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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 8 easy ways to finish your homework faster.

How many times have you found yourself still staring at your textbook around midnight (or later!) even when you started your homework hours earlier? Those lost hours could be explained by Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself all night to memorize those geometry formulas for your quiz tomorrow, you’ll inevitably find that a 30 minute task has somehow filled your entire evening.

We know that you have more homework than ever. But even with lots and lots to do, a few tweaks to your study routine could help you spend less time getting more accomplished. Here are 8 steps to make Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:

1. Make a list

This should be a list of everything that has to be done that evening. And we mean, everything—from re-reading notes from this morning’s history class to quizzing yourself on Spanish vocabulary.

2. Estimate the time needed for each item on your list

You can be a little ruthless here. However long you think a task will take, try shaving off 5 or 10 minutes. But, be realistic. You won’t magically become a speed reader.

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3. Gather all your gear

Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework.

The constant blings and beeps from your devices can make it impossible to focus on what you are working on. Switch off or silence your phones and tablets, or leave them in another room until it’s time to take a tech break.

Read More: How to Calculate Your GPA

5. Time yourself

Noting how much time something actually takes will help you estimate better and plan your next study session.

6. Stay on task

If you’re fact checking online, it can be so easy to surf on over to a completely unrelated site. A better strategy is to note what information you need to find online, and do it all at once at the end of the study session.

7. Take plenty of breaks

Most of us need a break between subjects or to break up long stretches of studying. Active breaks are a great way to keep your energy up. Tech breaks can be an awesome way to combat the fear of missing out that might strike while you are buried in your work, but they also tend to stretch much longer than originally intended. Stick to a break schedule of 10 minutes or so.

8. Reward yourself! 

Finish early? If you had allocated 30 minutes for reading a biology chapter and it only took 20, you can apply those extra 10 minutes to a short break—or just move on to your next task. If you stay on track, you might breeze through your work quickly enough to catch up on some Netflix.

Our best piece of advice? Keep at it. The more you use this system, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time you can shave off homework just by focusing and committing to a distraction-free study plan.

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10 Tips to Get Your Homework Done Fast

Introduction

It's a tale as old as time: the clock ticking away ominously as you sit there, a heap of untouched homework glaring at you. The common hurdle many face is not the complexity of homework but the time management and discipline it requires. As the night descends, the looming deadline causes stress levels to skyrocket. However, fret not! Through this article, we unfold ten practical homework tips and hacks aimed at transforming this daunting task into a manageable one. Let's break it down together and achieve ultimate motivation.

Make a To-Do List

The first step towards conquering your homework begins on a note of organization. Drafting a to-do list is a classic yet effective homework tip. This list will serve as your roadmap, outlining the tasks at hand. It not only organizes your thoughts but also provides a clear picture of the workload, helping to prioritize tasks accordingly.

Gather Your Resources

Before diving into the homework ocean, ensure you have all the necessary gear. Books, notes, stationery, and any other materials should be at arm's length. This prep step is a significant time-saver. It's also a moment to seek homework help if you realize you're missing crucial information. Having everything ready will smoothen the journey, ensuring you don't have to scurry around searching for a pen or a textbook amidst a study session.

Seek Help When Needed

There's no glory in struggling alone. When a concept seems confusing, seeking homework help from teachers, peers or online platforms can provide clarity. Platforms like Tutorpeers come in handy, offering assistance in over 50 subjects with affordable tutors available 24/7. The best part? All studying happens on the platform, eliminating the need for extra apps. This smart strategy not only saves time but also builds a better understanding, making your homework journey a lot smoother.

Create a Timetable

A timetable is your game plan. Allocate time slots to each task based on its complexity and urgency. This structure provides a clear vision, helps in tracking your progress, and ensures that you are on schedule. It's a step closer to mastering the art of time management, a core element in achieving homework success.

Stay tuned as we delve deeper into more insightful homework hacks in the following sections aimed to ease your homework routine, offering a lifeline when you're in dire need of homework help.

Designate a Distraction-free Zone

Crafting the right environment is crucial for homework success. Dedicate a spot that's not only free from distractions like noise or visual clutter, but also inviting and comfortable. Ensure you have a comfy chair, a table at the right height, and enough room to spread your resources. Personalize your space with elements that make it enjoyable to be at—be it a plant, some soft music, or pictures that inspire you. This homework hack goes beyond just limiting distractions—it's about creating a space where your mind can focus and flourish.

Limit Technology Usage

It's easy to lose track of time browsing social media or responding to messages. Create a tech-free bubble during your homework time. Keep your phone, tablet, or other distractions in another room. If you need a device for your work, consider using apps that block distractions.

Team Up With a Study Buddy

Companionship can make the daunting homework journey enjoyable. A study buddy brings a different perspective, and together you can divide tasks, discuss concepts, and keep each other on track. It's a blend of social interaction and productivity. Platforms like Tutorpeers offer a fantastic avenue to connect with peers for one-on-one tutoring sessions. Whether it's homework assignments or exam prep, having a study buddy from Tutorpeers can significantly enrich your learning experience. Ready to elevate your homework game? Sign up as a learner on Tutorpeers and discover a community ready to support your academic journey!

Take Scheduled Breaks

Continuous study sessions can lead to burnout, hampering productivity. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can be effective. However, everyone's rhythm is different. Some might find longer work intervals of 2 hours with a 15 to 20-minute break more suitable. The key is to find a rhythm that keeps you refreshed and focused. Tailoring your break schedule to what suits you best can significantly enhance your concentration and efficiency, making the homework routine more sustainable and less stressful.

Reward Your Progress

Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator. Set up a reward system to celebrate small and big wins alike. Finished a challenging assignment? Treat yourself to a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. Maintained a consistent homework routine for a month? Maybe it's time to discuss that iPhone 15 reward with your parents. By associating rewards with accomplishments, you create a motivating cycle that makes tackling homework a more enticing endeavor. This cycle of work and reward fosters a positive attitude towards homework, steering you towards a path of homework success.

Prioritize and Chunk Your Tasks

Start by listing all your assignments and categorize them based on their due dates and importance. Tackle the most urgent and challenging tasks first. This approach not only helps you meet deadlines but also allows you to focus on complex tasks while your energy levels are high.

Once you've prioritized your assignments, break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if you have a 10-page essay to write, aim to complete two pages a day instead of cramming it all into one night. This method makes the work less daunting and gives you a sense of accomplishment as you tick off each mini-goal.

By combining prioritization with task chunking, you'll find that your homework becomes much more manageable. You'll reduce stress, improve your focus, and, most importantly, you'll get your homework done more efficiently.

Conclusion:

The voyage through piles of homework need not be solitary or dreary. Armed with these 10 insightful tips, navigating through the homework landscape can be a more organized, less stressful endeavor. Implementing these strategies can usher in a transformative approach towards homework, morphing it from a dreaded task to a manageable, even enjoyable endeavor. Embrace these hacks, seek homework help when needed, and stride confidently on the path of academic success. Your journey towards achieving homework success just got a lot smoother!

Q: How can I enjoy doing homework?

A: To enjoy doing homework, try to make it more engaging. Use colorful notes, listen to calming music, or turn it into a game. The key is to find what makes the task enjoyable for you.

Q: What's the best time of day to do homework for maximum efficiency?

A: The best time to do homework varies from person to person. Some people are more productive in the morning, while others find their focus in the evening. Experiment to find your peak productivity hours.

Q: How long does it take to receive scores?

A: The time it takes to receive scores can vary depending on the type of assignment and the grading process. For most regular homework assignments, you can expect feedback within a week.

Q: Is multitasking an effective way to get homework done faster?

A: Multitasking might seem like a good idea, but it often leads to decreased focus and quality. It's generally more effective to concentrate on one task at a time.

Q: How can I minimize distractions while doing homework?

A: To minimize distractions, create a dedicated, clutter-free workspace. Use apps or techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time and take short, scheduled breaks to recharge.

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Homework Hacks: 8 Tips to Get It Done Faster

Homework is no fun, especially if you’ve got a full schedule. You only have a little bit of time and a little bit of energy. And it takes so long to get through it.

Not anymore. We’ve got some helpful homework hacks for you that will make doing your homework faster and less painful.

1. Plan Your Homework and Make a List

When you start your homework, you’ll probably jump right into the first thing on your mind or the first thing you pull out of your backpack, then work your way through the rest of your assignments. There’s a better way.

Figure out how much time you have to do homework, then list out all the different tasks that you have to do. Estimate how long it will take to complete each assignment to see if you need to allow yourself more time. Be realistic. Once your list is complete you can work straight through instead of stopping frequently to figure out what to do next. It will also be extremely gratifying to cross things off after each assignment you finish!

2. Get Out All the Books and Supplies You Need

While you’re working, you discover you need a calculator, you need a certain book, you need a new pencil, you ran out of paper… the list can go on.

Since you’ve now identified all your assignments, figure out everything you need to get each item done and bring it to your workspace so it’s there when you need it.

3. Find a Quiet Place to Work Without Distractions

Speaking of workspace, you probably prefer doing your homework in front of the TV, but that can actually be the biggest distraction of all. Sitting in front of the TV is probably slowing you down, making homework time seem much longer that it actually is.

Find a place that’s quiet, with as few distractions and clutter possible. Remember, the faster you get it done, the faster you can get back to fully enjoying Netflix.

4. Turn Off Your Phone

We know this is probably the last thing you want to hear. How can you live without your phone? But for a couple hours, its totally worth it. Every time you get a notification and check your phone, it breaks your focus. It then takes more brain power to get back on track to what you were working on.

5. Listen to Classical Music While Working

We know what you’re thinking… Classical music? Seriously?

However, classical music is great for background audio. There aren’t any lyrics or beats to distract your focus. And research has shown that students who listen to classical music score higher on tests than students who listen to other genres of music. So find some good classical playlist on Spotify, then celebrate with Queen Bey when you’re done.

6. Eat Snacks and Drink Water

At the end of a long day, you may be mentally and physically tired. If you go straight into homework it may take you a long time to finish and it won’t be your best work.

Having some light healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water helps revitalize your brain and body. Avoid soda, energy drinks, or sugary snacks that will only make you crash before you’re done.

7. Take Short Breaks in Between Homework Tasks

If you have a lot to do, you may feel the pressure to just work straight through hours and hours of homework. But this will likely end up slowing you down, prolonging the entire session.

Do your work in short sprints. Go hard at a task, then take a quick break to stretch and walk around. It’ll re-energize your mind and body to keep going. For starters, try working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break.

8. Reward Yourself After You’re Finished

Homework isn’t always fun. But negativity can slow you down.

Our brains work off of reward systems. If you give yourself a reward when finishing your homework, it makes it a lot easier to start your homework the next time and you’ll get through it faster. Rewards could be being able to watch a show, eat ice cream, play a game, or going out and doing something fun.

Now that you’ve got all these tips, go get your homework done faster than ever before. It may be hard at first, but keep using these tips and it’ll get easier as you go.

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How to Make Studying Easy

Last Updated: January 12, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Ted Dorsey, MA . Ted Dorsey is a Test Prep Tutor, author, and founder of Tutor Ted, an SAT and ACT tutoring service based in Southern California. Ted earned a perfect score on the SAT (1600) and PSAT (240) in high school. Since then, he has earned perfect scores on the ACT (36), SAT Subject Test in Literature (800), and SAT Subject Test in Math Level 2 (800). He has a BA in English from Princeton University and a MA in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 96% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 175,081 times.

Studying can feel like an enormous challenge, especially when tests and exams are looming. However, study is about learning for self-betterment, not just to pass exams. And since knowledge takes a while to accumulate and be well understood, the more time you give yourself to thoroughly delve into a subject, the more you'll understand it and find it holds you in good stead for the future. This article will help you to find studying easier than perhaps it has been to this point.

Using your best learning approaches

• Visual learners: these are people who prefer to see some sort of illustration to further explain a subject.
• Auditory learners: these are people who rely on hearing and speaking to understand information and instructions. They may struggle with understanding written instructions.
• Kinesthetic learners: these are the "do-ers". They prefer completing hands-on activities and experiments to understand what they are learning. These people excel in science related subjects because of the hands-on atmosphere they present.
• Reading or writing-preference learners: these, as the name suggests, prefer reading or writing the information repeatedly to understand it.

• Visual may make charts, flow maps and make information visual.

• Auditory can tape lectures, read info aloud, tape notes/textbook readings and talk to others about it.

• Tactile can make flap books, become the teacher, and ask on ways to make your info hands on.

Using specific habits to ease studying

• If you go to a public place or a friend's house, bring all that you need with you and keep an eye on electronics in public areas.

• Start reading the text, with the aim of trying to understand it. If you don't understand anything, then pause and read again.
• Pick up important and catchy words in the text. Consider these your "keywords."
• Write the keywords down on paper.
• Take the first letter of each word. Write down that letter on the next line of the paper.
• After you get all the letters, make words out of them.
• You can make a single word or a sentence too.
• The trick in making these words is that you can make words which you use daily e.g, your friends name or a joke which makes you and your friends laugh,or a strict teacher etc.
• By doing this, you can easily get a hold of the important words which were listed in the text.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

• Panic is never helpful in any situation. Coping with this emotion may feel like quite a challenge but the best way to overcome it is to stay calm. Find something that could relax your mind. Take deep breaths and focus on what can be done, especially if you've left studying until the last minute. Thanks Helpful 53 Not Helpful 11
• Be organized. It makes a large difference. Thanks Helpful 65 Not Helpful 16
• Think about this logically, if you study now, you will have lots of time to talk to your friends and family. Thanks Helpful 81 Not Helpful 22

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/
• ↑ https://education.media/best-study-tips-for-auditory-learners
• ↑ https://ace.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/imported/storage/original/application/9ec2460d5d1ca9000c510349f57396b1.pdf
• ↑ https://www.wgu.edu/blog/improve-online-study-environment1712.html
• ↑ https://greatist.com/happiness/better-study-tips-test#Stay-Focused
• ↑ Ted Dorsey, MA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 11 December 2019.

About This Article

While studying might feel frustrating or even unproductive at times, you can make it easier by developing good habits. Take regular breaks to relax your body and brain. Find a routine that works for you, like studying for 55 minutes and breaking for 5 minutes, and stick to it. Keep yourself motivated with rewards, like earning a favorite coffee drink every time you finish learning a section of material. Another way to make studying easier is to figure out what kind of learner you are. For example, if you're a visual learner, use illustrations to better understand the material. Or, if you're more of an auditory learner, talk about the information or have a conversation about the material. To learn how to find a study group, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun For Kids Quickly & Easily

Sophie Bartlett

Figuring out how to make homework fun can be a tricky task for parents.

