Study Skills and Habits for All Ages

Being smart isn’t always enough to help kids succeed in school. Sometimes academic struggles are indicative of an underlying learning struggle. (Yes, even smart kids can have one or more weak cognitive skills that keep them from living up to their full potential.) If you’ve already confirmed through a cognitive skills assessment that your child or teen has strong cognitive skills, it might simply be time for a little structure when it comes to study and prep.

To boost your child’s study skills, you’ll need to take a holistic approach to strengthening the tools that keep them on task and on time when doing homework or studying for a test. Although motivation certainly plays a role, it’s essential to remember that action sparks motivation, not the other way around. Start with these basic tips to prepare your student to fully engage in their studies.

Before your student gets started

1. Ensure that their desk, chair, and computer or books are at the appropriate height. Make sure the chair is comfortable enough to sit in for an extended period of time but not so comfortable that they’ll doze off mid-homework.

2. Take an inventory of what your student might need within arm’s reach in their study space. This could include things like a calculator, protractor, ruler, pens, pencils and erasers, and highlighters, as well as water and a healthy snack to keep them satisfied and focused.

3. Ensure that there are no visual or auditory distractions from technology, family or pets. The space should be well-lit, organized and comfortable in terms of temperature.

Study Skills 

Although you could argue that there are other skills, we’ve chosen eight that are particularly vital, whether you’re in elementary school or college. These skills can be learned and developed through learning skills programs, personal brain training and/or practice:

1. Time management: The process of organizing and planning how to spend time on different activities

2. Stress management: The ability to control one’s level of stress for the purpose of improving function

3. Note taking: The practice of recording information through written records in a way that is organized, detailed and helpful

4. Reading comprehension: The ability to process text, understand its meaning and integrate it with what you already know

5. Active listening: The practice of listening by paying attention, observing verbal and non-verbal communication, and understanding what the teacher/speaker is saying

6. Test taking: A spectrum of skills needed to complete an exam, including memorization, attention, reading or listening to directions, time management, and thoroughness, among others

7. Memorization: The process of committing something to memory and being able to recall it when needed

Good Study Habits

When it comes to studying, building a foundation of good habits can make any task feel less daunting. Implement these good study routines enough and you’ll watch the benefits pour in!

1. Divide up the work over time.

Rather than cramming the night before to study for that big exam, designate shorter increments of time in the days or weeks leading up to the test to study. Repetition and consistency are the key and the better prepared your student is, the less anxious they’ll feel the day of the test.

2. Put studying on the schedule. 

Just as you’d schedule a medical or dental appointment, so too should your student be scheduling time to study—in writing. This will reinforce the plan, allow for the scheduling of other activities, and build a routine to boost productivity and consistency. 

3. Create study-time goals.

To be effective, your student should set goals regarding what they want to accomplish during the designated study time. As much as possible, this goal should be specific (e.g., review pages 100-120) and measurable (e.g., memorize 10 spelling words). This will not only create a sense of accomplishment, but also boost self-confidence in learning.

4. Start with the most difficult subject.

Completing the most difficult task early in a study session can help alleviate stress, build self-confidence, and boost motivation. Encourage your student to think of it like riding a bike up a hill; once the hard part is done you can coast (within reason!) through the easier subjects.

5. Use study buddies and groups.

Paired with the right partner or groups, even the most study-averse student can excel at—and dare we say, ENJOY—studying. Working with others helps students get help from peers, complete assignments faster, and boost self-esteem from a sense of learning, completion and/or helping others. 

If your child struggled with school last year, consider scheduling a Brain Skills Assessment. The test only takes about an hour and can give you insights into which cognitive skills—including attention, memory, visual and auditory processing, logic & reasoning, and processing speed—may be holding them back from living up to their full learning potential. And because these brain skills can be targeted and trained with one-on-one brain training, the results can help you determine the best next steps to get your student on track for the best school year yet!