5 Essential Study Tips for Back to School

Back to school time is here, and some students may struggle with the transition from summer to school. Here are our 5 top study tips that can make all the difference.

1. Make the time. If you’ve already got a full plate, finding room for study time is going to be a challenge. But in order to get the most out of school, you’re going to have to take the time to reinforce what you learn in class. Take a look at your schedule and identify times that afford you the opportunity to be focused, quiet and solitary. Those times should be seen as prime study opportunities. You might have to shuffle some things around to make this possible, but it should be at the top of your priority list. If you don’t study (and do homework), you aren’t taking full advantage of the educational opportunities you’re paying for.

2. Schedule everything. Make sure you include your school schedule in the same appointment book, calendar, app or list that you keep all your other important dates squared away. Keeping a calendar is essential to meeting school deadlines and turning in assignments on time. I recommend purchasing a planner, which you can get anywhere school supplies are sold. If you have a really hectic schedule, you might even want to schedule study times rather than assuming you’ll be able to hit the books when you get home in the evening.

3. Make your situation known. At the beginning of the school year, parents can introduce themselves to the teacher and explain their situation. This is a great time to discuss any special accommodations your child might need, and also to explain any outside circumstances that might affect your child’s performance at school. For days when your child can’t make it to class, ask the teacher if he or she has any class notes, and if they have any suggestions for how you might be able to make up the content that you missed.

4. Use the buddy system. Even if your teacher is understanding, it still helps to have a study buddy in class with you. Study buddies are a great idea, because you’re accountable to someone other than yourself. If you make an appointment to study with someone, you’d better keep it, or they’ll be moving on to a different partner. Plus, studying with someone else can help you flesh out your understanding of what’s going on in class. This is also someone else you can turn to if you miss class–make an agreement to share notes or assignments with your buddy if either of you misses class.

5. Make study time a family event. If parents and kids are both taking classes, you can lead by example and show them how important it is to study. You can try to schedule a group family study session as well. Though you’re not in the same classes, you can be study buddies by quizzing each other for tests, etc. This might be difficult if you’ve got a big family with multiple schedules to juggle, but this might also be a situation in which it’s extra important to make sure both you and your kids are doing what needs to be done for school.

For even more great back to school study tips, check out these articles:
12 Study Tips for Back to School
13 Effective Study Strategies That Help Students Learn

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services