Page 1 of 18

by Susan Kruger, M.Ed.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com
2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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table of contents
Introduction
Learn how to make the most efficient use of this Toolkit.

Homework Rx Toolkit

Study Skills Scorecard for Students

Use this scorecard to identify the study skills and strategies that are best suited to your needs.

25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!

As the title suggests, you will find many tips for making homework easier and making more time for "fun stuff!"

Homework Inventory for Parents

This inventory will help parents identify and target their specific homework frustrations.

14

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Introduction
Welcome to SOAR Study Skills. This Homework Rx Toolkit has been provided as a resource to help parents and students improve the process of managing homework and preparing for school.

parents...

If you are a parent who finds that homework takes a lot of

time and creates a lot of frustration in your home, or perhaps you simply feel that your child should be able to work more efficiently, the Homework Rx Toolkit will be a great resource for you! The Study Skills Scorecard and the list of 25 Ways to Make Homework Easier...Tonight! are both provided as a communication tool for you to share with your child. The strategies are very quick and simple, but yield positive results. The purpose is to help your child discover for himself that the use of strategy makes a big difference. Normally, SOAR does not advocate the use of a "list of tips" (we prefer to teach a system of integrated strategies), but we know from years of experience that the process of learning study skills begins by trying a few simple steps to experience the power of being strategic. When students experience the positive impact of making simple changes, they will automatically be motivated to try more! Encourage your child to select 2-3 strategies from the 25 Ways list and give them a try. They can begin with one that sounds "easiest" or one that makes them think, "Oh, that's a good idea!" They can also use the Study Skills Scorecard to identify specific areas of focus for them. The Homework Inventory for Parents allows you to identify the areas of concern that are specific to YOU. In the next few weeks, you will receive eight short articles that will address each group of problems, share insights into the root cause of the problems, and provide helpful tips and hints to make positive changes.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

students...
If you are a student who wishes that there was a
better, easier, and faster way to do homework and study for school, you have come to the right place! You will find the list of 25 Ways to Make Homework Easier...Tonight! very helpful. Start by using the Study Skills Scorecard to identify the strategies that are best for you.

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teachers...
If you are a teacher, please visit www.studyskills.com
to sign up to receive our Teacher Toolkit.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Homework Scorecard

have you ever...

_____ 2. Felt like you do not have many talents? _____ 3. Felt like homework takes longer than it should? _____ 5. Forgotten to do a homework assignment? _____ 7. Been annoyed as your parents nagged you about homework or studying? _____ 8. Brought the wrong folder or notebook to class?

Are there some study skills that can be helpful for you or your child? To find out, print this scorecard and answer the questions below by writing yes or no in the blank spaces before each question. When you are finished, you can analyze your score on page 7.

_____ 1. Felt dumb or stupid because of difficulties in school?

_____ 4. Wanted to earn better grades while still having time for extra-curricular activities and socializing?

_____ 6. Forgotten certain books, notebooks, or folders at school that you needed for homework?

_____ 9. Misplaced a homework assignment that you knew you did? _____10. Looked inside your bag or locker to find a sea of randomly stashed papers staring back at you? _____11. Had a hard time keeping your room neat and organized? _____12. Felt rushed or frustrated getting ready for school in the morning?

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

Page 6 of 18

Homework Scorecard
Continued _____13. Been unsure of how to ask questions in class or talk to your teacher? _____14. Had a hard time remembering information when you read a text-book? _____15. Felt completely overwhelmed when you have had to write a paper? _____16. Thought There must be a better way to prepare for tests!? _____17. Studied hard for a test, only to be diappointed with your score? _____18. Been shocked, and occasionally disappointed, by the grades on your report card? _____19. Had good intentions of doing well in school, but lost track of your goals? _____20. Learned a few study skills, but did not know how or when to us them? Turn to page 7 to discover how the answers on this scorecard can help you find the study tips and strategies that will make homework easier and faster- for you!

