Plan Ahead: 

• • Dedicate specific (and appropriate) time at home to study. 

  • Picture this: You have a Math quiz on Wednesday, so on Monday and Tuesday night, you spend 15 extra minutes looking through your notes and doing practice problems.

Find a Place:

• • At WMS: Homework Club in the WMS Media Center/Library (Tues, Weds, Thurs until 3:40) 

  • At Home: "Comfort is key to staying focused, but the space shouldn’t be so cozy that it becomes tempting to fall asleep!"

  • Local Libraries: There are public seating options available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Here's the link for Walpole Public Library!

  • Or, you may find a different area! You will discover what works best for you.

Self Assessment: 

• • • Ask yourself: On a scale of 1-10, how would I rate my understanding of this topic?

      • Do you feel like you're a 10? Maybe spend 5 minutes doing extra practice or looking over notes. Do you feel around a 3 or 5? Carve out more time to practice, jot down questions you have for your teacher, and look over your materials in your folder or Google Classroom.

Studying Basic Words and Definitions

• • Use flashcards to study! Flashcards allow you to quiz yourself. You can also create a matching game for words and definitions. 

  • Create an online study game; your teacher may have sent one out to practice at home!

  • Get creative and try new things!

Studying Concepts

• •  All subjects have a Google Classroom. Take time to look over current material. This means:

    • Click through current materials. Spend time re-reading important texts you've already read.  

  • Open up your folder. Did your teacher have you take notes on the topic? Take them out, and create questions to quiz yourself on. You can ask someone to quiz you after school. Keep going until you've gained in accuracy!

  • On paper, create a "mind map" of all the things you remember from the topic. Then, look through your materials, and add what you missed. 

Studying What You're Reading

• • After reading your assigned pages at home, jot down on a sticky note or paper: 

    • What is the big idea of what I read? What are the most important parts? What names and places came up? What was the biggest moment?

  • Your teacher may have you take notes on what you're reading. Open your notebook/folder/online work and look over current material related to your reading. 

How to Grow Through Productive Struggle
Adapted from k12.com

• Practice relaxation techniques: 

  • Deep breathing or stretching can calm the mind and improve focus. Just a few moments of mindfulness during or before studying helps ease tension and boost concentration.

• Handle test anxiety with preparation: 

  • Encourage steady, spaced-out studying to avoid cramming, and remind students to view tests as opportunities to show what they’ve learned. Preparedness builds confidence and reduces nerves.

• Stay active and take breaks: 

  • Short breaks with physical activity, like walking or playing outside, can re-energize students and prevent burnout.

• Develop positive self-talk: 

  • Replacing “I can’t do this” with “I’ll figure it out” builds confidence and resilience, which ultimately helps students tackle challenges with a growth mindset.

• Set small, achievable goals: 

  • Breaking tasks into smaller steps, like studying one section at a time, keeps kids motivated and makes progress feel manageable.