This Post: Help Your Teen Study Smarter, Not Harder: 8 Proven Study Methods
Written By: The Raising Teens Today Community
Looking back, there have been dozens of times I’ve watched my kids put their heart and soul into studying for a test only to have them score a less-than-impressive grade.
“But Mom… I swear I really DID study. It’s just so unfair!”
“I’m so disappointed. I studied so hard for that test and I bombed.”
What’s hard for me as their mom is seeing the disappointment in their eyes when they studied so incredibly hard only to have them fail or end up with (in their eyes) a grade that didn’t reflect the effort they put into knowing the material.
It wasn’t until my oldest daughter started high school that it occurred to me that while I was diligently reminding her to study for upcoming tests, what I wasn’t doing was teaching her HOW to study.
After conducting research on the subject and passing along tried and true study techniques to my daughter, we saw almost immediate results.
Parents, our kids can’t be expected to know HOW to study. It’s a skill that must be taught. A skill, that unfortunately, the vast majority of schools don’t teach.
Here’s how to help your kids study SMARTER, not HARDER.
Help Your Teen Study Smarter, Not Harder: 8 Proven Study Methods
1. Pomodoro Technique
One of the most widely known and effective study methods is The Pomodoro Technique. The method involves studying for a set period (typically 25 minutes) followed by a short break (5 minutes). After three cycles, a longer break (15-30 minutes) is taken.
Why It Works: This method focuses on intense study and work sessions with break sessions in between which can help prevent kids from feeling burned out staring at a book or trying to concentrate for too long of a period. Timing their intense study and knowing they have an upcoming break can help them handle their intense study periods and stay focused.
Statistics: A study by Cirillo (creator of the Pomodoro Technique) found that users of this method reported a 25% increase in productivity and better time management skills.
Check out this article that offers a great introduction to the Pomodoro Technique
2. Mnemonics
Mnemonics are memory aids that can help your teen retain information through associations, such as acronyms, rhymes, or visual images. (I remember my kids’ middle school teachers sometimes came up with songs to help my kids memorize material… it worked!)
Why It Works: Mnemonics simplify complex information and make it more memorable by linking it to familiar concepts or patterns.
Statistics: Research by Bellezza (1981) found that mnemonics can improve recall accuracy by up to 80% compared to traditional study methods.
3. Dual Coding
Dual coding involves combining verbal and visual information. For example, your teen can create diagrams, infographics, or mind maps to accompany their written notes.
Why It Works: Combining different forms of information engages more areas of the brain, which makes it easier to understand and remember material. Adding visuals to a verbal description can make the presented ideas more concrete, and provides two ways of understanding the presented ideas.
Statistics: A study by Mayer and Anderson (1991) found that students who used dual coding performed 55% better on tests than those who only used verbal or visual information alone. (IMAGE: UK KNOWLEDGE BASE)
4. Mind Mapping
A mind map is a visual way to organize and learn information. It can help your teen break down complex information, memorize information, and see the connections between different ideas.
Why It Works: Mind maps help organize and structure information, making it easier to understand and remember.
Statistics: A study by Farrand, Hussain, and Hennessy (2002) found that mind mapping increased long-term memory retention by 10-15% compared to traditional note-taking. (Image: Chloe Burroughs)
5. Feynman Technique
Named after physicist Richard Feynman, this study technique involves students trying to teach and/or explain a concept in extremely simple terms – as if they were teaching it to a child.
If their explanation is too long-winded, complex, or confusing, it’s an indication that they need to gain a deeper/better understanding of the material.
Why It Works: Teaching or explaining a concept to others forces your child to organize and clarify their thoughts, which can help them comprehend and retain the information better.
Statistics: A study by Fiorella and Mayer (2013) showed that students who used the Feynman Technique scored 25% higher on tests than those who did not.
6. Handwriting Notes (As Opposed to Typing)
Want your child to REALLY retain the information they’re learning? Encourage them to write their notes down as opposed to typing them on a computer. Research has shown that taking notes by hand allows students to retain and recall the material better than typing notes on a computer.
Why It Works: Writing down material involves a more in-depth processing of the material that’s being written, whereas when students type their notes they tend to type whatever the teacher/professor is saying in a way that involves a relatively shallow cognitive processing of the material.
Statistics:
- An experiment on word recall and recognition showed that students remember lists of vocabulary words better when they write them by hand compared to when they type them on a computer.
- A similar study on the topic showed that taking notes using the pen-and-paper method leads to better recall ability than typing them up.
- A study on note-taking in the classroom showed that students who take lecture notes by hand generally perform better in tests on those lectures than students who type their notes on a computer.
7. Active Recall
Active recall involves actively stimulating a student’s memory during the learning process. Instead of passively reviewing notes or textbooks (and getting lost in a sea of words on a page), they actively test themselves on the material via flashcards, practice tests, and self-quizzing.
Why It Works: Studies have shown that active recall is significantly more effective than passive review. This method forces the brain to retrieve information from memory, strengthening neural connections and improving retention.
Statistics: A study by Roediger and Butler (2011) found that students who used active recall techniques scored 50% higher on average than those who used passive study methods like re-reading notes.
8. Blank Page
This study technique works by putting all notes and study guides aside, taking a blank sheet of paper, and writing as much about the subject as possible.
Why It Works: Not only does writing what they know help them absorb and memorize the information but it’s a great way for your teen to see (in black and white) what they know and what they don’t know and where they should focus their efforts.
Try Multiple Study Methods
To maximize the effectiveness of these study methods, tell your teen to try combining them! For example, try using the Pomodoro Technique with the use of graphics, flashcards, or mapping. Encourage them to use whatever tips or tricks they can to help them understand and retain the information. Everyone learns differently!
Studying Smarter, NOT Harder
Effective studying isn’t just about the amount of time our kids spend staring at notes and reading textbooks, it’s about actually learning the material (not simply memorizing the material) and retention.
By using these proven study methods, your middle schooler, high schooler, or college student can optimize the time they spend studying – because it’s all about studying smarter, not harder – and achieve greater academic success.
If you enjoyed reading, “Help Your Teen Study Smarter, Not Harder: 8 BEST Study Methods,” here are a few other posts you might like!
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