Student planners, also called assignment notebooks or student agendas, are designed to help students to be more organized. The concept is great; however, many students do not use the a student planner effectively. Once used properly students can ensure better grades.
While each is slightly different, planners contain virtually the same content. These sections are discussed within this article.
Student Planner Monthly Calendars
Each student planner will have a full month calendar. Each day of the month will be in its own box. On this page students should write very important dates. While adding in when the Homecoming Dance is, when soccer practice will be, or when spring break is can be important to students, they should really be using the boxes to record school academic information. Here are a few ideas:
- All tests dates
- Project due dates
- After school study dates
- Teacher help session dates
- Paper or speech due dates
- College entrance exam dates
At a glance, students can look at the monthly calendar and visualize when important academic due dates will occur. As long as the student writes this information down, the calendar is a great tool to track important due dates.
Student Planner Weekly Pages
Each school week is represented in the planner on a two page spread. Usually the Monday through Friday sections are larger than the Saturday and Sunday. Students can use these spaces to record daily academic happenings.
Students can list all of the academic classes within each daily space. Next to each class students can note homework assignments and due dates. An example is: math: page 54 questions 1-35, odd only, due on April 4. If no homework is given, students can write “none” next to the class. At the end of the day, a student just needs to look at the daily homework log section and know which books and folders to bring home. This alleviates guessing and forgetting a book or worksheet at school.
Once at home, students can open their academic planner and know exactly what homework to work on that evening. Upon completing the homework the student can then cross out the note next to the class in the planner.
Student Planner Notes and Contact Pages
Seldom used, these pages can be of assistance for students. Many times homework assistance is needed to finish an assignment during the evening. Students should identify at least two students in class who can be called for help. Their names, telephone numbers, and class can be noted on these pages.
Other Ideas for the Use of a Student Planner
Here are a few more helpful ideas on using a student planner:
- Use a large paper clip or rubber band to mark the current month/week.
- Use a highlighter to mark test dates and another color to highlight project/paper due dates.
- Write owner’s name either on the cover or inside cover. Include a phone number. If planner is lost, owner can be easily identified and contacted.
Student planners come in many forms including paper form or electronic form. The best strategy is to find a planner that is compatible for the student. Another important point is to utilize the planner daily. A planner is only a good tool if the student writes in it and uses it as suggested in the article. These suggestions can lead to better grades.
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