| classroom teacher, I used to hear excuses from a | | | | parents if they have anything planned for you for |
| few students every morning about why they did not | | | | the week. This is the time to learn about dentist |
| have their homework. Most of them had to do with | | | | appointments, birthday dinners, your brother’s |
| extra-curricular commitments: “I | | | | baseball games, etc. It is always better to know |
| couldn’t do my homework last night because | | | | about these things ahead of time, rather than at the |
| I had a baseball game.” Or, “I had to | | | | last minute. |
| go to my brother’s basketball game.” | | | | -Plan ahead. If you have a big assignment due on |
| Some of the excuses were due to family obligations: | | | | Thursday and you have a basketball game on |
| “We had to take my grandma out for her | | | | Wednesday night, be sure to do the assignment on |
| birthday last night.” The best excuse I ever | | | | Tuesday evening. |
| heard… “I couldn’t do my | | | | -Keep all homework in one place. Do not stash your |
| homework last night because I had to go with my | | | | math homework in a text-book, your science |
| mom to get her nails done.” | | | | homework in a notebook, and your English |
| Many teachers would agree that the number one | | | | homework in your bookbag or you will spend a lot of |
| reason students fail classes is due to missing | | | | time just looking for your homework. Keep all papers |
| homework. Creating excuses for homework lowers | | | | in ONE folder to save the search time and complete |
| your grades and encourages a very bad habit for | | | | your homework faster. |
| your future. | | | | -Make use of “down” time. You spend |
| The single reason you go to school is to learn and | | | | a lot of time each day waiting…waiting for |
| prepare for your future; whether you will someday | | | | teachers to take attendance, for classmates to |
| have a career, manage a home, or both, you will | | | | settle down, for your bus to come, or for an |
| need to take responsibility. One of the main reasons | | | | appointment. Tackle your homework during these |
| teachers give homework is to help you exercise your | | | | times. Maybe you can get three math problems done |
| responsibility skills. You will not last long in a job if you | | | | while your teacher takes attendance. Perhaps you |
| tell your boss, “Sorry I couldn’t get | | | | can do your science homework on the bus ride |
| that report done. I had to play soccer last | | | | home. A few minutes here-and-there can quickly add |
| night.” You will not keep a roof over your | | | | up to 1 or 1.5 hours of free time later in the evening. |
| head for long with excuses like, “Sorry I | | | | -Use a timer. If you struggle to stay focused when |
| couldn’t pay my bills last week…I was | | | | doing your homework, challenge yourself to be like |
| busy getting my nails done.” | | | | Nike and “Just do it!” Set a timer for |
| Rest, relaxation, and fun are all important elements in | | | | the amount of time you think you will need to do an |
| life, but there has to be a balance between fun and | | | | assignment and challenge yourself to beat the timer. |
| responsibility. You have to know your priorities. When | | | | You may be surprised at how quickly you can finish |
| you take care of your most important priorities first, | | | | your homework when you are focused. |
| you will automatically have time for the “fun | | | | **In Conclusion** |
| stuff!” | | | | Of course, there will be times when other priorities |
| Many adults never learn how to manage their | | | | have to trump homework; family illness, a special |
| priorities and have a hard time keeping a good | | | | event, or an emergency are a few valid reasons for |
| balance in their lives. If you learn how to manage | | | | missing an occasional homework assignment. |
| your priorities NOW, you will have a HUGE advantage | | | | However, the average family experiences these |
| when you are an adult. Not to mention the fact that | | | | exceptions very rarely! |
| you will improve your grades along the way! | | | | You have the power to work things out with your |
| **Action Plan** | | | | family and manage your time so that you can |
| There are several things you can do to manage your | | | | balance work + fun. When you take care of |
| time better and work around evening activities so | | | | important things first (like homework), the fun will |
| that you can balance your homework with fun: | | | | follow! |
| -Communicate with your family. On Sunday, ask your | | | | |