is a multi-book author and an academic language therapist she has spent over 3 decades empowering kids teens and adults of all ages. As an educational language therapist, she offers students specialize in comprehensive approach to rebuilding their learning curriculum. Her specialty is working with kids that need support with executive functions.
