One of the reasons why many students come back home feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do is because they do not make the most out of their time at school. For example, I could have saved plenty of hours at home if only I had paid attention to my chemistry teacher because then I would not have to waste time trying to understand the lessons myself at home.
Many students consider school attendance a chore, not an opportunity to get much work done, even though we spend 5-7 hours only in school. So it makes sense that we return home feeling overwhelmed. I have always returned home feeling like I have just done nothing, simply attended a class, and did not get any benefit. It is no surprise that I felt like I was learning things for the first time when I revised the lessons before an exam.
I've slowly realized that I spend 1/3rd of my day at school, therefore I need to begin
making the most of this 1/3rd - it was also the time I felt much more energized, so it would be a shame if that energy is wasted. I have developed several habits and methods to allow myself to begin making the most out of my time at school, and they have saved me an amazing amount of time over many months:
1. Keep eye contact with your teacher, and follow every word they say.
One of the most time-saving habits you could develop is understanding everything about a
subject before you set foot home, so when you do return back home - you would not
have to revise anything to finish your assignments. One way to do this is to keep your entire
focus and energy in class centered on your teacher. In class, fix your posture (make sure you're sitting straight with your hands on your table), maintain eye contact with the teacher, and just keep repeating every word they say to yourself. For example, when the teacher says "Water is H2O", you follow and say "Water is H2O" to yourself.
If the teacher writes something that you feel may be important later, immediately take note of it. It is okay if you have not understood many points or maybe an entire subject, but that is where you would raise your hands and ask about it, or ask the teacher about it after class if you're the"embarrassed to raise my hand" type.
This is the best advice anyone could give regarding focus: just keep your mind centered ON the teacher. Be one with the teacher. That is how you make sure you understand everything at school, not at home.
2. When you are home, ask yourself what you have learned at school.
One efficient way to reflect on your time in school is to be conscious OF what you have
learned. For example, you come back home and tell yourself: "Alright, I have understood the composition of the mitochondrion, I have understood supply &demand, but wait, I have not quite grasped Kirchoff's rule in physics".
After you become conscious of what you learned and what you have not, you will understand which class, or which topic, you need to focus more on, or better yet, which topic you need to ask more on. You're not perfect, you will slip up and not understand some points, but just make sure you put an effort towards understanding it.
3. Begin planning the rest of your day while you are still at school
Many students feel lost more generally when they do not have a plan or guidance throughout the day, that is why having not necessarily a plan, but just a set of tasks for the day, can be very helpful. It is especially helpful because it makes you subconsciously committed to finishing your tasks or your work. Planning the rest of your day specifically at school will make school feel less like an unnecessary chore, and more like just another part of your day among the other parts. How you view school contributes considerably to how you perform academically, so this will help you normalize a sense of positivity around your time at school and at home with regard to academics.
By adopting these habits, you can maximize your school sessions and reduce the need for extensive revising at home. Ultimately, you'll find yourself better prepared for assignments, exams, and, most importantly, a deeper understanding of the subjects you're studying.
Remember, school isn't just a place to attend; it's an opportunity to actively learn and grow.
Embrace it with enthusiasm,
Malek
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