Does it feel like you’re constantly nagging your kids to do their homework? If your answer is yes, know that we’ve all been there! It’s natural for parents to want their children to progress and do well in school, but after an entire day of paper, pencils, and books many youngsters will resist getting on with their homework – and that’s putting it mildly!

Top Tips To Make Homework Fun:

1. work together, 2. use rewards and incentives, 3. make them a snack, 4. make it visual, 5. try different learning apps, 6. set up a homework play date, 7. go outside, 8. turn it into a game, 9. let them play teacher, 10. use a timer, 11. create a special homework space, 12. remember to be positive, 13. get help if you need it.

Thankfully, there are ways of making homework less boring and that are a little bit more fun for your child. Whether they need to practice spelling, learn their times tables or revise for an important exam, our top fun homework ideas will help you magically take the ‘work’ out of homework.

Adults often work best in the company of others, and the same can be said of kids, so why not sit with your child while they’re studying and get on with some of your own work or life admin?

Whether you’re returning emails or doing your online banking, creating a shared workspace and modeling focused work is a great way to spend quality time together while they complete their homework. Win-win!

Quick win : While your child is tackling their fractions homework, you could sit down with them and take a look through your finances.

Rewards and incentives are great when it comes to getting your children to follow your household rules and routines, and homework is no different. Things like stickers or the promise of time on their iPad or games console for slightly older children can all work wonders in getting them to do their homework without a battle.

Quick win: For every few questions they answer they could get a minute of screen time!

Let’s face it: A hungry child is an unfocused, unmotivated and unhappy child.

Most children come out of school ravenous, so let them nibble on a nutritious after-school snack while they get on with homework; things like popcorn, apple slices, grapes, or crackers and cheese are all great snack options.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, Active for Life has a list of healthy after-school snack ideas and recipes to try.

Quick win: One of the best brain foods for kids is a nice and crispy apple! So when your child is craving something sweet just cut up an apple and let them munch away.

Help to eliminate the late night ‘Oh, I forgot to do that’, and create a weekly homework chart so your child can see what they have to do each day and check off each ‘to do’ task as it’s been completed.

Again, Pinterest has some great free printables to help keep kids organized. Get them involved by letting them color it, or decorate it with their favorite stickers, and pin it up somewhere at their height, where they will see it easily every day as a reminder. Some exciting new stationery and colorful pens might help too.

Quick win: An easy way to make homework fun is to grab a piece of paper and get your child to draw out and decorate a ‘homework chart’ consisting of 5 days. Stick it on the fridge and add a sticker to each day after they’ve done their homework, when they’ve collected 5 stickers they get a treat!

If your child prefers to be online, there are some great online apps around that children will have fun using, yet encourage learning too. Here are our favorite free math websites for example. Speak to your child’s teacher too and see which apps the children use in school so you can support what they’re doing at home.

Quick win: One of our favorite websites that makes homework fun is Tang Math !

Holding a homework playdate where your child can invite one of their best school buddies over to do homework together can be a great way for them to learn and make sure the work gets done, especially older children in elementary school.

Plus, it’s likely that their parents will be delighted!

Younger children may need a bit more support and guidance but can still gain a lot from the experience of learning together with a friend – think of this as a mini-educational play date for them.

Quick win: Let your child and their friend play for a while, and then get them to work through their homework with the incentive of a yummy ‘ice cream party’ when they’ve completed all of their homework.

If the weather allows, create a comfortable outside study space and allow your child to do their homework outdoors.

The fresh air can help kids with their concentration if they’ve been stuck in a classroom all day, and studies also show that being outside, closer to nature, can increase productivity. The reward of a quick game of Frisbee or a kick-around of a soccer ball between tasks will help them stay motivated too.

Who said home learning had to be boring? If children enjoy what they’re learning, they’re more likely to remember what they’re being taught, so turn their learning into a fun game. Using sweets like Smarties to help with math and number work can turn the experience from a chore into a treat. If they get the right answer, they get to eat some!

Another trick that you can use when your child is learning spellings is to write them in shaving cream or in magnetic letters. It sounds simple but we can guarantee that it will make homework a lot more fun for your child.

These math games for kids and times tables games are a great place to start.

Quick win: If you’re looking for some fun homework ideas then check out this simple multiplication activity you can do at home, it’ll even get in one of your child’s five a day!

Make another fun homework game by creating your own mini-classroom and letting your child step into the role of teacher.

Have your child explain a concept to you as a teacher, as you, or their sibling, play the role of the student. This game works particularly well with subjects that require theory, like Science for example, as it will improve their understanding of the concept and build logic and reasoning skills.

Quick win: Make homework fun by getting your child to choose their favorite teddies and toys and setting them up in their own mini- classroom. Start off with registration, ‘mom’ ‘present’, ‘mr teddy’ ‘here’ etc. You’ll soon notice that your child is growing in confidence regardless of the topic as children love playing teacher!

Some children may have difficulty working for prolonged periods of time without a break, so using a timer can be great for getting them to complete homework without whining. For example, if your child is given 20 math problems for homework, you can say “Complete the first 10 questions, then we’ll take a 5-minute break, then complete the next 10 questions”.

Many children will need a mental break and will work more effectively when given the opportunity to take one. At the end of the task, they get to pick an activity of their choice. If your child gets easily distracted, a timer game can work well to keep them focused on the task in hand.

Quick win: Put the timer on your phone so that your child can see the countdown while they’re working.

A special study space can make homework more fun and help motivate your child to get it done! Choose a space in your house that’s least likely to distract your child, and create simple, organized, and kid-friendly homework.

You could hang up some of their artwork above the desk, and have all their school essentials nearby so everything is close to hand.

Quick win: Make sure that they aren’t surrounded by things that will distract them. Televisions and iPads are a no go at homework time!

Remember to always be upbeat and positive about school and the importance of their homework. Give your child lots of praise and encouragement about how well they’re doing to help them stay motivated and on track.

Quick win: After every homework session, spend five minutes talking through what your child has accomplished. If you’re running out of activities to do, have a look at our list of home learning packs – all free to download.

Homework can be frustrating if your child doesn’t understand the material or gets bored easily. If your child is struggling, get them some expert help!

Quick win: Third Space Learning has plenty of advice on learning math for kids and parents but if you need more support, our primary school math tutors are easy to organize and very affordable.

Do you have students who need extra support in math? Give your students more opportunities to consolidate learning and practice skills through personalized math tutoring with their own dedicated online math tutor. Each student receives differentiated instruction designed to close their individual learning gaps, and scaffolded learning ensures every student learns at the right pace. Lessons are aligned with your state’s standards and assessments, plus you’ll receive regular reports every step of the way. Personalized one-on-one math tutoring programs are available for: – 2nd grade tutoring – 3rd grade tutoring – 4th grade tutoring – 5th grade tutoring – 6th grade tutoring – 7th grade tutoring – 8th grade tutoring Why not learn more about how it works ?

The content in this article was originally written by primary school teacher Sophie Bartlett and has since been revised and adapted for US schools by elementary math teacher Christi Kulesza.

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Three ways to make homework more effective.

EducationWorld is pleased to present this article by Jamar Ramos. A writer of poetry and fiction, Ramos also produced blog posts for CBSSports.com and has contributed to a number of Web sites, including TeacherPortal.com .

Students run around the playground at recess, laughing, playing games and having fun with each other. But in the back of their minds is a haunting menace that can put a damper on even the most definitive kickball victory. What is this looming cloud?

Accordingly, Mind/Shift blogger Annie Murphy Paul points out that while the amount of homework assigned to students has grown over the last 30 years, our academic rankings compared to other countries are middling at best.

So how can we make homework more effective? The strategies recommended by experts may surprise you. Give repeated assignments on a topic, even after you’ve finished teaching the relevant unit of study? Make homework more like taking a traditional test, or even listening to an in-class lecture? According to research findings, the answer is "yes."

Try these three unusual-sounding but effective strategies:

Spaced repetition

Typically a teacher presents an entire lesson, students take notes and complete class work, and then they do homework to reinforce learning. Once the lesson is over, the student may not need the information again until an exam.

With spaced repetition , educators present shorter segments on multiple topics, and these topics are then repeated over time. For example, a teacher speaking about the Industrial Revolution would not move on from it permanently.

A few weeks later, she might assign homework that asks kids what they remember about the Revolution and how they can apply that knowledge to better understand trends in contemporary manufacturing. Later in the school year, the teacher might give another assignment that requires students to complete a Venn diagram comparing the Industrial Revolution to a revolution from a different period of history.

Retrieval practice

With retrieval practice , students do not study notes or “cram” in preparation for a single high-stakes test. Instead, they do frequent self-assessment to give themselves multiple opportunities to retrieve the information from memory. Every time kids pull up a memory, that memory actually gets stronger.

Try designing homework assignments that focus less on information input and more on getting students to pull that information out of their brains. For example, ask kids to complete an online quiz, identify areas in which they scored lowest, and create a plan to give themselves more practice in those areas. Or have students write quiz questions, post them on a class social media platform, and answer them as a group.  

Flipping the classroom

The flipped classroom redefines the very concept of homework—instead of traditional paper-and-pencil tasks, assignments involve video lectures that students view at home as many times as they choose. This can help them digest difficult concepts, since they won’t need to rely simply on lecture notes hastily taken in class.

With class time freed up, students have greater opportunity to ask the teacher questions and participate in hands-on and collaborative work that reinforces learning. Kids who are behind in a class or who need differentiated activities also will have a better chance of getting the help they need.

While it’s too soon to tell whether flipping results in measurable gains in student achievement, early anecdotal evidence is promising .

Checklist for good homework assignments

In addition to the above strategies, researchers have identified  additional general best practices when it comes to making homework count.

Good assignments:

• Are given not simply as a matter of routine, but only when there is a clear purpose for enhancing student learning.  
• Are engaging and not simply “busywork.”  
• Give students the opportunity to make choices and use creativity (for example: figure out the best ways for you to learn the multiplication tables and come back and share with the class).  
• Offer adequate feedback on what students have mastered, and what they still need to practice. Web-based platforms offer an easy way for kids to get instant feedback. For traditional assignments, set aside class time for students to correct, discuss and reflect upon their homework answers.  
• Are differentiated to meet individual students’ learning needs (for example, not every student needs to do the same number or type of math problems).  
• (With the exception of flipped-classroom videos) clearly relate to material already taught in class.  
• Are explained thoroughly (in terms of directions and expectations) before students leave class.

