Making Time for Everything: Planning and Organizing Your Day
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about time management.
- Talk about how you plan your day.
- Read about someone who learned to stop procrastinating.
- Listen to an expert talk about time management.
- Write a plan to help you use your time better.
Key Words:
- Time management: Planning your time so you can do everything you need to do.
- Schedule: A list of the things you plan to do and when you plan to do them.
- Prioritize: To decide which tasks are most important and do those first.
- Procrastinate: To wait until the last minute to do something.
- Deadline: The time when a task needs to be finished.
Let’s Talk About It!
- Do you have a busy schedule? What are some of the things you have to do each day?
- Do you ever procrastinate? What kinds of things do you put off doing?
- What are some ways you can plan your time better?
Let’s Read a Story!
Maria had a lot of things to do but always waited until the last minute. She felt stressed and overwhelmed. Then she read about making a schedule. She started writing down her tasks and deciding which ones were most important. Soon, she was getting more done and feeling less stressed!
Questions About the Story:
- What was Maria’s problem?
- What did she do to solve it?
- How did making a schedule help Maria?
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short clip of a time management expert giving tips.)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is having trouble managing your time. The other gives advice.
Example:
- Person with problem: “I have so much homework, and I also have to work and help at home. I don’t know when I’ll get it all done!”
- Advisor: “You should make a list of everything you have to do and prioritize the most important tasks. Maybe you can do some of your homework during your break at work.”
Homework:
Write a simple schedule for tomorrow. Include the things you have to do and when you plan to do them.
Example:
My Schedule for Tomorrow:
- 7:00 AM: Wake up, eat breakfast
- 8:00 AM: Go to school/work
- 12:00 PM: Lunch break
- 4:00 PM: Finish school/work
- 5:00 PM: Do homework
- 7:00 PM: Have dinner
- 8:00 PM: Relax, watch TV
Extra Fun:
Make a list of five things you usually procrastinate on. Challenge yourself to do one of those things today!
