School RULES!. Emma MacLaren Henke
find
something that you need right away.
It’s never in the place it should be!
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
5. If your mom peeked in your backpack,
she might find a broken pencil, a granola
bar wrapper, and a bunch of folded-up
papers you were supposed to give to her
weeks ago.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
6. You never miss a project due date
because you write them all in your
assignment notebook.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
Answers
Did you choose blue the most? You’re one orderly girl! You already know that staying organized makes life easier. Your skills will help you stay on top of your game at school, even when you have to tackle tricky topics or when your schedule is packed with assignments and activities.
Did you select a few orange and a few blue? Like most of us, you’re organized at times and disorganized at others. When it comes to school, keeping order frees up your mind so you can focus on learning. If you’re organized, you’re not distracted by the perfect pencil you can’t find or the due date you know is coming up sometime soon (you think).
Did you pick mostly orange answers? Your organizational skills could use a tune-up. Keep this in mind: School isn’t just about learning subjects like science or reading. School teaches life skills, too. And a couple of the most important skills you learn through school are how to be responsible for your own things and how to manage your time. Read on to find out how to get organized!
Super Study Space
What tools do you use for homework and studying?
Gather your supplies and keep them close by when you’re working.
Keep a generous stash
of your favorite pencils
and pens.
Keep track of how long
you spend on any task.
Use sticky notes in books, on your
calendar, and on your assignments to
mark important details or give yourself
reminders. Also, notecards are
great to have on
hand to make
quick flash cards.
Try using a white or pink eraser
to remove pencil marks cleanly
and completely.
Always note due dates, tests,
and performances! Use a
calendar and your assignment
notebook to make sure you’re
getting everything done.
Read a word you don’t
know? Look it up!
Twistable crayons and
colored pencils never
need to be sharpened.
It’s OK to use a calculator to
double-check your homework
as long as you solve arithmetic
problems on your own first!
Study
steady
Studying in the same place at the same time
creates a habit that will seem natural in no
time. If you have your own desk, keep your
school tools organized in the drawers or right
on top. If you usually study at the kitchen
table or another shared space in your home,
make a school supplies kit in a sturdy box
and get it out every time you sit down to
do homework or study.
Wherever you work, choose a place that’s
quiet and free from distractions. That’s right:
no buzzing phone on your desk so you can
check your texts. No TV blaring in the back-
ground. No noisy little brother begging you
to play a game.
Sometimes it’s good to shake
things up. Studying in a new
place can perk up your mind
and help you retain information.
Try working at the library, in a
different room in your home,
or even outside.
Is Time on
Your Side?
Get right to these questions to
see if you tend to procrastinate— that is, to put things off until the last minute.
1. Your report on Mexico is due tomorrow.
This evening you still need to . . .
a. proofread what you’ve written one last time.
b. take a look at one last website, and write the final page of your report.
c. research and write the report.
2. It’s only one week till Halloween! Your
costume . . .
a. has been hanging in your closet for a month.
b. still needs a few finishing touches.
c. will come together sometime soon— why worry about it now? You’ve still got a week.
3. If your spelling test is Friday, you study
the words . . .
a. Monday and again on Thursday.
b. Wednesday or Thursday after the rest of your homework is done.
c. Friday morning, on the school bus. Might as well make use of the ride time!
4.You take piano lessons on Tuesdays
after school. You practice piano . . .
a. for a few minutes every day.
b. after your lesson Tuesday, while the music is fresh in your mind, and a couple more times during the week when you get the chance.
c. Monday night and Tuesday morning. You feel ready for your lesson— sort of, at least—if you practice right beforehand.
5. If you have a week to complete a
challenging math assignment,