It's May in my 8th grade class and I am giving the kids time to review for their up-coming French final. I am absolutely puzzled: Most kids are just sitting there, looking at their books, notes or old papers. They sit and swing on their chairs, spend one minute on each page and after ten minutes are at a loss as to what to do. They're done! They've just read through the latest lessons and they're ready. Of course, when I ask them two questions, no-one can answer!
So I tell them to go back to work and this time to get some blank paper out and to write notes, quiz themselves, challenge their knowledge with the book closed and check their answers. I watch a few look for their paper and stare blankly at it for a minute before writing a few words down, then hiding them, whispering something and starting again with a new list of words. In the end, I realize that this is wasted time and that I have to lead the review session myself, or better still, spend several hours teaching them study skills, because if I don't, how are they going to prepare at home?
How can kids come out of elementary school not knowing how to study? Even very basic study skills seem to have been completely bypassed by the school system. The expectations that teachers have from pre-teens and teens are completely out of line with the reality. Teachers expect kids to have a certain level of independence and understanding as far as effective studying goes. Kids struggle with their homework not because it is difficult but because of the amount of time they end up wasting on it out of lack of study skills.
This starts with organization and time management. Teachers don't give too much homework. What happens is that most kids procrastinate. If a teacher gives three weeks to complete a project, it means that kids need to start working on it as soon as possible and use the time imparted. If they wait until two days before to do it, the final project is bound to be mediocre. Such a project, worked on ten minutes every day will be greatly rewarded. This is a simple organization tip, which makes a world of difference. When teachers give projects, they are not just training kids on that particular topic but also on the realization of it, including time management and organization.
The great benefit of knowing how to organize homework and manage the time they have is that kids will be able to make the most of the free time they have. When your kids start their homework on Friday evening and don't finish it until Sunday night, they can't completely relax during their free time because they have this Damocles Sword called homework hanging over them. Even their best friend's birthday party might be spoiled because their mind won't really be into it. If they know how to manage their time and work more effectively, they will be able to complete all their work sooner and have a truly relaxing time.
Good study skills need to be taught early and should not be learned the hard way in middle school or high school. As parents, you have to help your kids. Start early with them and if you are not sure, communicate with the teachers and ask for advice. Keep on top of things and know what and when work is due to monitor progress. If you manage to have your kids capable of working independently and effectively as soon as they start middle school, excellent results are guaranteed until they graduate.
There's a lot more to say on this topic and on more specific study skills, but I'll get into it next time.
According to NCES.edu.gov, study habit amount grade levels are increasing. About 12% of 4th graders spend at least one hour a day studying, while that number increased to 37% for 12th graders. However that still leaves 63% of 12th graders not studying consistently. In Oregon alone, the drop out rate is 4.1%, which are roughly 7,400 students who dropped out during the 2006/2007 school year according to the Oregon Department of Education. Oregon rates are down from previous years however the National Education Association (NEA.Org) reports the national drop out rate is still high at 68% in 2006.
Students drop out of school for many reasons. All too often it is because they lack certain tools needed to succeed. Learning to study is something that should be taught to students in elementary school. If the techniques were taught at a young age, more students would be prepared for the demands of high school and college. Some high school teachers go over study habits briefly, however their curriculum load is often heavy, making time for study skills comprehension less and less. Colleges usually offer a class to freshman which covers a number of things but specifically study skills. However this class becomes obsolete when the drop out rate is as high as it is. Many students are not attending a traditional four year college. Of those who are attending, less than one half of one percent have grades good enough to make the National Dean's Honor Roll List, according to their website.
School anxiety is not something that specifically targets grade school or high schools students, but all students. Students have been known to fake being sick just to stay home and avoid a test in Math. High school and college students are frequently seen pulling all niters to cram for a test or finish a project they waited till the last minute to start. Often there comes a point where they are no longer faking illness, but they cross the line into actually being sick. Stress can cause a number of health issues such as ulcers, depression, mental breakdowns, and sleep deprivation just to name a few.
Just the thought of studying can bring about instant panic, which is a reaction to a trigger. Triggers can be just about anything, from the word "test" to opening a book. A trigger can cause a reaction which is generally the panic and anxiety, this is because they have learned to associate the word "test" with something bad and they are having a reaction. Students can learn this behavior from teachers, parents or other students. When a test comes they learn to be stressed or worried.
They key to successful learning and studying can be achieved through many routes, one new route shows promise for those coping with study anxiety. Hypnosis allows students to identify what their triggers are in a non threatening way. They are able to change their reaction and behavior when their trigger happens. Hypnosis works with each student individually and in a safe environment.
Instead of using hypnosis many parents turn to other forms of treatment such as medications or therapy. Medications of course work chemically to stop feelings of anxiety or stress in the student. However since medications do not deal with triggers or emotions, the treatment is not always successful. Therapy can be threatening to some students. They are asked to examine their emotions on a conscious level which can be threatening to them. Hypnosis does not use medication and works with the subconscious mind, allowing for less anxiety for the student.
With the amount of children not getting all they could from education, it is no surprise why the drop out rates are high. There are many different programs, whether they are through a therapist, hypnotist or simply a new teaching technique which offer increased study skills and improved test scores. As a parent you need to research and decide what is best for your student. But consider this, no one wants to cause more stress to an already tense student, there is not reason why the student can not learn new study skills in a safe environment.
Both Florence Bernard & Sara Mendez are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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