How To Study

One of the most important skills acquired by campers who attend SuperCamp is learning how to study more effectively. The study skills taught at SuperCamp enable students to be more efficient and productive with the time they devote to studying.

Parents can play a supporting role in helping their kids learn better study skills. Learning how to study includes creating a positive study environment at home, which can make a big difference in the student's ability to learn and retain new information.

Learning how to study begins with awareness of an important concept that we use at SuperCamp known as Everything Speaks. It means that everything in the environment sends a message that either enhances or detracts from learning. Think about tidy versus cluttered chaos, light and airy versus dim and dark, inviting and functional versus any old place.

As they say in real estate, location is everything. It's the same when learning how to study. Find a place that's quiet and free of distractions; so, if possible, not the family room or the dining room table! The ideal is a defined study area in your child's bedroom.

Make sure home study areas have good lighting (natural light and a lamp), shelves for reference books and supplies, and a computer, if needed. Obviously, they'll also need a desk or table with space for their study materials as well as a work area that's not cramped. And a comfortable "sit-upright" chair will help them stay alert and focused; this point should not be overlooked as one of the very important study skills to help the process of learning for kids.

Make sure your kids don't have to waste valuable study time looking for a pen! Help them stock up on pens, paper, and pencils, and have them all within reach, not just somewhere in their room! Also make sure they have whatever reference material they need.

Some classical music is "brain friendly" and enhances the study environment. Baroque music helps students to focus and to access their most resourceful learning state. The music optimizes the functions of the brain that store and retrieve information. Many (most?!) children will think that their own music is best, but try to convince them to try baroque-they may well notice that it makes their study time easier, and want more! Suggest that they download some Bach, Handel, or Vivaldi for while they're studying and save their own music for breaks. By the way, it works for working as well as for kids' learning!

So, study environment goes hand-in-hand with study skills in helping students learn how to study more effectively. Another aspect of learning how to study is improved memory techniques. During SuperCamp's memory course, students learn new study skills to improve memory retention and information recall, which comes in very handy when it's time to take that test or final exam. Memory skills involve imagination and association, two strategies that we employ with campers to sharpen their ability in this area.

Another critical aspect of learning how to study better and more efficiently is a student's reading skill. At SuperCamp, we teach students how to increase both speed and comprehension. Clearly, reading skills are directly entwined with study skills, as most studying entails reading. If a student is not absorbing what he or she is reading while studying for a test, or worse yet, falling asleep, then the results are going to be disastrous despite the time invested. You can learn more about our reading skills instruction on our reading comprehension.