Dear Ariel,
I am having trouble managing all my homework. We get SO much EVERY night. I barely get any sleep during the week because I am working so much! I even have to work on the weekends! Help!

Sincerely, Too Much Homework!

Dear Too Much Homework!
Maybe you should try making a schedule for all the days in the week (including weekends). On the schedule, write down what after school commitments you have and when they start and end. Then, considering dinner, add in times each night called “Homework Blocks”. Each “block” is a period of time that you will devote to homework. Then write down what teachers give homework when, and when it is due. For example, sixth graders get math homework on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays due the next day, and we get writing homework on Tuesdays and Wednesdays due the next day and on Thursday due the following Tuesday. Write down how long it usually takes for each type of homework. Then start dedicating appropriate amounts of time during the week to a certain type of homework. Remember that homework can vary in the time it takes to do it, so you will have to improvise. Hopefully you will feel less overwhelmed if you know you have time to do you homework and when that time is. Good luck!

Sincerely, Ariel