Sharpening Your Child's Study Habits

Sharpening Your Child's Study Habits

Monday, 07 August 2006

Huntington Learning Center, Austin/Pflugerville

There are all sorts of reasons why a child may need tutoring. Maybe a teacher or counselor recommends it. Maybe your child’s grades start to fall. Possibly he or she experiences extreme anxiety before tests and exams. If your child has been acting out, becoming a behavior problem in class or acting reluctant to go to school, tutoring could be the answer.

Many students are locked into what we call a failure chain- a continuing cycle of frustration and failure. These students look at the learning experience as a threat rather than a challenge. Often they deal with this threat by daydreaming, acting out or even tuning out. This behavior goes on in school and at home, affecting the whole family.

To break this failure chain, we carefully build basic skills, boost self-confidence and restore motivation to succeed.

Kumon Math & Reading Center, Pflugerville

Summer is in full swing and that means children are enjoying fun, sun, relaxation and time away from school.

Educators remind parents that giving children the much needed summer vacation from school does not mean taking a break from learning.

Since brain research shows that the pre-frontal cortex of the brain is growing during the first 20 years of a child’s life, a child’s mind should always be nurtured, fueled and exercised.

A goal is for students to assume most, if not all, of the responsibility for their own study. Parental involvement, particularly in the beginning, helps to establish the routine and get the whole process off to a good start.

Always set a regular study time, check that assignments are timed, graded accurately and completed daily. Know what your child is studying and why, and discuss your child’s progress with his or her instructor.

Sylvan Learning, Round Rock

Develop a relationship with your child’s teacher. Take the time to meet your child’s teachers at the beginning of the school year. Teachers can be the best source for information about your child’s scholastic performance and they can recommend ways to help your child or resolve any difficulties he or she is having.

Emphasize organization. For some students, having color-coded binders for each subject helps them stay on track throughout the school year. Keeping notes organized helps test preparation later in the year, so work with your child to determine the best method for him.

Encourage learning at home. Promoting learning outside of the classroom helps children perform better in school. To nurture reading skills spend at least one hour per week – 10 to 15 minutes a day – reading with your child. To enhance math proficiency, try allowing your child to help plan the next family trip and encourage him to compute miles, cost of gas, expenses for food, hotel and entertainment.