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Evaluate Your Scorecard

If you answered no to all of the questions on the previous page, then you are a star student who: gets homework done quickly, earns great grades on tests, and has all papers organized so that every assignment is turned on time. If, however, you answered yes to ANY of the Scorecard questions, you are not alone! Nearly every student can afford to learn a few things about how to make homework easier. (After all, most students are never taught how to do homework and study efficiently.) If you answered yes to questions #:

1 or 2 you might be surprised to learn that most

problems students experience in school are related to simply not knowing how to study.

homework Rx:
Take a close look at all of the tips in 25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight! on page 10 of this Toolkit. Choose two and try them today! Take our How Are You Smart? Inventory in the SOAR Homework Help! CD program to learn more about your unique sets of intelligence and how you can build on those to achieve school success.

3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 then you need to learn how to set

goals and manage your time so you can get your homework done in a flash without sacrificing good grades.

homework Rx:
Many of the tips in the 25 Ways guide will be helpful for you, especially #s: 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. Highlight these tips and try two today. The Set goals section of SOAR Homework Help! CD program is a simple, systematic way to set goals for yourself and/or with your family. You will also learn an easy routine to help you manage your time so you can have better grades AND more time for fun!

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Evaluate Your Scorecard

Continued

8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 then you could use some help

with organization. Dont fret, thoughYou can learn how to get organized easily and painlessly.

homework Rx:
Take a closer look at tip #s 2, 10, 22, 23, 24, and 25 in the 25 Ways guide that begins on page 10 of this Toolkit. With the Organize section of the SOAR Homework Help! CD program, you will be amazed at how easy it is to get organized; your papers, book bag, locker, and even your bedroom can be whipped into shape and kept in shape- with our simple system.

13, 14, 15, 16, or 17then you can use some help
with the nitty-gritty stuff like studying for and taking tests, reading text-books, writing papers, and working with teachers.

homework Rx:
Tip #s 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, and 17 of the 25 Ways guide in the Toolkit provide helpful study suggestions. Help! CD program will show you how asking questions is a simple strategy for: working with teachers, reading text books, preparing for tests, and taking tests. This section is easy to learn, easy to use, and is VERY effective.

- The Ask questions section of the SOAR Homework

18, 19, or 20 then you need to learn how to keep

track of your grades and your goals. You also need help getting started with a homework plan that will work for you.

homework Rx:
You will find the best resource for these problems is the Record your progress section of the SOAR Homework Help! CD program. Here, you will find

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Evaluate Your Scorecard

Continued helpful tips for improving your grades by tracking them, integrating all of the study skills you know (and may learn) while keeping focused on your goals, and tips for getting started.

On the next page, you will find our helpful homework guide, 25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight! We encourage you to read all of the strategies, but pay particular attention to the ones best suited for you, according to your Homework Scorecard.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!!

If you are like most people, chances are good that homework is not anywhere near the top on your list of favorite things to do! One major reason that homework can be such a drag is that most people are never actually taught how to learn and study. The ideas that follow are just a few things you can do to make homework easier. Start by choosing two or three strategies to try, using the Study Skills Scorecard to help you identify the best tips for you. Not every tip will work for everybody, but you will be amazed at how quickly a few simple strategies can make a big difference for you!

1. Do the most important things first. The hours between 3

PM and 6 PM are usually the most wasted hours of the day. Challenge yourself to make them the most productive hours by doing your homework with-in one hour of arriving home. Then, you can have a full evening of free-time for yourself.

2. When you first sit down to do your homework, take 2

minutes to put loose papers into the proper folders. Make this a part of your daily routine so you can save valuable time (instead of searching for lost assignments) and avoid losing points on missing work.

3. Use the next 8 minutes to reread any notes you took in

school earlier that day. Reviewing your notes for a few minutes everyday saves hours of studying when test-time comes around.

4. As you read your notes, underline or *star* any content

that you do not understand. Ask your teacher for clarification about it the next day. Teachers love these questions because they indicate that you care about your school work. A few good questions can earn you a lot of respect from your teachers.

5. When reviewing your notes, read them out loud. Your

brain will remember the information in your notes better

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!

Continued because it will be processing 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.

6. Create potential test questions out of your notes.

Creating questions helps you learn better than simply reciting or memorizing information because the process of creating questions forces you to think about the information at a higher level.

7. Do you find it hard to sit still? Get up and walk around

while reviewing your notes! Movement improves the circulation to your brain and also helps active people focus better.

