Tips for Easier Studying at Home

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Turn your brain on before you study!

Active studying is as simple as asking questions before, during, and after study time:

• What am I about to learn?
• What do I already know about this subject?
• How does this information fit into a bigger picture?
• Do I understand what I have just read?
• Can I paraphrase it?
• Are there any key words that I need to write down? Why are these words key?

Get a good night’s sleep

Get a good night’s sleep—students of all ages should get at least eight hours of sleep every school night. It’s the best way to ensure that the brain is refreshed and processing all of the information learned during the day. A full night’s sleep is especially important the night before a test—a good night’s sleep ensures students will be more alert and will remember test material more effectively, leading to better test results. Now that’s a good reason to go to bed early!

Study at the right time

Study at the right time—everybody has his or her own daily highs and lows. Some people are night owls; some people prefer the morning. Students should try to study when they are the most alert and able to process and retain the information that they are studying.

Have a designated study area

Have a designated study area—whether it is the kitchen table or a desk in a bedroom, students should have an area to study that is a designated study zone. In this area they should be able to keep their notebooks and other study supplies. Ideally, they should be in study mode whenever they are in the study area.

Eat properly

Eat properly—students can’t focus on studying if their stomach is growling. It’s too distracting to focus on math or English with a stomach that keeps gurgling. Have a light, healthy snack to quiet the rumbles and to achieve optimal brain function during study time.

Get chores out of the way

Get chores out of the way—The dog needs to be walked the dog and the dishes need to be washed…students should take care of chores before sitting down to study so that they won’t be interrupted, or distracted by an unfinished to-do list. Getting chores out of the way makes it much easier to focus on the task at hand.