The following are specific study skills and tutoring strategies that may help your child with a particular class or type of assignment.
- Flash Cards
Flash cards are great study skill used for learning vocabulary words. Have your child write the word on one side of an index card and the definition on the flip side. These are great for English assignments. They are easy to carry around and learning occurs while creating them. Keep the old flash cards in a shoebox for the remainder of the school year in case the material will be covered later on a final exam. - Math
The best way to study for math tests is to create a review sheet of formulas, terms and other necessary information. Then, have your child perform practice problems, over and over, until they can be completed without mistakes. You can also create practice tests for your child. There are also web sites available like Math Problem Solving that can help you with specific strategies and tutoring information. - Geography
Print out blank maps and fill in the required information. Flash cards also work well for learning capitals and states. - Quizzes and Exams
Multiple-choice tests confuse many children, especially those with learning disabilities. If your child is really struggling with the format, ask the teacher if they are willing to offer an alternative exam that uses short answer or essay. If your child is studying for a multiple-choice exam, it is best if they think about the answer before looking at all the choices. This helps avoid confusion. Then, have them eliminate the choices that they know are false. Then, choose the one that correlates most with the answer that they first came up with. They shouldn’t spend more than 30 seconds on a question. They should answer the ones they know first and then if there is time, go back and work on the ones that were confusing or difficult. - Writing Assignments
Many students struggle with writing, especially with how to get started. Ask their English teacher if they have an essay outline or template that they use. If not, you can create on your own. An outline assists your child by having them fill in the blanks with short answers. This helps them to see the logical flow of the essay. - Reading Assignments:
Help your child understand the value of being an active reader. If allowed, have them use a highlighter to focus on main themes and storylines. They should take notes as they read, either on sticky notes in the margin of the book or on plain paper in their binder. Ask your child to tell you about the story and ask them questions about what they read. It's important that children read for pleasure. Reading increases our knowledge of the world, our vocabulary and our ability to remember things. The more children read, the better their comprehension becomes. The critical reading skills required in high school are not something kids are born with. These skills develop as you read to your child and through continued reading as they get older.