Good Study Habits: How to Build Them
October 16, 2019
In This Issue:
Mercy Every Minute  
Habits Bring Peace

Classical Education and Charlotte Mason Education both vouch for creating good habits and starting them when the children are young. There are so many benefits that result from the forming of good habits. Peace is one of them. Wouldn’t we all like a dose of peace in our homeschool days? 

It took me a few years of struggling with keeping everything under some kind of control until I learned about creating good habits. As soon as I created a schedule that would not change for the entire school year, and kept the kids on that schedule, we found peace. I kept a simple list including their school subjects, the snack and lunch times, consistent chores in between, music practice, reading time, art, and the outside play times as part of the consistent schedule. The kids new what to expect and when to expect it. They knew what was required of them, and when they could take breaks. They just moved down their list every day and checked things off as they went. 

Some kind of order and peace came into focus as we continued this good habit. Not only that, but the kids learned that there were rewards for getting work done without dawdling (more free time) and a feeling of accomplishment. I have kept these kinds of lists for each child for over 20 years now. Freedom from chaos begins with habit.

Here is what my favorite Charlotte Mason expert, Karen Andreola, said about the idea of habits: Trust in habit. Habit draws us forward to do the “next thing.” Children will readily do what is customary. “I can see how practical good habits are,” one mother shares. “When math is completed the children always look forward to a mid-morning snack, then to hearing an episode of history. After this refreshment, spelling is tackled automatically with drawing anticipated next.” During the first months of homeschool this mother made every effort to keep to a regular schedule of short lessons. Now, with less effort, habit carries her children smoothly and pleasantly through their morning schoolwork, more smoothly than at the start of the year. (Karen Andreola, “Educating by Faith, not Fear”, Summer 2010, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine)

What about you, dear parent, what kind of habits do you keep for yourself? Create some good habits for yourself as well. Add in the breaks, prayer time, chores, and moments with each child. 

Jesus had a daily habit of meeting with His Father “as was His custom.” Even when many were seeking Him, He knew to stop and seek the direction of His Father: “He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). May we make it our own habit to withdraw ourselves and seek the voice of our Father. When our mind is stayed on Him, we have great peace (Isaiah 26:3). And peace is the best reward for our harried homeschool days.

~Deborah

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Get Real; It's about Learning

Oooo, this topic is just staring at me, guilting me. Of all the students in the world, I may have had the worst study habits. All through high school and college I was pretty much a cram and jam kind of student.

I put off studying until the last possible moment, was a master of copy and paste (before computers), and always put fun above studies. The great thing about public school and college was that they didn't care. As long as I did OK on the tests, I was good. Because I learned back then that it was all about the test and the grade and not about learning. And I delivered, and today I'm a productive citizen who got this article turned in EARLY!!!

But that doesn't really matter because you're not part of the status quo; YOU'RE HOMESCHOOLERS. It's NOT just about study habits, little 3x5 note cards, bibliographies, and other hoops to jump through. It's about learning!!! Homeschooling is all about learning. Yes, they might get up a little later, stop a lot sooner, and not be able to produce a proper bibliography . . . BUT they'll know how to LEARN.

They learn when they build a new Lego set, customize a Nerf gun, build a fort in the back yard, change the oil in their car, fly a drone, build a computer, start a business, or apply for their first job. Homeschooling is about learning, and if someday they need a proper bibliography (which they may or may not) they'll LEARN how to create a proper bibliography.

So my advice: don't get bogged down with forcing your kids into public school study habits. Limit their time on electronic devices (significantly), guide them in their interests, and then watch how much they learn.

Oh . . . and be real,
Todd

PS - If you need even more smiles in your week, be sure to sign up for our FREE Smiling Homeschooler weekly e-mail.
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Your purpose is bigger than a career. While many universities can equip your mind, only a few can prepare your heart.
Stacy Farrell
Essential Study Skills: Memory

I have a dear friend who insists she was a terrible student. She recalls how, back when she was in school, she often finished reading her lessons—and had no idea what she had read. 

Can you relate? I sure can! 

Until I have “pegs” upon which to hang new facts and ideas, most of it falls to the floor. Fortunately, as I become familiar with a subject, my retention steadily increases. 

BRAIN MECHANICS

As I learned a little about how our brains work, I discovered my friend and I are not alone. 

Most people need repeated exposure to new information before they begin to comprehend new ideas and connect them to what they already know. 

If your students struggle to understand and retain what they learn, be encouraged! Few people possess photographic minds able to immediately grasp and retain new information the first time they encounter it. 

MEMORY IS LIKE A MUSCLE

Memory is like a muscle that is strengthened with use. Before we talk about how to develop it, let’s talk about goals. 

Are your students studying only what is necessary to pass a test? Or are they studying to truly understand the material?

The destination determines the path. . .

STUDY FOR A TEST

When taking tests that require students to store facts in their short-term memory, the following tips* may be helpful:

  • Engage Your Attitude: Choose to pay attention. Set your mind on success. Expect to remember (It is amazing how often we conform to expectations, whether negative or positive).

  • Engage Your Senses: Read aloud so your eyes and ears and vocal cords all receive an impression of the material. Slow down and gaze intentionally. Take a mental snapshot. 

