"What? There's a test today? When was I supposed to study? I play two sports," one student complains. "I can't keep up with everything. I forgot our book was due," says another. I've been a teacher for 21 years, and I can truly say that today's students are busier than ever, but as they are kids, they still don't know how to budget time.
Our school educates just under eight hundred students every year.
It is located in a small, rural, farming/blue-collar community. Many students remain in the town after high school graduation. Of those who are college-bound, most attend a community college, and some continue on to a four-year university. Many take on jobs that do not require they receive an education beyond high school.
Milan was greatly impacted by the recession and has not completely recovered. The major employer, Ford Motor Company, closed its plant leaving many without a job. As a result, Milan area schools has many students who receive free or reduced lunches. Last year, the high school added an after-school snack session to our breakfast program to try to combat hunger for our needy.
My Project
Students today are very busy; in fact, they use baseball, football, swimming, and church as excuses for not completing assignments. While these are all worthwhile activities, there is no employer who will deem them acceptable for incomplete work.
Students need to learn how to budget their time; it isn't an innate ability.
If my students had planners, I could guide them through the steps to effective time management each week until they become habitual.
Students will begin class every Monday by noting all of their obligations for the week on their weekly planner: sports, church, family activities, work, etc. Then, they will note all major tests, presentations, papers, etc. on their planners. Finally, they will schedule study and/or work time to meet their academic responsibilities on their planners.
At the end of the week, students will reflect on their ability to stick to their weekly schedule. They will also note successes and failures throughout the week and infer their causality. These reflections and evaluations will be considered when setting their academic schedule for the upcoming week.
If you donated to this project, you can sign in to leave a comment for Mrs. Glushyn.
DonorsChoose is the #1 classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Glushyn and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.