8. Get involved! It can be difficult to stay motivated if academic

work is the only thing you take away from school. Get involved in at least one extra-curricular activity (sports, band, clubs, etc) to help you develop good friendships and a positive attitude about school.

9. Remove distractions from your study area. Turn off your

cell phone, put your iPod away, and do not log on to email until your homework is done. You will get your homework done much faster and then have much more time to enjoy these things once your homework is complete.

10. Fill a bucket or basket with a pair of scissors, set of

markers, ruler, calculator, glue, stapler, and several pens and pencils. Take this container with you wherever you do your homework. With all of your supplies handy, you will not have to run around your home to find things you need and risk getting side-tracked by the TV, video games, computer, phone calls, refrigerator, etc.

11. Does homework take too long? Invest in an electronic

timer (approx $7 at most superstores) and set it for the amount of time you think it should take you to do each assignment. Challenge yourself to beat the timer.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!

Continued

12. As you do your homework, constantly ask yourself, How

can this assignment help me study for the next test? This question will help you stay focused on the purpose of your assignment and encourage you to do your best work, while still working to beat your timer! It will also save a lot of study time when it comes time to prepare for a test.

13. When you come to a question (or group of questions) that

you do not understand, skip it! Why waste a lot of time/energy fretting over a few questions/problems? Move on to the items you can do and then come back to the skipped questions later. Quite often, you will be able to figure out these answers after completing the rest of the assignment.

14. Keep a bottle of cool water on hand while you study.

Water keeps your body and most importantly, your brain, hydrated.

15. Move often. Your circulation slows down and your brain

becomes stagnant after you have been sitting still for 40-45 minutes. You will actually be more efficient if you take a short, 1-2 minute break every 40 minutes. Stand up, do some jumping jacks, listen to ONE song on your radio or iPod, and return to your homework. Do not let yourself turn on your cell phone or watch TV because you will be less likely to return to your homework quickly.

16. Reward yourself. It can be hard, even for the most motivated
students, to stay disciplined. Determine a reward for yourself every night. For example, I will get my math and social studies homework done and then I will treat myself to some ice cream. Or, If I can get my homework done by 6:00, then I will have time to shoot some hoops with my friends, call a couple of friends, then watch my favorite TV show at 8:00 PM.

17. Make your homework easier tomorrow night by reading

the next section of your text-book for each class tonight (or at least read the pictures, captions, and summary questions). When you read before class, you will

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!

Continued

anticipate more about what is going on in class, which will make it easier to stay focused and understand the topic more quickly.

18. As soon as you finish a homework assignment, take 12

seconds to put it in the correct folder. Do not let your homework get left behind at home or even lost in the wrong folder. Put it away immediately and you will save many headaches.

19. Communicate with your parents and other family

members. Tell them what you plan to do so they can support your plan. The more information you volunteer, the less likely your parents will be to nag you with questions.

20. Use a planner. Make your life easier by using a planner in

school to record your homework and any other things that you have to do. Using a planner will help you complete assignments (and turn them in) on time, reducing lost points on late assignments.

21. Make the planner easy to use. Mark your place by using a

binder clip as a bookmark. A binder clip works better than a paper clip or bookmark because it stays in place and is easy to grab when you are in a hurry.

22. Check your planner before you go to bed to make sure

you took care of everything. Reviewing your planner at night is a great habit to develop because it ensures that you will be well prepared for school the next day. The more prepared you are, the better day you will have.

23. Gather all of your folders, books, notebooks, supplies,

etc and put them in your bag before you go to sleep. Mornings are chaotic and most people are still a bit groggy before they leave for school, so it is very easy to forget important things at home in the morning. Avoid this problem by gathering everything you need the next day before you go to bed.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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25 Ways to Make Homework EasierTonight!

Continued

24. Lay out your clothes (including coat and shoes) for

tomorrow. When you start the day feeling prepared, you will be prepared throughout the day. rested you are, the more you will be able to enjoy your time in school, pay attention in class, work more efficiently, and ultimatelylearn more in less time!