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Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more! No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education! COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2024 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SchoolNotes.com The Educator's Network 10 Tips to tackle Homework the easy way. Homework is no fun, especially when you’ve got busy schedules, as doing homework can be both time-consuming and tasking, which will leave you with less free time and energy. How many of you all have found yourself still working on your homework around midnight even if you started them hours earlier? Many children struggle with homework sometimes, but how many of you feel it has become a chronic issue that you may need a little extra help with them? How many of you fret about homework time? Well, you don’t have to anymore! We’ve got some helpful homework hacks for you, which you can incorporate into your routine to make homework feel less overwhelming and less time-consuming. 1. Plan your homework: Many children jump right into the first thing that’s on your mind or the first assignment that they pull out of their bag and work their way through the rest of their assignments, however, we have a better way around. You can start by making a list of everything that has to be done that day. That is everything from re-reading notes, to preparing for your next day’s classes. When the teacher is handing out assignments, it would be a lot easier if you write them down in your planner and ask relevant questions about what exactly is expected, if you have doubts. 2. Allot specific time: Figure out how much time you have to finish your homework, according to the different tasks that you have listed. Make an estimation of how long you would take to complete each task on the list and see if you need to allot less or more time accordingly. Once you make an elaborate plan with timings, you can work straight through your assignments instead of frequently stopping to figure out what to do next. If you have a heavy homework day, you might also need to devote more time to homework, especially if you are involved in sports or other activities post-school. 3. Gather all you need: Keep everything you will need for your homework-ready, like your laptop for research, your textbook for reference, pens and pencils for writing, a calculator for problems, graphs if required, and so on. This is important because forgetting supplies and getting up between homework to get the supplies take you off course and makes it harder to get back to your homework efficiently. So as you have planned your homework, you can figure out everything you will need and get each item ready at your workspace before you begin with the actual work. 4. Comfortable work environment: When you sit down to do your homework, where do you prefer to do it? In front of the TV? Which can actually be the biggest distraction slowing you down and making homework seem longer than it actually is? Or on the bed? Which will more likely make you feel sleepy, distracted, and lead to lower productivity? It is important that you find a quiet place with fewer distractions so that you can get your homework done faster and more effectively than otherwise. It is better if you have a desk area with a comfortable chair in a well-lit environment, so you won’t have to strain yourself, especially your eyes. 5. Eliminate all distractions: We understand that this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but it is imperative to put away your electronics, including your cell phone, during homework. This will be totally worth it, because every time you get a notification and check your phone, it breaks your focus and requires more hard work from your side to get back on track with what you were working on. If you need to use your laptop while doing homework, you can use website blocking apps such as “stay focused” and chrome extensions such as “strict flow” to avoid distractions and pop-ups. You can also let your family and friends know that you do not want to be disturbed at a particular time when you are working or studying, which will also help in getting stuff done faster. 6. Hardest assignments first: It’s easier to start with the simple stuff and get it out of the way, but it is when you begin that you have the most energy and focus. You can use this mental power and superior focus on the subjects that are most challenging to tackle. So that you can work on the simpler, easier stuff when you’re tired and less focused. 7. Move on: There could be specific assignments with which you can get stuck. While it is important for you to try and figure out the problem or assignment as best as you can, it is also imperative that you do not invest too much time in it, as it can mess up your homework plan for the rest of the assignments. If you come across one such subject or type of assignment, which is more time-consuming than the others, you can also ask for a little extra help from your parents, friends, or older siblings later. 8. Take breaks: When we have a lot to do, we feel the pressure to just work straight through hours and hours and get homework done, but this is something that will probably end up slowing you down and draining your energy. Everybody needs a break between work, and it is similar to homework as well. Most of us need a break between subjects or between long stretches of study. It is also true that many people have shorter attention spans, and sitting for too long without relaxation can make us less productive than if we take regular breaks. It is important that you do not stretch your break more than you originally intended, so stick to a break schedule of 10 to 15 minutes and follow through with it strictly. 9. Stay hydrated: After a long day at school or online classes, you may feel mentally and physically tired. Jumping straight into homework after this may not work best. So it is important that you have some light and healthy snacks before you start your homework and keep drinking plenty of water throughout your homework and even throughout your day in general. Staying hydrated is important to revitalize your body and brain, and for you to work in a more efficient manner. 10. Reward yourself: Reward yourself after finishing homework. Or did you finish earlier than your planned time? If You allot a 30 minute time for a said subject and you complete it in 20 minutes, you can use those extra 10 minutes as a reward. Rewards can be anything like an extra break or a treat, playing a game, watching a show, anything that you find fun and entertaining. This will make homework a lot easier and will help you start your next homework on time and get through it faster. Wrapping it up: While you keep in mind the above-said points, also remember that by staying focused, organized, planned, and motivated you can get your homework done in a timely and more efficient manner and move on to more fun and exciting activities. All the very best! No Comments Reply cancel reply. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. About Katie Application Essays The Journal Join Thousands on My List What homework should I do first? The easy stuff or hard stuff? Katie Azevedo December 13, 2016 good habits , homework , productivity , study skills , time management By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed. What homework should I do first? This is the first question I often hear when a student feels overwhelmed with assignments. It’s also the first thought that pops into my own head when my to-do list runs onto page 17 of my planner! (Swapping out homework for tasks , of course.) We all have things to do — whether homework assignments, work projects, personal goals, etc. But not all tasks are created equal. Not all tasks take the same amount of time to complete or have the same impact when they’re completed. So how do students know what homework to do first — the big, daunting assignments? Or the small, quick ones? The first answer: First do whatever homework is due soonest. Have trouble with procrastination? Here are some procrastination tips . The other answer to ‘ What homework should I do first? ‘: It depends. (Least satisfying answer ever. I know.) A classic Pros and Cons list reveals plenty of reasons to do the quick and easy homework assignments first, and plenty of reasons to do the harder tasks first.  Despite the above advantages and disadvantages of tackling the easy or the hard homework first, there really is a proper way to approach your homework assignments that will set you up for getting more done . And here it is: Do what works for you! How to know what approach works for you We all work differently and we all respond to pressure differently. If you are easily frustrated and are quick to feel overwhelmed when things get tough, then perhaps you’re the type of person who should tackle the small, quick homework assignments first. In school, start your afternoons by completing the easiest assignments: doing so will motivate you to move onto the harder ones. This is called “grabbing the low-hanging fruit.” At home, same thing: pick up a few items off your bedroom floor before you dig into your deep cleaning routine. At the gym, start your workout with a short walk to warm up before you hit something harder. On the other hand, if you tire easily or get bored when things are too simple, then bang out the tough stuff first. In school, start with the biggest, most annoying looming homework assignments (even if they’re not due for a while) so you don’t exhaust yourself on the little assignments. At home, get the biggest project out of the way first (clean the garage!), and then pick away at the smaller tasks.  At the gym, go big or go home. (Or go big, go small, and then go home. Ha.) What I do when I’m trying to figure out what “homework” to do first Personally, I go back and forth when it comes to choosing which items from my to-do list to tackle first. Sometimes I start with the small stuff, and sometimes I “eat the frog” first. (I don’t really eat reptiles. “Eat that frog” is the title of an awesome book about time management by Brian Tracy. It’s an expression that refers to killing the big, gross assignments first.) It sort of depends on my mood on a particular day, how much free time I have (scattered moments vs large chunks), and what the task or project is. So my final advice is this: If you’re constantly questioning what homework should I do first,  try both ways. Try starting with the small tasks and see how you feel. Then another time start with a big task and see how you feel. Compare how productive you were (or weren’t) and how you felt during each approach. Another idea is that you could start with a small homework assignment, then do a hard one, and then take a short break. Do another small homework assignment, do another hard one, and then take another short break. Keep going until you’re done with all your assignments.   So this homework strategy looks like this: Small Assignment + Big Assignment + Short Break (Repeat as many times as you need) You can use this strategy over the course of a single afternoon, or over the course of a week. Or, like, forever, really. So the next time you’re wondering  what homework should I do first,  try alternating between easy and hard tasks, while paying attention to how much you actually get done. And then you’ll find your answer! For a full tutorial on the 5 steps of proper homework prioritization, read this. Subscribe to ReportCard Newsletter! Get your FREE download of 25 School Habits and Hacks when you sign up for our monthly newsletter featuring awesome school tricks and tips I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time. Because differences are our greatest strength Homework challenges and strategies By Amanda Morin Expert reviewed by Jim Rein, MA At a glance Kids can struggle with homework for lots of reasons. A common challenge is rushing through assignments. Once you understand a homework challenge, it’s easier to find solutions. Most kids struggle with homework from time to time. But kids who learn and think differently may struggle more than others. Understanding the homework challenges your child faces can help you reduce stress and avoid battles. Here are some common homework challenges and tips to help. The challenge: Rushing through homework Kids with learning difficulties may rush because they’re trying to get through what’s hard for them as fast as possible. For kids with ADHD, trouble with focus and working memory may be the cause. Rushing through homework can lead to messy or incorrect homework. It can also lead to kids missing key parts of the assignment. One thing to try is having your child do the easiest assignments first and then move to harder ones. Get more tips for helping grade-schoolers and middle-schoolers slow down on homework. The challenge: Taking notes Note-taking isn’t an easy skill for some kids. They may struggle with the mechanical parts of writing or with organizing ideas on a page. Kids may also find it hard to read text and take notes at the same time. Using the outline method may help. It divides notes into main ideas, subtopics, and details.  Explore different note-taking strategies . The challenge: Managing time and staying organized Some kids struggle with keeping track of time and making a plan for getting all of their work done. That’s especially true of kids who have trouble with executive function. Try creating a homework schedule and set a specific time and place for your child to get homework done. Use a timer to help your child stay on track and get a better sense of time. Learn about trouble with planning . The challenge: Studying effectively Many kids need to be taught how to study effectively. But some may need concrete strategies. One thing to try is creating a checklist of all the steps that go into studying. Have your child mark off each one. Lists can help kids monitor their work. Explore more study strategies for grade-schoolers and teens . The challenge: Recalling information Some kids have trouble holding on to information so they can use it later. (This skill is called working memory. ) They may study for hours but remember nothing the next day. But there are different types of memory. If your child has trouble with verbal memory, try using visual study aids like graphs, maps, or drawings. Practice “muscle memory” exercises to help kids with working memory. The challenge: Learning independently It’s important for kids to learn how to do homework without help. Using a homework contract can help your child set realistic goals. Encourage “thinking out loud.” Get tips for helping grade-schoolers do schoolwork on their own. Sometimes, homework challenges don’t go away despite your best efforts. Look for signs that kids may have too much homework . And learn how to talk with teachers about concerns . Key takeaways Some kids have a hard time doing schoolwork on their own. It can help to tailor homework strategies to a child’s specific challenges and strengths. Sometimes, there’s too much homework for a child to handle. Talk to the teacher. Explore related topics 25 Scientifically Proven Tips for More Effective Studying Staying on top of schoolwork can be tough. Whether you’re in high school, or an adult going back to college, balancing coursework with other responsibilities can be challenging. If you’re teetering on the edge of burnout, here are some study tips that are scientifically proven to help you succeed! Editorial Listing ShortCode: 2024 Ultimate Study Tips Guide In this guide, we explore scientifically-proven study techniques from scientific journals and some of the world’s best resources like Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Cornell. In a hurry? Skip ahead to the section that interests you most. How to Prepare for Success Create Your Perfect Study Space Pick a Study Method that Works for You Effective Study Skills How to Study More Efficiently How to Study for Tests Memory Improvement Techniques Top 10 Study Hacks Backed by Science Best Study Apps Study Skills Worksheets Key Takeaways This comprehensive guide covers everything from studying for exams to the best study apps. So, let’s get started! Part 1 – How to Prepare for Success 1. Set a Schedule “Oh, I’ll get to it soon” isn’t a valid study strategy. Rather, you have to be intentional about planning set study sessions . On your calendar, mark out chunks of time that you can devote to your studies. You should aim to schedule some study time each day, but other commitments may necessitate that some sessions are longer than others. Harder classes require more study time. So, too, do classes that are worth several credits. For each credit hour that you’re taking, consider devoting one to three hours to studying each week. 2. Study at Your Own Pace Do you digest content quickly, or do you need time to let the material sink in? Only you know what pace is best for you. There’s no right (or wrong) study pace. So, don’t try matching someone else’s speed. Instead, through trial and error, find what works for you. Just remember that slower studying will require that you devote more time to your schoolwork. 3. Get Some Rest Exhaustion helps no one perform their best. Your body needs rest ; getting enough sleep is crucial for memory function. This is one reason that scheduling study time is so important: It reduces the temptation to stay up all night cramming for a big test. Instead, you should aim for seven or more hours of sleep the night before an exam. Limit pre-studying naps to 15 or 20 minutes at a time. Upon waking, do a few stretches or light exercises to prepare your body and brain for work. 4. Silence Your Cell Phone Interruptions from your phone are notorious for breaking your concentration. If you pull away to check a notification, you’ll have to refocus your brain before diving back into your studies. Consider turning off your phone’s sounds or putting your device into do not disturb mode before you start. You can also download apps to temporarily block your access to social media . If you’re still tempted to check your device, simply power it off until you’re finished studying. Research shows that stress makes it harder to learn and to retain information. Stress-busting ideas include: Taking deep breaths Writing down a list of tasks you need to tackle Doing light exercise Try to clear your head before you begin studying. Part 2 – Create Your Perfect Study Space 1. Pick a Good Place to Study There’s a delicate balance when it comes to the best study spot : You need a place that’s comfortable without being so relaxing that you end up falling asleep. For some people, that means working at a desk. Others do better on the couch or at the kitchen table. Your bed, on the other hand, may be too comfy. Surrounding yourself with peace and quiet helps you focus. If your kids are being loud or there’s construction going on outside your window, you might need to relocate to an upstairs bedroom, a quiet cafe or your local library. 2. Choose Your Music Wisely Noise-canceling headphones can also help limit distractions. It’s better to listen to quiet music than loud tunes. Some people do best with instrumental music playing in the background. Songs with lyrics may pull your attention away from your textbooks. However, some folks can handle listening to songs with words, so you may want to experiment and see what works for you. Just remember that there’s no pressure to listen to any music. If you do your best work in silence, then feel free to turn your music player off. 3. Turn Off Netflix If song lyrics are distracting, just imagine what an attention sucker the television can be! Serious studying requires that you turn off the TV. The same goes for listening to radio deejays. Hearing voices in the background takes your brainpower off of your studies. 