How to Build Strong Study Habits in Private Online Middle School
July 16, 2026
Online learning has earned fans worldwide, and it continues to prove itself a successful educational model. Private online school students succeed academically and, at the same time, have the scheduling flexibility needed for extracurricular passions and frequent travel.
The established Dwight Global Online School is ranked the number one private online school in the United States. It is part of the Dwight Schools Global Network, with eight physical campuses worldwide and a history of success beginning with the New York City campus in 1872.
Fortunately for middle school students, Dwight Global offers enrollment beginning in 6th grade.
“Dwight Global is dedicated to helping students develop the key skills they need to be successful, life-long learners," said Head of Dwight Global Middle School Sara Crucet. “In the classroom, students are challenged to think critically, apply their knowledge in authentic ways, and solve the global problems of the future.”
To cement that classroom learning, wise students take time to learn how to study by reading up on it, just as if it was another class. Many of the study habits that lead to success at a top online middle school are the same strategies that work for students in traditional schools.
See the categories below to prepare your 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for success in a private online middle school.
Get Organized!
Setting aside time to get organized is the first step to internalizing good study habits.
Before the year begins, find a dedicated work space, one with as few distractions as possible. Then, check each teacher’s requirements for what you will need at home. You may need to order supplies or a new desk chair, for example, and you’ll need time to get everything in one place.
A calendar is key. At Dwight Global, the school’s online content management system tracks students’ classes and timelines, all in one spot. Familiarize yourself with your online private middle school’s tracking method, and then supplement your academic calendar with one for extracurriculars, leadership positions, and family events and dates.
It is often helpful to have monthly calendars that show important dates for all areas of your life, so you know if there are conflicts well ahead of time and can make arrangements to manage them. Consider having a large printed out yearly calendar near your workspace, as well, to mark important dates as they are scheduled, in addition to having an online calendar.
For school, devote time each day to making sure the next day’s assignments are completed, and mentally prepare for the next class. If you have conflicts in scheduling, or if you have to be away from classes for a time, communicate with your teachers well ahead of your departure. You can ask for work in advance, and discuss creative ways to complete assignments and still manage your extracurricular obligations.
Create Short-term and Long-term Goals
Set academic goals each week and monthly. For long-term goals, think a year or two ahead. Your goal may be to learn research skills by the end of middle school. Or, you may want or create and present a speech in public, or learn how to converse fluently in another language. Use your goals for inspiration, and also use them to plan backwards, so you have a timeline with concrete steps on your way to your goal.
Discuss your goals with a parent or teacher, and update and revise your goals as your interests expand and your knowledge grows. Remember to pause and celebrate your accomplishments along the way.
Determine Your Learning Style
At Dwight Global, students have a blend of scheduled, live classes and asynchronous lessons. Dwight Global’s instructional model allows students the advantage of selecting class times at the beginning or end of the day, whatever time works best for them.
In conjunction with scheduling your classes and extracurriculars, think about how you accomplish your best work. Do you learn best in the morning? Or are you most focused after dinner? Do you enjoy learning with visual aids like graphs and maps? Does writing things out manually help? Do you learn best from listening to audios or lectures? Do you need to say facts out loud to have them sink in?
Schedule classes during the times you learn best, if possible, and reserve your least focused time for exercising, relaxing, and recreational activities.
Practice Communicating
Communication is important in online learning, and part of communicating effectively is reaching out to create connections, advocating for yourself with adults, and making acquaintances and friends.
Dwight Global faculty and administrators are known for their online teaching excellence and for supporting students outside and inside the classroom. They are available to help. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, contact your teachers to introduce yourself and get to know them. Teachers are happy to have students reach out, and doing so will make it much easier to get in touch later when you need extra help or have questions.
Send a message to classmates telling them about yourself and looking for connections with others who share similar interests. After all, you are practicing your communication skills and taking ownership of your life at the same time, both of which are important skills. Classmates will appreciate the initiative and learn from you how to reach out to others. You may even want to celebrate the achievement of individual goals together!
Part of good communication is being a good listener. Be mindful of not interrupting. Be present, and listen carefully to what others are saying. Mastering your verbal, written, and listening skills will feel productive and build confidence, and it will expand your network of friends, acquaintances, and supportive adults.
Participate Daily
Participation is part of a student’s grade for good reason. Participating in whatever way you can will make you feel a part of a group and the community, which is great for mental health and for your school, as well, because each student has much to contribute.
Follow up on a classmate’s comment during class, check in with a classmate or teacher after school to let them know your thoughts, and simply ask questions in class or outside of it through email, message boards, and in meetings.
Signing up for extracurriculars, book groups, community service, and social events will help you feel an integral and important part of your school. Try practicing making the first move. Get involved, ask questions, and try out new things outside your comfort zone. You can always change your mind if something ends up not being the right fit. Find your voice, and use it, for success in private online middle school.
Practice Wellness
Taking breaks from the screen is crucial to your learning success. Make time after each class or study period to get up and stretch. Take time to have a snack, hydrate, and get outside whenever possible to look up at the sky, walk outdoors, and get some exercise.
Dwight Global In-person Opportunities
Dwight Global Online School is unique in that the school provides opportunities for students to attend in-person events on Dwight School campuses worldwide. Some of these include the annual STEAM weekend at Dwight School NYC, orientation, graduation, international music concerts, and other experiences. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to meet classmates and faculty in person and deepen their connections at these popular events.
Learn more about Dwight Online Global School and its highly respected private online middle school program from the Dwight Global Admissions Team.