Successful students will never leave work or assignments until the last minute. Planning time to study and knowing how long they have to complete homework is key. To help your child avoid rushing work the night before, they need to get organised and manage their time better.
Incorporating a daily study routine is the best place to start, even if it’s for an hour every day after school and a little longer on weekends. Having specific time set aside to study will make the world of difference. Writing down all assignments in a planner or diary will also be useful as this will show exactly what’s due and when, meaning they can plan out their study time accordingly. For some great tips on how to help your child be more organised at school, check out our blog post here.

Designated study space
All successful students will have a designated space where they can study, revise and complete homework. This will most likely be somewhere free from distractions and is a calm space that helps maximise productivity. Help your child find a place away from the TV and other distractions- perhaps a desk in their bedroom or if that’s not an option the local library.

Take detailed notes
Taking detailed notes is super important when it comes to being successful at school. Not only will jotting down their own interpretations mean your child is more engaged in lessons but they will also be extremely helpful when it comes to revising for their exams. Don’t forget, it’s much easier to re-read detailed notes than an entire textbook!

Don’t understand? Just ask!
Even gifted students can struggle to understand what’s being covered in class. If your child isn’t quite getting the hang of a topic or they need more information, make sure they ask questions or get more help if they need it. After all, school is for learning and getting extra help is a great way to make sure your child really understands the material and doesn’t fall behind in class.

Keep revising
Finally, perhaps the most important study habit of any student that gets excellent grades: revising on a regular basis. Encourage your kids to regularly reinforce what they’ve learnt in class by re-reading notes or revisiting class assignments. This will help commit the information to their long term memory, meaning they will excel when it comes to exams and class tests. Here’s the tricky part- this does mean your child will have to come home after school and revise- however if a study routine is in place this shouldn’t be too difficult! It doesn’t have to be boring either- here’s a few fun ways they can mix up their revision.
  • Spend time researching a particular topic or looking up interesting facts on the internet. A little extra reading goes a long way!
  • Read over notes from lessons. If your child is really struggling to remember something, encourage them to create a fun colourful poster that breaks down the information in a different way.
  • Watching online documentaries and educational YouTube videos relating to a specific subject can make revision fun and you’ll be surprised how much more your child can remember.
  • Talk though information with a study group, a friend or family member. This can be the most effective way for your kids to retain particular topics, theories or facts.