Study Tips for Online High School

November 21, 2024

Whether your child attends an online school or brick-and-mortar, many teens struggle to find a comfort zone when it comes time to study. There are more distractions for teens than ever, which is why it’s important to students–both in online school and traditional–to develop good study habits and we have a few tips to help!

With its blend of collaboration in virtual classrooms and asynchronous work that students complete at their own pace, the day-to-day school experience for online high school students in some ways resembles that of a high schooler in a brick-and-mortar environment. Independent study, also a shared trait among online high schoolers and those in a more traditional school setting, is a critical time for students to concentrate on their schoolwork, prepare for quizzes and exams, and focus on truly grasping the subject matter.

But sometimes, for a variety of reasons, teens struggle to find a comfort zone when it comes time to study. They become sidetracked by whatever is popping up on their phones, among other distractions. This is why it’s important to students–both online and traditional–to develop good study habits.

We have a few tips to help!

Create a productive environment

A study environment full of potential distractions is simply not conducive to learning. A calming place to study, on the other hand, sets students up for success. Of course, you want to make sure it’s not too relaxing–students who are napping are not studying!

It can be tricky for high schoolers–especially those in online high school–to find or create a productive studying environment when they’re at home with the family and don’t have a ton of options at their disposal. But there are a few things they can do to make the most of their surroundings:

• Make the environment easy on the ears. High schoolers’ tastes in music span the spectrum–from rap and hip-hop to country to metal. However, those genres may not be the right backdrop when it’s time to study. Rather, instrumental music, cafe sounds, low-key tunes, and even some familiar school/office sounds can set the right tone and keep students focused.
• Eliminate distractions. Speaking of focus, there are a few ways high school students can mute the world around them as they study. Focus time is a technique that sets aside a dedicated time for uninterrupted work and study. During this time, the only task is homework, projects, or studying. To help students achieve this, device features like do-not-disturb can minimize or completely eliminate distractions.
• Change of scenery. Sometimes students just need a different environment to recharge their batteries. When students grow frustrated with their work or are struggling to get going, they can move their materials to a different area and try again. Maybe studying in the fresh air will provide some motivation–if so, have them pull up a chair in the backyard, on the balcony, or even at the park. Moving from the bedroom to the kitchen or living room couch might even be enough. Perhaps they can change up their studying music. Many times, a small change of scenery is all that’s needed.

Use tried-and-true productivity techniques

Throughout history, when people have tried to concentrate and study, they’ve been distracted. It happens to everyone…always has. And when distractions arise, productivity techniques help us stay focused and get the job done. In fact, these techniques have been used as long as history has been recorded. Many of them (or similar iterations of them) are still in practice to this day. Let’s look at a few:

• The Pomodoro Technique. A time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, the Pomodoro Technique is a structured method consisting of processes, values, tools, and principles that teaches people how to deal with time and use it to their advantage to enhance productivity. This technique uses fixed time intervals for focused work (generally 25 minutes) followed by short breaks and is known to improve focus and concentration, enhance time management, and even reduce anxiety and stress.
• Chunking. Chunking helps improve short-term memory by grouping smaller, individual pieces of information into larger, more familiar groups. How? Because our brain’s natural tendency is to recall large chunks of information more easily than smaller nuggets of info. By grouping those small nuggets of information into a larger chunk, that information becomes easier to remember. Chunking has proven especially effective for students with ADHD and those struggling with executive dysfunction.
• Do the hardest task first. You know the saying about “ripping off the Band-Aid”? Same principle here. While your student may not want to start their studying with the hardest task, it makes sense to just do it and get it out of the way. Why? Because most people procrastinate and put off that tough task until the very end because they just don’t want to do it. This causes anxiety and also leaves less time to accomplish the task. By doing that task first, students give it the time it requires and clear it off their plate so they can continue working efficiently once it’s done.
• Gamify your day or week. Games allow you to achieve high scores, beat your friends, and see actual progress as you move along. So why not help “gamify” your child’s studying? Have them:

• List the tasks (homework, studying, projects, etc.) they have for the day or week.
• Give each one a point value (more points for the hardest tasks).
• Set a goal of how many points they want to achieve each day or week.
• Record their points as they complete each task. To really challenge your student, have them assign a negative point value to tasks such as procrastination and dock themselves points if they put off a task.
• Tally up the points at the end of the day or week and see if they reached their goal. If they did, they earn a reward–like a movie or extra gaming time.

