Teaching your high schooler

[kfeusse]

Help me sort this out.  I bought the Abeka World History for my 10th grader next year.  I was just looking at the first chapters...comparing the quizzes and the tests for the first 3 chapters, also looking at chapter questions.  Often there is overlap from the homework and quizzes to the tests, but not always.  I know that unless I sit down with my daughter, reading and discussing the chapters, there is no way she will do very well on those tests.   Don't get me wrong, I am not against doing this, except with 3 kids, I don't always have time.  Plus, shouldn't she be able to do this by herself?  I know that doesn't happen magically...but I don't know how to guide her into this.  Without telling her what is on the tests, how do I help her figure out what she needs to learn and what she can ignore?  

 

How do you do this? With History, science or whatever subject.  

 

thanks.

[Hilltopmom]

Maybe try open book tests for the beginning of the year to ease her into it?

[kfeusse]

that's a good suggestion.    I even thought about maybe having her start the test closed book...and then for a limited time let her use the book to answer the questions she was unsure of.  

[Hilltopmom]

Btw- teachers in schools often to a "review day" where they basically tell the students exactly what is going to be on the test & what to study. Some even give out review sheets telling them exactly what to study. So, it's not out of line for you to do that either.

 

And open notes for tests is often common too, if not open book.

 

For my oldest taking Bio at home this year,I have him take his tests closed book but open book to redo any he gets wrong. I expect all answers corrected by him afterwards.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Hilltopmom

[Critterfixer]

:lurk5: My instinct would be to schedule evening study sessions with cinnamon toast and cocoa, and do the discussions of chapter reading at that time. Or on Saturdays. Maybe make up a topic sheet based on test questions for study help. But I'm curious to read other responses.

[Reefgazer]

Start small. By that I mean pick a small section of the chapter and learn it with her. By learning it with her, you will be giving her study tools and modeling learning, and teaching her things such as how to read critically, how to outline a chapter, how to take notes, how to commit things to memory, and how to think in broader terms of what is just on page. Basically a model learning with her using a small section of the chapter to do that.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Another idea is to give her the tests to fill out open book to help with making sure she is not just skimming.  Compose an essay question as the "test".  Or take one from a test if there are some on there.  Don't know what Abeka is like exactly, but a lot of history quiz stuff I see are just some seemingly random mix of multiple choice, fill the in the blank, etc.  I'd rather my kid come away with having learned an important overall concept. 

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

Honestly I would work on study skills intensively since in 10th grade she should already have these skills as well as testing skills mastered IMHO. This book is excellent and gives very specific advice on how to study:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517880857?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Edited March 18, 2016 by NoPlaceLikeHome

[Loesje22000]

For each science we have, I 'modelled' studyskills to dd.

We take turns for each section of a chapter.

And I do it with every firsts chapter.

 

Basically we make an outline but integrate vocab, definitions and formulas.

Dd has already learned in Middle School one also have to learn important pictures

So she adds that too.

 

She is now learning not to wait until the end of a chapter, but do it right after each section, and then review it before the test.

We have exit exams her, so study skills , test taking skills are pretty important, as each exam covers 2 years of topics.

 

As she is a strong student we set a minimum grade to get.

Not passing the minimum = retaking the test.

 

Dd had to see what I was doing to understand what I tried to explain about studyskills.

 

Unfortunetly I don't have tests for all subjects.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Honestly I would work on study skills intensively since in 10th grade she should already have these skills as well as testing skills mastered IMHO. This book is excellent and gives very specific advice on how to study:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517880857?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

 

Agreed.  This is a great book. We went through it this year in 8th and I feel like it was great skill-building she'll be able to use for the rest of her high school career.

 

Model, discuss, follow up.  Progress is not linear. You have to show them, show them, show them, and then keep on them, to make them incorporate their skills into their daily school life.  Telling isn't enough, you have to model, have them do it, and then follow up to make sure they are. I find the followup part the hardest - my problem, not dds.

[OneStepAtATime]

Would going through the Great Courses "How to be a Super Star Student" help?

 

[Mom22ns]

I would help her take notes on the chapter for the first chapter, then let her take the test open note. For the second chapter, she takes the notes on her own, test open note. I would then move to taking the test without the notes.

 

Taking the test open note will reward her for the effort, but it will also let her see if she is missing anything. If she doesn't do great on the first test she takes notes on, let her take a few more open note. If she really struggles, help her with the note taking again. She needs to learn the skill and then use it.