Time Management

• Give your student a quiet place to study, free of distractions, away from TV and video games and cell phones, and ensure that they have the necessary supplies to complete assignments.
• Teach your student to budget their time wisely with homework. Try to do something every night instead of cramming at the last moment.
• Teach your student to use a planner to keep track of assignments. When they finish each assignment, they can check them off for a feeling of accomplishment. ?Post it Notes? and Index cards work great.
• Encourage your student to estimate how long each assignment will take. They can then plan a realistic schedule, building in study breaks after subjects that are most challenging.
• If your student struggles with tracking their homework, help them by following along. This works well if the school posts assignments online. Take advantage of any communication opportunities that are provided to parents, such as weekly emails, newsletters, and online grade portals. You will want this information so that you can monitor and advise your child in completing their work.
• Teach your child to advocate for themselves and Encourage them to speak with their teacher if they are not clear about expectations or assignments. This is a wonderful skill to begin building, as it encourages students to take control of their learning.

Middle school is the beginning of the transition from being hands on, to the role of helper and monitor. When it comes to helping your student manage their workload at home, parents should be active with assisting with time management and organization as needed.

Having an established family structure and framework is fantastic modeling of management and organization for our children.