Study Smarts

From a history test at the end of each month to a spelling quiz every Friday, studying is a skill students will need throughout their years of school.  Help your child study with these tips:

1. Start a habit.  Encourage your child to treat studying as a daily assignment, not just something he does every evening before a test.  For example, he might study 15 minutes every night for a spelling test on Friday.  After he finishes his regular homework, he can spend a little time reviewing his notes and handouts. 

2. Tackle textbooks.  When your child has a chapter to study, have her "preview" it to increase her understanding.  She should glance over headings, graphics, and photos and go to the glossary to look up boldfaced words.  Tip:  If she finds a section hard to grasp, she could read a picture book on the topic.  For a science unit on matter, for instance, he could try What Is the World Made Of? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld.  

3. Mix it up.  If your child reviews information in several ways, he'll be more likely to remember it.  He might use colored pencils to copy each spelling word or math fact onto a separate index card.  Then, he can shuffle the cards and study them in a different order each time.  For extra reinforcement, suggest that he spell each word or recite each fact aloud.