Today, I will talk about four excellent study techniques that will help your child do better in school this year or at least feel confident taking their exams. The Learning Scientists’ teaching methods are based on many years of research into how the mind works and have been shown to help students study better, remember what they learn, and do their best. In other words, they will help your kid work smarter, not harder.
Seeing your child struggle in school can break your heart as a parent. No matter how hard you try, their grades don’t always show how smart and dedicated. You want them to do well and reach their full potential.
Don’t give up, though. There are tried-and-true ways to help your child do better in school and feel better about themselves.
1. Give yourself some time to learn.
You already know how stressful it can be for your child to stay up late to study for a test. It turns out that it could be more helpful. Spread out your studying over time to get the best results. Tell your child to study for a short time every day before tests. Spreading out their learning will make homework less scary and help them remember things on test day.
Make goals together. Clear goals can help your child focus on what they must do to succeed. Help them devise a plan to reach their goals after setting goals that they can achieve.
Practice obtaining information.
Most students just read over their class notes when they are told to study for a test. However, for the best results, students should work on remembering things on their own. Tell your kid to write or draw down everything they remember about a subject before reviewing their class notes to ensure they got everything right. Simple tools like notes and practice tests (they can even create their own!) can help them remember things.
Studying regularly is essential because that’s how you learn and remember things. Your child should have time to study every day or week, and you should help them make a study plan that works for them.
2. Give a lot of knowledge to big ideas.
It’s easier to understand a big idea when you break it down into smaller parts and see how it fits with other ideas. Talk to your child about how things work and why as they learn about a new subject. Get them to ask questions and look for solutions, or have them make a list of ways that two ideas are alike and different. You can see the big picture when you look at those little things.
Get Organised: A chaotic room makes you think chaotic thoughts. Give your child the tools to stay on top of their work, like a planner, study guides, and a designated study place. Help them stay organised.
Give your child support and praise. Tell them they can ask for help when needed and be there for them when they do. This can be as easy as listening to their worries and letting them know you notice when they do well.
3.To understand abstract ideas.
When a subject seems vague or hard to understand, looking at real-life cases is the best way to get and remember it. You can find examples in your textbook or assemble a list of the ones your teacher gave you in class. Kids can also try to think more independently or with friends. Students should practice not only giving examples but also explaining why each of them is effective. This will help them understand the main idea better.
Give your child’s brain a break. Always tell them to get enough rest and encourage them to take breaks during study sessions so they can return to their work ready to learn.
Utilise technology to your advantage: The internet is a valuable tool that can assist your child in learning and remembering things better. Check out different educational apps, online teachers, and virtual study groups to see which ones your child likes most.
4. Change your mind while you study.
The only thing you do at the gym when you’re trying to build muscle is one exercise at a time, like push-ups. You choose several different workouts and switch between them. The same is valid for learning that works. Let your child choose more than one idea or topic to study. This way, they can go from one to the other between them. Your child can improve their understanding of all the material, build mental muscle, and make links between topics by switching between them while they study.
Use both words and pictures. Words and pictures work best together to help students of all kinds learn. To do well in school, students should stop and use words to describe images they see. When they get to a chunk of text, they should stop and make a picture to go with it, like an infographic, map, or even a comic strip. Putting words and images together will help your child understand what they are learning and remember it later.
Have fun while learning: It’s okay to find school boring. Tell your kid to get involved with their work in fun and exciting ways, like doing projects, playing pretend, or playing games.
Each child is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. Find out what works best for your child by trying different ways to learn, such as hearing, seeing, or touching.
We know that some subjects will be more challenging for some students than others, but these tips can help your child study and do well in any field. Please remember that you’re not the only one having a hard time in that class with your child.