4. Use Background Sounds Turning off the television, talk radio and your favorite pop song doesn’t mean that you have to study in total silence. Soft background sounds are a great alternative. Some people enjoy listening to nature sounds, such as ocean waves or cracks of thunder. Others prefer the whir of a fan. 5. Snack on Brain Food A growling stomach can pull your mind from your studies, so feel free to snack as you work. Keep your snacks within arm’s reach, so you don’t have to leave your books to find food. Fuel your next study session with some of the following items: Lean deli meat Grapes or apple slices Dark chocolate Go for snacks that will power your brain and keep you alert. Steer clear of items that are high in sugar, fat and processed carbs. Part 3 – Pick a Study Method That Works for You Mindlessly reading through your notes or textbooks isn’t an effective method of studying; it doesn’t help you process the information. Instead, you should use a proven study strategy that will help you think through the material and retain the information. Strategy #1 – SQ3R Method With the SQ3R approach to reading , you’ll learn to think critically about a text. There are five steps: Survey : Skim through the assigned material. Focus on headings, words in bold print and any diagrams. Question : Ask yourself questions related to the topic. Read : Read the text carefully. As you go, look for answers to your questions. Recite : Tell yourself the answers to your questions. Write notes about them, even. Review : Go over the material again by rereading the text and reading your notes aloud. Strategy #2 – PQ4R Method PQ4R is another study strategy that can help you digest the information you read. This approach has six steps: Preview : Skim the material. Read the titles, headings and other highlighted text. Question : Think through questions that pertain to the material. Read : As you work through the material, try to find answers to your questions. Reflect : Consider whether you have any unanswered questions or new questions. Recite : Speak aloud about the things you just read. Review : Look over the material one more time. Strategy #3 – THIEVES Method The THIEVES approach can help you prepare to read for information. There are seven pre-reading steps: Title : Read the title. Headings : Look through the headings. Introduction : Skim the intro. Every first sentence in a section : Take a look at how each section begins. Visuals and vocabulary : Look at the pictures and the words in bold print. End questions : Review the questions at the end of the chapter. Summary : Read the overview of the text. Ask yourself thought-provoking questions as you work through these steps. After completing them, read the text. Studying Online Although these three study strategies can be useful in any setting, studying online has its own set of challenges. Dr. Tony Bates has written a thoughtful and thorough guide to studying online, A Student Guide to Studying Online . Not only does he highlight the importance of paying attention to course design, but he also offers helpful tips on how to choose the best online program and manage your course load. Part 4 – Effective Study Skills 1. Highlight Key Concepts Looking for the most important information as you read helps you stay engaged with the material . This can help keep your mind from wandering as you read. As you find important details, mark them with a highlighter, or underline them. It can also be effective to jot notes along the edges of the text. Write on removable sticky notes if the book doesn’t belong to you. When you’re preparing for a test, begin your studies by reviewing your highlighted sections and the notes you wrote down. 2. Summarize Important Details One good way to get information to stick in your brain is to tell it again in your own words. Writing out a summary can be especially effective. You can organize your summaries in paragraph form or in outline form. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t include every bit of information in a summary. Stick to the key points. Consider using different colors on your paper. Research shows that information presented in color is more memorable than things written in plain type. You could use colored pens or go over your words with highlighters. After writing about what you read, reinforce the information yet again by reading aloud what you wrote on your paper. 3. Create Your Own Flashcards For an easy way to quiz yourself , prepare notecards that feature a keyword on one side and important facts or definitions about that topic on the reverse. Writing out the cards will help you learn the information. Quizzing yourself on the cards will continue that reinforcement. The great thing about flashcards is that they’re easily portable. Slip them in your bag, so you can pull them out whenever you have a spare minute. This is a fantastic way to squeeze in extra practice time outside of your regularly scheduled study sessions. As an alternative to paper flashcards, you can also use a computer program or a smartphone app to make digital flashcards that you can click through again and again. 4. Improve Recall with Association Sometimes your brain could use an extra hand to help you hold onto the information that you’re studying. Creating imaginary pictures, crafting word puzzles or doing other mental exercises can help make your material easier to remember. Try improving recall with the following ideas: Sing the information to a catchy tune. Think of a mnemonic phrase in which the words start with the same letters as the words that you need to remember. Draw a picture that helps you make a humorous connection between the new information and the things that you already know. Envision what it would be like to experience your topic in person. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells and more. Think up rhymes or tongue twisters that can help the information stick in your brain. Visualize the details with a web-style mind map that illustrates the relationships between concepts. 5. Absorb Information in Smaller Chunks Think about how you memorize a phone number: You divide the 10-digit number into three smaller groups. It’s easier to get these three chunks to stick in your mind than it is to remember the whole thing as a single string of information. You can use this strategy when studying by breaking a list down into smaller parts. Work on memorizing each part as its own group. 6. Make Your Own Study Sheet Condensing your most important notes onto one page is an excellent way to keep priority information at your fingertips. The more you look over this sheet and read it aloud, the better that you’ll know the material. Furthermore, the act of typing or writing out the information will help you memorize the details. Using different colors or lettering styles can help you picture the information later. Just like flashcards, a study sheet is portable. You can pull it out of your bag whenever you have a spare minute. 7. Be the Teacher To teach information to others, you first have to understand it yourself. Therefore, when you’re trying to learn something new, challenge yourself to consider how you’d teach it to someone else. Wrestling with this concept will help you gain a better understanding of the topic. In fact, you can even recruit a friend, a family member or a study group member to listen to your mini-lesson. Reciting your presentation aloud to someone else will help the details stick in your mind, and your audience may be able to point out gaps in your knowledge. 8. Know When to Call It a Day Yes, you really can get too much of a good thing. Although your studies are important, they shouldn’t be the only thing in your life. It’s also important to have a social life, get plenty of exercise, and take care of your non-school responsibilities. Studies show that too much time with your nose in the books can elevate your stress level , which can have a negative effect on your school performance and your personal relationships. Too much studying may also keep you from getting enough exercise. This could lower your bone density or increase your percentage of body fat. Part 5 – How to Study More Efficiently 1. Take Regular Breaks Study sessions will be more productive if you allow yourself to take planned breaks. Consider a schedule of 50 minutes spent working followed by a 10-minute break. Your downtime provides a good chance to stand up and stretch your legs. You can also use this as an opportunity to check your phone or respond to emails. When your 10 minutes are up, however, it’s time to get back to work. At the end of a long study session, try to allow yourself a longer break — half an hour, perhaps — before you move on to other responsibilities. 2. Take Notes in Class The things that your teacher talks about in class are most likely topics that he or she feels are quite important to your studies. So, it’s a good idea to become a thorough note-taker. The following tips can help you become an efficient, effective note-taker: Stick to the main points. Use shorthand when possible. If you don’t have time to write all the details, jot down a keyword or a name. After class, you can use your textbook to elaborate on these items. For consistency, use the same organizational system each time you take notes. Consider writing your notes by hand, which can help you remember the information better. However, typing may help you be faster or more organized. Recording important points is effective because it forces you to pay attention to what’s being said during a lecture. 3. Exercise First Would you believe that exercise has the potential to grow your brain ? Scientists have shown this to be true! In fact, exercise is most effective at generating new brain cells when it’s immediately followed by learning new information. There are short-term benefits to exercising before studying as well. Physical activity helps wake you up so you feel alert and ready when you sit down with your books. 4. Review and Revise Your Notes at Home If your notes are incomplete — for example, you wrote down dates with no additional information — take time after class to fill in the missing details. You may also want to swap notes with a classmate so you can catch things that you missed during the lecture. Rewrite your notes if you need to clean them up Rewriting will help you retain the information Add helpful diagrams or pictures Read through them again within one day If you find that there are concepts in your notes that you don’t understand, ask your professor for help. You may be able to set up a meeting or communicate through email. After rewriting your notes, put them to good use by reading through them again within the next 24 hours. You can use them as a reference when you create study sheets or flashcards. 5. Start with Your Toughest Assignments Let’s face it: There are some subjects that you like more than others. If you want to do things the smart way, save your least challenging tasks for the end of your studies. Get the hardest things done first. If you save the toughest tasks for last, you’ll have them hanging over your head for the whole study session. That can cost you unnecessary mental energy. Furthermore, if you end with your favorite assignments, it will give you a more positive feeling about your academic pursuits. You’ll be more likely to approach your next study session with a good attitude. 6. Focus on Key Vocabulary To really understand a subject, you have to know the words that relate to it. Vocabulary words are often written in textbooks in bold print. As you scan the text, write these words down in a list. Look them up in a dictionary or in the glossary at the back of the book. To help you become familiar with the terms, you could make a study sheet with the definitions or make flashcards. 7. Join a Study Group Studying doesn’t always have to be an individual activity. Benefits of a study group include: Explaining the material to one another Being able to ask questions about things you don’t understand Quizzing each other or playing review games Learning the material more quickly than you might on your own Developing soft skills that will be useful in your career, such as teamwork and problem solving Having fun as you study Gather a few classmates to form a study group. Part 6 – How to Study for Tests 1. Study for Understanding, Not Just for the Test Cramming the night before a big test usually involves trying to memorize information long enough to be able to regurgitate it the next morning. Although that might help you get a decent grade or your test, it won’t help you really learn the material . Within a day or two, you’ll have forgotten most of what you studied. You’ll have missed the goal of your classes: mastery of the subject matter. Instead, commit yourself to long-term learning by studying throughout the semester. 2. Begin Studying at Least One Week in Advance Of course, you may need to put in extra time before a big test, but you shouldn’t put this off until the night before. Instead, in the week leading up to the exam, block off a daily time segment for test preparation. Regular studying will help you really learn the material. 3. Spend at Least One Hour per Day Studying One week out from a big test, study for an hour per night. If you have two big tests coming up, increase your daily study time, and divide it between the two subjects. The day before the exam, spend as much time as possible studying — all day, even. 4. Re-write Class Notes After each class, you should have fleshed out your notes and rewritten them in a neat, organized format. Now, it’s time to take your re-done notes and write them once again. This time, however, your goal is to condense them down to only the most important material. Ideally, you want your rewritten notes to fit on just one or two sheets of paper. These sheets should be your main study resource during test preparation. 5. Create a Study Outline Early in the week, make a long outline that includes many of the details from your notes. Rewrite it a few days later, but cut the material in half. Shortly before the test, write it one more time; include only the most important information. Quiz yourself on the missing details. 6. Make Your Own Flashcards Another way to quiz yourself is to make flashcards that you can use for practice written tests. First, read the term on the front side. Encourage yourself to write out the definition or details of that term. Compare your written answer with what’s on the back of the card. This can be extra helpful when prepping for an entrance exam like the GRE, though there are a growing number of schools that don’t require GRE scores for admission. 7. Do Sample Problems and Essays from Your Textbook There are additional things you can do to practice test-taking. For example, crack open your book, and solve problems like the ones you expect to see on the test. Write out the answers to essay questions as well. There may be suggested essay topics in your textbook. Part 7 – Memory Improvement Techniques 1. Study Right Before Bed Although you shouldn’t pull all-nighters, studying right before bedtime can be a great idea. Sleep helps cement information in your brain. Studies show that you’re more likely to recall information 24 hours later if you went to bed shortly after learning it. Right before bed, read through your study sheet, quiz yourself on flashcards or recite lists of information. 2. Study Small Chunks at a Time If you want to remember information over the long haul, don’t try to cram it all in during one sitting. Instead, use an approach called spaced repetition : Break the information into parts Learn one new part at a time over the course of days or weeks Review your earlier acquisitions each time you study The brain stores information that it thinks is important. So, when you regularly go over a topic at set intervals over time, it strengthens your memory of it. 3. Tell a Story Sometimes, you just need to make information silly in order to help it stick in your brain. To remember a list of items or the particular order of events, make up a humorous story that links those things or words together. It doesn’t necessarily need to make sense; it just needs to be memorable . 4. Change Study Locations Often Studying the same information in multiple places helps the details stick in your mind better. Consider some of the following locations: Your desk at home A coffee shop The library Your backyard It’s best to switch between several different study spots instead of always hitting the books in the same place. 5. Swap Topics Regularly Keeping your brain trained on the same information for long periods of time isn’t beneficial. It’s smarter to jump from one subject to another a few times during a long study session. Along those same lines, you should study the same material in multiple ways. Research shows that using varied study methods for the same topic helps you perform better on tests. 6. Quiz Yourself Challenge yourself to see what you can remember. Quizzing yourself is like practicing for the test, and it’s one of the most effective methods of memory retention . If it’s hard to remember the information at first, don’t worry; the struggle makes it more likely that you’ll remember it in the end. 7. Go Old-school: Use a Pen and Paper The act of writing answers helps you remember the information. Here are some ways to use writing while studying: Recopy your notes Write the answers to flashcards Make a study sheet Practice writing essay answers Writing by hand is best because it requires your attention and focus. 8. See It & Hear It Say information out loud, and you’ll be more likely to remember it. You’re engaging your eyes as you read the words, your mouth as you say them, and your ears as you hear yourself. Scientists call the benefit of speaking information aloud production effect . Part 8 – Top 10 Study Hacks Backed by Science 1. Grab a Coffee Drinking coffee (or your preferred high-octane beverage) while you study may help keep you alert so you don’t doze off mid-session. There’s even evidence that caffeine can improve your memory skills. However, avoid sugary beverages. These could cause your energy level to crash in a few hours. 2. Reward Yourself Studies show that giving yourself a reward for doing your work helps you enjoy the effort more. Do it right away; don’t wait until the test is over to celebrate. For example, after finishing a three-hour study session, treat yourself to an ice cream cone or a relaxing bath. 3. Study with Others Working with a study group holds you accountable so it’s harder to procrastinate on your work. When you study together, you can fill in gaps in one another’s understanding, and you can quiz each other on the material. Besides, studying with a group can be fun! 4. Meditate It may be hard to imagine adding anything else to your packed schedule, but dedicating time to mindfulness practices can really pay off. Studies show that people who meditate may perform better on tests , and they are generally more attentive. Mindfulness apps can help you get started with this practice. 5. Hit the Gym To boost the blood flow to your brain, do half an hour of cardio exercise before sitting down to study. Aerobic exercise gives your brain a major dose of oxygen and other important nutrients, which may help you think clearly, remember facts and do your best work. 6. Play Some Music Listening to tunes can help you focus. Studies show that the best study music is anything that features a rhythmic beat . It’s smart to choose a style that you like. If you like classical, that’s fine, but you could also go for electronica or modern piano solos. 7. Grab Some Walnuts A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps your brain do its best work. Good sources include: Fish: cod liver oil, salmon and mackerel Vegetables: spinach and Brussels sprouts To calm your pre-test jitters, eat a mix of omega-3 and omega-6 foods. 8. Take Regular Breaks Your brain needs some downtime. Don’t try to push through for hours on end. Every hour, take a break for several minutes. Breaks are good for your mental health . They also improve your attention span, your creativity and your productivity. During a break, it’s best to move around and exercise a bit. 9. Get Some Sleep Although studying is important, it can’t come at the expense of your rest. Sleep gives your brain a chance to process the information that you’ve learned that day. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll have a hard time focusing and remembering information. Even during busy test weeks, try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. 