Effective Studying

As a teacher, you spend countless hours thinking about your students and the impact you have on their lives once they leave the classroom. Being an educator is about more than teaching the specific subject matter, it’s also about leading by example and motivating your students to be a better version of themselves. Now that’s a tall order!

One of the ways educators can make a positive impression on their students is by equipping them with studying techniques that they can apply long after passing a grade or even graduating from high school. As students grow up, enter college, and move into the working world, their ability to focus and learn will continue to be an invaluable tool. From tackling home do-it-yourself projects, to advancing in the workplace, to someday passing on these valuable skills and lessons to a future generation, good study habits are a positive asset for any young person to develop.

There are 5 tips for effective studying that you can pass on to your students:

1. Pay attention to how you learn best.

Make sure your kids understand that everyone has unique learning needs, and that they should adapt their approach based on what works best for them. Do they learn best with visuals or by reading lengthy study material? And don’t underestimate the effectiveness of flash cards–they work for all types of subject matter and for students of all ages!

2. Get help when you need it.

If students have a hard time studying no matter what they try, encourage them to ask for help. They have a variety of resources available to help them find their groove, including everyone from teachers, to parents, to professional tutors.

3. Limit your distractions.

Today, more than ever, it is all too easy for students to be distracted while trying to focus on academic work. Talk to them about limiting distractions. They should put their cell phone away, turn off the TV, and find a quiet spot where they can focus on schoolwork.

4. Don’t wait ‘til the last minute.

Research has shown time and time again that students perform much better when they study material over a period of time as opposed to “cramming” just before an exam or other academic milestone. Students can significantly lessen stress, increase their confidence going into a test, and perform much better if they set aside smaller amounts of time over multiple days or weeks versus studying for hours the night before an exam.

5. Set goals–big and small.

Students develop important self-management skills and do better when they set intermittent goals over a longer period of time. For example, if a student wants to get a score of 90 or higher on a final exam, he or she should set a series of study goals leading up to the exam date. They could be things like “studying for one hour every day for a week” and “completing the practice exam at the end of the text book.”

Learning to be a “good studier” is about more than passing grade levels and doing well on exams. As your students grow into young adults they’ll use these skills to become more productive citizens. Hopefully these tips will motivate you and your students in the new school year!

Dusty Fox is a full-time world traveler and freelance writer who contributes to the WiseIvy network. Visit the Ivy Trainers website to learn more about the services they offer.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are that of the author and do not necessarily represent that of the website sponsor AskteacherZ. Permission to write this guest blog post is provided by AskteacherZ.