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Coffee and Conversation Grades 4, 5, & 6 October 6, 2011. Study Skills and Homework Helpers: Strategies for Reducing the Stress of Studying and Homework. Why Homework & Study Skills?. Organize and take in information efficiently Retain information long term
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Coffee and ConversationGrades 4, 5, & 6October 6, 2011 Study Skills and Homework Helpers: Strategies for Reducing the Stress of Studying and Homework
Why Homework & Study Skills? • Organize and take in information efficiently • Retain information long term • Experience success with assessments • Develop independent thinking and problem solving • Manage time • Take responsibility and gain confidence • Be proactive, make good decisions, think critically • Be globally competitive
Organizational Skills • Manage materials • Use of homework planner • Maintain calendar • Maintain grade sheet • Clean out backpack, restock supplies • Organize cubby, trapper, folders • Goal Setting
Time Management • Prioritize • Short-term planning • Long-term planning • Pacing Grade 4 1:15 Grade 5 1:30 Grade 6 2:15 • Avoid excuses
Effective Reading Strategies • Purpose- active involvement and thinking • Before, during, and after strategies- support & guide • KWL, SQ3R, PQRST- develop an overall sense of major ideas, put details into larger context for understanding • Active reading and writing -Note taking, Post It notes, outlining -Defining unfamiliar words -Graphic organizers, type, record -Highlighting, underlining, note taking -GIST, glossing, summarizing, visualizing
Study Tips • Reread chapter sections, notes, etc. • -key words & ideas, review questions, links • Nightly review of spellingand vocabulary words • Management of notes • Graphic organizers: outline, webs, charts, diagrams • Memory • Acronyms, rhymes, jingles, silly sentence • Index cards • Highlighters • Color-coding
Homework Help • Teacher website • Links- practice, enrichment • Online test calendar • Place- atmosphere conducive to maximum concentration • Supplies • Time • jrisley@waldronmercy.org
Stress in Children/Adolescents • “Good stress” and “Bad stress” • Stress can become distress when children/adolescents are • Unprepared • unable to cope • believe they don’t have the ability to meet the challenge • Adapt, change, and utilize positive coping methods = increased resiliency
The Stresses Children/Adolescents Face • At school – classroom, expectations, fear of failure, workload • At Home – overscheduling, family illness/changes, financial problems, lack of expectations & routines • Peer Related – trying to fit in, changing friendship groups, dealing with bullying behaviors
How Parents Can Help… • Be willing to listen – but don’t “poke or pry” • Encourage, teach, and model positive problem solving and coping skills • Cut back on commitments • Teach kids time-management skills by providing opportunities to be responsible (manageable tasks) • Provide consistent & positive discipline • Include family time; allow time to just “be a kid” • Be alert to signs of depression or anxiety in children/adolescents and seek help.
When Stress Turns to Distress… • Signs to Look For: • Isolation from family activities or peer relationships • Irritability or unusual emotionality • Dramatic changes in grades/work completion • Excessive fatigue OR inability to sleep • Drug or alcohol experimentation • What You Can Do for Your Child: • Build trust with your child by being available and open to talk • Teach and model healthy emotional responses • Provide a “non-academic” outlet to reduce stress • Teach your child to problem solve • Contact your child’s teacher with concerns and make them part of the team
Summary • Strike a balance between work and play • Get to know your child’s teachers – creating a team between home & school is key! • It might be beneficial to cut back on commitments until you know more about your child’s workload • Try to stay informed about your child’s social life – offering support when needed • Help your child see failures as opportunities to learn and grow! • Your positive attitude rubs off on your child!
Resources • October 26, 2011 – Montgomery County Community College – 7:00pm “Understanding the Teen Brain” • Web sites www.eduplace.com www.interventioncentral.org • Books Annie’s Plan by Charles Beyl Study Skills Tool Kit by LuAnn Warner-Prokos • Miss Holly’s website (PowerPoint will be available) • Other parents and your child’s teachers