Remain engaged

Yes, easier said than done. But success in school requires engagement with their online lessons and other tasks. It may take some trial and error, but students should look for ways to engage themselves in class and schoolwork. A few include:

• Digest the lessons in their own way. Some students have great memories and can just listen to a lesson to learn it. Others take notes or create charts and drawings to study later. Your child should use their preferred method of learning to stay engaged and focused on the class.
• Stay in touch with teachers. Teachers of online high school classes are very invested in the success of their students. So they love when their students are invested in their classes. By regularly keeping in touch with their teachers, whether it’s to seek feedback on performance or gain clarity on certain topics, students stay engaged with the class and the teacher knows they’re putting in the effort to succeed.

Make a routine and/or set a schedule

People are creatures of habit. When we have schedules and routines, life becomes a little bit easier. The great thing about schedules and routines is that they can differ from one person to the next. Here are a few general guidelines when it comes to creating–and sticking to–a schedule.

• Set a time for studying that fits around school and other activities. Only your student can determine a schedule that works for their life. So, depending on what else they have going on (sports, clubs, volunteering, a job, etc.), they should find a time during each day they can dedicate to only schoolwork and studying–whether that’s 9 am or 9 pm.
• Keep things consistent. In sports and other activities, repeated movement becomes muscle memory. Schedules are similar in that, if a routine is repeated, it becomes a habit. For example, if your child determines that Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 pm to 4 pm are dedicated math times, before they know it, they’ll be pulling out the math books (or pulling up online work) at 3 pm without even realizing it. Keeping things consistent ensures they’re putting in the time needed to learn and decreases stress levels since they know it’s simply part of their day.
• Don’t cram too much into one day. Sure, students would love to knock out as much schoolwork in one sitting as possible. That frees up more time for them, right? Yes, but that isn’t always ideal. Overloading does more harm than good, and it’s not conducive to productive study habits. Spreading out studying and schoolwork depending on what needs to be accomplished each day keeps things lighter for your child, which will reduce stress and keep them focused on the tasks at hand.

Take frequent breaks

Everyone needs a break–whether it’s from school or work. Breaks keep us physically and mentally healthy and help us focus when we need to. As an online high school student, your child spends a fair portion of their day in front of a screen. While it’s certainly necessary to do so, it’s just as important to get up, walk away, and do something that does not involve a screen.

In fact, research from Cornell University, as well as numerous other studies, shows that “taking purposeful breaks (anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes) from studying to refresh your brain and body increases your energy, productivity, and ability to focus.”

• Get active. The brain and body both need exercise and movement to stay in peak shape. During a school day, students should take at least one break an hour–it can be 15 minutes or 90 minutes. Regardless of length, make sure they move around during that time by taking a walk, going for a short run, or even sneaking in a quick workout at the gym. They’ll get back to their desk feeling energized and rejuvenated.
• Do some reading (not on a screen). Students can also use break time to catch up on a book they’ve been meaning to read. Whether it’s a comic book or fine literature, reading words on an actual page provides the brain and eyes a welcome respite from screen time.
• Relax. Sometimes our bodies are just physically and mentally exhausted. If that’s the case, your child should allow themselves time for a quick nap to recharge. Or to bask in the sun and breathe in some fresh air while listening to their favorite music or podcast. They can give their pet some love and play with them for a few minutes. All of these activities are meant to refresh our bodies and brains, so we’re in the right mindframe to get back to work.

Online high school students are not alone

As an online high school student, it’s so important to remember that they’re never alone. Assistance is always a click, a phone call, or even just a “Hey Mom, I need some help!” away. If your child finds themselves struggling with a particular topic or just can’t seem to get going with their studies, they should reach out to their teacher, a parent, a tutor, and especially their virtual classmates. Those classmates are likely in the same boat as your student, so why not have them send a classmate a quick text and set up a video chat to work and study together? That arrangement provides them with some bonus social time as they collaborate on schoolwork.

Online high school is an amazing way to get a high-quality education that meets your child’s specific needs and accommodates your family’s lifestyle. When your student sits down to study or do their homework, keep these tips in mind to ensure they stay focused, energized, refreshed, and ready to ace their schoolwork.

With a focus on personalized education, Holston Academy empowers students in grades 6-12 to excel academically and develop the skills needed to thrive in a future path they define. To learn more about Holston Academy, please reach out to us at (833) 782-6922.