10. Eliminate Distractions It’s hard to get much studying done when you’re busy scrolling Instagram. Put away your phone and computer while studying, or at least block your social media apps. Turn off the television while you work, too. If you’re studying in a noisy area, put on headphones that can help block the distracting sounds. Part 9 – The Best Study Apps 1. iStudiez Pro Legend Scheduling study time is a must, and iStudiez Pro Legend lets you put study sessions, classes and assignments on your calendar. Color coding the entries can help you stay organized. For each class, you can enter meeting times and homework assignments, and you can keep track of your grades. 2. Dragon Anywhere Instead of writing notes in the margins of your textbooks, you can use Dragon Anywhere’s voice dictation feature to record your thoughts and insights. Just be sure to rewrite your dictated notes in your own handwriting later for maximum learning! 3. Evernote When you’re in school, you have a lot of responsibilities to juggle, but Evernote can help you organize them. You can add notes and documents to store them in one digital spot, and tagging them will help you quickly pull up all files for a class or a topic. 4. Quizlet Go Make digital flashcards that you can practice on your mobile device with Quizlet Go . This means that you can pull out your phone for a quick study session whenever you have a couple of minutes of downtime. You don’t even need internet access to practice these flashcards. 5. My Study Life Enter your upcoming tests and assignments into My Study Life , and the app will send you reminder messages. The app has a calendar so you can keep track of your class schedule. It can even notify you when it’s time to go to class. 6. Exam Countdown Lite You should start studying for tests at least a week in advance. Input the dates for your exams and assignments into Exam Countdown Lite so you’ll have a visual reminder of when you should begin your test prep. The app can send you notifications as well. 7. Flashcards+ With Chegg’s Flashcards+ , you can make your own digital flashcards or use ones designed by others. Because you can add images to your cards, you can quiz yourself on the names of famous artworks, important historical artifacts or parts of a scientific diagram. Organize information into categories by creating a visual mind map on XMind . This can help you classify facts and figures so you see how they relate to one another. This visual representation can also help you recall the information later. 9. ScannerPro Do you have piles of handwritten notes everywhere? Once you have written them out, consider scanning them into digital form. ScannerPro lets you use your phone as a scanner. You can store your scanned files in this app or transfer them to Evernote or another organization system. Part 10 – Study Skills Worksheets Could you use more help to develop your study skills? Rutgers University has dozens of study skills worksheets online . These documents are packed with tips that can help you become a better student. The checklists and charts can help you evaluate your current strengths and organize your work. Part 11 – Key Takeaways You’re a busy person, so you need to make the most of every study session. By now, you should understand the basics of effective studies: Schedule study time Study regularly Minimize distractions Read for information Write the important stuff down Use creative memory tricks Quiz yourself Be good to your body and your brain Put these study tips to good use, and you’ll soon learn that you’ve learned how to study smarter. Smart Classroom Management A Simple, Effective Homework Plan For Teachers: Part 1 So for the next two weeks I’m going to outline a homework plan–four strategies this week, four the next–aimed at making homework a simple yet effective process. Let’s get started. Homework Strategies 1-4 The key to homework success is to eliminate all the obstacles—and excuses—that get in the way of students getting it done. Add leverage and some delicately placed peer pressure to the mix, and not getting homework back from every student will be a rare occurrence. Here is how to do it. 1. Assign what students already know. Most teachers struggle with homework because they misunderstand the narrow purpose of homework, which is to practice what has already been learned. Meaning, you should only assign homework your students fully understand and are able to do by themselves. Therefore, the skills needed to complete the evening’s homework must be thoroughly taught during the school day. If your students can’t prove to you that they’re able to do the work without assistance, then you shouldn’t assign it. It isn’t fair to your students—or their parents—to have to sit at the dinner table trying to figure out what you should have taught them during the day. 2. Don’t involve parents. Homework is an agreement between you and your students. Parents shouldn’t be involved. If parents want to sit with their child while he or she does the homework, great. But it shouldn’t be an expectation or a requirement of them. Otherwise, you hand students a ready-made excuse for not doing it. You should tell parents at back-to-school night, “I got it covered. If ever your child doesn’t understand the homework, it’s on me. Just send me a note and I’ll take care of it.” Holding yourself accountable is not only a reminder that your lessons need to be spot on, but parents will love you for it and be more likely to make sure homework gets done every night. And for negligent parents? It’s best for their children in particular to make homework a teacher/student-only agreement. 3. Review and then ask one important question. Set aside a few minutes before the end of the school day to review the assigned homework. Have your students pull out the work, allow them to ask final clarifying questions, and have them check to make sure they have the materials they need. And then ask one important question: “Is there anyone, for any reason, who will not be able to turn in their homework in the morning? I want to know now rather than find out about it in the morning.” There are two reasons for this question. First, the more leverage you have with students, and the more they admire and respect you , the more they’ll hate disappointing you. This alone can be a powerful incentive for students to complete homework. Second, it’s important to eliminate every excuse so that the only answer students can give for not doing it is that they just didn’t care. This sets up the confrontation strategy you’ll be using the next morning. 4. Confront students on the spot. One of your key routines should be entering the classroom in the morning. As part of this routine, ask your students to place their homework in the top left-hand (or right-hand) corner of their desk before beginning a daily independent assignment—reading, bellwork , whatever it may be. During the next five to ten minutes, walk around the room and check homework–don’t collect it. Have a copy of the answers (if applicable) with you and glance at every assignment. You don’t have to check every answer or read every portion of the assignment. Just enough to know that it was completed as expected. If it’s math, I like to pick out three or four problems that represent the main thrust of the lesson from the day before. It should take just seconds to check most students. Remember, homework is the practice of something they already know how to do. Therefore, you shouldn’t find more than a small percentage of wrong answers–if any. If you see more than this, then you know your lesson was less than effective, and you’ll have to reteach If you find an assignment that is incomplete or not completed at all, confront that student on the spot . Call them on it. The day before, you presented a first-class lesson and gave your students every opportunity to buzz through their homework confidently that evening. You did your part, but they didn’t do theirs. It’s an affront to the excellence you strive for as a class, and you deserve an explanation. It doesn’t matter what he or she says in response to your pointed questions, and there is no reason to humiliate or give the student the third degree. What is important is that you make your students accountable to you, to themselves, and to their classmates. A gentle explanation of why they don’t have their homework is a strong motivator for even the most jaded students to get their homework completed. The personal leverage you carry–that critical trusting rapport you have with your students–combined with the always lurking peer pressure is a powerful force. Not using it is like teaching with your hands tied behind your back. Homework Strategies 5-8 Next week we’ll cover the final four homework strategies . They’re critical to getting homework back every day in a way that is painless for you and meaningful for your students. I hope you’ll tune in. If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week. What to read next: A Powerful Way To Relieve Stress: Part One A Simple Exercise Program For Teachers The Best Time To Review Your Classroom Management Plan Why Your New Classroom Management Plan Isn't Working 27 Things That Make Your Classroom Management Plan Work 21 thoughts on “A Simple, Effective Homework Plan For Teachers: Part 1” Good stuff, Michael. A lot of teachers I train and coach are surprised (and skeptical) at first when I make the same point you make about NOT involving parents. But it’s right on based on my experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator the past 17 years. More important, it’s validated by Martin Haberman’s 40 years of research on what separates “star” teachers from “quitter/failure” teachers ( http://www.habermanfoundation.org/Book.aspx?sm=c1 ) I love the articles about “homework”. in the past I feel that it is difficuty for collecting homework. I will try your plan next year. I think you’ll be happy with it, Sendy! How do you confront students who do not have their homework completed? You state in your book to let consequences do their job and to never confront students, only tell them the rule broken and consequence. I want to make sure I do not go against that rule, but also hold students accountable for not completing their work. What should I say to them? They are two different things. Homework is not part of your classroom management plan. Hi Michael, I’m a first-year middle school teacher at a private school with very small class sizes (eight to fourteen students per class). While I love this homework policy, I feel discouraged about confronting middle schoolers publicly regarding incomplete homework. My motive would never be to humiliate my students, yet I can name a few who would go home thinking their lives were over if I did confront them in front of their peers. Do you have any ideas of how to best go about incomplete homework confrontation with middle school students? The idea isn’t in any way to humiliate students, but to hold them accountable for doing their homework. Parts one and two represent my best recommendation.:) I believe that Homework is a vital part of students learning. I’m still a student–in a classroom management class. So I have no experience with this, but I’m having to plan a procedure for my class. What about teacher sitting at desk and calling student one at a time to bring folder while everyone is doing bellwork or whatever their procedure is? That way 1) it would be a long walk for the ones who didn’t do the work :), and 2) it would be more private. What are your thoughts on that? Thanks. 🙂 I’m not sure I understand your question. Would you mind emailing me with more detail? I’m happy to help. I think what you talked about is great. How do you feel about flipping a lesson? My school is pretty big on it, though I haven’t done it yet. Basically, for homework, the teacher assigns a video or some other kind of media of brand new instruction. Students teach themselves and take a mini quiz at the end to show they understand the new topic. Then the next day in the classroom, the teacher reinforces the lesson and the class period is spent practicing with the teacher present for clarification. I haven’t tried it yet because as a first year teacher I haven’t had enough time to make or find instructional videos and quizzes, and because I’m afraid half of my students will not do their homework and the next day in class I will have to waste the time of the students who did their homework and just reteach what the video taught. Anyway, this year, I’m trying the “Oops, I forgot my homework” form for students to fill out every time they forget their homework. It keeps them accountable and helps me keep better track of who is missing what. Once they complete it, I cut off the bottom portion of the form and staple it to their assignment. I keep the top copy for my records and for parent/teacher conferences. Here is an instant digital download of the form. It’s editable in case you need different fields. Thanks again for your blog. I love the balance you strike between rapport and respect. Your site is a godsend for a newbie teacher! Thank you for your clear, step-by-step, approach! I G+ your articles to my PLN all the time. You’re welcome, TeachNich! And thank you for sharing the articles. Hi Michael, I’m going into my first year and some people have told me to try and get parents involved as much as I can – even home visits and things like that. But my gut says that negligent parents cannot be influenced by me. Still, do you see any value in having parents initial their student’s planner every night so they stay up to date on homework assignments? I could also write them notes. Personally, no. I’ll write about this in the future, but when you hold parents accountable for what are student responsibilities, you lighten their load and miss an opportunity to improve independence. I am teaching at a school where students constantly don’t take work home. I rarely give homework in math but when I do it is usually something small and I still have to chase at least 7 kids down to get their homework. My way of holding them accountable is to record a homework completion grade as part of their overall grade. Is this wrong to do? Do you believe homework should never be graded for a grade and just be for practice? No, I think marking a completion grade is a good idea. I’ve been teaching since 2014 and we need to take special care when assigning homework. If the homework assignment is too hard, is perceived as busy work, or takes too long to complete, students might tune out and resist doing it. Never send home any assignment that students cannot do. Homework should be an extension of what students have learned in class. To ensure that homework is clear and appropriate, consider the following tips for assigning homework: Assign homework in small units. Explain the assignment clearly. Establish a routine at the beginning of the year for how homework will be assigned. Remind students of due dates periodically. And Make sure students and parents have information regarding the policy on missed and late assignments, extra credit, and available adaptations. Establish a set routine at the beginning of the year. Thanks Nancie L Beckett Dear Michael, I love your approach! Do you have any ideas for homework collection for lower grades? K-3 are not so ready for independent work first thing in the morning, so I do not necessarily have time to check then; but it is vitally important to me to teach the integrity of completing work on time. Also, I used to want parents involved in homework but my thinking has really changed, and your comments confirm it! Hi Meredith, I’ll be sure and write about this topic in an upcoming article (or work it into an article). 🙂 Overall, this article provides valuable insights and strategies for teachers to implement in their classrooms. I look forward to reading Part 2 and learning more about how to make homework a simple and effective process. Thanks Leave a Comment Cancel reply Privacy Policy  All topics A-Z  Grammar  Vocabulary  Speaking  Reading  Listening  Writing  Pronunciation  Virtual Classroom Worksheets by season  600 Creative Writing Prompts  Warmers, fillers & ice-breakers  Coloring pages to print  Flashcards  Classroom management worksheets  Emergency worksheets  Revision worksheets Resources we recommend | | --> by Chris Speck 50,868 views Used correctly, it’s the springboard to with students doing most of the work before they even sit down. It’s also the first ten minutes of your lesson already planned. Find something on YouTube that is relevant to your topic, vocabulary set or grammar point. For some great videos, check out Jamie Keddie’s lesson stream . Mr. Bean is great for lower levels; Monty Python are funny for higher ones. Make sure you talk to students about what they watched. Did they enjoy it? Did they hate it? Generate discussion on and from the video you all watched. However, the greatest academic and business minds regularly set aside time to think and plan what they are going to say or do. Here are a couple of thinking questions you could give as homework. ‘Think about the best things about your country. Explain them to yourself in English. You’ll tell the class about it tomorrow.’ ‘Think about the most important person in your life and why they are/were important. Describe them to yourself in English. You’ll tell your partner about it tomorrow.’ ‘Think about your ambitions. Explain what you hope to do in the future to yourself in English. You’ll tell the class about them tomorrow.’ In the digital age this could be a picture or a a film as well as something real. Students bring in an item and then tell the rest of the class about it. Make sure you get other students to ask questions and, if you have a very , split the learners into groups so you can get through the presentations quicker. If students can’t talk to each other then they might be able to find someone online using or on a virtual world like . Lots of students only want to practice with native speakers or those who speak English fluently. Don’t let them think speaking to each other won’t help them improve. There are hundreds of great discussion questions from ITESLJ http://iteslj.org/questions/ As always, make sure you ask them questions about what they talked about in the next session. . Set one as a piece of homework asking students to notice something about the lyrics. This could be a language point or the story. Grammar songs Present Simple/continuous She is leaving Home – The Beatles It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls Singing in the Rain Past Simple Summer Loving – Grease Soundtrack / Candle in the Wind – Elton John / Dido – Best Day Present Perfect I’ve had the time of my life – B.Medley and J. Warne Future Tense I Will Always Love you – Whitney Houston/ My Heart Will go on – Celine Dion Conditionals If I was a Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani / If I had a Million Dollars – Bare-naked Ladies Superlatives – Simply the Best – Tina Turner Story Songs A boy named Sue – Jonny Cash (Brilliant story and song that everyone will love…) One Piece at a Time – Jonny Cash (a man steals a whole car by taking one piece of it at a time from the factory where he works) She’s Leaving Home – The Beatles Bare-naked Ladies – Bank Job (lovely story about a heist gone wrong) Waltzing Matilda – The Pogues I got students , among other things, their dream house, their dream car, an invention they would like to create, the perfect school, the perfect jail or the perfect hotel. A word of warning though, confident students who are creative will love these tasks but other students might bitterly hate them. of something that they will show to the rest of the class in the next lesson. You could get them to email this to you or print it out, or just show it on their phone. It could be something they love, hate, need, an important possession, a person…anything… as long as they can talk about it with the rest of the class. Again, the assessment for this activity lies in the students taking time to think about what they are going to say. Make sure students ask questions about the pictures. For homework, ask students to find a good anecdote in their language which they can then recount to the rest of the class in English. There are some great anecdotes at , but if you have your own they will be much better. Comics are great homework reading - click for a big list There are also some good ‘choose your own adventure’ kind of stories at ‘ ’. Really… Ask your students to play them and then tell you what they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about them. These could be games they already have at home or something online. Vocab and grammar games like are great for improving spelling and the mechanics of language, but there isn’t anything to talk about. Adventure games ( )– are a great way of getting students to engage with something and they will have something to discuss in class about what they saw. A classic is . If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English. . That's 4,036 pages filled with thousands of practical activities and tips that you can start using today. 