THE DRAGON issue 1

HOMEWORK HELP
Homework and revision can be a struggle for everyone.
You sit at a messy desk, papers and books stacked
around you, wanting to be anywhere but here. You begin
to think of excuses to get you out of doing the homework
that's due in the next day. But it doesn't have to be
difficult! Homework will never be fun and easy, but it doesn't have to be a struggle. If
you want to find out how to make studying just that little bit easier, then read on …
1) A tidy workspace - To be able to work to your full potential, you will need a
workspace free of clutter and distractions.
Make sure this place is quiet and always free for you to use. This could be anywhere
like a library, your bedroom or the kitchen.
Before you study or start working, make sure you have all your resources you need
and put your phone on silent to avoid further distractions (it may seem crazy, but it
will help you stay focused!)
2) Nutrition - it is very important to stay hydrated and comfortable when you are
working so keep a water bottle close by at all times to help you stay focused and
avoid headaches, especially if you will be looking at a screen for extended amounts
of time. As well as this, you tend to do your homework after school and this is about
the time your energy levels start to drop and you get a bit hungry and you may feel
the need to refuel with sugary snacks. However, this will not sustain you for a long
time so choose food with energy in it that will fuel your brain, like nuts and fruit.
3) How to study - if you are revising for an assessment, for example trying to learn
facts or vocabulary for a language, it's always worth trying different techniques for
learning this key information e.g mind maps, writing it out. There are many different
quizzes online to see what kind of learner you are and how you absorb information.
This sort of revision should be done in slots of 15-25 mins with breaks in between so
your brain stays fresh and ready to take in all the info you have, especially if you
have a lot of different subjects to revise. If you are reading from a textbook, don't just
read but make notes on what you've read and try to learn these notes for future
reference in exams.
• If you are doing homework e.g worksheets or essays then you should work
solidly for 40 mins at a time then have a break to relax and read through your
work in between these slots.
• If you are writing essays then plan before you write and jot down ideas of
what you want to include.
4) Prioritise - before you start any of this hard work, prioritise your tasks to the day
they are due as there is no point doing homework that is due two weeks from now if
there is a worksheet due tomorrow!
Try and get started on homework as soon as you get in from school so you can relax
for the rest of the night and if you get stuck or feel tired out then walk away, have a
quick break then come back to your work. If you try to get too much done in a rush,