Study Skills and Time Management: More Frogs to Eat

In a previous posting on procastination and study skills, I admitted to being a chronic procrastinator, and offered up the metaphorical technique of eating a frog, which I recently learned, and now apply to my daily life. I also mentioned that we’ve incorporated this technique into the Time Management lesson of our Study Skills Program.

Recently, a reader reminded me that Mark Twain originated this frog metaphor.  Twain  advised, "If you have to swallow a frog, don't stare at it too long." His words have relevance for students facing the daily metaphorical homework-frog. On the macrocosmic scale, you can encourage your child to tackle homework as soon as possible after his arrival home. On the microcosmic scale, encourage him to tackle first the one subject with which he has most difficulty.

The longer she waits, the more tired your child will be. And, you'll want your child facing homework when she has the most energy--not at the end of the day, when she has the least.

(Games can revive flagging interest. In "Grace's Homework/Study Tips Blog" on October 11 , Grace Fleming encourages the use of games for cognitive development. More about that in our next blog, where we'll talk about games for improving vocabulary.)

KnowledgePoints math tutors know the importance of having regular routines so study habits do become habitual. Our staff members lay out processes for students to use as they tackle particular problems. (All work, after all, is process.) You can do the same by establish a process for studying or doing homework.
The process would include using the same "reserved" space every afternoon or evening, having good lighting, having all the tools necessary.

The process should begin with the student doing an assessment of what homework needs to be done, in which categories. (Note, there is no harm in having your child move from the reserved space from time to time. If it's easier for her to pace the halls while committing vocabulary words/ meanings to mind, that is fine. But, the home base, so to speak, should be clearly identified and all the tools kept there.)

Ideally, your child will also do a time estimate of how much time needs to be allocated. (Meeting and matching projected time frames is one of the best ways to develop left-brain or analytical skills.) Discuss with your child the point at which breaks should be woven in to the process.

Finally, briefly discuss the order in which the tasks will be accomplished--starting, of course, with the "froggiest."

Think Tutoring offers study skills and tutoring programs in Florham Park, Madison, Livingston, Morristown and other northern NJ communities.