Study Skills

My daughter is in the 4th grade. She does receive study guides for her reading test. The guide refers her to pages throughout the chapter that she must look up. Her vocab words have the definitons already on the guide. the test are geared toward this guide which appear to be the main points of the chapter. For math and science, she must use the review section in the books. she does better on the test when she has a guide to point her int he right direction.

Nowadays, kids are expected to do too much. Her homework can last up 3 hours some nights. I think the guide is prepping them for the future. It gives them the main points to look for and recognize.

Unfortunately, I think by the time college rolls around, they will be beyond burnt out from school work.

I last taught 4th grade, and I'll tell you that getting a study guide is totally normal! However, you are right it is supposed to be the FOUNDATION for the studying of past homework, projects and of course readings.

The trap that a lot of teachers fall into is allowing this to become the only means of support they offer their students. It's really a flaw of how the school systems function, and the expectations that our system places on kids. A lot of the focus today falls on making sure OUR students PASS and not necessarily retain ALL the information.

Yes, study skills SHOULD be taught to your kids beginning in 3rd grade...is it happening?? Who knows, it's really up to each teacher and how they structure their class and manage to get ALL the curriculim into one day.

IF you are concerned about the lack of study skills or that your girls don't recall that being a part of their lesson, I would bring it up to the teachers. It doesn't have to be an attack or brutal confrontation, but a gentle 'Hey, I'm just curious how you do this?' type of approach. Most teachers welcome the questions and concerns of parents, as SO many of have NO clue what parents look like until OPEN HOUSE.

When I taught Computer Skills to 3-6 graders, I made sure to send home a weekly overview to my parents of what they would be doing, their homework and how the parents could help at home. Most of them LOVED it and made extra efforts to e-mail me and ask questions, so they could learn too.

I hope you can find a way to integrate study skills now, I think Middle School is late for learning it, but sometimes that's the first introduction kids have to learning note taking and studying.

Best of luck!
Deanna

Hi M.!!

I would think that the teacher should have explained to them, that the study guide is just that, a "guide". Not everything that they should know. It should be something to help supplement or support what they have learned in class. Do they have notes from class? Have they done any assignments in class to support the material that they are suppose to have learned?

I would think that they should take the subjects on the study guide and review them with the book, or connect them with activities they have done in class as well as notes or handouts given to them.

That's just my opinion, I don't have any experience in this matter as my daughter is only 4 and not yet in school.

Good luck!!

L.