4 ways to improve study time

It takes effort and persistence to be a good student, and one of the hardest parts is learning how to consistently embrace good study habits. Younger students who learn how to study smarter will be well equipped to handle the increased workload for multiple classes as they move into middle and high school. 

To be most effective, study time should be efficient, focused and organized. If you think your child’s study sessions could be better, here are four tips to help:  

Study with a plan. Studying without a plan can easily lead to procrastination and wasted time. Your child should get into the habit of planning out what to study and for how long every single day. A planner will come in very useful here—have your child get one and use it to record daily homework assignments, upcoming test and project dates, and other activities (such as extracurricular activities or work). At the start of homework time each day, your child should review assignments due the next day and look ahead at the rest of the week for any upcoming project deadlines, quizzes or exams. Your child can then prioritize all tasks and dive in.  

Get “in the zone.” Studying when feeling disengaged isn’t as effective as studying when focused and ready to work. You can help your child by talking about when they feel the most alert and motivated and planning to study at that time whenever possible. Without question, there will be times when your child just isn’t feeling it. The key is to get into the studying mindset prior to starting on a pre-defined list of priorities and minimize any distractions. A concentrated 30-minute study session is much better than one hour of partly distracted, unenthusiastic work.  

Stop and self-check often. Regular summarizing and self-testing help solidify knowledge. If your child has a lot of reading to do, encourage them to preview the text before reading, jot down main points while reading, and stop every few pages to summarize what they just learned. If it’s a problem-solving subject like math, have them do any practice problems or self-check quizzes in the text or workbook along the way too.  

Aim for consistency. Regular studying of a topic helps it stick, making those exam study sessions much easier and less stressful. While homework is generally assigned to reinforce class teachings, it’s always a good idea for middle and high school students to spend time each evening reviewing any class notes, even if just for a few minutes. A student who spends 20 minutes each evening completing homework and reading and reviewing concepts covered in class for two weeks will be far better prepared than the one who only does homework but pulls an all-nighter study session the night before a test.  

When it comes to learning, the way your child studies is just as important as how often they study, if not more. If your child seems to struggle with getting started or you notice that their time or effort is not translating into positive results, call Huntington. We’ll work with your child to develop good habits that ensure study time always results in learning.