Study Tips For Students Pursuing High School Homeschool Programs

Starting in middle school, parents should work with their teen to help them learn and understand their personal study habits. This will be different for every student so techniques that work for one child will not necessarily work for another which is why it is important opening this conversation early. Online homeschooling allows for flexibility and schedule customization because students are not in a traditional classroom or limited by a specified class time. Indeed, one reason that teens prefer online high school homeschool programs is the ability to make their own schedules and work through an online portal at their own pace.

High school requires a great amount of study time because of the complex concepts and ideas within each subject. So, it is necessary to set time aside for study and to prepare notes in advance as this adds value to the learning process. There are different approaches that teens apply in determining which techniques work for them.  This process may take experimentation throughout the school year to see what technique works best and helps the student retain the information. Some of the options include using different colored pens, highlighting key words in their textbook or e-book, creating note cards with terms and definitions for self-quizzing or something basic- like reading through the textbook multiple times. Properly done notes are ideal for test prep throughout the year and then as the student prepares for the semester exams.  Good notes allow  the student to avoid having to go back through each textbook:  Instead, the student can rely on their clear and detailed notes for semester exam study purposes.

Some teens are naturally organized and enjoy making schedules, but if this is not something they do on their own, then parents should help them find a flexible structure that the teen can manage. The best high school homeschool programs include a lesson planner with each course to help students stay on track with assignments.  But students must recognize that study time is required over and above the time spent on lesson in the online portal. Students who plan their week in advance can review the work that needs to be done and then build their schedule with sufficient study time built in.  This ensures that their school work is balanced with family life and social activities, while allowing breaks and rest periods for health and wellness. One resource tool used by omeschool students is the practice, which can involve online material, teacher provided material, or material created by their involved parents. Taking these practice tests to prepare for major exams allows students to check their understanding of the material and to see if their study habits are working.  
 
Habits take time to develop, so it  is a good idea to start looking closely at study habits before the student gets into high school. Middle school is the transition period where the work is advancing in complexity from elementary school to the much more difficult high school level where bad study habits can make a big difference in grades. And another reason to encourage middle school students to create personal study techniques now is to help them manage stress; Organized and familiar tasks make the routine easier and more manageable when there are multiple subjects, elective classes and other activities that need to be balanced.