How To Make Your Teen’s Study More Manageable And  Productive

There aren’t many short-cuts available to your teen when it comes to study.

They’re going to get out what they put in.

But, there is something you can help your teen with that can improve their grades MASSIVELY.

Not only will this change help your teen keep up to date with their homework, it will help them study consistently throughout the year. It will make their exam study far more manageable, less scary, and more effective.

To help your teen jump up at least one full grade in their exams this semester, sit down this week with them and make a weekly timetable.

Why is this so important?

Because our brains like patterns. Love them even!

Even if we don’t want to admit it, we love consistency. And a weekly timetable will help lay out a study routine for your teen.

If your teen is in the habit of not studying and not doing their homework on a regular basis they’re not likely to break the mould.

Even if you start off lightly (and build up the number of hours towards exam time), your teen will begin to think around their study timetable.

If they know when they should be doing something, there’s a much better chance that they’ll actually do it!

So have a go at making a study timetable with  your teen

That’s all I’m asking.

You can draw it or make it on the computer, it doesn’t matter. What is important is that it includes everything your teen has on in an average week of school.

Start by filling in their school hours, then their extracurricular activities, also dinner, and any other commitments they have on during the week.

Then, fill in when they’re going to do extra study. This isn’t homework-time, this is going over stuff from class-time. Last week I talked about the magic hour of study per week. Depending on where your teen is at academically, they may need to do more than this.

I’d much rather your teen be consistently doing small chunks of study, than massive chunks sporadically. Doing this will keep them on track throughout the year, and make their exam a million times easier.

Now the REALLY IMPORTANT part is that your teen sticks to this timetable.

Sticking to a routine and being consistent in their study habits is what will propel your teen forward.

Getting used to studying and doing homework regularly is going to get your teen the grades they’re capable of.

For extra brownie points all round, make a few copies of the timetable and stick it around your house – on the fridge, on your teen’s door, and in their room – so that they feel accountable, and are therefore far more likely to stick to their timetable.

This is just another thing that’s incredibly simple to do, yet can make a huge difference to your teen’s grades.

Image Credit: Surekat on Flickr