Physical Planners Keep Things on the Same Page in All Learning Environments
Many schools are grappling with how to best approach fall instruction amid the pandemic, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida are no different. According to an article in District Administration, the school district is giving students two options: one, return to school in a hybrid environment with both in-person and online education, or two, remain completely remote when schools reopen.
Because this model will limit person-to-person contact to avoid the spread of the virus, it will also limit students being in the same place at the same time. According to the DA article, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s goal is for “academic stabilization,” despite the disruption the pandemic has caused.
However, now, school districts must focus on how to keep students on the same track, despite being in separate locations, to prevent an increase in the equity gap. Because of this, planners provide a strong tool to prevent any students from getting left behind.
WHY PLANNERS?
According to a Forbes article based on 29 interviews with straight-A students in 2015, successful students tend to plan their time using a calendar and prioritize their tasks accordingly. While a lot has changed in five years, this is one phenomenon that has remained: students are more successful when they know how to manage their time.
Because of this, there is greater focus on instilling strong time management skills in students to help them stay on track no matter where they are learning in the fall.
One reason for student failure during the pandemic’s school closures, according to an article in Education Week, is that students lack a structured schedule because they haven’t learned how to manage their time on their own, despite succeeding in a regulated classroom environment.
Because of this, the article notes that students must be guided to create their own timelines and manage their workload. One of the best tools to facilitate this is a physical planner.
BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING TIME
Encouraging student independence is important, but students must have the tools and skills they need before taking their schedules into their own hands. Because of this, a March 2020 Forbes article suggests that parents help their students set their schedules in the beginning to teach them how to prioritize. From there, students can slowly begin becoming more autonomous.
Some best practices for student time management include habits such as:
- Writing assignments and information in a planner immediately
- Checking their planner daily and keeping it updated
- Breaking down large assignments into manageable pieces to prioritize tasks
With the proper plan and tools in place, the “academic stabilization” that Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ superintendent is hoping to achieve this fall is possible. However, while there is still a long way to go to recover from the academic havoc the pandemic has wreaked, investing in a physical planner could be the best place to start.