  • Engage Your Mind: Ponder what you learn. How does it relate to what you already know? Review, review, review—and do so quickly. You are more likely to remember when you review material within 24 hours of first encountering it.
*This list is derived, in part, from Walter Pauk’s, How to Study in College as cited in Philosophy Adventure.

STUDY FOR UNDERSTANDING

All too often students strive to master memory techniques so they can pass exams—to the neglect of thoughtfully processing information and gaining true understanding.

They may earn an “A” for their efforts, but have they earned an education?

In our homeschool, we prioritized depth over breadth. Whenever possible, we dug deep into the subjects we studied. We analyzed and discussed issues and wrote about our discoveries. 

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

If you want your students to become truly educated, do not make a practice of superficial learning.

When it comes to developing long-term memory, nothing compares to the rewards gained by etching God's Word deeply onto the tablet of one’s heart (Prov. 7:3).

Memorize a book of the Bible as a family (We started with the book of Philippians). Apply your fine mind to a challenge worthy of your investment! 

With anticipation and joy (Phil. 1:4),

Stacy 

P.S. - For a deeper look at how to develop writing, thinking, and speaking skills as you explore the history of ideas, take a look at Philosophy Adventure. You can even get the first lesson FREE!

Stacy Farrell helps parents equip their children to stand for truth in the midst of this crazy culture. She writes about  time management motherhood celebrating manhood philosophy biblical worldview , and  writing . But her favorite job is being wife to Roger and mother to two precious sons. Learn more about her at   HomeschoolAdventure.com
Look up! The Winter 2019-2020 issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is coming December 1. Pre-order your copy and get ready to read about sky careers, fine arts and music, college prep, and much more! It includes fun family projects and a homeschool Freebie Directory.
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar

4 Steps to Reclaiming Calm

Parents dream of the day they will launch their children into adult life. One key to that successful launch is teaching your children study habits and helping them develop a strong work ethic. 

Study habits are learned over time. 
Building study habits is not like growing taller; it doesn’t just happen with regular feeding and exercise. Parents can shape and mold this character trait in their children. Like anything else we teach, this new skill develops in 4 steps. 
  1. Discuss what you want them to do.
  2. Demonstrate what should be done. 
  3. Practice the skill repeatedly.
  4. Perfect the skill over time. 

The four steps of discuss, demonstrate, practice, and perfect work with all kinds of habits and training. Whether you are teaching toddlers how to load the dishwasher, or teaching teens to develop study habits, remembering these four steps can help parents remain calm. 

Hard work teaches working hard. 
It’s hard work that actually teaches kids how to work hard. They need practice being challenged. They have to practice working hard physically (doing chores and manual tasks) but they also need practice working hard academically. That means parents have to arrange challenging learning opportunities, and it takes effort to plan classes and choose curriculum at the right level for their students. 

Thankfully, there is a curriculum specifically designed to teach a strong work ethic—math. When your children learn to work consistently at a difficult subject every day without fail, they are learning a strong work ethic. Include subjects that are difficult for your students so they understand the value of education, and that it’s worth effort. Be sure that each subject is at the student’s level, neither too easy nor too hard. They should be challenged, but not overwhelmed. 

Learn vocabulary for success.
Research indicates that understanding the vocabulary of a subject means you will understand about 80% of the subject. In other words, simply learning the vocabulary of a subject is at the core of good study habits. Create a list of words introduced in a chapter, and spend some time learning those words. Regular daily practice and repetition alone may help the student become familiar with new words. 

In many families, it can help for the teaching parent to meet with each student daily. A brief morning meeting provides time to arrange and explain assignments and review vocabulary words for the most challenging subjects. 

Practice note-taking regularly. 
In our daily life, we have to remember facts, and we often resort to writing them down so we don’t forget. Hand-written notes are a key strategy to remembering new information. Recent research shows that taking notes by hand, rather than digitally, is most helpful in learning. While there are many strategies involved in note-taking, the most important factor is practice. Like working hard and learning vocabulary, daily practice taking notes will be most helpful in developing good study habits. 

Students can practice note-taking at church, during online classes, or while using a video tutorial. They can take notes from their textbooks. Some teachers will allow open-note tests, and you can do that, too, from time to time, to encourage their new skills. 

Lee Binz,  The HomeScholar  is a dynamic speaker and  author   of over 30 books on homeschooling high school. She is an expert on  homeschool transcripts  and getting scholarships. Lee’s mission is to encourage and equip parents to homeschool through high school. You can sign up for her free  monthly homeschool e-newsletter  where you can also get a daily dose of high school help. Check out the  homeschool freebies    on the website. You can also find Lee on Facebook at  Facebook.com/TheHomeScholar .
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Contest Corner
for the month of October
Hang on to Jesus! Adventures Series and Teaching Guide from Little Saints Press offers a unique way to introduce and explain the gospel to young children. The series includes 11 sequential books that build on each other as you continue the program. Each book is hardcover, 29 pages, and full of colorful illustrations. The set came packed neatly in an upright keepsake box that allows all the titles to be clearly displayed.

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There are many more details about this book series in the full review on our site.

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