A Message from Dr. David Nelson
The Practice Nobody Sees
I'll be honest with you. As a parent, there are nights when the last thing I want to do is sit at the kitchen table and ask, "Did you finish your homework?" I'm tired. My kids are tired. It feels easier to trust that school will take care of it.
Maybe you've felt that way too. If so, you're not failing. You're human. But here's what I've come to believe: our kids get the best education possible when school and home work together as one team. If students never study or finish their work outside of class, it will be hard for them to ever reach their full potential.
Think about a basketball player. If she only touches a ball during team practice, she'll never become the player she could be. The great ones show up to practice having already practiced. They've shot free throws in the driveway until dark. That kind of repetition and drill is what builds a strong athlete.
The same is true for a strong student. Learning needs practice, repetition, and drill outside of class time, too. And that's where we come in.
It's not glamorous work. But the quiet, unseen practice at home is where real growth begins.
The Point: School is the team practice. Home is the driveway. Your child needs both to grow.
Here are four simple ways you can help your student succeed.
1. Review Notes Within 24 Hours
Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you went there? Our brains let go of things fast. In fact, about 90% of new information is forgotten within 24 hours unless it's reviewed.
That's why one of the best habits you can build with your student is reviewing class notes the same day they take them. It doesn't have to take long. Even ten minutes after dinner can make a difference.
There's a bonus, too. When students look over yesterday's notes right before learning something new, they start to see how the ideas connect. New learning gets something to hold on to, and they remember much more of it.
Try this: Tonight, ask your child, "What's one thing you learned today?" Then sit with them while they look over their notes.
2. Remember That Studying Is More Than Homework
It's easy to think that once the worksheet is done, the learning is done. But homework is only one part of the picture. Real studying goes deeper. When your child studies, encourage them to:
- Take notes while reading a chapter, instead of just skimming the pages.
- Look closely at the tables and charts in the textbook. They often hold important information students need to know.
- Summarize what they read in their own words. If they can explain it, they understand it.
- Make flashcards for quick reviews of dates, formulas, vocabulary words, and more.
Ask yourself: Does my child think "done with homework" means "done learning"? How can I gently help them see the difference?
3. Try the "3R" Method: Read, Recite, Review
This one is simple, and it works. It's a lot like how a player learns a new play: walk through it, run it without the playbook, then check what you missed.
- Read the text carefully.
- Recite. Set the book aside and say out loud everything you can remember.
- Review. Read the text a second time and notice what you left out.
Saying things out loud can feel a little awkward at first. That's okay. Offer to be your child's audience. You might be surprised how much you learn together.
4. Add a Little Color
Research has shown that the brain responds to color. So why not use that to your child's advantage?
Consider giving your student a set of color-coded highlighters to use when going over their notes. For example, yellow could mark key terms, green could mark dates, and pink could mark big ideas. Over time, those colors become visual cues that help them remember what they studied.
It's a small thing. But small things, done over and over, add up.
You Don't Have to Do It Perfectly
If you're reading this and thinking, "We haven't done any of this," please hear me: it's not too late. You don't need a perfect system or a spotless study space. You just need to start, one evening at a time.
Some nights will go well. Others will end in frustration. That's part of the process, for your child and for you. What matters most is that you keep showing up and don't give up.
Pick one strategy from this list and try it this week. Then come back and add another.
The Point: Great students, like great athletes, are built in the quiet hours of practice. When home and school work together, our kids don't have to grow alone.
