3 Study Habits that guarantee better grades

March 22, 2023

Currently we are in the middle of the semester, and this is the turning point for alot of students. The moment to get their grades up and end the semester on a high note. If your child has been struggling in 1 or more of their classes, then this is for you. Here are some tips that can help improve their grades, some strategies I have personally used, but also researched as well. 

I. Develop good note taking skills

Most students today lack quality notes and cannot read their own writing (ironic, right?) however, due to social media and technology. It is making their brains become more reliant on technology and less on themselves... During my initial session with a student, I often ask them where are their notes, and we decipher what it is they wrote. Often times, they have an excuse for their poor handwriting, they blame it on the teacher's lack of teaching, or some other minute excuse. However, at the end of the day, it is their notes and what they choose to write and how the go about it is on them. 

Just like most of the students I work with, I am a visual and kinesthetic learner, for those of you that may not know what kinesthetic means, just imagine learning through drawing and making things to condense the notes in ways that only you understand it. This is not only effective in math, but also science as well. Have your child make a Venn Diagram of their notes to section out commonalities and differences between two themes. Have them write on a white board the definitions of words and connect them using arrows and colors. Every student learns differently, so figuring out what type of learner your child is can be essential. 

II. Limit time on Social Media

With the average attention span of teenagers being less than 6 seconds, it is very easy to have students uninterested or disengaged. Hence why popular apps like Tik Tok targets our youth so effortlessly, having videos being 6 seconds to up to 2 minutes. Now I am by any means suggesting that your child does not have social media (that's strictly up to you as a parent). What I am saying is that their time on social media should be limited and monitored. Nowadays, kids are exposed to almost everything at a young age. Having a balance of school vs. social life is essential and establishing those healthy boundaries at a young age is a recipe for success. It will not only guarantee them a better learning environment, but in their early adulthood years, they can also discipline their social media habits and not rely on it for a Dopamine rush.

III. Do extra Homework 

I know, I know. Even I myself was hesitant with this title, but think about the concept as whole. If your child wants to get ahead of their peers and stand out, then they have to be willing to go above and beyond, and that's not just with school work, but that's life. If your child wants to improve their grades in a particular class, especially math. The more practice problems completed the better the skillset or level of mastery. That's just how it works. This means completing extra problems from your teacher's textbook or googling problems on the internet. If you truly want to succeed, this is just one of the three options I've mentioned. Every student that I work with are now A/B students and it didn't always start that way... but through determination, perseverance and willingness to want better brought them all here today. 

Well I hope you found value in the 3 tips I've mentioned above. We are currently in the middle of the Spring semester, so it's not too late to turn your grades around. If you are interested in my services, fill out a form on my website; https://tutorme.today/ and I will contact you within 24 hours!