Teaching a smart kid to study

[Anonymous]

My kid just finished 9th grade at a school that dcum considers to be rigorous. He got straight As without studying for finals and minimal studying during the year. How can he learn how to study when he clearly doesn't need to?

In 9th grade, he took honors math, the only honors class available to 9th graders. In 10th grade, he will take honors math and science, the only honors classes available to 10th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just finished 9th grade at a school that dcum considers to be rigorous. He got straight As without studying for finals and minimal studying during the year. How can he learn how to study when he clearly doesn't need to?

In 9th grade, he took honors math, the only honors class available to 9th graders. In 10th grade, he will take honors math and science, the only honors classes available to 10th graders.

He doesn’t need to study.

Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

School is a royal waste of valuable time for your child. He’s bored silly. Do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just finished 9th grade at a school that dcum considers to be rigorous. He got straight As without studying for finals and minimal studying during the year. How can he learn how to study when he clearly doesn't need to?

In 9th grade, he took honors math, the only honors class available to 9th graders. In 10th grade, he will take honors math and science, the only honors classes available to 10th graders.

What exactly do you want him to study?
Why is his parent stupid?

[Anonymous]

For humanities, impossible to get As without the right attitude and effort. There aren't "finals" in humanities, kids have to work through assignments throughout the year. Hard to imagine minimal effort during the year.

Are you in big 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just finished 9th grade at a school that dcum considers to be rigorous. He got straight As without studying for finals and minimal studying during the year. How can he learn how to study when he clearly doesn't need to?

In 9th grade, he took honors math, the only honors class available to 9th graders. In 10th grade, he will take honors math and science, the only honors classes available to 10th graders.

What exactly do you want him to study?
Why is his parent stupid?

I want him to learn to study because eventually he will need to develop study skills/executive function. If he doesn't learn how to study in high school, college will be really hard.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone going crazy on OP? They care enough to ask. In college, he will need to study. It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For humanities, impossible to get As without the right attitude and effort. There aren't "finals" in humanities, kids have to work through assignments throughout the year. Hard to imagine minimal effort during the year.

Are you in big 3?

Yes, big 3. There were assignments throughout the year that he completed, as well as final exams (in all classes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School is a royal waste of valuable time for your child. He’s bored silly. Do better.

I agree he's bored. However, neither he nor I are interested in homeschooling and the law requires that he attend school. What options do you suggest?

[Anonymous]

I applaud your foresight, OP. Does he have time to take an extra class online? Something like Latin or a self-paced college level course where he would need to study?

Sounds like he’s smart and also good at school, which can be two different things. Maybe he will ramp up his studying as needed, as his courses get more demanding.

[Anonymous]

Mine is similar though not exactly the same. ADHD, I don’t think she pays attention in class, minimal work at home. Not straight-A but close enough so parents don’t have an immediate crisis. We are deeply concerned that she will flunk in college, which can be very different from hs.

[Anonymous]

Is *he* interested in learning study skills that he doesn’t need right now? It’s hard to force that. If he recognizes that he may eventually get material that doesn’t come as easily and wants to prepare now for how to study it, you’ve got a laudably mature kid.

That said, there are a wide variety of study skills that vary based on subject matter and personal preference. If you’re looking for widely-applicable foundational guidance, maybe ask your school’s academic center for some resources to get you started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is *he* interested in learning study skills that he doesn’t need right now? It’s hard to force that. If he recognizes that he may eventually get material that doesn’t come as easily and wants to prepare now for how to study it, you’ve got a laudably mature kid.

That said, there are a wide variety of study skills that vary based on subject matter and personal preference. If you’re looking for widely-applicable foundational guidance, maybe ask your school’s academic center for some resources to get you started.

Ha ha ha. No, not at all. No one would describe him as "laudably mature."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I applaud your foresight, OP. Does he have time to take an extra class online? Something like Latin or a self-paced college level course where he would need to study?

Sounds like he’s smart and also good at school, which can be two different things. Maybe he will ramp up his studying as needed, as his courses get more demanding.

He did an online cty class when he was younger and didn't like it, but that's a good idea. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My kid like this is headed to college this fall without having had to study much. Im expecting he will have recalibrate quite a bit (and I have told him to do expect that-he’s not going to be able to get by on a knack for test taking in college!)

However, I don’t see how I could have made him study when he didn’t need to in hs to get good grades.