As students progress through school, learning to manage their time becomes increasingly important. They begin to have many more tests to study for, essays to write, projects to complete, and homework assignments to turn in. While some students are naturally able to manage these tasks well, all students can benefit from concrete time management strategies.

Taking effective notes can be a challenging task for almost all students. They must listen to their instructor, process the information, and organize their notes on paper, while remembering to include the key details. Even the most gifted of students can feel overwhelmed by this process. Learning strategies for organizing information that they both hear and read can help students excel academically.

Sounding out simple words and correctly writing letters are paramount skills to Kindergarten success. With a solid foundation in each of these skills, students will have the early tools they need for excelling in school. Yet not all preschools emphasize these skills, and not all children even attend preschool. As a parent, there are several techniques you can do at home to help your child build these core skills. Grab some note cards, markers, colored sand, and a cookie sheet – and read below for some fun, engaging, and of course educational activities that you can do at home.

Do you find that your child has interesting, smart, and creative ideas but struggles to put them down on paper? Many students are unsure how to begin the writing process, how to write well-organized thesis statements, and how to structure each of their body paragraphs. As the writing demands of school increase, these struggles tend to follow. Yet learning the steps for composing a well-written five paragraph essay can help all students improve their writing.

Taking both in-class and standardized tests can bring anxiety to just about any student. The mere thought of being timed, having to recall information studied, and correctly answering different types of test questions often creates an overwhelming sense of panic. Learning strategies for how to best prepare for these exams, however, can help students feel relaxed and prepared to tackle all types of exams.