This Monday’s guest post is from Danielle LaPointe from Oxford Learning Kingston in Kingston, Ontario. Reposted from August 2010
Now that school is back in session, ensure that students are on track and hitting the important milestones with this list:
Communicate with teachers
WHY? Don’t wait until the first report card to find out that things are off track. Take ten minutes to chat with the teacher about progress and nip any problems in the bud.
Do homework, even when there is no assigned homework
WHY? Homework is a school inevitability; the sooner students learn good homework habits, the less of a struggle it will be to get homework completed. Do homework at the same time every night, even if none was assigned. Review the days notes and prepare for quizes and tests. There is no such thing as no homework, ever.
Use Agendas
WHY? Agendas are the number one school organizational tool. The agenda can be paperbased or electronic. Students should be writing homework assignments, after school activities, field trips, deadlines, projects, pizza day and to-do or task lists in their agendas everyday. If schools don’t provide agendas, purchase one – they are that important.
Talk About School
WHY? School is a major part of kids’ lives. If they are unwilling to discuss their day, something may be amiss. Talk to kids about their day and have an open dialogue about school and learning challenges.
Watch frustration/Stress levels
WHY? Between learning new subjects and balancing homework, after school activities, chores and social lives, it can be easy for students to become overwhelmed. This can be very de-motivating and can lead to a drop in grades. Get help as soon as it is needed.
Procrastination
WHY? Leaving work until the last minute/not wanting to do work is a sign of poor organizational skills. Last minute rushes mean poor preparation, which can lead to poor grades.
Forgetting Work
WHY? Forgetting work, misplacing assignments, or losing textbooks or flash drives are a sure sign of an off-track students. If students are showing signs of disorganization, get help as soon as possible.
Bonus Tip!
Get in the habit of opening and sorting through backpacks right after school. Students should come home, open the book bag or backpack, take out lunch boxes and place their agenda on the table. After a nutritious snack open the agenda and get to work.
great post!
Great ideas to follow, I lose track during the school year. Thank you for the reminder about using my agenda.
Thank you for teaching me to use OUTLOOK. I can update my calendar from my phone. I can download my assignment straight into my calendar.