Working with others can make the job easier. Students seem to shore up each others’ weaknesses. Study groups also teach students important skills about working together that will be useful throughout their lives.

Here are some tips on setting up a study group:

1. Write out the group’s goals. Here’s an example: “We will work together to study history. We’ll help edit each other’s essays and study for tests.”

2. Think about people who might want to join the group. These should be people your teen knows and likes. If he likes to socialize too much, it’s better that they not be his closest buddies.

3. Bring the group together. Your teen might offer your home as a place for a first meeting. Or, students may gather in the school library.

4. Work out an agenda. In the case of a history study group, part of the meeting may include time for everyone to read the assignment. Then the group can discuss the study questions at the end. If a test is coming up, group members may want to prepare a list of questions they think will be on the test—along with the correct answers to those questions. Then everyone in the group can review those questions.

5. Share the responsibility. A study group needs a leader to keep everyone on task. But it’s probably a good idea if each group member takes a turn as the leader. The person who is the leader will have the responsibility for contacting other members to let them know when and where the group will meet next.

6. Remember why the group is meeting. A study group is not a time to socialize (although group members may want to relax after they have studied). Members need to remember that the purpose of the group is to help everyone succeed.

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