30-day money back guarantee. --> Copyright 2007-2021 пїЅ Submit a worksheet Mobile version Skip to Nav Skip to Main Skip to Footer How to Create Effective Homework Please try again Based on a recent spate of articles on homework, it’s clear that the homework wars -- how much? how often? -- are still topic of big interest to both parents and teachers. Some teachers hate to give homework; others see it as a vital necessity. But according to some research presented by Annie Murphy Paul, the question isn’t how much, but whether the homework teachers do give actually advances learning. “A recent study, published in the Economics of Education Review,” Paul wrote in “How Can We Make Homework Worthwhile?” , “reports that homework in science, English and history has ‘little to no impact’ on student test scores. (The authors did note a positive effect for math homework.) Enriching children’s classroom learning requires making homework not shorter or longer, but smarter.” Paul goes on to describe specific practices, like spaced repetition (in which information is presented and repeated spaced out over time), retrieval practice (testing or quizzing not for assessment, but to reinforce material learned), and cognitive disfluency (“desirable difficulties” used to make learning stick) -- all memory/retrieval techniques that may help homework move beyond busy work and advance real learning. But to get those elements to work, said Fires in the Mind author and speaker Kathleen Cushman, students must be motivated to do their homework in the first place. One example Cushman gave was creating a project so interesting and involved, students naturally wanted to keep working on it after the bell rang. She pointed to a chapter in the book where she describes a particular motivation for some high school students she interviewed, under the heading “Homework We Actually Want to Do”: “Christina and Nicholas both remembered a global studies unit on the French Revolution in which students acted out a courtroom trial of the king and queen. The project brought even routine homework assignments to life, they said. “I was the queen. So of course I wanted to do my homework all the time, so I could know the facts of what happened and what didn’t happen, know what I wanted to say when someone tried to say I did this or that thing. I could say, ‘Oh no, I didn’t!’ - because I’d read my homework,” said Christina. Christina was using a form of retrieval practice -- but because it was so much fun to be the queen, she only knew she wanted to stay in character. The queen had to study the information to get it right. Another way teachers can take a good, hard look at homework practices, said Cushman, is to ask themselves a few vital questions: “Does this homework ask each student to practice something that the student hasn’t yet mastered? Does the student clearly see its purpose? When students are asked to repeat or rehearse something, does it require them to focus? Or can they do it without really paying attention?” If the homework meets these criteria, she said, then it falls into the desirable realm of “deliberate practice .” Dan Bisaccio, former high school science teacher and now Director of Science Education at Brown University, said that after years of experience giving homework to high school students, he now “preaches” to his future teachers: “Homework should be practice and extensions of what happens in class and should not be ‘new learning,’” he said. “That is, students [shouldn’t be] having to teach themselves new content or skills.” He said he agreed with Cushman that motivation is key, and tried to design homework that kept students interested. “Teachers need to clue into what motivates their students, giving them something that they really want to complete, and complete well.” One assignment Bisaccio used, called an “Experience Map,” asked students to create a map of their experiences after a field study or other important project - a technique employing both retrieval practice and the somewhat trickier interleaving, a “desirable difficulty” in which problems of different types are presented in one assignment, making students think harder to come up with solutions and answers. “We ‘map’ mentally and physically each day. It helps to keep us orientated through our frenzied sun-up to sun-down daily experiences,” reads the assignment. Directions are to draw a field experience map, including -- with regard to the class -- where students have been, what they have done, new challenges, and insights. Special suggestions for drawing include “a place of danger, a favorite place, a place of power, a place with a secret.” Students are also called upon to map the places where they learned the most, where they were challenged the most, and where the funniest experience happened. In addition, Bisaccio asked students to write what had challenged them most as a learner, what had stretched their limits most -- meant to be reflections just for students themselves, and asked to be kept on the back of the map. “What they wrote on the back was not shared with others,” he said. Once the assignment was completed, maps were posted to form a class atlas of what they had learned. All the examples included here, however, are examples of homework in a traditional classroom. What about homework in a flipped classroom , where the lectures, usually videos, are the homework? A recent New York Times article on flipped classrooms may provide insight into flipping homework on its head, too: it quoted high school senior Luwayne Harris, saying, “Whenever I had a problem on the homework, I couldn’t do anything about it at home. Now if I have a problem with a video, I can just rewind and watch it over and over again.” Sending Homework to Clients in Therapy: The Easy Way Successful therapy relies on using assignments outside of sessions to reinforce learning and practice newly acquired skills in real-world settings (Mausbach et al., 2010). Up to 50% of clients don’t adhere to homework compliance, often leading to failure in CBT and other therapies (Tang & Kreindler, 2017). In this article, we explore how to use technology to create homework, send it out, and track its completion to ensure compliance. Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees. This Article Contains: Is homework in therapy important, how to send homework to clients easily, homework in quenza: 5 examples of assignments, 5 counseling homework ideas and worksheets, using care pathways & quenza’s pathway builder, a take-home message. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has “been shown to be as effective as medications in the treatment of a number of psychiatric illnesses” (Tang & Kreindler, 2017, p. 1). Homework is a vital component of CBT, typically involving completing a structured and focused activity between sessions. Practicing what was learned in therapy helps clients deal with specific symptoms and learn how to generalize them in real-life settings (Mausbach et al., 2010). CBT practitioners use homework to help their clients, and it might include symptom logs, self-reflective journals , and specific tools for working on obsessions and compulsions. Such tasks, performed outside therapy sessions, can be divided into three types (Tang & Kreindler, 2017): Psychoeducation Reading materials are incredibly important early on in therapy to educate clients regarding their symptoms, possible causes, and potential treatments. Self-assessment Monitoring their moods and completing thought records can help clients recognize associations between their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Modality specific Therapists may assign homework that is specific and appropriate to the problem the client is presenting. For example, a practitioner may use images of spiders for someone with arachnophobia. Therapists strategically create homework to lessen patients’ psychopathology and encourage clients to practice skills learned during therapy sessions, but non-adherence (between 20% and 50%) remains one of the most cited reasons for CBT failure (Tang & Kreindler, 2017). Reasons why clients might fail to complete homework include (Tang & Kreindler, 2017): Internal factors Lack of motivation to change what is happening when experiencing negative feelings Being unable to identify automatic thoughts Failing to see the importance or relevance of homework Impatience and the wish to see immediate results External factors Effort required to complete pen-and-paper exercises Inconvenience and amount of time to complete Failing to understand the purpose of the homework, possibly due to lack of or weak instruction Difficulties encountered during completion Homework compliance is associated with short-term and long-term improvement of many disorders and unhealthy behaviors, including anxiety, depression, pathological behaviors, smoking, and drug dependence (Tang & Kreindler, 2017). Greater homework adherence increases the likelihood of beneficial therapy outcomes (Mausbach et al., 2010). With that in mind, therapy must find ways to encourage the completion of tasks set for the client. Technology may provide the answer. The increased availability of internet-connected devices, improved software, and widespread internet access enable portable, practical tools to enhance homework compliance (Tang & Kreindler, 2017). Clients who complete their homework assignments progress better than those who don’t (Beck, 2011). Having an ideal platform for therapy makes it easy to send and track clients’ progress through assignments. It must be “user-friendly, accessible, reliable and secure from the perspective of both coach and client” (Ribbers & Waringa, 2015, p. 103). In dedicated online therapy and coaching software, homework management is straightforward. The therapist creates the homework then forwards it to the client. They receive a notification and complete the work when it suits them. All this is achieved in one system, asynchronously; neither party needs to be online at the same time. For example, in Quenza , the therapist can create a worksheet or tailor an existing one from the library as an activity that asks the client to reflect on the progress they have made or work they have completed. The activity can either be given directly to the client or group, or included in a pathway containing other activities. Here is an example of the activity parameters that Quenza makes possible. A message can be attached to the activity, using either a template or a personally tailored message for the client. Here’s an example. Once the activity is published and sent, the client receives a notification about a received assignment via their coaching app (mobile or desktop) or email. The client can then open the Quenza software and find the new homework under their ‘To Do’ list. Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF) Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology. Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF) By filling out your name and email address below. Quenza provides the ability to create your own assignments as well as a wide selection of existing ones that can be assigned to clients for completion as homework. The following activities can be tailored to meet specific needs or used as-is. Therapists can share them with the client individually or packaged into dedicated pathways. Such flexibility allows therapists to meet the specific needs of the client using a series of dedicated and trackable homework. Examples of Quenza’s ready-to-use science-based activities include the following: Wheel of Life The Wheel of Life is a valuable tool for identifying and reflecting on a client’s satisfaction with life. You can find the worksheet in the Positive Psychology Toolkit© , and it is also included in the Quenza library. The client scores themselves between 1 and 10 on specific life domains (the therapist can tailor the domains), including relationships, career development, and leisure time. This is an active exercise to engage the client early on in therapy to reflect on their current and potential life. What is it like now? How could it look? The wheel identifies where there are differences between perceived balance and reality . The deep insights it provides can provide valuable input and prioritization for goal setting. The Private Garden: A Visualization for Stress Reduction While stress is a normal part of life, it can become debilitating and interfere with our everyday lives, stopping us from reaching our life goals. We may notice stress as worry, anxiety, and tension and resort to avoidant or harmful behaviors (e.g., abusing alcohol, smoking, comfort eating) to manage these feelings. Visualization is simple but a powerful method for reducing physical and mental stress, especially when accompanied by breathing exercises. The audio included within this assignment helps the listener visualize a place of safety and peace and provides a temporary respite from stressful situations. 20 Guidelines for Developing a Growth Mindset Research into neuroplasticity has confirmed the ability of the adult brain to continue to change in adulthood and the corresponding capacity for people to develop and transform their mindsets (Dweck, 2017). The 20 guidelines (included in our Toolkit and part of the Quenza library) and accompanying video explain our ability to change mentally and develop a growth mindset that includes accepting imperfection, leaning into challenges, continuing to learn, and seeing ‘failure’ as an opportunity for growth. Adopting a growth mindset can help clients understand that our abilities and understanding are not fixed; we can develop them in ways we want with time and effort. Self-Contract Committing to change is accepted as an effective way to promote behavioral change – in health and beyond. When a client makes a contract with themselves, they explicitly state their intention to deliver on plans and short- and long-term goals. Completing and signing such a self-contract (included in our Toolkit and part of the Quenza library) online can help people act on their commitment through recognizing and living by their values. Not only that, the contract between the client and themselves can be motivational, building momentum and self-efficacy. The contract can be automatically personalized to include the client’s name but also manually reworded as appropriate. The client completes the form by restating their name and committing to a defined goal by a particular date, along with their reasons for doing so. Realizing Long-Lasting Change by Setting Process Goals We can help clients realize their goals by building supportive habits. Process goals – for example, eating healthily and exercising – require ongoing actions to be performed regularly. Process goals (unlike end-state goals, such as saving up for a vacation) require long-lasting and continuous change that involves monitoring standards. This tool (included in our Toolkit and part of the Quenza library) can help clients identify positive actions (rather than things to avoid) that they must carry out repeatedly to realize change. We have many activities that can be used to help clients attending therapy for a wide variety of issues. In this section, we consider homework ideas that can be used in couples therapy, family therapy, and supporting clients with depression and anxiety. Couples therapy homework Conflict is inevitable in most long-term relationships. Everyone has their idiosyncrasies and individual set of needs. The Marital Conflicts worksheet captures a list of situations in which conflicts arise, when they happen, and how clients feel when they are (un)resolved. Family therapy homework Families, like individuals, are susceptible to times of stress and disruptions because of life changes such as illness, caring for others, and job and financial insecurity. Mind the Gap is a family therapy worksheet where a family makes decisions together to align with goals they aspire to. Mind the gap is a short exercise to align with values and improve engagement. How holistic therapist Jelisa Glanton uses Quenza Homework ideas for depression and anxiety: 3 Exercises The following exercises are all valuable for helping clients with the effects of anxiety and depression. Activity Schedule is a template assisting a client with scheduling and managing normal daily activities, especially important for those battling with depression. Activity Menu is a related worksheet, allowing someone with depression to select from a range of normal activities and ideas, and add these to a schedule as goals for improvement. The Pleasurable Activity Journal focus on activities the client used to find enjoyable. Feelings regarding these activities are journaled, to track recovery progress. Practicing mindfulness is helpful for those experiencing depression (Shapiro, 2020). A regular gratitude practice can develop new neural pathways and create a more grateful, mindful disposition (Shapiro, 2020). Each activity can be tailored to the client’s needs; shared as standalone exercises, worksheets, or questionnaires; or included within a care pathway. A pathway is an automated and scheduled series of activities that can take the client through several stages of growth, including psychoeducation , assessment, and action to produce a behavioral change in a single journey. How to build pathways The creator can add two pathway titles. The second title is not necessary, but if entered, it is seen by the client in place of the first. Once named, a series of steps can be created and reordered at any time, each containing an activity. Activities can be built from scratch, modified from existing ones in the library, or inserted as-is. New activities can be created and used solely in this pathway or made available for others. They can contain various features, including long- and short-answer boxes, text boxes, multiple choice boxes, pictures, diagrams, and audio and video files. Quenza can automatically deliver each step or activity in the pathway to the client following the previous one or after a certain number of days. Such timing is beneficial when the client needs to reflect on something before completing the next step. Practitioners can also designate steps as required or optional before the client continues to the next one. Practitioners can also add helpful notes not visible to the client. These comments can contain practical reminders of future changes or references to associated literature that the client does not need to see. It is also possible to choose who can see client responses: the client and you, the client only, or the client decides. Tags help categorize the pathway (e.g., by function, intended audience, or suggested timing within therapy) and can be used to filter what is displayed on the therapist’s pathway screen. Once designed, the pathway can be saved as a draft or published and sent to the client. The client receives the notification of the new assignment either via email or the coaching app on their phone, tablet, or desktop. World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research. Updated monthly. 