School gets more hectic once a student hits middle school.
Students have more tests, quizzes, homework assignments and projects than they did in elementary school. Transition can be made easier when teaching solid study skills early in middle school. Learning how to set goals, stay organized and concentrate are all vital study skills for middle schoolers.
Setting Goals
Students need to learn the process of setting and achieving goals to be successful in the classroom. With the increased demand on their schedule, each day is now filled with school, homework, lessons and other activities. A middle school student needs to learn how to prioritize her time to ensure that all required things get done. Students can start by making a list of things to do and ranking them in order of importance. After they have listed their activities, parents can help them review their choices and discuss any consequences that may result from their prioritizing.
Organizational Skills
With so many different subjects, students are carrying multiple textbooks and notebooks to and from school. Misplaced, lost or forgotten papers derail studying. You can sit with your student and create a system that he will follow, in which all papers and assignments go into a folder or binder. Help your student learn the organizational system. Keep this process goal-oriented by checking through the folder each day and assessing if all necessary materials are included. And then gradually place the primary responsibility for maintaining the folder on your student.
Note Taking Skills
In middle school, students are asked to memorize and repeat information more than in elementary school. Teaching middle school students how to take notes during class can make it easier for them to review for upcoming tests. Set daily note-taking as a goal for your student. Each student’s note taking method will be unique and you can allow your student to experiment with traditional outlines, bullet point lists or even her own form of shorthand. Review the notes together to check for any unnecessary information or important missing facts.
Concentration Skills
Learning how to maintain focus can be difficult for a middle school student. Rarely is a student provided with a silent environment to study, so he needs to learn how to overcome distractions. Each person focuses differently, so encourage your student to find where he is the most comfortable, such as a desk, bed or kitchen table. Set a goal of studying for 10 to 15 minutes without interruption, followed by a short break. Gradually build the study time by 10 minute increments. The small breaks help him retain more information without getting exhausted.