Straight A students are not born—-they are made! And that starts with smart study skills. There are a few basic changes parents can make to build their children’s study skills and improve their grades. Here is a summary of the top 7 taken from a collaboration of the top college prep programs in the country and our own. We remember them by associating them with the acronym PROSPER!
P = Planner
R = Reduce Distractions
O = Organize Materials
S = Study Space
P = Prioritize
E = Estimate the Time Needed
R = Reward Yourself
Here is what we mean by PROSPER—
1.Keep a planner. Record urgent assignments and also tests & long-term assignments with one color ink and test/due dates with another. It may be necessary for you, as the parent, to communicate with the teacher to make sure the data is correct.
2.Reduce distractions and try to eliminate them. Get rid of time robbers! Put away phones and turn off tvs. Your children may benefit from wearing headphones to completely eliminate distracting noises.
3.Teach your children to organize their desks each evening and put assignments in their backpacks/binders and research materials in their baskets/file cabinets before they call it a night. That way they’re ready to turn in their papers and get to work at the next study session.
4.Create a quiet study space. It would be great if your children could always study in a cozy room with perfect lighting and few distractions. Make sure all materials are available in organized containers; tools such as colorful post-its, a variety of pens/pencils, highlighters and paper are critical to your children’s success. Give them ownership of this space by encouraging them to decorate it.
5.Prioritize each day’s assignments. Make a list of daily tasks starting with urgent tasks that are due tomorrow. Be sure to include those tasks that are not due tomorrow but do require long term data collection and multiple drafts.
6.Estimate how long each task will take and double it. This will allow extra time to complete the most difficult tasks and reduce stress.
7.Teach kids to reward themselves for completing each task with enjoyable activities like calling/texting a friend, taking a movement break or getting a snack. Set a goal for a big reward when the daily tasks are complete. This “ME” time is critical to keep our kids motivated.
By following these 7 basic steps, you will be teaching critical executive functioning skills and building smart study skills for life!
Now Hiring!
We are searching for a literacy specialist to join our team! In this position, the literacy specialist will work with children and adults with reading, writing and math challenges. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who is considering a career as a speech-language pathologist or in education! It is also ideal for credentialed teachers who prefer to use their talents in this one-one setting. Click on our career link below to find out how to apply!
Spotlight on Success
Celebrating Our Allied Professionals
Tessa and Jodie enjoyed a morning at Del Mar Pines School mingling with allied professionals within the community. They exchanged information with heads of private schools, occupational therapists, educational therapists and more. They toured Del Mar Pines School and learned about their balanced curriculum including music, drama, Spanish, and technology in addition to the basic skills. Along the way, they got to meet many of Del Mar Pines’ exceptional teachers.
Thank you to Marci McCord, School Director, for putting on such a great event!
Kids Planner
The new activity-driven undated Kids Planner is all about inspiring kids to improve organization while having fun! Kids will love the stickers, colorful calendars and creativity spreads. Parents will love how the planner helps kids with organization, problem-solving and time-management!
Purchase your Kids Planner HERE.