100% Science-based. “The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO Success in therapy is heavily reliant on homework completion. The greater the compliance, the more likely the client is to have a better treatment outcome (Mausbach et al., 2010). To improve the likelihood that clients engage with and complete the assignments provided, homework must be appropriate to their needs, have a sound rationale, and do the job intended (Beck, 2011). Technology such as Quenza can make homework readily available on any device, anytime, from any location, and ensure it contains clear and concise psychoeducation and instructions for completion. The therapist can easily create, copy, and tailor homework and, if necessary, combine multiple activities into single pathways. These are then shared with the click of a button. The client is immediately notified but can complete it at a time appropriate to them. Quenza can also send automatic reminders about incomplete assignments to the client and highlight their status to the therapist. Not only that, but any resulting questions can be delivered securely to the therapist with no risk of getting lost in a busy email inbox. Why not try the Quenza application? Try using some of the existing science-based activities or create your own. It offers an impressive array of functionality that will not only help you scale your business, but also ensure proactive, regular communication with your existing clients. We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond . Guilford Press. Dweck, C. S. (2017).  Mindset: The new psychology of success.  Robinson. Mausbach, B. T., Moore, R., Roesch, S., Cardenas, V., & Patterson, T. L. (2010). The relationship between homework compliance and therapy outcomes: An updated meta-analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research , 34 (5), 429–438. Ribbers, A., & Waringa, A. (2015). E-coaching: Theory and practice for a new online approach to coaching . Routledge. Shapiro, S. L. (2020).  Rewire your mind: Discover the science and practice of mindfulness. Aster. Tang, W., & Kreindler, D. (2017). Supporting homework compliance in cognitive behavioural therapy: Essential features of mobile apps. JMIR Mental Health , 4 (2). Share this article: Article feedback Let us know your thoughts cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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They may pester their friends and classmates, check the book, or dig around online in hopes of being able to get away with doing no work at all. However, this method comes with consequences. Even students who are not caught cheating may find themselves struggling with poor grades, especially when they have to take tests. Instead of relying on finding the answers, check out these tips. Look at Examples As you ponder how to make homework easier, consider looking up additional materials. The last thing that students want to do is spend extra time learning. If you are struggling on a topic learned in class, turn to the Internet for examples. Video services and education sites often have videos on any subject. You can learn how to do a math problem, which equation to use for physical science problems, and hear interesting stories that can help learning English and history easier. There are also written examples, for people who prefer to read over watching videos. Even though it takes time to browse homework samples, you spend less time struggling with your assignment. Students who learn visually often struggle in lectures, which can be a problem when teachers like to ramble. If students are not getting the visual stimulation they need to retain information, there are resources that help. In addition to visual diagrams, creating models to explain an idea or watching media can offer assistance. So, how to make homework easy using visual techniques? Some of the easiest strategies include using visual diagrams to model ideas. Flow charts and concept charts are also useful for organizing information. Another major benefit is that you can easily remember them through repetition. Create your own charts from memory and see how they compare to main concepts. Visualize them when you are trying to respond to essay questions or explain an idea. Tell a Story One of the hardest thing to do is memorize facts that have no significance to you. While someone who is fascinated by history might remember timelines of important dates, the average student finds themselves struggling to ‘cram’ thoughts in their head the night before a test. Instead of trying to remember unrelated facts, put them in a story. Research shows that telling a story, especially one that is funny, sad, or triggers another strong emotion, helps the brain remember better. Find a way to tell a silly story about important points you need to remember. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to remember next time you are taking a test. Work with Friends Want to do homework made easy? Get together with a group of friends to make a learning session better. When you are working with friends, keep in mind that everyone should contribute. Students who don’t practice often struggle during the test. It can also cause problems later in school, since students’ understanding of different topics is built on through their school career. In addition to working on assignments, students might take turns reading aloud from a book or quizzing each other with flash cards. There are a lot of ways to make learning fun. It is important to stay on task and focused when working with friends, however. Why make things complicated when you can take the easy way to do homework? Whether you enjoy it or not, school assignments must be done. By doing them the easy way, you’ll have more time for the things that you enjoy in life. Check Ewritingservice.com to learn more. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * © homeschoolgroupleader.com Grades 6-12 School Leaders 100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love! Keep Your Calm with These 15 Time-Saving Tips for Grading Help! I’m up late grading EVERY night, and I’m exhausted. When you have a mountain of assignments to grade, sometimes even the best Netflix marathon can’t keep you from feeling overwhelmed. If you’re exhausted from staying up late correcting papers every night of the week, put down the red pen and read these teacher-tested tips for making it faster and easier to grade tests, quizzes, essays, and more. 1. Stamp student assignments. Ellen L.G. Lucy , who’s been teaching for 35 years, says the best teacher tool she ever bought, at the recommendation of a colleague, was a rubber stamp from Vistaprint that says “Seen by Mrs. Lucy.” She stamps papers that she has perused—not corrected completely—so students and parents are aware. If you don’t want to buy a stamp, take Melissa Redden’s advice: Just put a large check mark on the paper in a noticeable color. “I tell parents at the beginning of the year the only grade book grades will be a number grade with a circle around it,” says Redden. 2. Color-code essays. Students in Jamie Hales ’ class color-code their essays before turning them in. She has them underline their main idea in one color, evidence in another color, and key vocabulary in a third color. “It forces them to make sure they have everything required before turning it in,” says Hales. “I can scan the essays to make sure the colors are all there.” 3. Use a scanner. For grading multiple choice and true/false questions, you can save yourself hours of tedious work with a scanner. At only three pounds, Apperson’s DataLink 1200 is portable, so you still can do your grading at home if you run out of time at school. The best part is that it comes with DataLink Connect , free software that instantly spits out reports on student performance. So, instead of sorting through every quiz or test, you can quickly look over the report to find common errors and areas you may need to review in class the next day (and quickly get back to watching your favorite shows!). 4. Pass out colored pens. Have students grade their own multiple choice quizzes and worksheets with a brightly colored pen, like red or green. Ronni Jones says she has her students place their pencils on the floor and asks her most trusted students to act as monitors. She likes the system because it provides kids with instant feedback. “You still have to check to be sure they’re being honest,” says Heather Galiszewski, who also uses this strategy. “I tell my students that if I see anything other than a red pen in their hands, they get an automatic zero.” 5. Grade one section at a time. When Rebecca Bolton is grading assignments or tests, she first grades all multiple-choice questions for every student. Then she moves on to the second section and so on. She says it typically takes only about two minutes per student to grade her physics exams. 6. Stop using an answer key. If you’re grading assignments, not formal assessments, correct one paper against another. Ellen L.G. Lucy learned this technique from a teacher friend. For example, put any two students’ papers side by side; find where the answers differ; and then check to see which one is correct. Lucy says this technique catches most errors. 7. Provide an answer blank. “When I first started teaching, I thought I needed to look at every process on every problem for every student,” says math teacher Cindy Bullard. She started adding answer blanks so she could quickly focus on the areas where students need support. “If they have right answers, a quick scan tells me if their process and notation are correct,” says Bullard. Wendy Badeau uses a similar strategy to save time, which she learned from a fellow teacher: She asks her students to write any multiple-choice or true/false answers in the margins of their papers. “I can line up four or five papers and grade them all at the same time.” 8. Trade and grade. Sarah Mattie has students write their ID numbers, instead of their names, on assignments. That way, when she asks students to trade papers and correct them, it not only saves her time, but it also keeps grades confidential. 9. Don’t grade everything. Take a hint from Caitlin Valesco and give a completion grade on bellwork or work that is guided and/or done with a partner. Rather than collecting this work to correct, Valesco simply walks up and down the aisles with a clipboard and checks that the assignments have been completed. Kimberly Darron grades homework for completion by using a bingo dauber color-coding system: green dot for 100 percent complete; blue dot for 50 percent complete; and red dot for 0 percent complete. Darron says she also uses this system to grade journal entries when she’s just scanning for content completion. 10. Spot check during lessons. Ellen L.G. Lucy often provides students with whiteboards and markers (or has them use the whiteboard app on their iPads) to have them work through math problems and hold up their answers. “The nice thing about this is you can quickly see who is understanding the concept by not only accurate answers but by who holds up their whiteboard the quickest,” says Lucy. Sarah Mattie also uses whiteboards for vocabulary assessment. She asks students to write down the words and hold them up. 11. Alphabetize assignments. One of the student jobs in Anita Schmuecker’s classroom is to put all turned-in papers in alphabetical order. She says it helps her quickly enter the scores after she grades them. 12. Cut down on grading long assignments. On longer assignments, Michelle Turner chooses a random 10–15 questions and grades those rather than the entire assignment. She says she chooses a different set of questions for each student. 13. Give verbal feedback. “I’ve started providing more verbal feedback to students,” says Christa Barberis. “Assessment needs to be something students can work with, and it needs to be authentic,” says Barberis. She typically provides feedback on one aspect of the assignment in which a student did well and one aspect that needs improvement. 14. Use voice typing to dictate your comments. When Sancha De Burcha needs to write extended feedback on assignments, she uses Google Docs’ voice-typing feature. She downloaded the app for her phone, which allows her to simply dictate her comments rather than write or type them. Bonus of using this method: You end up with a digital record of the feedback. De Burcha cautions, however, that you need to check for typos. 15. Mark all papers before entering grades. Many teachers mark a single assignment and enter it into the grade book immediately. Mary Elizabeth Allcorn says she saves a lot of time by marking all papers first. She then sets up her grade book and inputs all of the grades at once. You Might Also Like 10 Awesome and Surprising Ways You Can Use Google Docs in the Classroom Learn how to use google docs in your classroom to make learning interesting for your students and teacher life a lot easier for you! Continue Reading Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256 Please ensure that your password is at least 8 characters and contains each of the following: a special character: @$#!%*?& Solve equations and inequalities Simplify expressions Factor polynomials Graph equations and inequalities Advanced solvers All solvers Arithmetics Determinant Percentages Scientific Notation Inequalities What can QuickMath do? QuickMath will automatically answer the most common problems in algebra, equations and calculus faced by high-school and college students. The algebra section allows you to expand, factor or simplify virtually any expression you choose. It also has commands for splitting fractions into partial fractions, combining several fractions into one and cancelling common factors within a fraction. The equations section lets you solve an equation or system of equations. You can usually find the exact answer or, if necessary, a numerical answer to almost any accuracy you require. The inequalities section lets you solve an inequality or a system of inequalities for a single variable. You can also plot inequalities in two variables. The calculus section will carry out differentiation as well as definite and indefinite integration. The matrices section contains commands for the arithmetic manipulation of matrices. The graphs section contains commands for plotting equations and inequalities. The numbers section has a percentages command for explaining the most common types of percentage problems and a section for dealing with scientific notation. Math Topics More solvers. Add Fractions Simplify Fractions BookWidgets Teacher Blog 20+ creative alternative homework ideas for teachers When giving homework, it must always be based on learning goals your students have to reach, just like in your lessons. But it’s sad to see that lots of teachers are using homework as extra lesson time. Of course, as a teacher, you’re on a clock. But that doesn’t mean your students have to suffer from it and keep working on those boring textbooks and worksheets at home. Consider goals like attitudes, real-life experiences, and practice, physical exercise, social encounters, creative solutions, and philanthropy as crucial as your lesson goals. These are things students don’t just pick up in your classroom. These are things they pick up in life. In this blog post, I’ll give you some innovative homework ideas that will engage your students more. These alternatives to traditional homework will thereby also teach your students new things that can’t be taught in the classroom. You will find a variety of homework ideas: online and offline. I will mention homework alternatives for primary school and high school. Some of these ideas can be changed a little bit, so they are the perfect fit for the right audience. 20 Creative homework ideas You can divide homework tasks into the following themes or categories: Crafts & arts Outdoor activities & outings Games and activities Physical activities Digital or computer activities Philanthropy & social work 💡 Good to know : all the ready-to-use homework activities are created with BookWidgets . You can easily create activities like these yourself or duplicate an activity below for free, edit it if needed, and share it with your students. You can do so in the examples separately, or you can find all the homework examples in the BookWidgets Blog group folder . Crafts and arts homework 1. prepare a dish from a recipe book. 2. Make a board game 3. Create a birdhouse 4. Transform a fictional book character into a hand puppet Outdoor homework activities and outings 5. coupon game. Students can also go grocery shopping with their parents. Here, they have to read the ingredients of the products and help their parents choose the healthiest products for the best prices, figure out the best deal between the sizes of items, … 6. Visit the zoo 7. Visit the local dumping ground or container park 8. Build a tree house Games and activities as homework 9. bookwidgets games. 10. Minecraft 11. Play Cards 12. Play Zoo Tycoon or Rollercoaster Tycoon Physical homework activities 13. rope skipping. Many rope-skipping songs let your students do different tricks while rope-skipping. This is an excellent opportunity for homework as well. Ask your students to transform a rope skipping song into a song with lesson content. Let them count or spell or even sum up the different states or capitals. To engage their lifestyles even harder, you can additionally give them the assignment to create a TikTok in which they are jumping and singing. Click here to see how you can get Tiktok more involved in the classroom. 14. Walking quest If there aren’t any walking quests in the neighborhood, you could ask your students to create a walking quest like this for their fellow students. What a fun day it will be! 15. Obstacle Quiz In order for students to answer the questions, they have to run and pass a challenging parkour. This is a fun homework exercise, and in the end, it’s a great lesson starter or lesson end. 16. Swimming games After the activity, they can fill out an Exit Slip: Digital or computer homework activities 17. create a picture album. This teaches them to handle the online software, add pictures and write without spelling mistakes. And of course, creating memories is so much fun! 18. Video job application 19. Your life in 10 minutes - video 20. Email pen-pals Is it still too complicated? Read the messages from your students, before they send them, and provide them with some feedback. Philanthropy and social homework 21. grow a community garden. 22. Help in a retirement home 23. Help at a homeless shelter 24. Collect litter Here’s another homework tip: Don’t call homework “homework”. Call it a challenge. Homework has become a negative word for students, and I bet they start rolling their eyes as you even mention the word. Still looking for more inspiration? Check out the blog on short films and lesson activities that spice up your Google Classroom . Tip: even if you don’t use Google Classroom, there is a lot of inspiration back here. Above you have read single assignments. But, you also have the option to involve your homework in a project. Find out more here . So, as I mentioned earlier, there are many fun alternatives to traditional homework. Now it’s up to you to apply this in the classroom as well. In this folder , you will find all the examples you have come across. Which idea do you or perhaps your students like the most? Let us know on Twitter . Of course, there are many more alternatives. If you have other ideas, you are always welcome to share it with other teachers in our Facebook group . One more thing: don’t forget to say hi👋 on LikedIn . Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education. BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers. My 5 simple tweaks will turn your MacOS Finder into a way better file manager I use the MacOS Finder daily to manage my files and folders. It's an invaluable tool -- and one of the better file managers I use. But that doesn't mean Finder is configured ideally out of the box. With just a few simple tweaks, you make working with your files and folders even easier and more productive. I want to share with you how I've customized Finder, because I suspect these same changes will help simplify your daily routine. Each of these tips can be accomplished in seconds -- and easily reverted if you don't like the results. Also: The best and newest Macs compared The only thing you'll need for this is an updated MacOS device .  