COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
DON’T DO! Don’t take long breaks. Breaking too frequently or for too long disrupts your concentration and drags out homework for longer than necessary. DO! Work steadily without a break for a set period of time or until you’ve fully completed an assignment and it’s filed in your binder . If you compete your homework online, you're not finished until you've uploaded the assignment and confirmed receipt. Breaks include checking Facebook or texts every other minute. Do not multitask. Focus on one task at a time. Limit breaks to 5 minutes per half hour of homework. As your concentration and attention span improve, increase your break-free study time to one full hour. DON’T DO! Don’t assume you know what your assignments are and start working without confirming details. Teachers make changes or additions to assignments all the time. DO! Check your planner, check the class webpage, and review your notes before you start working. Confirm assignment details like page numbers, chapters and problem numbers. If you’re confused, call or text a classmate (someone less confused than you, obviously.) Make a to-do list including all assignments and non-assignment related tasks , such as getting a permission slip signed or making sure you have that note you need to get out of class for your orthodontist appointment. Seriously – it takes about a minute to make a to-do list, but it can save you hours of trouble. PRODUCT PREVIEW DON’T DO! Don’t be h8n on your homework! Resentment, annoyance, impatience and all those negative emotions are big downers . A bad attitude makes it harder to get the job done and shows up in the quality of your work. DO! Remember the traits of the growth mindset learner? That student understands the benefit of effort and challenge. Even if you think homework’s boring, or that you’ve already mastered a skill or concept, Brainy’s neurons and synapses may need a bit more practice to form strong connections and memory patterns. You don’t have to love homework (that might be weird), but H8n on it distracts your brain from working efficiently. Adjust your attitude. Engage your mind in the homework process. You can’t avoid it, so make it work for you and learn from it. Just do it! You may not believe this now, but establishing and sticking to a homework routine can actually be a liberating experience. It frees you from the worry of organizational disasters, ensures that you have completed all of your work, and helps you overcome procrastination. A homework routine is a beautiful thing for high school and college readiness.
67
THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO STUDY SKILLS
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software