Study tips for high school students
High school is an important period in students’ academic careers. High school curriculum tends to be more demanding than presecondary education. In addition, at this point in their academic careers, high school students may begin to ponder their future endeavors, including higher education. High school curriculum aims to prepare students for their future, which is why coursework tends to be more specialized, challenging and complex.
It’s not uncommon for students to experience some difficulty as they adjust to the demands of the high school curriculum. With that in mind, high school students can consider these study tips as they confront the rigors of academia.
Schedule study time
An analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau found that children are engaging in more extracurricular activities than they did decades ago. Though research has found that participation in extracurricular activities among adolescents are associated with a range of positive outcomes, including higher academic performance, it’s important that students make time for academics in their daily schedules. Much like sports practices or drama club rehearsals are scheduled, study time can be included in students’ daily schedules. Students can block off a set amount of time on their schedules each day for studying and commit to it just like they would for extracurricular practices or rehearsals.
Designate a study space
During the COVID19 pandemic, administrators at the University of Michigan created a web-based space reservation system to help students secure spaces to study in the face of social distancing limitations. Those efforts underscore the value of designated study spaces, and high school students and their families can create such areas in their homes. A quiet, distraction-free space can facilitate learning and help students excel in the classroom.
Take notes and summarize
High school courses are more complex and it’s easy to get lost in that depth when studying subjects such as English or history that feature a lot of reading. Students adjusting to this may find it hard to remember important details when they’re reading more in a typical study session than they’re accustomed to. Taking lots of notes and summarizing text while reading, such as at the end of each chapter, can help students recall the key points of reading assignments.
Organize study groups
A weekly study group can help students gain a greater understanding of coursework and their own perspectives. Different perspectives can help students see materials through a new lens. One student may hit a snag on a particular point, and another may illuminate the issue and make it easier to understand, and vice versa. Sharing perspectives with other students also can help students sharpen their own ideas as they seek to explain themselves during conversations with classmates.
High school curriculum is more rigorous than presecondary courses of study. Some simple study tips can help high school students adjust to this more demanding academic environment.