Let's get to the tips! 1. Add the path and status bars Finder doesn't default to showing either the path or the status bars. The path bar makes it easy to move around the file system and the status bar informs you if anything is selected, how much space is available on your hard drive, and even adds a slider that enables you to increase or decrease the icon size for files and folders. Without the path bar, you have to use either the menu system or keyboard shortcuts to navigate backward, which can waste precious time when you're busy. How do you add these? Simple. Open Finder, click the View menu, click Show Path Bar, and then click Show Status Bar. That's it! With these enabled, you'll find interacting with Finder much easier. With the Path and Status bars added, Finder is much easier to navigate. 2. Add the Toolbar The Toolbar adds not only the top drop-downs (where you can configure your views, sorting, and searching) but also the Sidebar (which is a must if you want quick access to specific folders and tags). Without the Toolbar, Finder isn't nearly as useful. If you open Finder and only see a simple window containing files and folders, the Toolbar isn't enabled. Trust me when I tell you that you want the Toolbar added. To add the Toolbar, open Finder and click View > Show Toolbar. You can also show/hide the Toolbar Option + Command + T keyboard shortcut. 3. Add your hard drive When you open Finder, you won't find your hard drive listed. I understand why Apple doesn't want to include this -- because there are folders containing crucial files that shouldn't be messed with (unless you know what you're doing). However, with the hard drive hidden, it can be a bit challenging to navigate to specific folders (unless you've added them to the sidebar).  Also: I was a Final Cut Pro diehard until DaVinci Resolve won me over with these 3 features I prefer the convenience of adding the hard drive to the sidebar, but it is a bit tricky -- and you must have the path bar added first. Here's how to add your hard drive to Finder. Open Finder and click Go > Go To Folder. In the resulting pop-up, type / and hit Enter. Click and hold Cmd and then click the Macintosh HD icon near the bottom left corner of the view pane. Drag the Macintosh HD icon to the Favorites section. You should now see the Macintosh HD listing in the sidebar.  Having the hard drive added to Finder makes it easier to navigate the system folder hierarchy. 4. Add specific folders to Favorites Similarly to adding the hard drive to the Finder Favorites section in the sidebar, you can add any folder you like. It's done the same way you added the HD icon, the only difference is you click and hold Cmd, click the folder you want to add, and then drag and drop it to the Favorites section.  I add any folder I regularly use to the sidebar, so I don't constantly have to navigate the file system to access that folder. This can be especially helpful when a folder is nested deep inside several folders. 5. Use tags Tags are incredibly helpful because they make it so you can add one or more categories to a file or folder. Say, for instance, you have a music file that you not only listen to but also use for video clips. You could create a tag called Video Assets and then tag that file with both Music and Video Assets. By doing this, the file will appear when you select either one of those tags. You can add as many tags to a file/folder as necessary. Also: How to back up (and restore) your saved MacOS passwords To add a tag to a folder, locate the folder and right-click (or two-finger tap) it. Select Tags. In the resulting pop-up, you can either add a current tag or type the name for a new tag. You can also select a color to associate with a new tag. Once you've typed the name of the new tag and selected an optional color, hit Enter on your keyboard and the tag is complete. You can add as many tags as you want to a file or folder.  Creating a new tag for Finder. Once you've added tags, they'll appear in the sidebar. Click a tag to reveal any/all files/folders that have been assigned to that tag. And there you have it: You've supercharged your MacOS Finder workflow. You should now find this tool far easier and more efficient to use. Your Apple MacBook is getting a free upgrade - here are the best MacOS 15 features How to back up (and restore) your saved macos passwords, the best magsafe wallet i've tested is not made by apple or anker (and it's on sale). The Easy Way To Make Grilled Chicken Wings Taste Fried If fried chicken is your favorite food, you're not alone. The blend of savory and tangy seasonings brings a burst of flavor to each bite that's simply irresistible. But what truly makes fried chicken so special is the texture. Hearing that crunch as you bite the crispy skin only to be greeted by flavorful, juicy meat inside feels out of this world. So, it makes sense that fried chicken is among America's favorite foods. Yet, as much as we love fried chicken, we may want to switch things up sometimes. Grilling your chicken wings instead offers an excellent alternative and a way to help you cut back on fried foods. Knowing how to grill chicken wings is one thing, but doing it so that it tastes as good as fried chicken is an entirely different challenge. Even if you consider yourself a grill master, all it takes is one tiny mistake, and you'll have a bowl of charred wings that taste nothing like fried chicken for lunch.  If you want perfectly grilled wings, you need to know how to get that crispy skin first. Then, you can top it off with the perfect mix of seasoning, spices, or sauces to achieve that fried wings taste. While it might look overwhelming, you don't have to worry. You're about to learn all the tips and tricks you need to master the art of making your grilled chicken wings taste fried. Getting your chicken wings ready for the grill Dabbing the chicken's skin dry is the first and most crucial step to getting crispy grilled wings, so you don't want to skip it. Keeping the skin dry doesn't mean flavorless, but you won't use your usual  meat marinade  this time. After separating the chicken wings into drums and flats, get an empty Ziploc bag and make a dry rub consisting of salt, pepper, and any other dry herbs or spices you typically use for fried chicken, like garlic and onion powder, paprika and mixed herbs. Throw the chicken pieces into the bag of spices and mix till every piece is covered.  Now, if you're a fried chicken lover, you've probably used cornstarch for fry batter at least once, so you won't find this odd. Sometimes, grilling with a simple blend of spices might not cut it if you want a real crunch. In that case, you can elevate your dry rub by adding cornstarch, which helps to dry the chicken skin further. Alternatively, you can coat your wings with a flour and cornmeal mix to make it taste more like fried chicken before popping it in the refrigerator to set.  While adding plain cornstarch to your dry spice mix is best for this recipe, you could use baking powder instead. After all, cornstarch is its primary ingredient. However, the downside is that baking powder typically contains other ingredients, so you might end up with an unusual aftertaste.   Slow-cook your wings on the grill to perfection Once your fully spiced chicken wings are out of the fridge, it's time to get busy. Placing them straight onto the fire from the refrigerator can make the meat tough instead of tender and moist inside. Worse still, heat might not even reach the center of the meat to cook it properly. So, it's best to allow your chicken wings to sit out for a little while before transferring them to the grill.  For the perfect grilled chicken, you can't be in a hurry. Using high heat is a common mistake when grilling chicken , and it may result in charred skin and raw meat. It's much better to start slow with moderate heat for an evenly cooked final product. Once your grill is hot — around 425 degrees Fahrenheit – arrange the chicken wings in a circle so that the heat reaches them evenly. Chicken wings take around 20-30 minutes to cook, but you can't take your eyes off them for too long. Remember to flip them every few minutes so that the heat reaches all the sides equally without getting burned. When they're fully cooked (with an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit), remove them from the heat for one final step: Leave the wings to rest and let off steam so they stay as crisp as if they were fried. Joe Biden Wants to Go Viral. It’s Not Easy. The Biden campaign is trying to work its way into social media feeds. But it is struggling to win over the young, left-leaning influencers who control the conversation online. President Biden took selfies with supporters after delivering remarks in Nashua, N.H., in May. Democrats are working furiously to build an online army that will sing Mr. Biden’s praises on social media. Credit... Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times Supported by Share full article By Ken Bensinger June 14, 2024 On a Friday afternoon in late April, President Biden brought celebrities and elite social media influencers together for a White House reception. Fran Drescher and David Cross mingled with Ilona Maher, a rugby star, and V from @underthedesknews, at a mixer meant to generate warm feelings and badly needed pro-Biden content. Jonathan M. Katz, an independent journalist and sharp critic of the administration, was shocked to get an invitation. When he met Mr. Biden, he pointedly asked about military aid to Israel and suggested he was supporting a “genocide.” Mr. Biden answered politely, but then appeared to grow impatient. “I know you’re a typical press guy,” he said. “I trust you as far as I can throw your phone.” Aides then ushered Mr. Katz away. The episode, which Mr. Katz recorded on video and shared with his roughly 100,000 followers, was one in a series of Mr. Biden’s awkward attempts to manufacture online enthusiasm for his candidacy. For months, the president’s campaign has watched as its rival, Donald J. Trump, has surfed on his popularity among the very online. Mr. Trump’s supporters produce an endless stream of memes, videos and adoring posts — all essentially free advertising — that reach an increasingly crucial slice of voters. Mr. Biden and his allies are working furiously to build a comparable online army, trying to persuade, or in some cases pay, people to sing Mr. Biden’s praises to their large followings. They are finding that social media feeds are difficult territory for an 81-year-old president whose policies on Gaza and immigration are unpopular on the left. @itsdanielmac What Joe Biden Does For A Living 🇺🇸 #joebiden #president #cadillac #cars ♬ original sound - DANIEL MAC We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . Advertisement 167 IMAGES homework worksheet for students to practice their math skills and help them learn how to use 5 Ways To Make Homework Fun For Young Kids How to Make Homework Fun and Easy to Deal With Pre K Math Worksheets 10 Steps to the Homework System that will Work For You Homework is easy VIDEO Scientific Method Homework Video Make homework work for you with new digital tools Enjaz Mathematics Solve this Challenging Algebraic If-Then problem Homework 📚 Ya Game 👾 || Lesson Able Video @MUSATANVEER CBSE 10th Maths COMMENTS How to Do Homework: 15 Expert Tips and Tricks Here's how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. 3 Ways to Get Your Homework Done Fast Every 25 minutes or so, take about 5 minutes to stretch and walk around to give your brain and body a quick rest. [11] 2. Eat snacks and drink water. Drink plenty of water and eat light, healthy, tasty snacks while you work to enjoy foods that you like, enhance your memory, and revitalize your brain and body. 8 Easy Ways to Finish Homework Faster Evaluate and improve your SAT score. 3. Gather all your gear. Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework. 4. 10 Proven Tips to Finish Your Homework Fast and Stress-Free Limit Technology Usage. It's easy to lose track of time browsing social media or responding to messages. Create a tech-free bubble during your homework time. Keep your phone, tablet, or other distractions in another room. If you need a device for your work, consider using apps that block distractions. 16 Ways to Concentrate on Your Homework Get up and walk or stretch occasionally, or even do jumping jacks or run in place for a couple of minutes. Standing up while you work is also a great way to boost your focus. [1] Try sitting on an exercise ball or wobbly chair when you're doing your homework. The movement may help you stay focused. Homework Hacks: 8 Tips to Get It Done Faster 6. Eat Snacks and Drink Water. At the end of a long day, you may be mentally and physically tired. If you go straight into homework it may take you a long time to finish and it won't be your best work. Having some light healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water helps revitalize your brain and body. How to Make Studying Easy: 12 Steps (with Pictures) 3. Take regular breaks when studying. [5] Study in 15 minute chunks and take 5 minute breaks. Or study for half an hour to 55 minutes, then take a break. Get into this habit and stick to it, as it's good for your body and brain both to have a stretch, a walk around and a change of scenery for a few minutes. 4. 13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun Quick win: An easy way to make homework fun is to grab a piece of paper and get your child to draw out and decorate a 'homework chart' consisting of 5 days. Stick it on the fridge and add a sticker to each day after they've done their homework, when they've collected 5 stickers they get a treat! 5. Try different learning apps Better Homework: Three Proven Strategies Web-based platforms offer an easy way for kids to get instant feedback. For traditional assignments, set aside class time for students to correct, discuss and reflect upon their homework answers. Are differentiated to meet individual students' learning needs (for example, not every student needs to do the same number or type of math problems). 10 Tips to tackle Homework the easy way. 8. Take breaks: When we have a lot to do, we feel the pressure to just work straight through hours and hours and get homework done, but this is something that will probably end up slowing you down and draining your energy. Everybody needs a break between work, and it is similar to homework as well. What homework should I do first? The easy stuff or hard stuff? A classic Pros and Cons list reveals plenty of reasons to do the quick and easy homework assignments first, and plenty of reasons to do the harder tasks first. Despite the above advantages and disadvantages of tackling the easy or the hard homework first, there really is a proper way to approach your homework assignments that will set you up ... Homework challenges and strategies The challenge: Managing time and staying organized. Some kids struggle with keeping track of time and making a plan for getting all of their work done. That's especially true of kids who have trouble with executive function. Try creating a homework schedule and set a specific time and place for your child to get homework done. 25 Scientifically Proven Tips for More Effective Studying 5. Snack on Brain Food. A growling stomach can pull your mind from your studies, so feel free to snack as you work. Keep your snacks within arm's reach, so you don't have to leave your books to find food. Fuel your next study session with some of the following items: Lean deli meat. A Simple, Effective Homework Plan For Teachers: Part 1 So for the next two weeks I'm going to outline a homework plan-four strategies this week, four the next-aimed at making homework a simple yet effective process. Let's get started. Homework Strategies 1-4. The key to homework success is to eliminate all the obstacles—and excuses—that get in the way of students getting it done. Ten Easy Homework Tasks to Set Here are a couple of thinking questions you could give as homework. 'Think about the best things about your country. Explain them to yourself in English. You'll tell the class about it tomorrow.'. 'Think about the most important person in your life and why they are/were important. Describe them to yourself in English. How to Create Effective Homework Enriching children's classroom learning requires making homework not shorter or longer, but smarter.". Paul goes on to describe specific practices, like spaced repetition (in which information is presented and repeated spaced out over time), retrieval practice (testing or quizzing not for assessment, but to reinforce material learned), and ... Sending Homework to Clients in Therapy: The Easy Way Sending Homework to Clients in Therapy: The Easy Way. 25 May 2021 by Jeremy Sutton, Ph.D. Scientifically reviewed by Maike Neuhaus Ph.D. Homework is an essential part of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT; Beck, 2011; Mausbach, Moore, Roesch, Cardenas, & Patterson, 2010). Successful therapy relies on using assignments outside of sessions to ... Easy Homework for Students For many students, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear 'easy homework' is finding the answers. They may pester their friends and classmates, check the book, or dig around online in hopes of being able to get away with doing no work at all. However, this method comes with consequences. 15 Teacher-Tested Ways to Save Time Grading Assignments and Tests Kimberly Darron grades homework for completion by using a bingo dauber color-coding system: green dot for 100 percent complete; blue dot for 50 percent complete; and red dot for 0 percent complete. ... Bonus of using this method: You end up with a digital record of the feedback. De Burcha cautions, however, that you need to check for typos. 15 ... Easy Homework Method: Filing Station How to make homework easier? When homework is a struggle, try to make it easy by organising exactly what needs to be done by using the filing station. Click ... Mathway Free math problem solver answers your algebra homework questions with step-by-step explanations. Step-by-Step Math Problem Solver QuickMath will automatically answer the most common problems in algebra, equations and calculus faced by high-school and college students. The algebra section allows you to expand, factor or simplify virtually any expression you choose. It also has commands for splitting fractions into partial fractions, combining several fractions into one and ... 20+ creative alternative homework ideas for teachers 2. Make a board game. This is definitely one of the most creative homework assignments. Let your students come up with an idea for a board game about the lesson content. They have to make cards, and pawns, draw, write, cut, and paste. They have to use their imagination and inventive ideas to create a coherent board game. Click to open. My 5 simple tweaks will turn your MacOS Finder into a way ... Simple. Open Finder, click the View menu, click Show Path Bar, and then click Show Status Bar. That's it! With these enabled, you'll find interacting with Finder much easier. With the Path and ... The Easy Way To Make Grilled Chicken Wings Taste Fried After separating the chicken wings into drums and flats, get an empty Ziploc bag and make a dry rub consisting of salt, pepper, and any other dry herbs or spices you typically use for fried chicken, like garlic and onion powder, paprika and mixed herbs. Throw the chicken pieces into the bag of spices and mix till every piece is covered. Adobe Creative Cloud Plans, Pricing, and Membership For pricing call 888-649-2990. Includes: 100GB of cloud storage, per license, for easy file sharing. Deeper discounts on all purchases plus consolidated annual billing. Request consultation. Discover Adobe Creative Cloud membership plans and monthly prices for our full suite of applications including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and more. Joe Biden Wants to Go Viral. It's Not Easy. Way to Win, Future Forward, Mr. Biden's primary super PAC, and the Hub Project, another progressive group, hosted about 140 influencers to Washington for a three-day event called Trending Up. essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study thesis