'10 Easy Tips to Help Your Teen Study for a Test' Article by Ann K. Dolin

Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed. is the author of Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework. In this guest article, she offers parents suggestions as to how to help their teens prepare for tests.

10 Easy Tips to Help Your Teen Study for a Test

by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.

 
       

Helping your child study effectively for tests is vitally important in the elementary years. When the groundwork for good habits is set early on, students are more likely to experience success and have increased motivation. You can make a difference in your child's academic performance now and in the future by trying some of the following tips.     
       

1. Use a Dry Erase Board

       

To practice for an upcoming test, write a few math problems on a small dry erase board. Kids love using dry erase boards and many prefer them over traditional pencil and paper. Try out different color markers; color increases attention, so don't be afraid to use bold hues. 
       
       

       

2. Play Beat the Clock

       

Print out math facts that need to be memorized for an upcoming test from websites such as www.math-worksheets-generator.com or www.superkids.com. These sites allow you to select specific areas to concentrate on such as multiplying with fours or addition of twos. Practicing one fact pattern at a time leads to quicker mastery. Jot down the time it takes your child to work through the page. During the next practice session, set the timer for that amount of time and say, "I bet you can't beat the clock!" Keep decreasing the time as your child progresses.
               
      

Practicing for Spelling Tests


       

3. Try Rainbow Writing

       

Kids love Rainbow Writing for spelling words. Instead of writing the words over and over to practice, they trace the words with two or three different colored pencils. Using color helps kids to remember their spelling words on test day and this method is far more fun and interesting.
       
       

       

4. Play the Piano

       

Often, when children learn with a hands-on approach, they are better able to lodge the information into long-term storage. Instead of asking your child to spell out loud, tell them to play the words on the piano -- not a real piano, but to pretend his fingers are the piano keys. For example, one difficult word for kids to spell is "because". Have your child tap his right pinky on the table and say "b", then tap his right ring finger, and say "e", and so on. Encourage him to pause between syllables so that it sounds like "b-e-/    c-a-u-s-e". 
       
       

       

5. Make Up Silly Sentences

       

Sometimes, common sight words don't follow phonetic patterns. The word "friend" is one such example. Teach your child a silly sentence such as "Fri your friend to the end" to teach these tricky words.       
       

Preparing for Science and Social Studies

6. Utilize Acronyms

       

Researchers have found that using acronyms can help students improve their memory skills by connecting to-be-learned information to what the learner already knows. One common memory aide is HOMES, which is an acronym for the Great Lakes -- Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. This strategy is flexible; it can be used with virtually any type of rote memorization. Once students are shown how to use this technique, they come up with all kinds of catchy acronyms to make retention easier.       
       

       

7. Let Your Child Hold the Cards

       

If your child has flashcards that he needs to study, let him hold the cards and quiz you. Studies show that merely allowing the student to hold the cards and take on the role of the teacher increases time on task and retention of information.              
       

8. Draw a Picture

       

Another easy way for a student to increase memory when using flashcards is to add a picture. By simply drawing a picture next to the to-be-learned term, the student is creating a mental image in his mind's eye, which triggers the definition. For example, if the vocabulary word is "docile", his drawing might be of his dog, who is good natured and easy to train. 
       
       

       

9. Try Out a 3x5 Card

       

Encourage the use of a 3x5 card so that your child can quiz himself and review independently. When your child has a study guide or an old quiz from which to study, he should read the question, cover the answer with a 3x5 card, and try to recite the correct response. If he gets it right, he checks it off and goes to the next one. If it's wrong, he practices a few more times until the information is down pat.     
       

And Most Importantly...
       
       

       

10. Plan Ahead

       

Breaking down study time over a few days is far better and a lot less stressful than studying the night before. When your child has an upcoming test, help him break the study time into increments. Have him write these simple tasks in his planner or on your family calendar. For example, if there's a science test on Friday, he may jot down "practice flashcards" on Wednesday and "review study guide" on Thursday. 
       
       

By teaching valuable study skills now, your child will be able to reap the benefits of better grades, a deeper understanding of the material, and increased confidence.
                               

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Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her award-winning book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.

'Launch Your Child for School Success' - Guest Article by Ann K. Dolin

Ann K. Dolin is the author of the book Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework. In this guest article, she provides tips for parents, just in time for back to school.

Launch Your Child for School Success

by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.

Michael is a freckle-faced fourth grader always on the move. He loves to read, write and do well in class, so his mom was surprised when Michael's teacher reported that he was not handing in his daily homework. She certainly checked every night to make sure it was done.

A visit to the family's home after school one day revealed the source of Michael's problem. School papers from all three of her high-energy children were strewn randomly throughout the house. One backpack was in the hallway, another was on the dining room table and a third was on the kitchen floor. Mom said getting all three kids out the door on time with everything they needed for the school was a challenge. It was apparent that no matter how many times she reminded Michael to pick up his things and get ready for school, he was leaving home without his homework in his backpack.

I suggested Mom try a simple yet powerful solution: the “launching pad”, an approach that helps ensure that children go to school equipped with all their things -- backpack, lunch box, library books, etc. A “launching pad” can be a box, large basket, dishpan or any container big enough to house your child's school items. Put it in a well-traveled area, preferably near the door your child exits and enters going to and from school.

All school-related items should be expected to stay in the “launching pad” when not otherwise in use. Stray school papers or notebooks should be placed it in the bin by other family members who find them lying around. Permission slips and weekly folders signed by a parent should also be placed there. Michael also agreed to place his homework that needed to be in his backpack in the “launching pad” by a certain time, such as 8 p.m., each evening. By instituting this routine, Michael would have his completed work and all necessary materials to take back to school each day. Mornings will become less stressful and school-related clutter will be greatly reduced.

Mom followed my suggestion and put a “launching pad” near the side door that Michael uses. She later reported that it worked so well that all three children now have labeled bins side-by-side.

The “launching pad” is one of several simple strategies parents can use to help their children study better at home. Setting up a designated area for each child for homework is also important. Try and make sure it is relatively free of distractions. Agree with your child on one or two potential study areas.

It’s also crucial to gather school supplies into one central location so that time is not wasted searching here, there and everywhere for pens, pencils, or paper. Label a shoebox with the child's name, or better yet, purchase a shower caddy or tackle box. If the homework location must change for a night or two, this ensures that supplies are portable. Each student will have supplies specific to his grade level, but basics include: lined paper, a calculator, pencils, erasable pens, highlighters and a ruler. Many students also like having a hand-held electronic spell checker at their fingertips. The Franklin Ace is a great tool to help kids check their own work without having to ask you the correct spelling of each word.

The best routines and systems are neither complex nor arduous. By implementing simple easy-to-use strategies you'll help your child along the road to academic success.

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Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.