The Homework Fix: How to Create Study Habits That Match Your Child’s Learning Style

Long-term academic and professional success relies on so much more than what students actually know: their ability to effectively process and manage information is critical to their success in any context. When it comes to improving this ability, it is helpful to move beyond generalized strategies to habits that are intentionally aligned with learners’ unique learning style and aptitudes. Homework, projects, and test preparation can be particularly overwhelming when students lack effective study skills or use methods that don’t align with how they learn (ie. a kinesthetic learner sitting still for hours of review without hands-on engagement or motion). A tailored approach to building these skills can transform nightly homework struggles into a manageable routine, while also significantly boosting both competence and confidence.

STRATEGY #1: THE VISUAL LEARNER 

Visual learners understand and retain information best when they can see and interpret information spatially. Study methods that emphasize color, graphics, images, and visual organization - while helpful to many types of learners - are particularly effective for students with this learning style. 

• Mind Maps and Graphic Organizers: Instead of using traditional or chronological note-taking methods, mind maps and graphic organizers can help students visually conceptualize the connections that exist between main ideas and supporting details. Using different colors for different topics can further enhance memory retrieval.

• Highlighting and Labeling: Students can strategically highlight and annotate the material, with an emphasis on written commentary and colored labels. However, highlighting is best reserved for essential terms and phrases to avoid visual overwhelm and a loss of clarity regarding what is truly important. Pictures or symbols can play a critical role in enhancing the lasting effects of any type of review. For instance, vocabulary terms and the names of key people or places can be correlated to related images to make these concepts less abstract and more experiential. 

• Visual Timelines: For sequencing tasks, creating a visual timeline on a whiteboard, digital platform, or large paper allows students to see the progression of events, making complex historical or literary narratives easier to comprehend and retain. It can also be helpful to emphasize the relationships between events. For example, students might examine how and why events unfolded the way they did, and explore how preceding events may have influenced later ones. 

STRATEGY #2: THE AUDITORY LEARNER 

Auditory learners excel when they can hear and discuss information. Their ideal study environment should prioritize sound, rhythm, and verbal repetition.

• Verbalization and Recitation: Instead of reading in silence, students can read notes aloud or share the material with a friend or family member. The act of speaking the information reinforces learning more meaningfully than rote, internal repetition. Further still, making a nightly practice of talking about what they are learning during dinner can strengthen family relationships while also supporting their ability to recall and explain new material.

• Recording and Listening: Recorded lectures or notes that students can then listen to multiple times can help solidify memory. Students can also create audio summaries of textbook chapters and listen to them during travel or exercise.

• Group Discussion: In addition to the many benefits that are natural to collaborative learning, structured study sessions where concepts are debated or explained from diverse perspectives can offer valuable auditory input and strengthen understanding through dialogue.

STRATEGY #3: THE KINESTHETIC LEARNER 

Kinesthetic (tactile) learners learn best when they are actively doing, moving, and interacting physically with new material. Effective strategies should find creative ways to incorporate motion and hands-on activities.

• Role-Playing and Movement: To study vocabulary or characters, flashcards can be correlated with an action (ie. jump for an adverb or clap for a verb). Focus and retention can also be improved by moving around while reciting facts, listening to an audio of the content/text, role playing key moments, or working through challenging problems on a walk. 

• Manipulatives and Experimentation: For nearly any subject, using physical objects (aka manipulatives) to represent concepts transforms abstract ideas into tangible experiences. For instance, students might use blocks for algebra, build models for anatomy, or create paper cutouts for grammatical elements that can be rearranged to help illustrate the relationship between clauses, phrases, and different types of punctuation. 

Personalizing how young learners approach their study skills empowers them to shift their focus away from simply completing homework to truly mastering the material through habits designed for their unique journey to success. When they reflect on their natural learning style and take action to implement strategies tailored to that, they strengthen and enhance their self-awareness, metacognitive thinking processes, and academic resilience - all essential components for lifelong learning.

Written by Brandi R.

Homework Help: 7 Targeted Strategies to Improve Focus and Sustained Attention

Social media notifications, texts from friends, siblings playing, and the TV blaring in the background—does it all feel chaotic yet? In a world filled with constant stimuli and distraction, it's all too easy for the mind to wander during precious homework time. Thankfully, there are many strategies you can implement at home to enhance your secondary students’ focus and attention for a more productive work time.

Set a Routine

Establishing a consistent homework routine is the first step toward more productive study sessions. It doesn't have to be complicated. Students should reflect on their most successful homework days. Did they start with a specific subject? Did they tackle harder or easier tasks first? Did they begin with a snack or listen to calming music? Identifying key elements and incorporating them into a daily routine can significantly improve focus. For those who prefer structure, written schedules with subject and time breakdowns can be helpful. Alternatively, creating a visual "my homework routine" chart on a whiteboard or piece of paper can also be effective.  For more ideas, check out our past blog about crafting the ultimate homework routine here.

