How to Use the School Planner Effectively

Writing down homework in the provided planner every day is more than just a school rule - it’s an organizational tool that many students could probably use more regularly... or more efficiently.

In a student survey, 51% of seventh and eighth graders admitted that they “always or sometimes” need help with using their planners better, and we teachers are finding that not everyone fully uses this resource well. (This skill is a great organizational habit to build before high school as well!)

Below are several tips for students to try daily, as well as some weekly or situational strategies. We ask that parents encourage their students to find the combination of strategies that works best for them!

Photo Example #1

Photo Caption: In this photo, this faux planner page is color-coded. It uses a clip to hold its place. Each day has crossed-out tasks to easily tell what is finished. Major assessments are easy to spot - they're red and circled to help them stand out. 

Tips for Students: Writing Tasks Down Effectively

• Be specific, including due dates. Be specific when you write something down. For example, don’t just write “Essay” under the ELA section; instead, write down “Essay intro paragraph due Tues.” so that you know exactly what the item is AND when it is due.

• Cross out a task when it is done. Failing to do so can make your page visually confusing and harder to estimate what tasks are left (and how long they will take).

• Make major deadlines noticeable. In the photo above, the due dates are red and circled so that they are easy to spot and remember.

• Break down sub-steps of bigger tasks; don’t just write down the assignment overall. For example, if 15 ALEKS topics are due on Sunday night, then assign 3 topics on 5 different nights.

• Write down to study for a test MORE than one night in advance! Add a reminder to start studying several days before the test. Doing so will ensure that you have time to ask the teachers questions.

• Try color-coding, either by subject, due date, or type of assignment. Pick one color per subject area, or distinguish one color for the items due tomorrow and another color for tasks you’re working ahead on.

• Write down everything, not just homework. Include reading for AR, your ALEKS for math, projects, studying, reminders, and anything else that you could potentially forget.

Photo Example #2

Photo Caption: This faux planner page includes the student's after-school activities so that the student can realistically plan around his or her time commitments. It also shows one way to "break down" a CYOA project for Social Studies, working on it gradually all week instead of just the night before!

Planner Management Tips for Students:

• Bookmark, fold, or clip the finished pages. Do something so that you can EASILY flip to today’s page. A binder clip or bookmark can help a lot.

• Add in your sport and activity schedules. Utilize the BLANK COLUMN on the far left of the page! Adding your after-school schedule will help you realistically estimate how much time you’ll have (and if you need to make different plans for working ahead).

• Don’t wait for teachers to verbally cue you to “get out your planner” or “write this down”. If in doubt, write it down - even if you’re uncertain if you’ll have time to work on it at home.

• When a teacher DOES give you a verbal cue, write it down immediately. Don’t wait until the end of a school day to start, and don’t rely on Edmodo to provide every assignment or reminder.

• Utilize all the “extra” resources. Don’t forget to use the month-at-a-glance pages, as well as the bonus page full of facts for math, grammar, religion, and more.

Extra Tips from Former Students:

• “If a teacher gives you a schedule with a bunch of dates on it, that is a great opportunity to use your planner.”
• “Write down the necessary homework (due tomorrow) first, then write the long term stuff on the bottom of that subject.”
• “My mom and I have a whiteboard at home that I write down my test for that week or the next week, and we have a calendar used for school and other activities.”
• “Do your homework subject by subject, and as you get each subject done, cross it off.”
• “I used to not use my planner at all, but I figured out that if you personalize/ decorate it, then you'll want to fill out/ check your planner WAY more often!”
• “I would write the homework assignment on the day it is due, so you know what day to do it by. Also, if it is a long term thing, write it multiple times throughout the week.”

Thank you for reading!