Effective Study Strategies for Middle Schoolers – Updated

Middle school life can be quite an adventure for children. Some may enjoy studying, while others may not be as enthusiastic about it. 

And, of course, parents are often worried about their children’s academic progress. 

But can you blame them? 

Middle school is a time of change and growth, both physically and emotionally. Children need to stay focused on their studies to ensure a bright future. 

So, whether kids love or hate it, they have a lot on their plate, and they need all the study tips they can get to excel in their exams and achieve their goals. 

In this article, we’ll explore 5 study tips for middle school students.

5 Study Tips for Middle School Students

1. Create a study schedule

A study schedule can help students prioritize their tasks and ensure they have enough time to focus on all the subjects. For example, a student might set aside 30 minutes daily for math, 45 minutes for English, and an hour for science. 

By following a schedule, students can avoid cramming and feel less stressed during exam season.

But creating a study schedule is not enough – sticking to it is just as important. One power tip to help with this is to set realistic goals for each study session. 

Instead of aiming to finish an entire chapter in one sitting, break it down into smaller sections and focus on understanding each part thoroughly. 

This will make it easier to track progress and achieve smaller milestones along the way, keeping motivation high.

💪Power Tip: Creating a study schedule and sticking to it takes discipline and effort. During study hours, keep all screens away from your study desk. Sit with everything you need to study, including a water bottle and emergency light. 

2. Find a quiet study space

A study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that students who studied in a quiet environment performed better on a reading comprehension task than those who studied in a noisy environment. These students were better able to remember and recall information.  

If your child finds it difficult to concentrate in complete silence, allow them to listen to instrumental music or ambient noise to help drown out distractions. 

Just make sure the music or noise isn’t too loud or distracting. Let them experiment with different types of music or noise to find what works best for them. And remember, the goal is to create a calm and focused environment to help them study better.

💪Power Tip: There are hundreds of study playlists available on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Just find the style of music that works best for your ward, whether it’s classical, instrumental, or even lo-fi beats. 

3. Take notes

Writing helps us remember faster, thanks to the power of visual memory. Taking notes during class is a great way to capture important information and help retain it better. 

When we write something down, our brain processes the information differently than when we just hear it. This enables us to remember the information more effectively. 

Additionally, using different colors and highlighters can help make our notes more engaging and visually stimulating, aiding retention. 

For example, encourage your child to use one color to highlight key terms, another to underline important concepts, and another to jot down related ideas or questions. 

By reviewing notes regularly and incorporating them into their study sessions, they’ll be well on their way to academic success.

💪Power Tip: If the child is a fan of going paperless and prefers the convenience of digital tools, there are plenty of note-taking apps available, such as Notion and Google Docs.

These apps can help them keep their notes organized and easily accessible, even when on the go or taking a break from school.

4. Review and practice

Reviewing and practicing regularly is key to success in any academic subject. Waiting until the night before an exam to study is a recipe for disaster, as it is impossible to absorb all the information in such a short time. 

Instead, encourage children to review notes and practice problems or questions regularly, ideally on a daily or weekly basis.

For example, if they’re learning algebra, they can practice solving equations and problems every day after class rather than waiting until the day before the test to start cramming. This approach will help in a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Additionally, it will help them identify areas where they need more practice and seek additional help if necessary.

💪Power Tip: Spaced repetition technique improves long-term retention and recall of information. Instead of reviewing all the notes in one go, they can break them into smaller chunks and review them at intervals. Flashcards or a spaced repetition app can implement this technique in the study routine.

5. Ask for help

Asking for help when struggling with a concept or subject is an essential step in the learning process. It’s difficult to admit that we don’t understand something, but it’s important to remember that everyone needs help sometimes. 

Teachers and classmates are there to support children and provide additional explanations and guidance to help them.

💪Power Tip: Encourage children to be proactive and seek help early on if they struggle with a concept or subject. They shouldn’t wait until the last minute or until they’re completely lost. 

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