Scheduling Works Wonders for Student’s Performance

Most successful students are able to achieve because they have a schedule for studying and doing assignments.

You may not wish to be the kind of student who pulls out a pocket calendar whenever a teacher announces exam dates or deadlines, but make no mistake: There are some real advantages to getting organized.

In fact, there’s no reason not to get started on a schedule now, even though the semester is well underway. If you follow some fairly simple guidelines, I’ll bet you’ll see your grades improve by semester’s end.

The benefits of keeping a study schedule are many.

You’ll save time and energy that is otherwise wasted day after day in deciding which subjects to work on.

You’ll also feel less school-related stress since your work will be done on time, and you’ll be more confident and competent for exams.

You’ll retain information better too, because studying something over a period of time--rather than all at once--is more effective.

To get started, you’ll need two calendars. The long-range schedule will show exam dates, assignment deadlines and field trips.

The weekly calendar will show what you’ll work on each day and during which hours.

Keep the weekly schedule simple in design because you’ll have to make a new one each week. Just write the days across the top, then one-hour blocks down the left side. You can draw up a couple months’ supply of calendars while watching TV or talking on the telephone.

Post both calendars on the wall in your regular study area.

Now it’s time to fill in your weekly calendar.

Don’t restrict your study time to just one part of the day, but avoid scheduling too much of your schoolwork late at night. Some students say they work best then, but that hurts their ability to focus in school the next morning. When allotting time for your schoolwork, be liberal. Bear in mind possible time conflicts such as sports practice, work, and family or social commitments.

Decide how long to work on each subject, and allow more time for those that are hardest for you.

In general, one hour is the best length for reading or outlining chapters, solving math problems or doing work sheets.

You may need to allocate a longer block, maybe two or three hours, for longer projects such as writing essays or assembling art projects. It’s best to do these kinds of work in one long session, rather than several short ones, so that you don’t lose your train of thought or your inspiration.

Be sure to leave time in your schedule for some study breaks too.

Break for about five minutes after each hour of study, and for about 10 to 15 minutes between subjects.

Don’t just sit in the same chair, though--get up and move around to boost your energy back up. Try jogging in place or splashing cold water on your face.

Avoid activities that could drag on and ruin and your schedule, such as a serious phone conversation or TV movie.

Finally, leave time for a five-minute quick-write after the day’s studying; compose an informal paragraph about what you studied and learned that day.

At the end of the first week, you’ll be surprised at how much you accomplished--and you’ll be ready to plan a schedule for next week.