It's the beginning of the school year, and there is no better time to encourage students to build successful study habits! Promoting strong study habits at the beginning of the year will help students get into a schedule of studying that works for them and will help students stay on track by curbing tendencies to slack off as the school year progresses.

Studying can be dreaded word to students, but it doesn't have to be. Giving a positive attitude to studying can help the chore of studying seem more appealing. Outline the benefits of proper study habits to your learners-less stress, more time for other activities, self-discipline, and good results on tests! Motivating students to study is a difficult task for any teacher. Some students are self-driven and don't have a problem spending time studying; others avoid it like the plague. Studying doesn't have to be defined as locking one's self in a room and burning a chapter of text into one's head.

Studying can be fun if approached correctly.

The first step to successful studying is for your student to define what kind of studier they are. Do they like to use index cards, review highlighted text, or retype notes? Many students are visual learners. Do your students move around in different rooms to study, study in a group, or have study by repeating hands-on activities? They are most likely kinetic learners. Do they repeat note cards out loud, memorize, or like music in the background? These are more likely auditory learners. Each student is different, so encourage each to try different approaches to see what works best for them. The age-old advice of finding a quiet space, set a time limit, and sit still might not be the best guidance!

No matter your students' study habits, there are some constant principles to good study habits that every student should follow. Here's a quick list to share with your class.

1. Schedule study times and places-and stick to it. Time management is a life-long skill all students need to master.
2. Attend class. Attendance and participation are essential elements to understanding concepts when studying.
3. Set realistic goals and priorities. If you want to make an A on that algebra test, the pep rally on Thursday night will have to be missed. Find the balance.
4. Prepare for exams ahead of time. Cramming may work for test day, but it doesn't mean students will remember material the next week. Constant daily review is the best approach.
5. Rewards help. Students can reward themselves for an accomplished goal. This could be just getting a good grade to a special dinner out.
6. Take notes. Notetaking helps students summarize important details and pay attention to testing information.
7. Review lessons. Repeating information is the key to memorization. Read for main ideas, review chapter summary, and complete questions
8. Complete study habit checklists. This helps students find areas for improvement.
9. Do homework right away. The sooner homework is done after a lesson, the fresher the concepts will be, and the sooner students don't have to worry about it.
10. Tackle tough stuff first. Avoidance doesn't help matters. Face the hardest problems first when minds are most active and receptive.

Help your students start the year of right by encouraging strong study habits. You can promote a positive attitude toward studying by modeling your behavior yourself. Answer the tough questions, prepare for lessons ahead of time, set realistic goals for your class, and set schedules for the year. Practice what you preach so students want to copy your good habits!

What study tips do you share with your class every year? What tips have you found to be successful?