Help Your Child Study More Efficiently3 strategies to boost grades

By Rick and Teena Kamal

Is it possible to study less and make better grades at the same time? Actually, yes! By helping your child learn to study strategically, he or she can spend less time studying and earn a better GPA. It’s all about making the most of each moment. Here are some strategies: Strategy 1 – PrioritizeIf your child feels he has too much to do and can’t possibly do it all, the only solution is to prioritize. Talk to your child to help him identify the goals that are most important and pressing and make a practical plan to achieve these goals.

Define goals. Short-term goals are most important for managing study time effectively. Establishing short-term goals with start and end dates can help your child avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Make a plan. This plan should include all of the ways the student intends to accomplish a goal. For instance, if she wants to make better grades in math, the plan could include talking regularly with the teacher, completing all homework on time, and studying daily to be better prepared for quizzes and tests.

Create a daily task list. Help your student learn to break up tasks into smaller, more doable steps that he can complete each day. The daily task list may include items such as completing an assignment, studying for 30 minutes, or asking the teacher for extra help with a particular skill.

Strategy 2 - Manage Time EffectivelyIntroduce your child to the time management skills below to help him become more productive and achieve academic success without the need for cramming:

Take small steps. Emphasize why it's important to devote a little time each day, starting as soon as your student is assigned a major task or assignment. Using this approach, he will be able to steadily chip away at the work that needs to be done, and feel more at ease and in control.

Eliminate distractions. Observe your student's study habits and help her to discover time-wasters that eat away at productivity. Keep the TV off during study hours or make sure your child studies in a room where there is no television. Help her also to unplug from phone calls, text messages, or emails. By eliminating distractions, she’ll be able to get more done in a shorter time.

Strategy 3 - Combat StressTips to beat the negative effects of stress on academic performance include:

Eliminate unnecessary sources of stress. Help your student identify and eliminate sources of stress that get in the way of good grades, such as any extracurricular activity the child no longer enjoys.

Model and share ways to manage stress including regular exercise, play time, breathing exercises, meditation, adequate sleep and nutritious foods.

By prioritizing goals, managing time effectively, and dealing with stress in a positive way, your child will learn to study more effectively in less time and achieve better grades.

——————————————————————————————————————About the Authors: Award-winning study and life skills experts Rick and Teena Kamal founded EduNova to prepare students to lead and thrive in the global economy. They worked with 33 top university education experts and many successful senior executives to produce resources that empower middle school, high school and college students to succeed. Learn more at www.HowToStudyBest.com.