As kids return to school, there is already anxiety about homework and parents are already rehearsing the tried, but maybe untrue, advice regarding homework and studying – find one place to study, study material until you master it, don’t move on to more complex material until you know the basics, etc. In addition, parents do their own homework to make sure that a teacher’s teaching style matches their children’s style of learning. However, as pointed out by Benedict Casey (NY Times, 9/6/10) there is research which points to some counter-intuitive advice that really makes a difference.
* VARYING THE STUDY PLACE is important for retention. So instead of insisting that Johnny do all of his homework in his room, having hims also study in the kitchen or den is beneficial because the brain makes multiple associations with the material studied.
*VARYING THE MATERIAL STUDIED in a single sitting also makes a difference. For instance, it’s a good idea to alternate between studying vocabulary words and working on an essay.
*VARYING THE MATH PROBLEMS IN AN ASSIGNMENT. Rather than concentrating on one problem set, mixing up the assignment forces the brain to really learn the material rather than a set approach. This is important in studying for a test. Mix up the problems when studying.
*SELF-TESTING AS A MEANS OF LEARNING THE MATERIAL. Cognitive scientists see practice tests and quizzes as a tool of learning since the harder it is to learn something, the harder it is to forget it. Quizzing your student in the living room on material learned in the den is a good idea.
*There is no empirical evidence that a certain teaching style is better for children than others. Good teachers can teach any child by recognizing those who need visual reinforcement and those who can learn best from oral presentation. A mixed style of delivery benefits all students.
I always believe that if something isn’t broken, why fix it. So if your child’s study habits are working for her, just leave it. But, if you can’t get her to stay in her room, stick to one subject at a time or learn the material in one sitting, that's OK. She may just do better in the long run.
