How to Succeed in School Without Really Stressing
Who said that growing up was ever easy? When we were “coming of age,” there were at-risk behavior temptations. Teen anxiety and family conflicts over school grades did exist.
With modern technology, multi-tasking increased, and the ability to focus exclusively on homework decreased. This, combined with teen involvement in many activities, has increased adolescent stress and anxiety. It has necessitated the need for more efficient study strategies and “stigma free” mental health assistance.
This article will focus on SPECIFIC STUDY STRATEGIES FOR YOUR CHILD to increase school grades, build self- confidence, and decrease some school stresses and anxiety. The strategies have been effective in my graduate studies, and in working with students in private practice:
1. ORGANIZE:
Closets, desk, school notebooks, and folders. Your study room should have good lighting, and good ventilation. Use a CALENDAR to plan study time. Write date and topic on NOTEBOOK pages. Keep separate subject FOLDERS for past notes, handouts, extra papers. Try color coding folders and index cards by subject. Having AN ORGANIZED STUDY ROOM MAY DECREASE TEEN’S SCHOOL STRESS.
2. WRITE NOTES DAILY:
in each class. Develop SHORT HAND system to write or type quickly. Capture MAIN IDEAS and FACTS .Your notes should include what the teacher writes on the board, and what the teacher says to write. Also, ADD WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT. Notes might highlight a classmates’ presentation, or include corrections to homework problems. PRINT out computer notes. Review and organize all notes. Place in designated folders. GOOD NOTES MAY DECREASE SCHOOL STRESS.
3. BEGIN TO STUDY and MEMORIZE:
A good set of organized, hand written or computer printed notes per subject may give you more confidence as you begin to study. Use a MULTI-SENSORY technique to get the information from your notes into your MEMORY bank. READ , SAY some information aloud, WRITE out what you think difficult. Have some fun: teach or pretend teach the information to someone else! KNOWING A VARIETY OF STUDY TECHNIQUES MAY DECREASE SCHOOL STRESS.
4. CREATE SELF-TESTS:
Become familiar with the type of QUESTIONS your teacher asks: open-ended, multiple choice, etc. CONVERT NOTES INTO TEST. Number and write about five questions per page in margin. Using corresponding numbers, underline answers . Create GAMES using the content of notes. ANTICIPATING TEACHER’S QUESTIONS MAY DECREASE SCHOOL STRESS.
5. CHUNK INFORMATION:
To do well on major tests, DON’T SAVE STUDYING UNTIL NIGHT BEFORE the test. If 10 chapters on the test, review five the first day, five the second day. Make sure you review all 10 on the night before the test. BY CHUNKING INFORMATION which may help you feel less overwhelmed while increasing your ability to retain larger amounts of information, you MAY DECREASE SCHOOL STRESS.
Unlike the newborn’s ability to suck his or her thumb, not every child is born with the ability to organize, and study effectively. However, effective study strategies can be taught and learned. When applied, these strategies may increase the student’s grades, confidence, and decrease school stress, and anxiety.
Questions about your child’s school performance or study skills?
Contact Ronnie Silver, LDTC, Learning Consultant and Study Skills Coach
Adelphi Educational Services silver @adelphitutoring.com, (201)-573-0377