How can I help my teenager manage his study time?

Today’s teens face jam-packed schedules with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, part-time jobs, and the list goes on. It’s no wonder they feel overwhelmed and frustrated, and many are not achieving their full potential in school, even with the best of intentions. The key to making the most of your child’s study time—that is, developing effective time management skills—is to create good habits. Although habits are best developed at the beginning of the school year, any time is better than none to start a program that will encourage a better study routine, reduce frustration, and avoid the dreaded ‘Why didn’t you do your homework?’ confrontations

Good Habit 1: Create a distraction-free study area.

The bedroom is sometimes the worst place for your child to concentrate, since the TV, computer, books, and game system are all within easy reach. Rather, the dining room can provide the large, quiet space your child needs to work. Although teens may be reluctant to break out of the autarky of their bedrooms, they soon notice that they are more focused, feel better about their work, and may even finish homework faster than when surrounded by their usual distractions.

Location, however, is not the only consideration. Students must also disable instant messaging on their computers and turn off their cell phones and iPods. Parents will no doubt hear complaints about this, but if students set aside an allotted time for homework, at the same time every day, they’ll really appreciate the free time and unlimited texting that follows. Of course, positive reinforcement from parents in the form of praise and the occasional pizza wouldn’t hurt either.

Good Habit 2: File and Organize work.

* A PLANNER is a student’s most important tool for keeping track of daily assignments. Allow your child free reign over the choice of planner, as long as she has enough space to multitask each day. Your child should remember to record each assignment as soon as it is handed out in class. This takes some getting used to, but is well worth the effort.

* A WALL CALENDAR is an effective visual reminder of upcoming exams and project due dates. It should contain important dates, not daily assignments, and should be posted in your child’s study area. The calendar will serve as a reminder for your child to start work before a big deadline, and you can avoid those harrowing cramming sessions or sleepless nights caused by unexpected (read: missed or forgotten) test dates or deadlines.

* Throughout the semester, your child accumulates a forest of notes, handouts and graded assignments, which often leads to illness “Just in case.” Students lug heavy backpacks full of work they think they might need, can’t pinpoint, or simply haven’t put away, creating an organizational nightmare and a physical burden that would make any chiropractor cringe. Reserve a shelf and drawer at home exclusively for your child’s school supplies, supplies, and textbooks. The shelf should house never-leave-the-home folders where your student can file notes and completed unit assignments. This will not only keep their notebooks and backpacks clean, but it will also make it easier for them to find old assignments and tests when checking for midterms or finals.

Good Habit 3: Know and use your support systems.

Having trouble communicating with your child’s teachers? Schoolteachers are often embroiled in their own battles with time management. Teachers in New York City public high schools, for example, are responsible for up to 170 students per day (not to mention cafeteria service, department meetings, and administrative duties). Here are some resources that parents may find helpful:

*School websites provide calendars listing upcoming school events and activities, midterm and final exam schedules, and teacher and administrative contact information. Some teachers may even have sites online where they post assignments and test dates.

*Ask your child to write down the phone numbers of classmates who they can call to check on HW assignments, or who can get notes on days they were absent from school. If your child is reluctant to do so, ask the teacher to introduce them to a couple of dependent classmates.

* Many public libraries sponsor toll-free online or telephone homework help lines, staffed by qualified teachers or tutors, which schoolchildren can access from their homes. Check with your local library or Google “homework help” [city name]” to see what’s available in your area.

Busy schedules overwhelm and confuse even the most motivated students, but by implementing good study habits, students learn that organization and effective time management can ease the stress of clutter, and that an hour and a half of homework a day, in a quiet place, with their planner by their side, can boost their self-confidence and grades.