Developing Study Habits: Six Smart Study Skills for Middle Schoolers
By: Sarah Lindenfeld Hall of Your Teen Mag
Tears at homework time. Again. Middle school can be tough—bigger schools, bigger workloads—and maybe even the pressure of keeping up with math classes that can affect high school math placement. Parents tell us that simply asking, “Do you have any homework tonight?” can be enough to trigger a meltdown in their kids.
Middle School = Changes
Is it just that middle school is a fraught time? Let’s not forget the seismic social-emotional transitions also happening. In addition to puberty and friendship changes, adolescent brains are still in development, too. Middle schoolers have trouble with impulse control and focus, said Michelle Icard, author of Middle School Makeover.
This means parents face a one-two punch when it comes to helping their child get their homework and studying done on time and without resistance.
But there’s hope. “It’s a really rich time in terms of their brain being a sponge,” said Tinnie Salzano, the assistant head of middle school at Ravenscroft, a private school in Raleigh, NC. “Middle school is the perfect time to develop these habits that will help them throughout their academic career. Their brains are ripe.”
Practical Ways to Help
Homework may not be at the top of your child’s priority list, particularly when middle school offers new activities, athletics or social opportunities. Sometimes it will be simple and fun, but most times homework is just another task a kid must get done instead of playing video games or hanging with friends. It’s up to mom and dad to help their child set up the structure to get it all done.
Here are 6 smart study skill tips for middle schoolers:
1. Rate the subjects—and build in breaks.
Talk with your child about which subjects are easiest and which are most difficult, says Kimberly Ewing, Ravenscroft’s middle school academic skills instructor. Once they know how they’re going to attack the work ahead of them, make a checklist.
“Start with the hardest. They can set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and take a break, and then they can transition to that not-so-tough academic content area,” Ewing explains.
2. Keep them in their seats—with goodies.
As they work, Icard recommends allowing them something fun at their desk or offering an incentive to push them forward on their studies. Maybe it’s a bottle of polish to paint a nail or two as they complete assignments or time on Fortnite once they finish math. When her kids were younger, she used to set up a buffet with bowls of different flavored gum. “They could have fun unwrapping and chomping on the gum,” she says, “but still doing work.”
3. Make (non-boring!) study guides.
Using homework questions or textbooks as prompts, parents can help kids make their own study guides on subjects where they need an extra boost, says Ewing. Websites like Quizlet or Kahoot also make it easy for parents and students to customize online games that are both relevant to their own school work—and fun.
“It becomes a game,” Salzano says, “but it’s also a great way to review.”
4. Highlight.
Who doesn’t love a new pack of markers? Teach them to highlight and annotate the most important sections of the text they are reading. In an article on brain development, for instance, they don’t need to highlight “brain” each time they read it. Instead, they should be highlighting the key points on the subject. The goal is to home in on and connect the critical details in the text for better learning.
