What should studying look like at different ages?

Good study habits are essential for students of all ages, but the way a student “studies” in third grade will be quite different than how they will do so in high school. Yet, it’s important to lay the groundwork early. What should studying look like in elementary school, middle school and high school? Here are a few tips and techniques:  

Elementary school 

Elementary school is where habits are built, and while your student might not have a lot of homework each night or tests to study for (until fourth or fifth grade), it’s important to teach them the concept of setting aside time each night for schoolwork. Here’s what the nightly study routine might look like:  

• Read every night for 30 minutes before bedtime, either independently or aloud (if younger) to a parent or sibling.  

• Spend five minutes after school cleaning out the backpack.  

• Spend five minutes each evening going through the planner or homework folder to review any nightly assignments due, upcoming homework due dates or test dates, or other important information.  

• Review any graded homework or tests every night with a parent to go over missed questions or trouble spots.  

• Study/do homework in a designated spot that is away from distractions like the TV or main family gathering area.  

• Use flash cards for typical quizzes and tests that occur in elementary school (such as letters, sight words, math facts and spelling words). Study consistently each night for a few minutes (rather than for an hour the night before the spelling test).   

Again, studying in elementary school is mostly about setting up good routines and habits and staying organized. While your child might need to study sometimes, the goal at this age is to develop consistency and discipline and make school a household priority.  

Middle school  

In middle school, your child will have as many as eight different teachers with their own expectations. It’s a lot more to keep track of and requires organization and good techniques. Here’s what the nightly study routine might look like at this age:  

• Review the planner or planner app every afternoon/evening before starting homework to prioritize assignments. For example, a student might have a math assignment due and an English quiz the next day, plus a bigger project due the following Monday. It’s important that your child become adept at prioritizing assignments so they can use their time wisely.  

• Update the planner each night after completing work to ensure nothing was missed.  

• Review notes taken in class for any new concepts covered (to improve retention).  

• Review notes for any upcoming quizzes or tests. 

• Spend a few minutes each evening tidying subject binders and filing away graded homework at home (if it is no longer needed in the binder).  

• Plan ahead for projects and tests to minimize cramming and procrastination. If a test is in two weeks, your child should block out time in their planner for studying several times before then.  

• Check the school learning management platform for any teacher updates and to ensure all schoolwork is handed in.  

• Have a consistent routine for doing homework and studying. For some, that might be the hour immediately after getting home. For others, it might be after sports practice and dinner. Consistency is the key.  

High school  

In high school, studying is simply part of the nightly routine, so the keys to your student’s success are to stay organized, develop a routine and embrace good time management. Nightly studying will involve:  

• Reviewing the planner and prioritizing subjects before starting homework.  

• Reading any notes and assigned textbook chapters.  

• Updating any notes as needed.  

• Checking the school learning management platform for teacher communication, new assignment due dates, and upcoming tests, and to check grades and missing assignments.  

• Updating the planner (digital or paper version) with anything new on the horizon (e.g., tests or project due dates).  

• Blocking out time in the planner for all obligations: school hours, sports practices and other activities, work, etc.  

• Tidying and organizing any school binders and any home filing system.  

• Planning ahead for upcoming priorities and goals. If your student’s school is on a block schedule, they should prioritize the next day’s classes.  

• Collaborating with classmates to go over homework assignments or discuss any team projects.  

• Reaching out to teachers when confused or needing help.  

At this age, nightly homework has the purpose of preparing your student for upcoming assessments in the form of quizzes and tests. Teachers will often give students study guides to help them prepare for tests, but it’s up to students to stay up to date on everything and keep up with class work. In other words, keeping up with those weekly math assignments (even if they don’t count for a grade) is an important part of the study strategy for the class. Your student shouldn’t wait until test time to hit the books. Studying should be consistent.  

You might also find your high school student using a variety of study tools and apps that weren’t around when you were their age. Today’s students have many digital tools at their disposal—from flashcard apps to online study resources, from videos on a wide range of lessons to note-taking tools that can share notes among classmates.