Study Skills for Elementary Students

How Can I Teach Elementary Students Study Skills?

Elementary students, like all students, require a comfortable environment conducive to learning. It's important to teach your students how to practice healthy study skills in order to help ensure their academic success. Here are a few ways that you can help your students improve their study habits and skills.

Creating a Positive Environment

The environment you create in the classroom should put work before play, but still be stimulating enough to keep the interest of your students. Maintaining a balance between work and play and keeping a light attitude about both can accomplish this goal. Provide your students with an environment with as few distractions as possible. Keep classroom clutter to a minimum and maintain an aura of calm and quiet when student concentration is necessary. Implement specific routines and consistent strategies so that your students fall into positive mental routines.

Taking Notes

Note taking is a fundamental skill that your students will often develop gradually. You can teach your students note-taking skills by providing them with templates. For example, if you're teaching a lesson about the solar system, provide them with an outline of the unit. The outline should have blank spots for them to fill in information. As they learn new things about the solar system, they can complete their outline. Consider giving your students an assignment that requires them to use their notes so that they realize the value of this helpful study tool.

Creating Study Guides

You can also use templates or outlines when teaching your students how to make study guides for tests. Instead of expecting them to make their own study aide, provide them with a list of questions or a level-appropriate template that you've partially completed. For example, before a vocabulary test, give your students a list of vocabulary words and encourage them to fill out the study guide with their parent or caregiver.

Assigning Homework

You can also teach your students good study habits by assigning steady, manageable homework. When your elementary students know they'll have a math sheet for homework every night, for example, they'll learn how to budget their time. Beyond written homework, it's also a good idea to assign daily reading that will be discussed in class or in smaller reading groups the following day. Communicate the importance of creating an organized, quiet study space at home to your students' parents. Time will ideally be set aside in calm home environments in which your students will be able to concentrate.