student homework planner

student homework planner

The Importance of a Student Homework Planner

1. Introduction

Students can brainstorm topics for a project or paper and jot key points down before they slip the student’s mind. It can provide a place to jot down ideas for further research and offer a means of assessing the value of certain readings or methods of study. You can easily make a note of your grade or even the professor’s lecture outline, a point made by a fellow student in class, or a particular way you solved a math problem. So when you review, you can better remember the passage’s relevance to your current project or the note about how a case was resolved. It also helps in understanding the chronological order and the essay’s coherence. With all of this, the planner serves as a means for self-improvement, keeping one level-headed and focused. It fosters personal reflection, allowing for positive non-dramatic critique. This fosters improvement and personal growth – an indispensable part of the college experience.

What exactly is a student homework planner? A planner is normally a book or binder containing a student’s assignments and schedule for a set period of time, for example for a day, week or month. A planner also usually includes space for jotting down notes. This is especially helpful in a number of ways. For one, being organized in your academic life will provide less stress in managing your student life, including personal relationships. Organization also provides time for involvement in activities other than academic ones as well as relaxation. Apart from the fact that many college-level courses involve multiple assignments and exams, most of us keep busy with other commitments, such as raising a family, extracurricular activities, living on our own, and maintaining a social life. A planner can help in a myriad of ways.

2. Benefits of Using a Homework Planner

I read Teach Like a Pirate and was more shocked to see an entire section about how to use (or not use) student planners. Dave did not like them. I was initially defensive when Dave said something along the lines of, “All you are doing is providing a space for students to write what they need to do for each class. Students will learn and students will plan for doing what they should do in the way that they know best.” Of course, I want my kids to learn, but aren’t I nudging them toward the learning behaviors that are more likely to lead to better learning and recall? So as I wrote these planners, I tried to be more mindful of nudging than of dictating content. Also, I wrote in a little bit of math (percent of a number, frequency tables, averages) plus integrated some character education components. Also, while not currently doing so, I have used the “Test Analysis” section to write questions that kids should answer when their test reveals that they are not quite meeting the learning objective. Finally, starting in the spring, my plan is to use the open space between classes in the assignment part of the planner to get kids (or have kids get themselves) quacking.

I previously blogged about deciding to use student homework planners in my 7th grade math classes this year. Even though I’m currently using it in a really limited way (only one class, totally voluntary, nothing is graded), it has been fantastic and I can’t wait to expand next year. From what I wrote, you might think the greatest thing about these planners is that they drastically decrease questions kids are always asking about when they can make up a test, what page an assignment is on, what we did in class yesterday, when they can retake the test, etc. While that has been a total game changer and allows class to proceed without constant interruptions, that is probably not the best thing about them. A planner, by its very nature, is a tool for learning and responsibility. The assignment part of the planner prompts kids to write down all daily assignments for each class plus what they need to complete each day for each assignment. Last week I was modeling the ‘why’ part of completing the planner by showing them that once I wrote a limited, specific step that I needed to take it was more likely that I completed that assignment in time for my deadline. Completion by parents allows them to see what is assigned each day. There are a dozen different “academic things” to do in a seven-hour school day. Using and completing a planner helps kids begin to understand time management and plan for all the different things that need to be accomplished. Finally, there is a reflection section at the end of the week reminding kids to look over their learning for the week and to make a plan for constant improvement.

3. How to Use a Student Homework Planner Effectively

Use a timer. It is easy for a student to set a timer for 1 or 2 hours. After that time, take a 10-minute break to do something fun. Then, once the break is over, go right back to the homework for the next 1 or 2 hours. Don’t forget to ask the child to write down the time he spent on the different assignments. A student homework planner can also be used as a tool to teach the child to understand how he learns. For example, it is important for him to know whether he studies better in the morning or at night. A student homework planner can also be used as a way of communication between the different school subjects. Many times when students study in class, they study a single subject at a time. However, it is important for students to understand the importance of multiple subjects being related to each other so they can appreciate the value of the different subjects. For example, when you have a crossword puzzle that has questions from many subjects, you can understand how different subjects are interrelated. This also ensures that students have time to set goals and properly reflect on the homework. Reflection is an important part of the learning process.

A student homework planner allows the child to stay organized. It allows him to stay focused and to keep track of important information. Children often misplace papers and other important details about the homework. A homework planner is a single place in which all the information about the homework can be written down. If it is constantly used, it will be easier to keep track of the work. The likelihood of misplacing the information will decrease. A student homework planner also helps him learn time management. The planner can help the child to estimate roughly how much time the different homework will take. A student can then allocate appropriate time for each homework.

4. Tips for Staying Organized and Motivated

Write big enough so you can see it later: Although writing slowly and legibly can be a drag, the bigger issue students tend to have is that they almost never use the planner because they cannot read their own writing! Therefore, be sure to write in a size that you know you will be able to read days or a week later; smaller writing that saves space can ultimately cause a student to miss an assignment. In fact, unless you are writing in a detailed description for an extra-credit or long-term project, jot down a brief but clear description of the assignment or test to save time so you have the rest of the week to spend with friends or doing other activities you enjoy.

Decorate your planner so you stay motivated to open it: Add pictures to your planner to help motivate yourself to open and look at it regularly. Be sure not to get carried away and cover the important information with decorations; just use decorations to fill in the blank spaces. Furthermore, always put the planner in the same place in your bag so that you consistently return it to that spot.

Without question, the single greatest tool a student can use to stay on track with assignments and upcoming tests is a student planner. Seeing how often most students today are connected to the internet and often become easily sidetracked by email, social media, and websites, a paper planner is actually the best way to keep track of assignments and responsibilities. Furthermore, a planner does not require any lengthy internet searches to determine the name of the book; it simply requires the student to look at upcoming assignments and tests posted by the teacher on the board. However, an issue many students have when it comes to using a planner is that they forget to use it regularly or simply lose it. Here are 4 easy tips that will help students use a planner regularly:

5. Conclusion

With a passion for design, we make sure our planners are designed according to your academic requirements and goals. We blend creativity and thoughtful insight and have devised a variety of choices for trendy designs, calendar and planning layouts. We adhere to state specific curricular objectives and standards to guarantee all school planners are up-to-date, and inclusive of the latest developments and technologies within the educational community.

If you prefer a student assignment planner that can withstand everyday abuse, our durable planners are sure to last in your desired environment. We have standard three-hole punched high school student planners and student assignment books that are available in durable vinyl covers, extra strong covers, recycled covers, and an economy line. The heavy-duty and durable materials utilized in the manufacturing process not only ensure longevity, but also resistance from harsh weather activities inside and outside!

Student planner can prove to be a worthwhile investment. It enables students to record assignments, upcoming tests and specific goals for everyday. Filling homework details and due dates can prove beneficial in organizing tasks and reducing last minute hassles. It doesn’t matter if you thoroughly understand the purpose behind buying planner; the next best thing to do is to find the best from commonplace, ordinary ones.