Scaffolding kids to study effectively for exams
plus don't miss the 15% off Adapt Drinks sale!
Hello and thanks so much for reading. I know many of you have been with me nearly as long as the blog has been going (15 years!) and truly appreciate that you have been on this parenting journey with me.
Before I get onto helping kids study effectively for exams a quick reminder about the Adapt Drinks Sale. I am running a 15% off all orders sale until midnight Thursday 25th May. Click here to have your delicious drinks delivered to your door. The discount will be applied automatically at check out so need to worry about a discount code.
Now on to scaffolding!
Scaffolding in relation to children's education refers to a supportive framework or structure that adults, such as teachers or parents, provide to help them acquire new knowledge and skills. It involves providing temporary assistance and guidance to facilitate their learning process and increase their independence. It is building a bridge from where they are to the next level they need to get to.
In the lead-up to exams as kids are learning how to tackle them, scaffolding can be a useful approach to help them navigate through the challenges of studying and preparing for exams.
Below I have listed some steps you can follow to help scaffold your child through an upcoming exam period. The steps below assume this is the child’s first exam period. Our kids have had exams from year 7 so they are also targeted for kids of that age, a different approach may be required for older kids. The goal of this scaffolding exercise is to take them through this process (and maybe even get them to document it) so they can do this more independently for the exams at the end of the year.
Start by creating a study schedule - together with your child, develop a study schedule that covers at least the two-week period leading up to the exams. Ideally, they will have all their notes up to date by this point. As you sit with your child to do this, make sure you explain the reasoning behind why a study schedule is important and how it will allow them to study effectively for all of their subjects. This study schedule will mark out the blocks of time they have available for study given all their other commitments.
Break down the content - they will need to divide the content for each subject into smaller, manageable sections or topics. This breakdown helps them focus on one area at a time and prevents them from getting overwhelming with the volume of content they need to study for. For each subject, they should have a plan for the topics they will need to study. Usually the teachers will have also given them information on the key areas to study for so ask this question if they don’t bring this up.
Prioritise subjects and allocate study time - with all the above information they can now set about creating their full study schedule. Get them to identify the subjects that they are finding harder and will need to study more for. If they have some exams that are worth more than others, this will need to be taken into account as well. Show them how to allocate specific time slots for each subject and the specific topic for that subject, ensuring the appropriate distribution of study time. Place the schedule somewhere prominent where they can check it daily.
Discuss study techniques - kids new to exams will often just sit there and read over notes unless they are given guidance and advice on more effective study methodologies. Study methods that have worked well for our kids have been:
Active learning techniques - things like summarising information in their own words, creating flashcards for key concepts, or teaching the material to someone else. Engaging with the content actively enhances understanding and retention.
Using visual aids - visual aids like diagrams, charts, and mind maps can be particularly helpful for visual learners. Creating visual representations of concepts can help them better understand relationships and connections between ideas.
Using mnemonic devices - mnemonic devices are memory techniques that use acronyms, rhymes, or associations to aid in remembering information. For some kids creating their own mnemonics to remember lists, formulas, or other important details can work very well.
Practicing retrieval and self-testing - get them to regularly engage in retrieval practice and self-testing. This involves attempting to recall information from memory rather than simply re-reading or reviewing notes. It helps strengthen memory and identifies areas that need further review.
Practice past exam papers - this has probably been the most important strategy for our boys. Doing past or practice papers under time conditions allows them to know what areas they have locked in and what they need to work on. I offer to do the exam correction for them(answers are often on the school portal or equivalent) if they want me to. It is important that they actually correct the practice exam so they know what was right and wrong (you would be surprised how much some kids don’t want to do this part!)
Monitor progress and provide support - once they are set up I then let them run with it and just regularly check in with them to see how they are going. Often you can easily tell if they are sticking to their plan or not by the amount of time they are on their devices! I also let them know that I am happy to test them, mark exams or answer questions at any time.
Scaffolding is designed so you can gradually reduce support and foster independence in your kids. Each exam period I have aimed to do less with our kids so that by the time they are senior students they are self sufficient.
You also might like these articles on the blog related to studying:
Have a great rest of the week!
Nic