We write many posts for teachers, many for students, and also some that will be of interest to researchers. But did you know that we also write posts specifically for parents? Today, I wanted to bring together some of the tips we've accumulated, and add a few more. 

Manage expectations around homework

Homework is probably the first thing we think of as parents, when we think about how we might help our children succeed in school. Homework is a controversial subject, and we've published various posts about it on our blog (from researchers, teachers, and parents). Based on the scientific evidence, however, we can make 4 simple recommendations about how to handle homework:

1. Quality is much more important than the quantity. 
2. The goal of homework completion shouldn't be to "get it all done" and/or “get everything right”, but to make a concerted effort to attempt the task at hand. 
3. When giving feedback on your children's homework focus on how to turn mistakes into learning experiences rather than punishments.
4. Children should be doing roughly 10 mins of homework per night per grade (so a 3rd grade student might spend 30 minutes per night on homework). If your child is spending much more time than this recommended amount, you may want to speak to their teacher and ask about their reasons for assigning a heavy homework load – or whether your child might need some more support at school.

The suggestions above were based on this post. For more evidence-based information on homework, see here.

Help your children prepare for tests

At some point in your child's school career, they will come home and tell you that they have a test coming up. What can you do to help?

When to study

Often, we might try to remind/nag our children to study. Instead, we might help them plan out a study schedule as many days or even weeks ahead of the test as possible. This might seem counterintuitive to children who would rather only study for the test when it is imminent; but helping children get into the habit of spacing out their studying would be a valuable gift.

For more on encouraging spaced practice, see this post.

How to study

Do your children know what good "studying" actually involves? If not, you might suggest they start with retrieval practice. You can help facilitate this by quizzing your children from their notes or textbook. It's important to ensure that they know this is not just a check of how much they've learned - it's actually producing learning. If they'd rather practice on their own, you can show them simple retrieval practice techniques, such as putting away their notes and writing or drawing everything they know about a topic.

Create casual opportunities for spaced retrieval practice

You can help your child increase their learning by asking them what they learned or did at school. When your child is describing and explaining to you what they did in school and what they learned, they are actually reinforcing their learning. It’s ok if you don’t know much about the material they are describing – just let them do most of the talking! Sometimes, children won't want to answer such questions (ask me how I know). You may need to warm up a bit by talking about your own day, and giving them opportunities to ask you questions before you jump in with yours.

Balance intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

Ideally, we would want our children to be inherently (intrinsically) interested in their homework and their studies. That's the ideal, of course - but it's not always possible. For tasks or subjects that students are less interested in, small external rewards (extrinsic motivation) such as stickers won't hurt. However, be careful not to make those rewards too valuable, because disproportionately high rewards can actually decrease intrinsic motivation.

Model good learning strategies

One of the best things you can do for your children is to model effective learning strategies in your own behavior. If you're learning something right now (be it a language, a musical instrument, or perhaps a presentation for work), make sure you are practicing it in front of your children. For example, my husband is studying for a Japanese test that's a few months in the future, and modeling spaced retrieval practice by using a kanji app that's based on spaced retrieval practice and interleaving principles. This way, he's not forcing anyone to participate, but our children can see him practicing regularly and effectively.

Note: This post was based on a Facebook Live session sponsored by the Wellcome Trust. The session video was, unfortunately, removed by Facebook.

Source : https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2017/9/30-1

When you’ve worked so hard revising, don’t leave the last few hours before entering the examination hall to chance. Here’s how to make sure you’re ready

• The science of revision: nine ways pupils can revise for exams more effectively

Everyone has moments of self-doubt. For some, these thoughts are fleeting and quickly pass. But, as Shakespeare puts it, others find that their “doubts are traitors” which hold them back from fulfilling their potential. Elite athletes have long known the importance of a pre-performance routine. It allows them to focus on what’s important, helping them concentrate on the task at hand and execute their skills to the best of their abilities.

Could the same concepts work for students before an exam? With the scrapping of modular exams, more than ever students have to be able to perform under pressure. Unfortunately, more and more of them are reporting that they feel unable to cope, let alone thrive.

I have previously written about some of the best ways to maximise learning during revision time and how to minimise revision stress. But what simple tips can students follow on the morning of or lunch time before the exam to ensure those crucial final hours are used to their best effect?

Eat breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; the gap between dinner and breakfast is the longest your body goes without refuelling. Studies have shown that eating a typical breakfast of cereal, made up of complex carbohydrates, helps improve memory and concentration over the course of the morning.

Furthermore, researchers have found that those who eat a cereal breakfast regularly are “less emotionally distressed and have lower levels of perceived stress” compared with those who do not.

Arrive at school with plenty of time

Exams are stressful enough without the added worry of running late. Lateness tends to magnify everything; if people are a bit stressed or nervous, when running late they become more so. Follow the old maxim “if you are not early, you’re late” and you’ll be on the right path to starting your exams calmly and confidently.

Avoid people who stress you out

When it comes to school, the old maxim “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” seems to ring true. Research suggests teachers’ positive comments directly affect how students feel about themselves.

On the morning of your exam, think about who makes you feel calm and confident and actively seek them out. Avoid spending the time before your exam surrounded by people (friends or otherwise) who are particularly negative or who stress you out.

Remind yourself of all your hard work and preparation

This can be a great way to boost your confidence going into the exam. Taking a moment to reflect on all the hours of hard work you have put in will reassure you. This technique is often used by athletes in the build-up to pressurised competitions to help them perform. Also using this time to reflect on your previous successes should help boost your confidence.

Pause for a minute and take some deep breaths

When people are under pressure, they often underestimate how much time they have. This leads to them rushing and making sloppy mistakes that cost marks.

Focusing on taking a few deep breaths can act as a prompt to slow you down. Physiologically, this helps to lower your heart-rate and reduce tension. By slowing down or pausing for a moment, you allow yourself time to fully assess the situation, come up with a plan and decide the best course of action.

Remind yourself of your exam strategy

Legendary American football coach Bill Walsh wrote a great book, The Score Takes Care of Itself, in which he details his leadership philosophy. His approach was to focus on executing a game strategy and not worry about the goal tally. If you do this, he says, the result will often take care of itself.

The same is true during exams. Focus less on what grade you might get, and more on executing your exam strategy. This might mean the amount of time you should spend per question, reading each question first, writing five minutes of rough notes before answering the long question or any other technique. If in doubt what your exam tactic should be, ask your teacher; they will almost certainly have some helpful advice for you.

Final thought

When you have spent so much time working and revising for exams, it is a mistake to leave the last hour or two to chance. Nothing can ever guarantee success, but by executing the tips above, you give yourself the best chance of demonstrating your knowledge when it really matters.

Article source : https://www.theguardian.com/