25. Get sleep. Most students do not get enough sleep. The more

If you found these tips helpful OR if you are looking for more powerful solutions, check out the Homework Help! CD program. The SOAR Homework Help! program is built around "power strategies." Much like these 25 tips, they are simple to implement, yet each individual strategy yields powerful benefits! In this 3-CD set, you will: Discover talents and skills that are unique to your child and learn how to build on those for school success. Learn why homework causes so much stress and dissention for everyone and how you can easily promote cooperation from every member of your family.

Learn about a simple routine that will dramatically reduce (or eliminate) "last-minute syndrome." Teach your children, in a positive and constructive way, how to manage time and plan ahead. (These are skills we usually assume they will learn "automatically.") Discover why organization is such a challenge for students and overcome the problem with a papermanagement system that is very simple, yet has revolutionized hundreds of disorganized students.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

Page 15 of 18 Learn -and immediately experience- powerful learning strategies that maximize your brain's natural learning process, making it possible to learn a lot MORE in a lot LESS time. Learn how to provide meaningful motivation for children and young adults of all ages.

The SOAR Homework Help! CDs feature:

Two audio discs that cover all strategies in less than two hours. The audio CDs can easily be downloaded to your mp3 player or shared with your child on a few short car trips. One multi-media Resource Disc that includes:

A diagnostic survey to identify your most pressing homework struggles and quickly target solutions. Interactive demonstrations of activities. Images and examples of simple, related supplies (recommended supplies do not exceed $30 in cost). E-book of the entire program to download, if you prefer to read the information and take notes. Links to pre-screened and carefully selected websites that provide tools and activities to support the SOAR strategies.

If you are a parent who has struggled to keep homework time peaceful and productive, we encourage you to take a look at our Homework Inventory for Parents that begins on the next page.

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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parents

Homework Inventory for

Many parents feel like there must be something wrong with them -or their child- when they are dealing with homework problems. Nothing could be further from the truth! Homework is a powerful source of friction for most families and, as parents, we are not given a manual to trouble-shoot and solve these challenges. The comments on the next page reflect some of the most common issues we hear from parents. Please take a moment to review each situation and place a "check" next the one(s) that resonate with you. In the next few weeks, you will receive eight short articles providing insights and solutions for each of these problems.

See the Homework Inventory for Parents on the next page

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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homework inventory for parents

Homework Problems 1. "He struggles with many school tasks." 2. "She does not have a lot of confidence." 3. "Our schedules are crazy! It is hard to make time for homework." 4. "She saves everything for the last minute!" 5. "We frequently fight over doing homework." 6. "I am tired of always having to be in charge." 7. "It takes her longer than it should to do her homework." 8. "School papers never make it home." 9. "She often brings the wrong folders home for homework." 10. "His book bag is a mess!" 11. "I saw him do his homework, but his teacher says he did not turn it in!" 12. "It is very challenging for me to keep track of all of the school papers, sports schedules, lunch menus, etc." 13. "My child does not remember what he reads in a text-book." 14. "My child does not pay attention well in class." 15. "My child does not take good notes." 16. "My child does not know how to study for tests." 17. "He's just not motivated!" Helpful insights and strategies for each of these problems will be sent in a series of short emails over the next two weeks. Stay tuned!

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.

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about the author

Susan Kruger, M.Ed. is a certified teacher and reading specialist.
She combined her personal struggles as a student with her professional expertise to create a powerful, student-friendly (and family-friendly) system. She has taught her SOAR Study Skills workshops to hundreds of students with great success! Susan travels the country training teachers in study skills/language arts learning and lends her talents as a consultant for a major textbook company while she continues to help students and their families achieve success in school and peace in the household. When she is not working, Susan enjoys the company of her son, new baby daughter, husband (a fellow educator), and her large extended family.

Resources for Parents and Students Developed by Susan Kruger, M.Ed.

Homework Help! for Parents eBook and audio program for parents and students. SOAR Study Skills: A simple and efficient system for earning better grades in less time Resource book for students. SOAR Strategic Learning Classes Live, web-based study skills classes for students. SOAR Organizational Supply Kit Everything students need to put the SOAR binder system into place today!

courtesy of SOAR Study Skills www.studyskills.com

2011, Susan (Woodcock) Kruger. All rights reserved.