Create a
Homework Plan
Luckily, you can
do a few things to make homework less work.
First, be sure
you understand the assignment. Write it down in your notebook or day planner if
you need to, 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 want, you can also ask how long
the particular homework assignment should take to
complete
so you can budget your time.
Second,
use any extra time you have in school to work on your homework. Many schools
have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study or
get homework done. It's tempting to hang out with friends during study periods
or unstructured time, but the more work you can get done in school, the less
you'll have to do that night.
Third,
pace yourself. If you don't finish your homework during school, think about how
much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your
time. Most high-school students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night.
If it's a heavy homework day and it seems like you've got an assignment in
every subject but gym and lunch, you'll need to devote more time to homework.
It's a good idea to come up with some kind of homework schedule, especially if
you are involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job.
Watch
Where You Work
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?
These places may
have worked when you were younger and your assignments didn't require as much
skill and concentration. But now that you're older, a bedroom, study, or any
other room where you can get away from noise and distractions is the best place
to get homework done. But don't study on your comfy bed — opt for a desk or
table that you can set your computer on and is comfortable to work at. It
doesn't need to be large, just big enough to spread out your stuff.
Get to Work
When
you start your homework, tackle the hardest assignments first. It's tempting to
start with the easy stuff to get it out of the way, but you'll have the most
energy and focus when you begin, so it's best to use this mental power on the
subjects that are most challenging. Later, when you're more tired, you can
focus on the simpler things.
If
you get stuck on a problem, try to figure it out as best you can — but don't
obsess and 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 call or email a classmate for advice. But don't pick
someone you'll be up all night chatting with or you'll never get it done!
Take a Break
Most people's
attention spans aren't very long, so take some breaks while doing your
homework. 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. (But if you're really concentrating, wait
until it's a good time to stop.)
Once
your homework is done, you can check over it if you have extra time. Be sure to
put it safely away in your backpack — there's nothing worse than having a completed
assignment that you can't find the next morning or that gets ruined by a
careless brother or sister. (And no teacher still believes that "chewed by
the dog" line — even when it's true!) Now you're free to hang out.
Get Help When You Need It
Sometimes even
though you're paying attention in class, studying for tests, and doing your
homework, certain classes seem too hard. Although you may hope that things will
get easier or that the explanation to the geometry theorems will magically
appear in your dreams, most of the time this doesn't happen.
What
does happen for many people is that they work harder and harder as they fall
further and further behind. Naturally, this makes them hate a class and
everything to do with it. If you need extra help, the most important thing to
know is that there's nothing weird or embarrassing about it. No one is expected
to understand everything, and people have very different learning styles.
The
first place to turn for help is your teacher. He or she may be able to work with
you before or after school and explain things more clearly. But what if you
don't feel comfortable with your teacher? If you're in a big enough school,
there may be other teachers who teach the same subject. Speak to a guidance
counselor or to the other teacher directly and you may be in luck.
Sometimes
it just helps to have someone new explain something in a different way.
You
might also be able to get some help from another student. If there's someone
you like who's a good student, think about asking that person if you can study
together. This might help because you'll be hearing the information from the
perspective of one of your peers. However, keep in mind that this might not get
you the results you need. Lots of people understand something perfectly without
being able to explain it.
Another
option for extra help is a tutor, either after school, on weekends, or in the
evening. You'll need to talk to an adult about this because it costs money to
hire a tutor. Tutors sometimes come to your home, but there are also tutoring
centers across the country. A tutor may have broad knowledge of many things or
may be trained in just one subject. Tutors work with you one on one, helping
review and further explain things taught in the classroom. The advantage of having
a tutor is that it gives you the opportunity to ask questions directly and work
at your own pace.
If
you're interested in a tutor, check the internet or the yellow pages of your
phone book, or get a referral from a teacher, a friend, or classmate who has a
tutor. And if you live in or near a town with a college or university, you may
find tutors there. Often college students will tutor high school students in
their areas of study to help cover the costs of school.
4:04 PM
pangeran
