Time to get a homework plan going
With students now very much back into the swing of things at school, there’s a strong argument for them to put some sort of homework plan - as opposed to a study plan which would be more relevant to second and third level students - in place. The most important thing about any plan is that it is achievable - realistic.
If you go to any search engine and type in the words ‘homework plan’ myriad examples, some of them very good, some over complicated, will pop up in your inbox.
Don’t let this stop you from taking a good look around to see what your options are, but ask yourself one simple question - “will I keep this plan going, is it really tailored to my needs?”
If the answer is ‘no’, don’t dismiss the plan straight away, have a look to see what are the ‘best bits’, see what you can modify from the ‘template’ and make your own plan.
However, maybe you are very disciplined and like the bootcamp versions of homework plans that are out there, only you know the answer to that!
So, with that health warning, let’s look at some dos and dont’s about homework plans and getting homework done in as timely and as efficiently a manner possible. One other tip - if you are going to take the time out to do homework, do it right, there’s no point in half doing anything.
Top tips: Understand the assignment: Write it down in your notebook or planner, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what’s expected. It’s much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later that night. If you have a lot of homework or activities, ask how long the particular homework assignment should take. That way you can budget your time.
Start right away: Just because it’s called “homework” doesn’t mean you have to do it at home. Use study periods or other extra time in your school day. The more you get done in school, the less you have to do at night.
Budget your time: If you don’t finish your homework at school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day. Most second-level students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it’s a heavy homework day, you’ll need to devote more time to homework. It’s a good idea to come up with a homework schedule, especially if you’re involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job. When you settle down to do homework or to study, where do you do it? Parked in front of the TV? In the kitchen, with the sound of dishes being cleared and your brothers and sisters fighting?
Find a quiet place to focus: The kitchen table was OK when you were younger and homework didn’t require as much concentration. But now you’ll do best if you can find a place to get away from noise and distractions, like a bedroom or study. Avoid studying on your bed: Sit at a desk or table that you can set your computer on and is comfortable to work at. Park your devices while you study. Just having your phone where you can see it can be a distraction. That makes homework take longer. Tackle the hardest assignments first: It’s tempting to start with the easy stuff to get it out of the way. But you have the most energy and focus when you begin. Use this mental power on the subjects that are most challenging. Later, when you’re more tired, you can focus on the simpler things.
Keep moving ahead: If you get stuck, try to figure out the problem as best you can — but don’t spend too much time on it because this can mess up your homework schedule for the rest of the night. If you need to, ask an adult or older sibling for help. Or reach out to a classmate. Just don’t pick someone you’ll be up all night chatting with or you’ll never get it done!
Take breaks: Most people have short attention spans. Sitting for too long without stretching or relaxing will make you less productive than if you stop every so often. Taking a 15-minute break every hour is a good idea for most people. (If you’re really concentrating, wait until it’s a good time to stop.