1. Make Organization a Priority
An organized child can study more efficiently. Teach your child organizational skills and prepare him for school at the beginning of each term. A trip to the office supplies store will yield notebooks, binders, dividers, folders and other study aids such as highlighters and flash cards. Sit down with a younger child and help him to create a binder that is separated by subject and that has a place for different materials, including homework assignments, tests and handouts. Set up an organized work space for your child to use for school work. Let him do most of the work while you provide guidance. As he gets older, he should be able to organize his own school supplies and work space without help.
2. Set Up an After-School Schedule
Forming an after-school routine will help your child learn to complete his homework and school projects on time. Let your child's needs dictate the best times to work. If your child has after-school activities, for example, homework time might come after dinner. As your child advances through the grades, more time will be needed for homework. Ask your child's teachers how much time should be allotted each night.
Once you have a set schedule, display it in a prominent place. Remind your child when it is study time, and be consistent in seeing that it is observed. It's helpful if you can get all of the children in a household on the same schedule so that everyone works at the same time. Encourage your child to review notes from the day if he finishes his homework early. Save fun incentives, such as watching television or playing video games, for after study time. This teaches a valuable lesson about work coming before play.
3. Teach Studying Tips
While some children may naturally develop study habits that keep them at the top of the class, others need more instruction. Don't assume that your child knows how to take notes. Go over the notes and see how useful they are. Teach your child how to use an outline to organize notes under relevant themes and topics. Show him how to take notes from a book, highlight important passages in the text and make notes in the margins. Start simply by having your child fill out a book report form or answer short questions that demand concise answers. This teaches a child to identify key information and take succinct notes.
Learning how to study for a test is a valuable skill that must be taught. At first, you should sit down with your child and go over the relevant notes. Make a test prep sheet or use flash cards with key terms and concepts that must be memorized together. Explain that rewriting the material enhances memorization and that using test prep aids make drilling more efficient. Eventually, your child should be able to make her own test prep aids.
4. Model Good Work Habits
Teaching good study habits should also be done by example. Keeping your personal work space organized will encourage your child to do the same. Avoiding procrastination also provides a good example for your child to follow. If the rule is no television until the work is done, you should live by it, too.
