Stay on Top of Homework

It’s sometimes tough to keep up with heavy amounts of homework each week. You might enjoy a subject, but feel overwhelmed at the same time. To stay on top of your assignments it is a good idea to log all of your work details into a planner or calendar. Maintaining a regular study schedule will make it possible to finish everything in time as well. If you are stuck you can always approach your teacher, classmates, parents, or even a tutor for additional help too.

Steps

Making the Most of Your Time

  1. Use any down time. Carry around at least some of your homework with you. Whenever you find yourself doing something that doesn’t use your total concentration, pull out your homework and spend some time on it. This is particularly easy to do with reading assignments. If your assignment is more complex, just scribble down a few notes to get the brainstorming process started.[1]
    • Lunchtime is a great opportunity to work on an assignment and so is the commute home, as long as someone else is driving. If you have a part-time job, take advantage of the slow moments.
    • If your instructor gives you time during the class period to study, take advantage of it. It is especially important to make good use of study halls if you are an athlete.[2]
  2. Keep a homework planner. Log in all of your assignment details in one specific location. You can use a paper planner (sometimes given out for free at schools), the calendar function on your phone, or even a downloadable app. The point is to get a realistic idea of what your work week should look like.[3]
    • This system only works if you keep up with it. Spend time each Sunday evening looking over your planner and making sure that all dates and assignments are entered in correctly. Estimate if you’ve allowed for ample time for each activity.
    • Some people prefer to schedule their week down to the hour. Others prefer to create a basic “to-do” list for each day. Try a few different approaches to see what works the best for you.[1]
    • Consider using an app, such as iHomework, to keep track of your assignments and deadlines. This one, in particular, will alert you when an assignments is almost due. Many homework apps are free with some available for a small fee.[4]
  3. Start with items that are due first. As you consider planning or when you sit down for work, jump in to the most critical items at first. The deadlines for these assignments will only get closer and you don’t want to procrastinate. Keeping them in the forefront of your mind will help you to complete them quickly and efficiently.[5]
    • For example, if a paper is due tomorrow it gets priority over a worksheet that you must complete by next week. Don’t get distracted by the idea of multitasking, try to focus your attention on one project at a time.
  4. Stick to a study schedule. Make homework time a part of your everyday routine. If you plan to study while out, determine exactly when that is possible and maintain that schedule. If you plan to study at home, assess your workload when you first walk into your door and decide how much time is needed to complete everything. You can also simply set aside 1-3 hours a night allowing you to possibly get ahead as well.[6]
    • When creating your schedule consider when you work the best. Some people prefer to work late into the night while others enjoy working in the morning. There is nothing wrong with getting up early to get a jump on homework as long as you can stick to that schedule.
  5. Take short breaks. Divide up your homework time with quick pre-planned breaks. Depending on the project that you are working on, it is a good idea to aim for a 5 minute break each 30 minutes or one 15 minute break per hour. Set a timer on your phone to make sure that you don’t work through your breaks.[2]
    • Get up and move around during your breaks. You’re probably sitting while working so now is the time to get the blood flowing and re-energize. Take a quick walk. Eat a healthy snack, like some almonds, and drink a bit of water too.[5]
  6. Set study goals. As you look over your planner and daily schedule, think about what you would like to accomplish each day, each week, and even each month. Be realistic as you set these goals and understand that you cannot possibly do an excellent job at everything all of the time.[1]
    • When a major research project is due a good goal would be to complete the research part of the process well in advance of the final deadline, giving you time to write. This is a realistic goal and it breaks up a larger project, making it seem more doable.
    • Part of setting goals is keeping your priorities in order. Recognize those activities that can wait until the weekend, such as shopping, and do them then. Also, keep an eye on your extracurricular activities to make sure that you can still achieve your academic goals while participating.[1]

Doing Quality Work

  1. Pay attention in class. Take a seat at the front of the class. Create a steady stream of notes. Ask questions and participate as often as you can. The information that you will receive in class usually serves as the foundation for your homework, so make an effort to actively listen and learn.[7]
    • Try to find something interesting within the subjects that you might consider ‘boring.’ For example, if you dislike history but enjoy fashion, you might find the history of fashion and dress really exciting. Ask your teacher about it and see if you can use this interest in your homework.
  2. Take note of the assignment details. Write down everything your teacher says if they announce the assignment in class. If they give out a hand-out read over it closely to see if there is anything that you are missing. If you sit down to work on the project and are unsure about something reach out to a classmate for a second opinion.[8]
  3. Try to complete every assignment. Give every piece of homework your best effort, even if you don’t feel particularly confident in the final product. When in doubt make an educated guess using the information that you do understand. Homework is, in part, about developing a skill set so your instructor will most likely appreciate your attempt.
    • This is a good practice to follow as it will help you on most tests as well. It is usually better to leaving nothing blank on an exam as your instructor may be able to award you partial credit for the attempt.
  4. Check your final work. As soon as you finish an assignment set it aside for a few moments. Then, come back to it and look it over for any mistakes. You can also ask your friend, roommate, classmate, or parent to take a quick glance over the assignment as well. This is especially helpful with essays as they may catch an error that you may have overlooked.[9]
  5. Encourage yourself. Repeat aloud or in your head, “I can do this,” if you get frustrated. Take a few deep breaths and then jump back in to the assignment. Remind yourself that homework isn’t intended to be easy, it should challenge you. Think about your long-term goals and remember that all of your hard work will pay off in the end.[10]
  6. Never cheat. No matter how stressed out you are it is important that you turn in your own work. Don’t ask your friends to give you the answers or to help you when they are not supposed to. If you do this you may get caught but you will definitely be less prepared for the quiz or test later.
  7. Check that you have your finished homework. After a long day and night it is really easy to walk out the door and forget your homework on the table. To prevent this as soon as you finish a piece of homework put it in your backpack or bag. Then, take a quick glance inside your bag before heading out in the morning just to make sure everything is there.[6]
    • Have a designated area where you put projects that are ‘in progress’ so you don’t confuse them with homework that needs to be turned in.

