10 Shortcuts for Kids Who Hate Homework

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Having homework problems? Check out 10 shortcuts to improve your homework experience.

1. SAVE TIME in 10 minutes
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Take 2 minutes to put loose papers into the folders and the next eight minutes to reread notes and/or handouts from school. These 10 minutes will save you hours of searching and studying.

Plus, reviewing your notes transfers information to long-term memory, saving hours of study time when test time comes around.

2. Work in 30-Minute Blocks—THEN TAKE A 5 minute break​

Set a timer and limit each study or work session to 30 minutes. Challenge yourself to finish a certain amount of work within that time. The adrenaline rush of the challenge will improve your focus. Set another timer for five minutes, relax or stretch. Start another 30-minute block of homework.

​3. Create a User-Friendly Planner that works for you

A lot of students who keep a planner forget to use it throughout the day. Experiment! Find a way that works for you. Maybe, you want your parent to review your planner. Maybe an aide at school. Maybe you want it on your phone or you want a nice notebook or visual cues.

4. Sip Some GLUCOSE!

When kids do homework, they should sip (not gulp) lemonade or a sports drink. These beverages deliver glucose to your brain, which is its only source of fuel. The more fuel you have, the more you will be able to work effectively and efficiently.

5. Skip Problems That Stump You

If you come to a homework question that you find confusing, highlight or circle it and move on. Let your brain work on the problem in the background as you work through easier ones. Then come back to the ones that stumped you, or ask for help.

6. Review Your Notes Out Loud

Your brain will process the information in three ways: through your eyes as you read it, your mouth as you say it, and your ears as you hear your own voice. This improves your focus and memory.

7. Create Test Questions from Your Notes

Did you know testing is better than studying? So, why not write your own questions? It will help you learn better than reciting or memorizing information. The process forces you to think about the information at a higher level, which will help you learn more things, thus shortening your study time.

8.  Read Your Textbook: Just Not Every Word

Read through related sections of your textbook, but don’t read every word. Read headings, diagrams, and captions to photos and illustrations to get started. Set your timer and spend one 30-minute block reviewing a textbook chapter. Your enhanced comprehension will help you sail through your homework.

9. Do a Quick Review Before Class

Review the table of contents and key headings before teachers lecture about them in class. This process gives your brain enough knowledge to help you pay better attention in class. You can reduce study and homework time if you have a deeper understanding of the material.

10. Get Ready for School at Night

Kids who are night owls are often groggy in the morning, so it’s easy to forget things if you are trying to get organized. Instead, gather all of your folders, books, notebooks, and supplies, and put them in your bag before you go to sleep. When you don’t deal with chaos in the morning, you have more resources to stay focused through the day--and for your homework.