Report cards are now available on a student’s documents tab in Sycamore. That means it’s a great time to review your student’s progress so far this semester—and for students to review their own progress.
Would you like tips based on experiences in the Academic Office? While our office works with secondary students, some ideas can be adjusted to make them appropriate for elementary students as well.
Strategic Questions Make a Difference
Questions can actually help students understand and implement important study habits:
- “How are you going to study tonight?” implies an expectation, implies capacity to make decisions, and helps students think through study logistics to answer. Students may initially need coaching for help arriving at a good answer.
- “What are you going to do tomorrow?” helps students plan for the future and recognize that not everything has to be done right now.
- “How do you know you’re ready for your test?” helps students learn to set goals.
Zeroing In on Zeros
One of our grads told me recently that a session I give in 9th grade recently came to mind in a college class: the double-impact of a zero. What’s that about?
Zeros, typically resulting from not doing homework, usually mean both that a student’s grade is significantly affected and that the student hasn’t learned the material. Ouch.
Here’s an idea to keep that from happening for your middle or high school student—while not actually doing the work yourself.
- Have the student write down all assignments in a planner, printed or electronic, showing you where the information came from and that the information is organized effectively in the planner.
- Have the student check it off when completed and make another check when it is turned in.
- Have the student show you this planner (with check-offs) every day until independence is gained.
More ideas—including links to online study resources—are available here.
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