5 Tips for Students to Experience Success in 2017
The new year is a great time to start or reinstate good study habits. Whether the first half of the school year ended on a high note or was a disappointment for your child, these five tips can help students reach success in 2017.
1. Keep a Calendar
Write down assignments, tests, and paper due dates on a calendar. Whether the calendar is weekly, monthly, or by semester depends on the age of your child. Elementary school children probably only need a week at a time with just a few tasks per day, such as study math flash cards or read two pages. High school students should train themselves to look several weeks ahead at due dates and then work backward to plan out tasks. This helps avoid last-minute cramming and late-night studying.
2. Create a Study Plan
Your student will achieve better grades with a study plan. The first step is to be sure your child understands the expectations. For a test, that means knowing the topics that will be covered and the types of questions included. For a paper, that includes the number of pages, topic, and style instructions for research notes, quotations, etc.
Set small goals for each day leading up to the test or due date. It may be studying for 45 minutes each day for five days before the test, completing half of a slideshow for a project, or writing one section of a paper.
3. Actively Listen in Class
Encourage your child to concentrate when the teacher is presenting material in class. They may need to take notes on the main points and should listen for what the teacher emphasizes as being important. If there is a concept your student doesn’t understand, encourage him to ask questions in class or speak to the teacher after class.
4. Schedule Sleep
Many children don’t get enough sleep, leading to the inability to pay attention and poor performance on tests.
- Children ages 6 to 13 need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night.
- Teens ages 14-17 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night.
Getting the right amount of sleep may require you talking with your child to assess bedtimes and determine the appropriate balance of extracurricular activities.
5. Boost Focus
Be sure your student is free of distractions when studying. While younger students may like to set up a homework place in the family room with the TV and older students often opt to study a coffee shop with friends, discourage both of these practices. Students should find a quiet space, put away their cell phone, and hide or disable distracting apps.
A Supportive Environment
At Northside Christian Academy, you’ll find a supportive environment where teachers encourage student success through one-on-one interaction and mentorship. Request information to learn how Northside can help your student succeed
