Exams can be super stressful for both parent and child. Take some time and read through these practical tips when it becomes time to prepare for exams.
- Teach your child how to identify key words. It is a learned skill and we sometimes assume children are able to do this automatically.
- Embrace repetition. Throughout the ages repetition has been, and remains, an essential part in memorising information. Make it a friend, not an enemy.
- Teach your child how to do a Mind Map. Certain subjects (and certain brain profiles) benefit greatly from converting words into picture-word combinations, such as in mind maps. Even for a learner who prefers summarising words to words (using bullet points, shortened notes etc.), this is an important skill at tertiary level when subject matter becomes a lot more than at school. Mind Maps then provide a great tool to summarise large volumes of information and provide an easy way to revise.
Start practising by mind-mapping an interest of your child. If you feel uncertain of how to teach mind-mapping, there are a lot of resources available online. A personal favourite of mine are the books and techniques of Tony Buzan.
- Practise visualisation as a technique to memorise information, lists etc. Practise creating an image or video in your mind that contains the facts that need memorising.
- Incorporate some humour, funny rhymes, tapping out rhythms, pulling of faces and acting out the facts etc. into studying and memorisation.
- Speak positively about subjects and teachers, regardless of your own like/dislikes.
- Taking breaks are important. A child needs to know that a break is coming to help him/her push through. This is especially true of the R1 student, who will have a hard time sitting in one place anyway.
- Know your child (brain profiles provide key information here): some children will need breaks more often. Lets put it differently - some children will benefit from studying for shorter bursts at a time.
- Don't encourage a child to cram information in a short period of time. This only fosters bad habits.
Research shows that information is retained better when it is not studied in this manner.
Varsity students cram information all the time, don't encourage this at school age.
- Teach your child how to plan and schedule.
- Practise drawing up a study roster. Knowing what to expect decreases stress, especially in the L2 child.
- Practise visualisation as relaxation technique.
- Practise abdominal breathing as relaxation technique.
- A diet of chips and cool drink won't suffice - eating healthy is essential.
- Use a good multi-vitamin.
- Little sleep is no-one's friend. Encourage and maintain good quality and enough sleep.
- TV and cellphones just before bedtime should be discouraged.
- Move - maintain an exercise routine. Some students relax when taking a break to go for a run or a cycle between study sessions.
- Get into a study group. This is especially true for the R2 learner.
Be mindful when choosing who joins the study group. All members must have the same goal - getting through and memorising the information.
- Practice alternative ways questions can be asked. Some learners are not baffled by the information learnt but by the way the questions are asked.
- Remember that not all children can sit still at a desk. Moving around, talking, acting things out etc. are important ways of studying to many children, especially the R1 and R2 learners.
- Know whether your child is a kinaesthetic, auditory or visual learner. You will have greater patience and empathy with your child moving around a lot or talking through the work out load, when you realise that that is how they need to learn.
- Encourage your child to listen attentively in class. This is paramount for the auditory learner.
- Always ensure there is stationery for notes and mind maps at hand. Variation in colour, pens that have different smells etc. can be beneficial.
Always remember that your child is not their marks!