Craft a Workspace

A conducive workspace is crucial for concentration and sustained attention. A clean, organized home workspace not only promotes focus but also offers psychological benefits. While some students may prefer a completely isolated workspace in a separate room, others might benefit from a corner close to family areas for occasional check-ins. Personalizing the workspace with touches that reflect individual interests fosters a sense of ownership and makes it a welcoming environment. See our past blog here for more ideas on how to create a home workspace.

Break it Down

Homework assignments for secondary students often involve multiple steps. Using a planning tool, such as a step-by-step worksheet, can help break down each assignment into manageable components, making them less daunting and more achievable. Setting a deadline for each step is also supportive.

Utilize Timers and Breaks

Introducing timers and breaks can aid focus during homework sessions. Phone apps, sand timers, and visual timers are all useful and can help determine the student’s concentration span. After each work interval, encourage a short 5-10 minute break to recharge before resuming work.

Build in Mindfulness and Exercise

Incorporating mindfulness techniques and physical activities can enhance sustained attention. During breaks, try integrating brief mindfulness exercises, like breathing exercises. The 4-7-8 breathing technique—inhaling for four counts, holding for seven counts, and exhaling slowly for eight counts—can promote a sense of calm and focus. Some students need movement breaks to get excess energy out. Students can try physical activities, such as yoga, jumping jacks, burpees, or jump roping.

Try Productivity Apps

Leverage technology to boost productivity. Install tools like Mindful Browsing to gently redirect attention back to tasks if distractions arise. Additionally, consider using apps that block specific websites or apps for designated periods to minimize distractions during homework time.

Introduce Rewards

Sometimes, a little incentive can go a long way in maintaining focus. Implementing reward systems, such as offering a weekly or monthly reward for completing homework tasks on time, or providing smaller daily rewards, like extra TV time or a treat, can motivate students to stay on task.

Focusing during homework time isn’t always easy, especially in today's digitally driven world. However, incorporating these suggested strategies can pave the way for increased sustained attention and productivity at home. By creating a conducive environment, establishing routines, and utilizing technology wisely, students can better navigate distractions and achieve academic success.

Written by Laine J.

Crafting the Ultimate Homework Routine

Creating a well-structured nightly homework routine can make all the difference when it comes to managing the pressures of middle school life! Middle school students have to balance an increasingly difficult workload, numerous extracurricular activities, time with family, and their social lives. This blog dives into specific strategies for crafting a homework routine that can help students streamline their study habits, ultimately leading to more academic success and more free time for preferred activities!

Understanding the Assignments

Before students can appropriately plan and manage their homework, it is important that they have a full understanding of the tasks at hand. Students should have a concrete and consistent method of keeping track of their assignments. Assignment trackers should include space for the assignment's name, any important details, a due date, and a way to indicate when the assignment is complete. It is also imperative that students understand the requirements of the assignment. The assignment tracker should be easily transportable between school and home so that students can check in with their teachers in class if there is ever any confusion about a particular task. Students can also ask their teacher about how long they expect an assignment to take.

Creating a Homework Schedule

Creating a homework schedule is key to ensuring assignments are completed in a timely and efficient manner. The first step is to take a look at the entire month. Consider purchasing a monthly whiteboard calendar to keep track of trips, sports games, appointments, etc. Then move into a weekly schedule. Write down when all activities that take place each day of the week, and then determine how much time is left to complete homework each day. Now, students will have a clear visual understanding of just how much time they actually have to study and work each day of the week. Consider using apps like Todoist or myHomework to help create these types of schedules.

Choosing the Right Workspace

Having a calm and quiet workspace can greatly enhance the study experience. In this previous Peak blog, a multitude of tips and tricks for creating the ultimate homework space were shared. Essentially, a home workspace should be free from the hustle and bustle of the home, have comfortable, upright seating, good lighting, and be clutter-free and organized.

Setting Up Good Homework Habits

Students need to experiment to find out what homework habits work best for them. For example, some students work better by tackling their easiest tasks first, while others might prefer starting with the most challenging ones. Some students might be night owls and able to work later into the night, whereas others might be more focused if they allocate extra time in earlier in the day to complete their work. Encouraging students to try out a few different methods can benefit them in the long run because they will discover what works best for them. A few other helpful homework habits include starting each session with deep breathing or a mindful minute, taking scheduled study breaks, or listening to calm instrumental music. This Peak blog also delves into some strategies for helping students when they have a hard time getting to work at night.

Creating a nightly homework routine will look different for each student. Expect it to take some time to figure out what truly works best for your child. Experimenting with different methods and honing in on the most useful ones for each individual will ultimately lead to better habits and academic success!

Written by Laine J.