Class Reminders… Celebrate differences! Everything said is confidential.  Share what you want, when you want. You have the option to pass. Be respectful. Be a good listener. Celebrate differences! Teacher Tip: Remember that we are mandated reporters – if you have a concern that a student(s) is in danger, then you need to report it. 

How to balance homework, activities, friends, and family Balancing life How to balance homework, activities, friends, and family MATERIALS:   students need paper and writing utensil

Listen Up! Make a List You’ll be given 3 minutes to list out everything you do in a typical day – from the moment you wake up to when you go to sleep. Be detailed! Looking at your list, about how many minutes or hours do you spend completing those items? Give students only three minutes to list out everything they do in a typical day. These should be in chronological order. Estimating minutes/hours will look different for every student, but they should have at least 8 hours at school.

Whole Class Discussion Small Group Discussion (3-4 students) OPTION 1 Whole Class Discussion OPTION 2 Gallery Walk OPTION 3 Small Group Discussion (3-4 students) Dialogue Options Let’s Talk… STRUGGLES Looking at your daily routine, do you have free time or downtime? What item(s) are taking up most of your time? Does it stress you out looking at how tight your schedule is? TEACHER TIPS: Struggles – 1. This will vary between students. Free time or downtime is necessary for everyone…assure students that we’ll figure out a way for them to make downtime if they don’t have any. 2. These items will vary. Students may want to talk about if the items that are taking up most of their time are things they enjoy (ie, practices, rehearsals, etc.) 3.  It’s okay to be stressed every once in a while, but we need to learn how to balance work with fun.

Let’s Talk… STRATEGIES Organize your binder! Fill out your planner/agenda. Next to each homework item, write approximately how long it will take you to complete the assignment. Record when you are going to complete that assignment before the due date. Record different activities/sports/practices you have in your planner. Lets discuss how you can maximize your time… What tips do you have for your friends to stay organized? (What works for you?) TEACHER TIPS: Strategies – 1. Actually help your students organize their binder/folders. They should be sorted by classes and loose papers should be filed in specific areas. PLEASE help students do this and/or have an organized student help others. 2. Students can use an iPad app or a paper planner. Require them to fill out their planner right now. Estimating the time it’ll take will help students plan when they will complete their homework. 3.  They can state specific times, or general times (ie, after football practice), or list out the order they will complete the items. Remind students to check things off as they complete them! 4.  Keeping outside activities in the same place will help students manage their time in the future. 5.  Encourage students to use passing period, homeroom, time at the end of class to work on/complete assignments.

WRAP UP! EXIT SLIP: Write a goal you have for yourself to help stay organized and to manage your time. TEACHER TIPS:  Students will turn their exit slip into you. If they need help getting started, give examples such as filling out their planner daily, keeping papers in the correct folder, recycling old notes or homework assignments, choosing free time after they complete their work, etc.