by Robin Tidwell

Created on: September 02, 2008

To develop effective study skills, one must first begin with a plan and a schedule. One must also be flexible and cultivate self-discipline. Whether in grade school, high school, or college, or even as an adult re-entering academia, one must set aside the proper amount of time to efficiently prepare for classes.

Let us begin with elementary school. Typically a young student begins to have nightly homework assignments in about the third or fourth grade. This is an excellent time to develop a study habit: a particular place to study, perhaps the kitchen table; a definitive time to study, such as right after dinner; and a method to break down tasks and have a plan of action.

For the elementary student, studying and completing homework at the kitchen table allows for good lighting, plenty of room to spread out books and papers, and quick access to parents if any questions arise. Parents must resist the urge to step in until they are asked; this is work for the student, and he must learn how to pace himself and how to persevere without interference.

Studying after dinner allows the student some "down" time immediately after returning home from school, time to play or exercise, and also provides a built-in window in case of after-school activities.

Often elementary kids will have a list, or a planner, in which they've written the day's assignments. Allow them to choose which to do first, but ensure that they complete each subject before moving on to the next. These habits, learned at a young age when homework is perhaps not so overwhelming, can be strengthened and further developed as the child progresses into high school.

The high school homework load typically intensifies. Many students may need a quieter place to study, such as a workspace or desk in their rooms as opposed to the kitchen table. However, the same principles apply: space, a certain time of day (and after dinner is still an excellent time, especially allowing for after-school sports or jobs), and a continuum of the plan they followed in earlier grade levels.

Highschoolers, however, should also be prepared for the next day's lessons as well as completing the current homework assignment; for this reason, developing a habit of reading a chapter ahead is an excellent idea. This will also set the groundwork for college-type studying in just a couple years. Reading ahead, or even re-reading a difficult topic or section or paragraph, will prepare the student much more thoroughly for upcoming tests than merely

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