Education: Good Study Skills Help Children Make the Grade

Developing effective study habits are essential for a child's academic success. Typically, children who have good study skills are likely to perform better in the classroom. Conversely, students with weak study skills can become frustrated, waste time and receive low grades.

"Knowing how to study makes learning more enjoyable and leads to greater confidence in the classroom and in everyday life," says Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D. and vice president of education for Sylvan Learning Center. "By focusing on key areas, such as time management, organization, effective note-taking and test-taking strategies, students can see improvements in all aspects of their schoolwork."

The education experts at Sylvan Learning Center recommend the following tips to help students improve their study habits:

* Manage time. Students lead busy lives. Encourage children to estimate the time they will spend on a homework assignment and work efficiently to complete it within that timeframe. Teach them how to break complex activities and projects into smaller tasks.

* Emphasize organization. Organization minimizes late nights completing homework assignments or cramming for tests. For some students, having color-coded binders for each subject helps them stay on track. Work with your children to determine the best method for them.

* Keep a schedule. It should include all classes, assignments and key dates - such as project deadlines and test days - and specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities.

* Learn to take effective class notes. Most students take notes in class, but often when they review them, they can't make sense of the content. Encourage students not to write down every word the teacher says. Instead, they should listen carefully when a teacher elaborates and briefly summarize the main ideas. Then, each night while the material is still fresh, rewrite or summarize the information.

* Develop test-taking strategies. Being well-prepared helps reduce anxiety on exam day. To avoid cramming the evening before an exam, students should begin reviewing the material in the three weeks leading up to the test.

For more tips, visit the "Resources for Parents" section on www.educate.com or call 800-31-SUCCESS.

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