Summer break seems like it only started yesterday, but in a blink of an eye the new school year is only a few weeks away! Here are a few awesome back to school tips for teens, and even the tweens out there! We will discuss ways to keep track of your school schedule, tips for studying more effectively, and more! 

Start the year off on the right foot, and use these tips and tricks to survive the school year! These tips will help your kid out so much, if they implement them in their daily lives!

Schedule a Lock Screen on Phone 

If your teen needs help keeping track of their schedule the first week or two of school, they should take a picture of their schedule, and make it their wallpaper on their lock screen. Then when they need to know what class is after Chemistry, they can easily click their home button and see their schedule! If phones are not allowed on campus, type up the schedule, place in a sheet protector, and place it in the front of their binder, 

Study Right Before Bed 

Having a big test can be so stressful on teens, especially if it the test counts as a huge percentage of their grade! Have your teen do one more study session for that test right before bed, it may help them retain the information better. Do this before they get too tired though, so they are still alert while reading over the information. I also quiz my son while driving him to school, on the days he has a test. 

Control F Search Tip

When you are searching a document online, hit control F, and it will pop up a box to search a word. This is a great way to save time and find exactly what you are looking for in the document! 

Pomodoro Study Technique

The Pomodoro Study Technique is pretty popular. It allows your kid to study for a select amount of time and than get a break. This is a great way for them to stretch, rest their eyes, and get their blood flowing. Plus when they come back to studying they will feel more focused.

• Study for 25 minutes, and then take a 5 minute break.
  
• Do this for 4 sessions, and than take a 20 minute break.
  
• If your student is still not done studying, repeat the process over again.
  

Scholar.Google.com Vs. Google 

When your child needs to research on the internet, have them use Scholar.Google.com versus regular Google. This will bring up articlesand journals that you can cite as sources in your work! Saves a lot of time! 

Color Code Notebooks

To save time searching which notebook is which for each class, take a sharpie and color code your notebooks. Have a different color for each subject: green for science, red for literature, blue for history, etc! 

Set Out Clothes Night Before 

Does your child struggle with getting out of bed on time, having their whole outfit set out, along with their backpack, and lunch packed. That way if you they are in a rush, they will not be scrambling trying to find clothes as they rush to get out the door in the morning. Water guns and air horns also help get those that struggle to get up in the morning, not that I have ever done that to my son ;). 

Take Good Notes 

When it comes to studying, it has been proven that taking the time to write notes during classes and lectures can improve a students grade. This may actually help them memorize things easier, and then make flash cards to study from and let family members help quiz the student. This way your student hears the information, writes the information, and then recalls the information while being quized. 

Hit The Hay 

Keeping your student focused also means getting in a good nights sleep. Set a bedtime and stick to it throughout the school year, and try to sleep well through the night. Provide a quality bed and pillows, a cool and quiet environment, and some students like to have soothing classical music to listen to as they go to sleep. Students will be more focused in the morning, able to retain more during classes, and feel more energized.