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Bad learning habits - E12

This leaflet highlights some bad habits that students commonly drift into at some stage, and which interfere with their learning. Even if they occur only at home or only at school, parents and teachers will need to collaborate in order to deal with them properly.

Lack of attention in class:

You may not hear about this until you receive a report at the end of the year. A lot of words can flow under a desk by that time. You may anticipate it (and therefore ask that it be watched for) if any of the following occurs:-

a family break-up or breaking up;

a death in the family;

abuse (Leaflet A08

a physical problem;

a part time job which is tiring;

television watching all evening and late bedtimes;

the use of drugs (Leaflet A04

a change into a lower or higher class where work is too easy or hard.

If a teacher knows of any factors like these which may stop that child fulfilling his potential, then he can do something about it; for example move the child to the front or give special encouragement. He is less likely to do anything unless he knows.

Work that is only just adequate:

Children generally know exactly how little to do to keep out of trouble. Sometimes, when the work set is of little relevance or interest, you cannot blame them. However, getting away with the minimum is an easy habit to learn and most teachers can only suspect and not prove, if the child is reasonably behaved in class. Generally the following observations by parents suggest under-performance by their children:-

homework has been done already in school;

it has not been set;

it was only reading;

it is done in front of the telly or in the bedroom on the bed;

it consists of note copying — merely a cosmetic exercise (see on

it is saved up and done in one big session.

Provided that the child has a quiet room or session at a routine time, which is the parent’s responsibility, the teacher is able to do much to improve these sorts of situation. A supportive background at home is an essential ingredient however.

Ineffective note taking:

This is an important aspect of academic work in secondary schools and is not well enough looked after. Few children are actually taught how to do it and most fall into a habit which is inadequate and often totally counter-productive. Teachers with a full syllabus to get through cannot spend much time checking their pupils notes in addition to their essays and much can be done at home to improve the situation. Our handbook for teenagers, Getting It Together, part 2 — School (T2) contains suggestions on how to improve note taking. Parents may like to do the following:-

  • Watch out for children spending much time copying up notes they have taken in school — this activity can be done mindlessly and no learning takes place. Children feel satisfied when their notes look pretty, underlined and neat. They have often totally wasted their time.
  • See that their children have not been trying to write down all that has been said in class including things they obviously know already.
  • Use an odd moment to play a game to see who can devise the most effective short-hand. Therefore becomes a triangle of three dots, because is that symbol upside down; the Queen won’t mind being QE2 and Harold will acknowledge being + (killed) at the X (battle) of H (Hastings) by an >>.
  • Limit television to a few programmes. In class, children must learn to listen and then write down the important facts that they have heard. Listening and hearing won’t be learned at home if the noise of television is a constant background; but you can get children to discuss the programmes they see.

Poor preparation for school:

Show your caring concern by avoiding a rush in the morning, seeing they get a sound breakfast and that they remember to take their books and pens. It is demoralizing for a teacher to face a sleepy child who has no pen or paper. No real teaching or learning can be done under these conditions and curing them depends on rearranging home life.

Careless work:

This can develop as a result of any one of the problems listed under the first section. Some children are untidy but not careless. Work which is obviously rushed or not cared about should be done again. A parent has as much responsibility as the teacher to see to that; it’s a partnership.

Major behavioural problems in school are dealt with in Leaflet E11.