School specific files Anoka High School 2015-16 handbook | Page 6

USING YOUR HANDBOOK/PLANNER
HOW TO USE YOUR STUDENT PLANNER TO MANAGE YOUR TIME!
Students have never been busier juggling academics, extracurriculars, employment, and family responsibilities.
Planning and organizing will allow you to manage your time
more effectively, reduce stress, and leave more leisure
time for you to enjoy.
Statistics show that effective use of a planner can give you:
• 25-33% more time for the fun things you want to do.
• Reduction in your anxiety/stress level.
• More sleep at night.
• A great habit to have developed by the time you go to any
post-secondary institution or training where you will have
a less structured schedule.

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU
WITH TIME MANAGEMENT:
• Use your time wisely, make use of “down time” whenever
possible.
• Get to class on time, do not miss out on anything that
should be recorded in your planner.
• Start working on an assignment right away. If you run
into problems, you have time to ask your teacher before
you leave the classroom or school for the day.
• Use study hall time, advisement time, or study time in
your classes. If you don’t have a current assignment to
work on, study your notes from earlier class periods.
• Don’t miss school. You will miss out on valuable class discussions and assignments and will have more work when
you return.
• Make a “To Do List” (TDL). In the evening or the early
morning, list the tasks you want to accomplish for the day
and rank each task (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). Complete the
tasks according to their importance and either cross
them out or check them off when they are completed.

GUIDELINES TO USING YOUR PLANNER
• Record assignments, projects, and due dates.
• For long assignments, take the time to space out the
tasks of the assignment or project and write them
down in your planner.
• Don’t “cram” the night before - the learning will only be
“short term”.
• Record test dates and information to be studied on tests.
• Record dates and times of meetings, practices, games,
and other appointments.

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• Record dates that are important to you
(vacation days, birthdays, etc).
• Record your work schedule.
• Use the reference section - academic helps in the
areas of English, Math and Science every morning to
begin mentally planning your day.

STUDY SKILLS
Prioritize your assignments on your weekly calendar pages
before you start studying. The following tips will help you
maximize your learning during your study time and give you
extra free time.
• Find a quiet place to study, make sure it is well lit, and
keep the television and music OFF or turned down low.
They will only distract you if they are too loud.
• Sit in a chair that has a straight back. You’ll get too sleepy
studying on your bed or in a soft chair. Make sure there is
enough fresh air.
• Have all your supplies easily accessible - books, calculator,
ruler, pens, pencils, paper, note cards, highlighters, paper
clips, etc.
• Keep your workplace organized and clean.

READING, LISTENING, AND NOTE TAKING
• Think about what you are reading. If the reading is hard to
understand, stop and summarize what you’ve read. You
may need to re-read the section more slowly and look up
words you don’t understand.
• Use shortcuts such as symbols and abbreviations to
speed up your writing.
• Listen and record information that teachers indicate is
important. (“This is important.” “Listen to what I am
saying.” “Don’t forget this...”)
• Listen carefully and stay focused. Ask the teacher to
explain a point if you don’t understand everything.
• Evaluate what you read and hear before writing anything.
• Taking notes:
a. Keep notes for V6