October 14, 2017 I’M DROWNING IN HOMEWORK!!! Hey Brandon, I started school a few weeks ago, and I’m really stressed out over the amount of homework I’m getting! What should I do?! Homework Help Please!! Hey Homework Help Please, I wish I could come over and help you with your homework right now! Not that I’d be that much help, but I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed with homework and not know what to do. It’s like the older you get, the more homework you receive in school. Plus, every teacher is different and some will assign more homework than others. It would probably help a LOT to make sure you’re organized and plan ahead in case that happens. Here are some things that might help you get (and stay) organized: Use a planner: There are apps specifically made for tracking homework assignments and reminding you of due dates. Just search homework planner and you’ll find options. If you’re more of an old-school planner kind of person, you can also find special notebooks that help you track assignments, break projects into manageable chunks, remind yourself of due dates, etc. Study In The Right Environment: You might be the kind of person who needs total silence and no distractions while you study. OR you might be the type of person who needs your most rocking playlist blaring at the loudest volume. Figure out what works for you, and then make sure you’re setting yourself up for success by studying in the best way that works for you. Make A Daily Schedule: Each day when you sit down to study, check your monthly or weekly assignment calendar and make a list of all the things you need to do that day. Sometimes it’s helpful to do one of the simplest tasks first, so you can feel like you’re making progress when you cross it off the list. Take Breaks: It might seem like the opposite of being productive, but sometimes taking breaks makes you MORE productive! Set a timer for a half an hour. Work hard in that half hour. When the timer goes off, give yourself five minutes to get up and stretch, check your texts, pet the dog, whatever. Then get back to work for another half hour. Now, the best study skills in the world won’t help if you can’t figure out the material. Here are a few things you could do in that situation: Call A Friend: Talk to someone else in the class. Maybe they can talk you through it, or maybe you can meet early at school and they can help you out. Go To A Tutoring Center: If your school doesn’t offer free tutoring, your public library might. Ask Your Teacher: If you’re really having trouble understanding a concept, ask your teacher. Hey, that’s what they’re there for. I know it can be intimidating, but they’ll appreciate you making the extra effort. Talk to your parents: See if they can help you figure this whole thing out. And if they can’t, maybe they could help you find a private tutor. But if not, maybe that means talking to your teacher about other tutoring resources. It might feel like most of the studying pressure is on you, but your parents should still be your partners in helping you get the best education you can. I hope this is helpful. It’s great that you’re reaching out for support. Keep asking until you find someone who can help you. Don’t give up! Readers, who do you turn to for homework help? How do you stay organized? Tell us in the comments!