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Learning good study skills is one of the most important lessons your
child can learn. Again and again, I talk with parents of children who have
done very well in elementary school and get to sixth or seventh grade and
their grades take a nosedive. Often the problem is that the children never
really had to study to do well. Paying attention in class, doing the
homework and being a good speller had been enough!
In the upper schools, this all changes. Notes have to be taken and
reviewed, essays have to be prepared and written and mere memorization is not
enough to be successful.
What can you, as a parent, do to help? First begin a study routine
early on. Make sure that you set up a place for your child to do homework
and have all the necessary school supplies and books available. The kitchen
or dining room table is a great spot for some families, but others might
prefer to be at a desk in the child's room.
The time for doing homework, in my opinion, is negotiable. Some kids
do better after a break from school, while others like to start immediately.
Make sure that you emphasize that the homework takes priority over other
after school activities and try not to wait until after sports practices and
dinner. By that time, the younger ones are exhausted.
Start by checking the agenda and double check on the teacher's website
if necessary. Often kids omit things from the agenda. Help your child
decide what to do first. Starting with the hardest subject can be useful for
many, but for others getting the easiest out of the way is a good method.
Make sure that you are available to answer questions and check the
homework, but let your child "own" the responsibility, not you. It is
his/her job to put it in the backpack and hand it in at school.
Another good idea is to get a calendar that has all the assignments
posted so that as a family you can prioritize all that needs to get done and
there are no surprises on Sunday night about a project that is due on Monday!
Help your child learn how to break a big job down in to manageable pieces.
Even if your child says they have no homework, insist on a quiet
study time and encourage them to read, read, read.
In the upper grades, there are very frequent tests. The material
covered is very clearly spelled out. If there is a review sheet, your child
should use it as a guide. Notecards for vocabulary test are very useful.
Reviewing every subject for a few minutes each night is much better than
doing it all the night before the test.
Make sure to keep all old tests in a central spot so that they can
be reviewed before exams.
These are just general guidelines that I'm sure you are already
doing. If you have particular concerns, please call the teacher, Mrs. Ligon
or myself for additional help.
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