All teachers will expect some “follow-up” each evening on what is done in class during the day. This “follow-up” may entail written work, more commonly known as homework. But the absence of prescribed written work does not mean that there is no “homework” to be done.
Parents have a vital role to play in the development of good study habits. They should work out a clear study schedule, in consultation with their son, for each day of the week. This timetable should cover such matters as:
- The amount of time to be devoted to study each day.
- The place in which, and the times at which, the study is to be done.
The development of successful study habits is very much dependent on the level of encouragement and support that a young person receives from his family. Indeed, despite the best endeavours of parents and students, there will be times when the study will not go according to plan, and it will appear that the situation is hopeless. Experience shows, however, that all these‚ ‘bad patches’ come to an end, and a student who perseveres, with the support and encouragement of family and school, will eventually succeed, often beyond his dreams. For further advice on study please see the Study Methods section of this Journal or see the new Parents First Handbook (August 2016).