How To Build Strong Study Habits—With Support From Horizon & Local Libraries

Children need to learn quality study habits. Then, once they develop them, it will make it easier for them to understand homework assignments going forward. Here are five helpful tips and how libraries and Horizon Education Centers can help.

#1 Provide a Designated Low-Distraction Space

Ensure that your child has a desk or other suitable space with relevant supplies nearby. As you choose a spot, make sure that they won’t get distracted by a nearby television set or be by a window that looks right out onto the family swing set. If needed, offer to get them a set of headphones to shut out noise. Edmentum suggests that parents allow their child to decorate and organize the space in ways they like so that they’re happier in the space.

#2 Ensure an Overall Comfortable Space

Make sure that the desk is the right height and the chair is comfortably right sized. Also ensure that the space comes with optimal amounts of lighting.

#3 Help Your Child Organize Time

Assist your child in determining how much time each piece of homework or project will take and schedule times to work on them. For some, it might be right after school; for others, it would be after dinner. Clocks, calendars, whiteboards, and so forth can help.

#4 Determine How Your Child Studies Best

Hopkins Medicine suggests putting key homework information on notecards and quizzing your child. Plus, having your child rewrite notes actually helps to encode information in the brain.

#5 Incorporate Breaks—and Praise

Just like with adults, kids can learn more effectively when the process of studying is well-paced. Studying every day works better than a last-minute cramming session, so incorporate regular study times. Also, reward your child for focusing and studying well, including the best reward of all: genuine praise.

Leverage the Library

The Cleveland Public Library System offers in-person free tutoring sessions, one-on-one or in groups, and homework help on Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at a dozen locations. Tutoring is available for an hour per person from Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The program is in collaboration with Cleveland State University’s America Reads tutoring services and Case Western Reserve University.

The Lorain Library Public Library System offers a free “Level Up” program with tutoring and homework assistance for students who live in Lorain, starting annually in October and lasting through the school year. This program is offered at the Main Library and the South Lorain Branch for students in kindergarten through eighth grade from 4:15 through 5:30. Parents can select sessions on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.

Get Support From Horizon Education Centers

Besides providing enriching educational materials in preschool and kindergarten programs, in our school-aged program offerings, children have time to expand their academic horizons and get a head-start on their homework assignments in the afternoon. They don’t have to do it alone, either: qualified teachers are available for homework help and tutoring.