Prioritizing for Every Grade
Learning to prioritize tasks is an Executive Function, and one that is relevant no matter what stage of school or life you happen to be in. As April flowers bloom, it’s all too easy to get caught up in spring fever or “senioritis.” Here are some tips on things to take into account for each grade level to help keep the end goal in sight.
Elementary and Middle School
During the elementary years and middle school years, the excitement as school gets closer to letting out is palpable. The days are longer, and it’s so hard to buckle down and prioritize homework when the outside beckons. This is the time when maintaining a schedule is so important.
Try to find a happy medium. If your child absolutely will not concentrate while the weather is warm and the sun is out, schedule some play time or other activities for after school prior to finishing homework.
Aim for a set homework hour, perhaps after dinner, that is non-negotiable. In other words, don’t let the evening slide into another hour of television or video games if homework hasn’t been done directly after school.
Involve your child in the planning process. When do they feel is the most productive time for homework? Have them commit to a plan.
High School
April is definitely not the time to slack off for high school students. Now is when long-term research papers are coming due, and AP exams are looming. This is when prioritization and chunking tasks is paramount.
Make sure long-term, multipart assignments have been broken down into smaller chunks with timelines.
Be flexible – if your student is behind on their long-term project timeline, re-chunk the remaining parts so that it doesn’t seem overwhelming. Think of it like cheating on your diet. Just because you have one day of carbs and sugar, doesn’t mean you’ve ruined everything. You just need to re-commit.
While nightly homework is still important, it is equally important to prioritize tasks in terms of the academic weight they carry. Studying for a half hour each night for an upcoming AP exam may seem less urgent than finishing ten math problems, but in the grand scheme of things, keeping that AP exam study schedule may make the difference in terms of achieving a score that will lead to college credits.
College
With most spring semesters ending in May, April is crunch time for end of term papers, projects, and final exams. Once again, prioritizing assignments based on their weight against the semester grade is an essential skill.
College students with Executive Dysfunction have two things working against them. It is rare to be able to get extra time on an assignment, particularly since the syllabus was assigned during the first week of class. In addition, college students must be self-starters when it comes to prioritizing work and maintaining effort. If you find that you are behind at this critical juncture, it’s time to seek outside support.
Outside support doesn’t have to be any farther than the campus academic success center or tutoring center. It’s not too late to seek on-campus support with assignments, and it’s always a good idea to make an appointment during your professor’s hours to clarify and seek guidance.
If any of these tasks seem overwhelming, an Executive Function coach, whether on-campus or online, can help make sense of prioritization.