Blog entry by Darwin Boatright
7. **Self-Care and Breaks** - Amidst the flurry of activities, students acknowledged the quintessential role of self-care. Regular breaks, leisure reading, meditation, and hobbies were essential to recharge their mental batteries. Many students asserted that they performed better acadically when they had taken time for themselves.
The academic quarter is a whirlwind of activities and obligations for students. As they navigate the thickets of studies, they also participate in numerous extracurricular activities, which often leaves them struggling to balance the two. This observational research article offers pragmatic tips to help students master the art of managing homework and extracurricular activities effectively.
6. **Online Help and
Study Groups** - Among the popular strategies were leveraging
online resources and forming study groups. The internet is a
trove of educational resources catering to a wide array of
subjects. Students believed that harnessing these and
collaborating with peers significantly eased their academic
burden while maximizing learning.
4. **Flexibility and Adaptability** - One of the key findings of our observational study was the importance of being adaptable. Unforeseen circumstances and demanding school assignments often disturbed set schedules. The ability to adapt and realign strategies was crucial to managing these situations without feeling overwhelmed or sacrificing a balanced lifestyle.
5. **Designated Study Area** - A significant number of students emphasized having a quiet and organized place dedicated exclusively to studies. This space was free from distractions, making it a conducive environment to focus on homework.
This observational study underscores the need for a systemic approach to managing homework and extracurricular activities. Prioritizing tasks, planning, time management, living healthy, being adaptable, having a dedicated study place, utilizing online resources, forming study groups, and indulging in self-care activities are remarkable strategies employed by successful students. Adopting these strategies will equip students with the necessary skills to strike a balance between their academic pursuits and extracurricular interests, enabling them to thrive in their academic journeys.
Regular Review and Revision: An effective study plan includes regular periods of review and revision. The process of revisiting and reinforcing the learned information plays a critical role in memory retention.
Breaking your Study Sessions into Manageable Chunks: Dividing your study time into manageable periods is a significant aspect of study planning. The concept of 'chunking’ your study time predicts spending 20-30 minutes studying, followed by a short break can improve your concentration and reduce fatigue.
2. Outlining: Creating a hierarchy of points and subpoints, presented in an ordered sequence, is a clear and logical method for note-taking. This method helps in identifying the main ideas and supporting details of a lecture or text.
In the recent study released by the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), homeschooled children have shown superior reading and writing abilities compared to their traditionally-schooled peers. NHERI attributes this edge to the personalized, immersive learning methods employed in homeschooling. Dr. Brian D. Ray, NHERI's President adds, "Reading and writing are fundamental skills. In a homeschool setup, focused and flexible learning processes empower each child to excel. They acquire literacy skills not only from textbooks but from a plethora of resources."
As the debate continues, one thing remains clear—homeschooling is a viable alternative, especially when equipped with the right resources and mindset towards the development of fundamental skills such as reading and writing.
Setting Realistic and Specific Goals: Set clear, attainable goals for what you want to achieve during your study sessions. These goals should be SMART; specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Having clear outcomes helps keep you motivated and prevents you from wasting time on irrelevant tasks.
Moreover, homeschooling allows parents to curate learning materials that reflect each learner’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests, making reading and writing lessons more engaging. Gone are the days when rote learning and repetition were the only tools for teaching reading and writing. Today, homeschooling parents utilize diverse concepts such as topical writing journals, story prompts, and interactive audiobooks to interest and enthuse their young learners.
Staying Healthy: Lastly, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are essential for effective learning. They enhance memory retention, cognition and keep you energized, alert, and focused.
There are of course challenges to homeschooling, such as a significant parental time investment, reduced child socialization opportunities, and limited athletic or extracurricular activities. However, the rise in the number of homeschooling families, along with striking improvements in children's reading and writing skills, indicates a substantial shift towards a preference for personalized learning.