Midterm exams are approaching for high school students. For many freshman and sophomore students, this will be their first experience taking midterm exams.
Learning to study for several high stakes exams and complete long-term projects simultaneously can feel intimidating and anxiety-inducing. However, it doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming; learning to master executive functioning skills such as planning ahead, breaking tasks down into smaller pieces (sometimes called chunking) and managing one’s time can help students feel confident and reassured that they can get through these exams successfully.
Read through the tips below to help your teen create a successful game plan for their upcoming exams.
Plan it Out with a Calendar.
Post up a monthly dry erase calendar in a high traffic area, such as your child’s room or in the kitchen, wherever they study. Mark the dates of each exam and then working backwards, refer to the review materials or project requirements to chunk out sections to study, also deciding when these chunks of material will be worked on. Add these details to the calendar and use this as a tool to steer the daily study plan.
It’s important to set realistic study goals, however. Not everyone can study for three hours straight! Make sure your child carves out time to take breaks. It’s important to get up, get fresh air and get the body moving!
Why Chunking Works.
Separating a large amount of information into smaller sections makes information easier to retain and recall. This is due mainly to how limited our short-term memory can be. Chunking allows people to take smaller bits of information and combine them into more meaningful, and therefore more memorable, fragments. For example, if you are working with a list of vocabulary words, you might create small groups of words that are similar or related to one another.
Strike a Power Pose.
Walking into a big exam can make anyone feel nervous. Researchers have found that when one makes themselves "small" by slouching, crossing their arms or keeping their head down, they in fact feel less confident about the tasks they are aiming to accomplish. Studies show that the opposite may be true - when you're stretched out to make yourself "large" you feel more confident. Strike a power pose - try putting your hands on your hips with a widened stance and your head held high. How do you feel? To learn more about the influence of body language, check out Amy Cuddy's inspiring TED Talk.
Every student has a different learning style. For an individualized plan customized to your child's needs, please contact Dana Aussenberg at danaaussenberg.com or email dana@danaaussenberg.com.