VICTORIA - As students get ready to head back to school, here are some tips to help them have a successful year and get the most out of their study time:
Parents of primary students:
• Let your children see you read, and set aside time each day for family reading.
• Ask your children to read to you while you prepare a meal.
• Get your children excited about reading by taking turns reading pages or acting out characters.
• Talk to your children about what they read. Ask them questions that require them to read between the lines and think about what they have just read.
• Introduce your children to a variety of literary genres and see which one they most enjoy.
• Introduce your children to Aboriginal culture and history through stories and other learning opportunities.
• Help your children get a library card and take weekly trips with them to the library.
Parents of Intermediate/Middle School Students:
• Set up a daily homework routine. Designate a homework area away from distractions.
• When it is time for your children to do their homework, reinforce strong study habits by also doing yours: balance your chequebook, pay your bills or immerse yourself in a book.
• Let your children read comic books in their spare time because comics can encourage positive reading habits
• Help your children identify difficult and easy homework tasks and get them to tackle the most difficult subjects first.
• Make yourself available to answer questions and offer help, but do not do your children’s homework for them.
• Ask your children questions and have them explain what they have just read or studied.
• Encourage your children to write stories, poetry and songs.
• Keep an assignment calendar on the fridge for quick reference of due dates, exams and how they fit with other activities.
Parents of secondary students:
• Continue with an established homework routine. Make adjustments as needed, such as after-school or weekend time set aside for working on big projects.
• Encourage your teenagers to take 20 minutes each night to read over their notes from that day or rewrite them using colours to highlight important information so they retain it longer.
• Have your children take regular breaks to help alleviate eye, neck and brain fatigue while studying. This will help them be more productive and retain more of what they read and study.
• Encourage your teenagers to explore magazines or appropriate websites on subjects that interest them to keep them reading. Most local libraries carry selections of magazines on a variety of topics, including sports, science, mechanics and politics.
• Keep an assignment calendar on the fridge for quick reference of due dates, exams and how they fit with other activities.