Some Strategies to Help Students Build Good Learning Systems
Improved organisation can help students achieve well
There will always be some students you teach who find it hard to organise themselves.
They leave behind them a trail of unfinished projects, partly completed homework and a lot of excuses as to what stopped them doing what they needed to do.
As a teacher of 30 years, I’ve heard lots of excuses from students about why work hadn’t been completed. I’ve often thought that most of these students need a hand in creating a study system that works for them.
Helping students develop systems to learn well is crucial for their academic success and personal growth. All students can face challenges that make it more difficult for them to focus and achieve their study goals.
Understanding these challenges and providing effective strategies that they can use, can help them to create learning habits that last a lifetime. .
Recognising the challenges that students face when trying to study well
Not all students have support from friends and family.
Some students come from homes where study space is limited or not available. Some students come from homes where education is not a priority and encouragement to stay motivated and on track with their studies is non existent. Sometimes this can be due to financial issues in the home so that text books, stationery and technology are not available.
These young caregivers must grow up quickly and find a way to balance schoolwork with their responsibilities, leaving little room for rest or self-care.
Even students who have a conducive study environment and want to do well academically can struggle with motivation. The temptation to put things off, or to feel overwhelmed with what they need to learn, together with a lack of confidence in their abilities can stop them even starting on what they know they need to do.
Recognizing these diverse challenges is the first step toward helping students build systems that support their learning journey.
Building good systems that help students organise their studies
Organizational systems can help students learn better and help them to manage their time well. Here are some strategies I’ve used to help students stay on track with their studies.
Creating a study schedule
I have a template that I give to my students at the start of the week to help them plan the week’s study. I keep it simple and straightforward and encourage students to assign a day and time to each task making sure that they haven’t missed anything.
For tech-savvy students, using apps or phone reminders can be a game-changer. Apps like Google Calendar or specialized tools like notion and todoist, allow students to set reminders, track deadlines, and visualize their tasks in an organized manner.
2. Organising Study Materials
Keeping school folders, books, and notes in order saves time and minimizes frustration.
I ask my students to put folders together with topics in alphabetical order in the folder for easy access. I remind them that they should put their folders in a particular place so that they can be easily found and used when needed. Extra materials needed for study like pens, pencils, rulers, etc should be kept nearby as well.
3. Engaging with Peers and Teachers
Learning is often made easier when students work with others.
Encouraging students to form study groups with peers can provide valuable opportunities to discuss challenging topics, share insights, and gain new perspectives.
If certain concepts remain unclear, students should feel comfortable seeking help from teachers or tutors. Building a supportive academic network fosters a sense of community and shared purpose.
4. Weekly Reviews and Adjustments
I ask students to review their study schedule each week to make sure that it still works for them. They should also make notes about what worked, what didn’t work and write down any changes they need to make so that studying the following week is a more efficient process.
This is the template I give my students to use. I know that most find it a useful aid for keeping track of what they have done and what they need to do to improve.
Spreadsheet model created by author
I ask my students to take ownership of this template and make it their own. Some like to colour code it in places to suit their needs and add in any other notes they need. Some import it as a spreadsheet and set up one document each week by copying and pasting, others will keep paper copies of the master document and just create a new paper document each week.
6. Improving student motivation
Motivation is a key driver of success, but it often stems from within. Here are some suggestions to help students stay motivated.
Set Clear Goals
I encourage my students to write down their academic and personal goals gives and put them in a place where they will see them frequently, maybe write them on sticky notes and stick them to their desk at home.
That can give them a sense of direction that is hard to ignore.
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
Large projects or assignments can feel overwhelming.
Breaking them into smaller, manageable steps makes them less daunting and can give students a sense of achievement with each completed task.
Reward Progress
Positive reinforcement can be incredibly motivating.
Students can treat themselves to something they enjoy, like watching a favourite show or spending time with friends, after they’ve reached milestones and targets that they’ve set for themselves.
Focus on the Bigger Picture
Reminding students of the long-term benefits of education, such as career opportunities and personal growth, helps them stay committed even when the going gets tough.
Find Inspiration
Inspirational quotes, success stories, or role models can ignite a passion for learning. Students might find motivation in the achievements of others who faced similar challenges and triumphed.
Supporting Students with Additional Responsibilities
I’m limited in how I support students who have additional responsibilities which make it hard for them to study in a dedicated space or at designated times.
I do my best to make sure that these students are able to access relevant support centres, which can play a vital role in providing resources and guidance, but students also need additional strategies that fit their unique circumstances.
Prioritize tasks
Identifying the most important tasks that need to be done and doing those first means that some progress is made towards meeting targets.
Use small time study windows during the day
Even short periods, like 15-30 minutes, can be used productively for reading or completing quick tasks.
Communicate with teachers about their limited time to study on a regular basis
Teachers and tutors can offer extra support, such as extensions on assignments or alternative learning resources, to help students meet their learning goals.
Teachers, students and parents working together to keep students on track
My years of experience in teaching have taught me that getting students to stay on track with their studies works best when parents are involved in the process as well. That though isn’t always possible so teachers need to do their best to encourage students to develop self motivation as well.
The first step for teachers is to recognise the challenges that their students face and to encourage learners to develop strategies for overcoming these. Set templates can help but after a while students should start figuring out what works best for them.
The journey to academic success is unique and can be hard work for each student, but with the right systems in place and continuous use of motivational strategies, every student can reach the targets they have set for themselves.
What strategies do you use to keep students on track?
I remind them of their successes, goals they have set for themselves, create small competitions with classmates, give them and their parents a small review window time template at the end of the day.