Study Skills Reboot: Time Management, Organization & Note-taking skills for Middle and High School Students

The transition from elementary school to middle and high school for many children can be challenging, especially for boys. My 12-year old son has been having difficulty managing his time, classes, deadlines and as a result, his grades have suffered for almost two years now. It took me awhile but I think I finally figured out part of the root causes of his struggles: he doesn’t have organizational study skills.

He isn’t alone, I am sure.Children go from having one teacher who guides them for all of their subjects to having to deal with multiple teachers and classes, numerous binders, folders, notebooks, papers and assignment books. From one year to the next, they have syllabuses from different classes all with various project, quiz, exams and other deadlines. Class lectures also are different. They require focus to retain the information being taught where before the class is broken up by activities, gym class, outdoor play and lunch. It made learning less stressful.  In middle school, teachers expect more active class participation. It’s not enough to coast quietly.

Many school children in this stage need a method to help them keep track of their work and to prioritize their assignments and due dates.

So…I searched the internet for resources, tips and advice and came up with a system I plan to implement and hope will work. I am sharing it here for any other parent who may be dealing with a transitioning child who is also having a tough time meeting their school obligations.<

ONE BINDER METHOD

First, I am throwing out the multiple notebook method that the school requires and going to go with a one binder method. I am going to purchase one mega three ring binder and purchase 5 thin one-subject spiral notebooks to go in it. I will have matching color-coordinator two-pocked three-hole punched folders to accompany each subject that will be placed behind each notebook. In the left pocket of each folder, he will insert his class syllabus for the year or semester or term. The right pocket will be used to hold loose-leaf assignment sheets and info sheets distributed during class. The notebook will be used for note taking on one side of the pages only and dated at the upper right hand corner so he can keep track.The front first page will be a wipe-able laminated monthly calendar that can be reused each month where he will input all quizzes, exams and project deadlines for all classes in one space. I will have him put in weekly homework sheets hole punched and placed behind the monthly calendar. There he will put in homework and other deadlines for each day of the week.

I am hoping that this will minimize the problem of leaving a book or notes at school and not having it to study over the weekend. Also, this should take out the problems he had keeping track of handouts and due dates. It will all be stored in one location for easy reference. Also, I like the idea of him bringing home all the work so we can follow up and double check he is staying on track.

OTHER FAMILY ORGANIZATION MATERIALS: This has got to be an entire family effort so I am going to purchase, use or repurpose the following: 

A Large Central Family Calendar to hang in the kitchen or family room where everyone can see it. We will put important dates including vacations, birthday parties, doctor’s appointments on it but also test, project due dates and quiz dates on it. If you have more than one child, like we do, dedicate a different colored marker color for each child and family member so they can easily see what applies to them with a glance. It may help you organize in your mind as well who has what exam do when too.

Update it weekly with field trips, school activities, out-of-school sports and activities, dance and music rehearsals etc.

A Storage Bin: Get a bin with multiple compartments that can store paper, notebooks, blank flash cards, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, staples, glue, scissors, compasses, protractors, rulers and all the materials that may be needed for homework or a short project. It takes away the time wasted looking for a sharp pencil that children use as an excuse to procrastinate from starting. Have this storage bin be located in the designated study area or nook in your home.

A Weekly Calendar: Like the monthly calendar, the weekly calendar should be updated each Sunday before the new week with tests, quizzed and other due dates. . Have your kid review your class notes from the previous week to see if you need to add any school activities.

Timer: Use the timer on your smart phone and set it for 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted study, then allow for 5-10 minutes of break to help a child who has a tough time concentrating and working non-stop. It’s also great for kids who have or are borderline ADD/ADHD.

Daily To-Do List: Some children need daily reminders of what to do each day and even though you tell them, they forget. Having a fixed daily schedule up on or near the fridge in the kitchen or other heavily traveled area is a good idea. Ours will include minutiae: Bathe, brush teeth, put on deodorant, dress, brush hair, eat breakfast; and after school and after library: undress, hang up uniforms, dinner, get forms signed, pack backpacks and knapsacks for the next day and leave by door, unpack lunchboxes and dump uneaten stuff and trash, warm milk, reading or practice instrument, quick study, bedtime.

PLAN FOR CREATING BETTER STUDENTS
Now with all the tools in place, here is the plan for creating a better studier and test taker:

Traveling to School

For those who drive their kids to school daily, you can start out with the morning news or music program on as the kids fuss and fight in the back, but getting closer to school, cut it all out and give your kids a pep talk and say a prayer, meditate or a few affirmative words so they are prepared for the day. (depending on your beliefs). A pep talk I gave recently did the trick to empower my son to be more independent and seek assistance from his teacher on a certain missed task on his own. Score one for mom!For non-drivers, try to carve out a few moments before the school bus arrives or heading out on your public transportation commute to do the same.

 Encouraging Classroom Focus and Participation Skills

Talk to your child about the importance of being cognitively ready to listen during class. If they have all their assigned work and readings completed before each class, they will be better equipped to participate and pay attention. I’ll instruct my son to spend the first few moments before class begins to review his notes from the previous day for a refresher and to prepare for what’s next. Having that information fresh in his head hopefully will encourage him to raise his hand when questions are asked and to participate during oral call and response time. His new school uses the Socratic method of teaching so there is high expectation for participation.

Take Notes. It is important to take good notes in class. Taking written notes almost forces a child to concentrate on what the teacher is saying. Notes, of course, also help them prepare for tests and provide clues as to what their teacher thinks is most important for your child to know. Further, notes will contain information that may not be in  the textbooks. My kids’ new school use very few textbooks so it is doubly crucial for them to take good notes.

Here are some notetaking tips to pass on:

Write the date at the top of each page of your notes and number the pages. This will help you to keep your notes in the proper sequence.

• Keep your notes for each class separate from your notes for other classes. You can use different color tabs to help you do this.
• Be selective in what you write. On average, the speaking speed of teachers is five to six times faster than is the writing speed of students. Quite simply, do not try to write everything your teacher says.
• Use abbreviations and symbols to increase your notetaking speed.
• Don’t be too concerned with spelling and grammar. These notes are for your use and will not be graded.
• Ask your teacher to repeat something you think you may have missed.
• As you write points made by your teacher, translate these points into your own words. Doing this will increase your understanding of your notes and your ability to remember the information they contain.
• If your teacher provides a definition for a word, write that definition in your notes word for word.
• Write legibly. You will have to read your notes later on.
• Include in your notes information your teacher writes on the board.
• Stay especially alert during the last few minutes of the class. Teachers sometime use the last few minutes of a class session to cram in everything they wanted to cover but didn’t.
• Use Abbreviations