Getting Help from Others

  1. Ask your teacher questions. Raise your hand or approach your teacher as soon as you find something that you are confused or concerned about. Never feel shy or stupid for asking a question. Odds are someone else in the class is wondering about the same thing and will appreciate you stepping up. If you have multiple questions you can always wait until after class too.
    • For example, if your teacher normally assigns five chapters to read over the weekend and she didn’t say anything about it this time you might want to ask her. You could say, “Do we need to do our usual chapter reading this weekend?” This way you can relax and not worry about missing something.
    • If your teacher is okay with it you could also ask how long a certain assignment will take to finish. This will help you to better schedule your time for the week.[2]
  2. Request extra help from your teacher. If you are confused about the material covered in class or if you are unsure about your approach to the homework, it might be best to make an appointment with your teacher after class. This will allow them to concentrate all of their attention on helping you succeed. If they are unavailable to meet consider approaching another teacher in a similar subject or even a school counselor.[11]
    • You might approach your teacher and say, “I’m just not getting that math worksheet. Is there a time this week when we can sit down and look it over together?”
    • If you ask for help in this way make sure that you’ve started the work yourself. Don’t expect your teacher to do the work for you.
  3. Get your parents involved. It is not your parent’s responsibility to police your homework (and you probably don’t want them to). However, if you are really stumped or just want a second opinion, you can always ask for their help. They could read over your essay and suggest new approaches. Or, they could test out your answers to a worksheet.[6]
    • If you live and study at home your parents could also help to create a good study space by keeping the area quiet and preventing other family members from interrupting you.[9]
  4. Study in a group or in pairs. Talk with your fellow students and organize a study group. Your group can focus on a particular subject or project or you could cover all types of homework together. You can agree to keep each other accountable by banning phone time, etc. Just make sure that you stay on task and actually get your homework done or this extra time could put you behind.[1]
    • Make sure that you are only working together on projects that given the “okay” for group work by your teacher. Otherwise, you could be committing a version of academic dishonesty by not following the rules of the assignment.
    • You can also meet with your group virtually thanks to various programs, such as Google Hangout, which allows you to video chat with numerous people at once.[10]
  5. Hire a tutor. If you continue to struggle with the homework for a certain subject or if you just want another perspective, you should consider working with a tutor. Some tutors charge a per hour fee whereas others volunteer and work for free. Talk to your teacher or school counselor for additional information.[11]
    • Libraries are a great source of information about tutoring and other resources. Just call your local library and ask what programs they have in place to help students.[12]

Tips

  • Choose a few designated study spaces where you feel the most productive. They should be quiet and comfortable, allowing you to concentrate all of your attention on your work. If you are in public, wear headphones to cut down on the distractions.[10]
  • Put your phone away as you study. Or, turn it to airplane mode. If you have to use your computer, stay away from your social media accounts.[3]
  • Make sure to eat right, get a good amount of sleep, and exercise regularly. Taking care of your body will lead to better work and it will also help to counter the stress of constant assignments.[13]

Warnings

  • Be careful when doing your homework on a computer. Make sure to save your work regularly and have a back-up plan in case your technology fails.[10]
  • Try not to take on too many classes at once, if you can. Every class will add to your homework burden and can create a very stressful scenario for you.[14]

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.collegexpress.com/interests/performing-and-visual-arts/blog/sketching-margins-how-stay-top-homework-art-major/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://blog.jjc.edu/3-tips-for-staying-on-top-of-homework
  4. ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2013/08/20/6-homework-help-apps-students-will-love
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.theprospect.net/6-ways-to-stay-focused-on-homework-6479
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/school-and-learning-issues/time-say-homework-management-101/
  7. ↑ http://blog.cengagebrain.com/blog/2014/02/pay-attention-class-tips-college-students/
  8. ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understanding-assignments/
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/establish-good-homework-habits/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/college-life/the-tops-10-must-know-study-tips-for-busy-college-students/
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html#
  12. ↑ http://www.ritzvillelibrary.com/homework-help-kids
  13. ↑ http://time.com/41981/six-ways-to-end-the-tyranny-of-homework/
  14. ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/top-advice-sixth-formers.html

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