Winter exams are fast approaching, and for many students, that means stress levels are rising. If your child feels overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material they need to review, the Stoplight Study Guide method can provide a clear, effective way to prioritize and tackle their studying.
In this quick 5-minute video, our Executive Function Coach, Rachael Moss, MA, M.Ed., breaks down the method and shows how it can help your student study more efficiently:
How does the Stoplight Study Guide method work?
This is one of the many strategies our Executive Function (EF) Coaches share with students during one-on-one virtual sessions. Here’s how it works with an EF Coach, parent, or other study buddy:
- Gather study materials: Study guide, notes, textbook, three different colored highlighters (green, yellow, and red/pink), and a quiet workspace
- Ask questions: Go through the study guide with the student, asking them questions about the information
- Color code:
- Green- Low Priority: If your child can easily recall the information, highlight it green. This indicates they understand the concept well.
- Yellow- Mid Priority: If your child can answer with some prompting or hesitation, highlight it yellow. This means they need to review this information further.
- Red or Pink (pink highlighters are easier to find!)- High Priority: If your child can’t recall the information at all, highlight it red/pink. This signifies they need to focus their study efforts on these areas.
Even without a study buddy or coach, your child can try the Stoplight Study Guide method on their own. They would start by reviewing their study guide and other class materials, then actively test themselves by asking a question and attempting to answer it (before checking the correct answer in their study guide!). As they work through the material, they should color-code their notes using highlighters:
- Green: Info they can easily recall
- Yellow: Info they can recall with hesitation
- Red/Pink: Info they can’t recall at all
This will help them quickly identify their areas of strength and weakness for their upcoming test. They can then focus their study time on the “yellow” and “red” areas, retesting themselves on those sections until they can confidently recall the information.
The Stoplight Study Guide Method can help your child build confidence and reduce test-day anxiety by:
- Helping them prioritize their study time by focusing on the most critical information
- Seeing their progress and identifying areas of strength (this can be highly motivating!)
- Actively recalling information to master the content and improve long-term retention
Does your child have the tools to study effectively?
Many parents tell us their kids passively read over their notes to study for a test, but don’t actually know how to actively study. We get it.
Our fully customized one-on-one Executive Function Coaching sessions are designed to teach proven strategies tailored to your child’s unique needs, including help with effective studying, organization, time management, and more. Schedule a free call today with one of our Educational Specialists to learn more about our program: