Holy trinity episcopal academy

Letter From a Former Procrastinator

By Mrs. Wendy Durrance, Lower School Counselor/Schoolwide Testing Coordinator
Hello, my name is Wendy Durrance, and I am a former procrastinator. Gasp!
 
Yep, your Lower School Counselor was known for waiting until 11 p.m. on a school night to complete an assignment that was due the next day because, as I used to say, “that is when I did my best work.” You will be pleased to hear that I have grown in this area, and I am now completing this blog post three days before it is due. Progress! On the bright side, this imperfection of mine has taught me some things along the way that, as the counselor, help me relate to our students who struggle in this same area.
 
Mastering the art of studying is a difficult task, and it is an area that many students struggle with, whether they are a fourth grader in elementary school or a senior in high school. Like any skill we teach our children (Math, English, Science, social-emotional skills, etc.), the ability to properly study is one that needs to be taught to them over time, and not just as a one-time conversation. Two barriers I frequently see among students are disorganization and lack of time management. Below are some tips that you can review with your child to help them become better equipped to handle their school workload.
 
  • Organize your backpack, locker, and desk (school and/or home): These areas should not be an endless pit of loose papers, old projects, stale food (you know it happens) and other non-school materials. The more organized your space, the more peace you will feel when tackling those important assignments or studying for a test.
  • Use your planner: This was life-changing for me, but it wasn’t something I used (appropriately) until I was an adult. Growing up, my school planner is where I would place my sticker collection. Help your child find a planner format that works for them, and show them how to plan for assignments, tests, extracurricular activities, appointments… and days off! It takes time to make this a habit, but science proves that writing it down that helps you retain information better.
  • Refocus prior to focusing on the task at hand: Stretch before sitting down, eat a snack, go to the bathroom, take out what you need (planner, writing utensils, text book, paper, etc.), and minimize any outside distractions. That means you probably should not have your cell phone right next to you because I know how tempting that notification sound can be. Most students also have a particularly bad case of FOMO. (Parents, in case you did not know, that means “fear of missing out.”). To help with this, set a timer every 20-30 minutes, depending on age of the child, to take a break.
  • While in class, take effective notes: Note-taking helps you pay attention, understand better, and remember more. Always label your notes so they are easier to find when studying. Copy everything the teacher puts on the board. If she took the time to do that, it is probably important and will show up somewhere later, like on a test. Your teacher will also use verbal cues. If your teacher says, “this is important” or “don’t forget this,” you should probably write it down.
  • Now that you wrote effective notes, review them: Read them out loud or explain the lesson to someone. Create flash cards and have someone quiz you. Highlight important parts, not an entire sentence or paragraph.
  • Prepare! Taking quizzes and tests can be a nerve-wracking experience if you are not prepared. While you may think that you do your best when you procrastinate, research shows that recall increases when study time is spread out over time. Utilize the tips above and you will learn that success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
 
Signed,
 
A Former Procrastinator
 
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Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

Ranked #1 Best Private K-12 School in Brevard County

Schoolwide Phone: 321-723-8323
Fax - Lower School: 321-723-2553
Fax - Upper School: 321-241-6422
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