quick question for parents of high schoolers

[johnsontrio]

Does your well performing high schooler listen to music and/or reply to text messages while they study?

It's driving my DH crazy. I thought that most high schoolers probably do the same.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I graduated both high school and college with honors and found it easier to concentrate on work while listening to music than when it was "quiet" (there were always noises which were so much more noticable in a "quiet" house than with the music--like barking dogs, cars honking, fridge running whatever). I think it is pretty normal for people under a certain age. If your child is doing well in school why does it bother your DH how he does it (so long as it is honest?).

 

[GoofysOnlyGirl]

I recently graduated last spring from high school #13 out of 300+ and I always studied with "background noise." Whether it was tv, music, people talking, I needed a constant noise to help my concentrate. Usually I am not even thinking about what I am listening to, as long as its there.

I didn't study with my cell phone nearby though. Its different, when you are texting/talking/facebook whatever on your cell phone you are not focussing on your studying. Now that I am in college I usually keep my cell phone on silent and away from my desk if I am studying, but I still listen to music.

 

[Darcy03231]

I have three seniors and a sophomore. All of them study with the tv/music on, cell phones on, etc. All three seniors are honors/AP students. The sophomore isn't, but its through lack of effort on his part. He could be if he wanted to.

 

[ckay87]

IF I had a "well-performing high schooler," I wouldn't care if he were doing his homework standing on his head, with his pencil between his teeth and playing an accordian with his toes. Don't sweat it, count your blessings, trust me. Everyone's brains work differently. Apparantly your kid is able to multi-task quite well. That's a skill in itself!

 

[Angelhalo]

I don't have kids but all through high school and college I always studied with music or the tv on. otherwise its just too quiet, and I was always on the honor roll so I guess it didn't hurt anything for me.

 

[HM]

Yes
My DD listens to music or has the tv on in background. DS, not so much, he's better a studying without these things.

I also did these same things all through high school and college as well 30 some odd years ago.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Feel free to add something to a post. I've seen you on 4 other threads and you've only used the smilies. Not scared, are you?

 

[MerMom60_94]

DD does homework with music on or wearing her ipod. She takes after me - even though I am middle-aged, if I have a project that I need to concentrate on at work I put on my ipod to help me stay focused. The jury is out on the texting / being on the computer though. DD does that sometimes and I guess it depends upon what the assignment is. For instance, if she is working on algebra I want the computer off and the phone put away. Algebra requires somewhat of a sequence of thinking and I think being disrupted by a text or IM causes her to make sloppy mistakes.

 

[johnsontrio]

She is doing "well" but could do better. She is not maximizing her academic ability but she is not really an intellectual. She much prefers social interaction and physical activity. It is tough with 4 hours of swim practice a day and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, which is quite importance since she is an only child. She well rounded, I guess.

She has some poor study habits that grate on DH's nerves. She will wait until the last minute on things, only study what she thinks will be on the test, and is reluctant to see her teachers during her off hours until it's a crises. The off hours are provided in order for the girls to see their teachers, get work done, make up tests etc..

She has recently started driving and I notice that she is much calmer behind the wheel if there is music playing at a low volume. I think the same principle is at work with her studies. If she didn't text while doing homework she wouldn't have any communication with friends since she swims after school and then has hours of work to do, usually 8pm until 11 or 11:30. She spends most of the weekend doing homework, reading, taking notes, etc.

To be perfectly honest she is light years ahead of where DH and I were in high school. Her study habits are really bothering him but I feel that they are probably within the norm for kids that age. Just wanted other feedback without asking her friends parents or my family members.

 

[SydSim]

Everyone has different study syles/routines. Many people can't understand the other person's methods.

For me and DH, if it's too quiet, we can't concentrate (like another poster said, I will hear other things and then my mind goes wandering). But, I can't stand to hear music so I need the tv on. For DH, he HAS to have music on. For DD, she can't have the tv on - she just can't balance the two (and she is an honor student), but she likes to have music playing.

For my best friend, if there's any noise at all, she can't concentrate.

As in many things in life, people can't understand how someone can do things differently than they do.
As for your DD, if it ain't broke...............

 

[NMAmy]

DD was in the top 10 of her graduating class last year. Yep, she listened to music or had the tv on while she studied. She also would send and receive texts. As long as she was doing so well, I didn't nag her for not doing her studying the way I would have done it. It obviously worked for her.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As long as my kids are turning things in and getting decent grades I let them be.

Oldest dd who is now a freshman in college did study with music and her choice was classical music.

My 13yodd does not study with background noise or music.

Whatever works is my motto.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Great question as this has bothered me too. My sophomore is in AP and Honors classes and does well, and yes he listens to his Ipod.

It concerns me as I read about a study that showed that listening to classical type music had no negative impact on retention/concentration, but that if you are reading a text book for example, and are listening to a song with lyrics, your mind is trying to process two language "inputs" at the same time. In other words, you are sharing your brain, and the text you are studying is not getting all of your brain power, so to speak. I would think it would be even worse for writing an essay or the like.

That said, I have given up the battle (gotta choose those) with my son as he is doing fine in his classes. I do find the whole thing sooo interesting though!

 

[SeaSpray]

DS18 is a college freshman who was admitted to his University as an Honors Association student, and he graduated with Highest Honors from high school this past June.

It used to drive DH and I nuts to see him in his room with the music playing, books and papers spread out all over his desk and bed, and various programs open on his monitor, etc... but you know what?? We told ourselves a few years ago: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

So that's my advice to you; if your child is a "well performing high school student" then apparently what they're doing is working well for them.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I don't have a high school student, but I was one fairly recently, and then and in my college years I have found that listening to music while studying really helps me focus. I've always been on the President's lists and such, so the whole music thing does work for me (there's nothing like some loud rock when you're trying to get through a tough Calculus problem). However, I've tried and I can't do TV. I get WAY too distracted.

 

[Becky2005]

Yes. Although not straight A student but I can't fault her for listening to music, watching TV, whatever while studying. I did the exact same thing when I was in school & managed to graduate with High Honors.

In reality...she can NOT stand it super quiet. That just drives her batty. I was laughing because today in Health class which is her very first class, they were going to have a "stress" relief day and with DD's description -- ummm....that's NOT stress relief for her, it's torture. They were going to sit in the classroom with it being dark & quiet. I'm pretty sure that is going to be the LONGEST class of her day today.

She refuses to take Study Hall because you have to be quiet and can hear every little small noises (she had to be in it 2nd semester last year instead of gym class). She had a pass to be allowed out 5 minutes early for each class, she never used it except study hall.

As long as it works for the person, then it's fine. My oldest son on the other hand, can NOT have the TV on, distractions while working. It makes it too hard for him to focus, so I would have a problem with HIM trying to do his work with all the background distraction stuff.

 

[SomePixiedust]

DD (a high school senior) listens to her IPod while doing HW. Yes, like the others it drives me nuts, but it doesn't seem to have a poor impact on her grades. She actually has a teacher who told the class that if they listen to their IPods while doing HW to use the music to set goals, such as "by the time these 5 songs (or whatever number) are done, I will be done with ____ pages or ____ number of probems of HW. DD has implemented that, and it works for her! So again, if it aint broke, don't fix it

 

[Katie]

My son watches TV, textes multpile people at the same time, and does his homework sucessfully! and who says boys can't multi-task!

As long as the work gets done, and its done correctly, I don't care how,where, or when it gets done!(well, within reason..lol)