If you want to meet with a 

Learning Strategies Coach 

in-person or on video, contact us.  

access@pierpont.edu    

304-534-7878 

We will help you through the process, print things out, and provide aids.

What you need for Part 1:

Creating a Week Planner gives you the bigger picture of how you will spend your time (e.g., personal responsibilities, recreation, attending classes, studying, job) on an "average" week. 

Looking at your Week Planner throughout the semester lets you see other times you can do something in the event you have a conflict on your monthly calendar.  Like needing to study for a Tuesday exam after work on Monday and it is also your best friend's birthday party.  This allows you to look at the entire week to see how you can accommodate both. (You study on Sunday, study flashcards at lunch on Monday, and review on Tuesday before the test). 

Using the Week Planner (printed from the bottom of this page) or creating one (Excel spreadsheet, Google Sheet), begin entering information about what you do on an average week. 

• Put in the times on the left side column

  • Start with the earliest time that you wake up. 

  • End with the lasted time that you go to bed.  

  • Fill in the times in between waking up and going to bed.

Some people use highlighters in different colors to make the entries easier to determine (ex., green for household things, yellow for school classes and studying) 

See examples below.

• Include recreation like having Friday dinner with friends.  

• If you have kids or other responsibilities, list them.  (ex., like picking up son from daycare)

• Include travel time to and from school, job, etc. 

• Put time at the beginning of each week to create your weekly to-do list

• Put time each morning to look at your weekly or daily to-do list

When you are done, all white areas are free time for you!

When you finish something early or don't need to do it, that is free time also. 

If you are using computer or phone apps, put these into the calendars on those apps.

This actually can be done at a later time, after an assignment is explained during your class.  As you go through the syllabuses and assignments in Step 2, you might make a list or fill out the top portion of a Project Planner for assignments for which you think you might need them.  That way you won't forget.  

If you think you don't need to use these, skip this step. 

1. Using a pencil so you can reuse the divider next semester, put the name of each of your classes on the tab of a separate divider. One divider per class.

2. In the front of the binder, put your Week Schedule and your Monthly Calendars.  

3. Under each divider, put the syllabus for that class, any assignment lists, any Project Planner Sheets or lists, and any other important information relevant to that class. 

TIP:  Keep your binder in your backpack so that you always have it with you at your classes and when you do your homework.

You can use the binder to keep your homework for in-person classes. 

What you need for Part 2

To-do lists are a list of tasks that an individual needs to complete or accomplish. 

Tasks are typically put in order by priority or importance. A to-do list can be written on a piece of paper or by utilizing task management software. Items on the list can pertain to one's personal or professional life. 

https://www.g2.com/glossary/to-do-lists

Having and using to-do lists can be crucial in successfully completing tasks and requirements. 

You may already have to-do lists that you use.  If they are working for you, keep them or modify them to include the needs of your schooling.

Below are suggestions of different ways to create and use to-do lists. 

Whether you use weekly or daily to-do lists or use both, they will combine your tasks for the upcoming week and a half from your syllabus, assignment sheets, your class notes, and your monthly calendar into one easy-to-use sheet.  

  This is when you determine what you will study and when.

If you are using a computer or phone app, you can use a task list or whatever is part of the program you are using.

If you want to use paper, there is a weekly homework schedule at the bottom of this page that can be printed.  You also can check the internet for examples. 

You can use separate task lists for personal and school or combine both into one list. 

If you are only using daily to-do lists, create them at the beginning of the week for the entire upcoming week and a half. 

You will need:

• Weekly Planners (paper or on your phone or computer)

• Your Binder

  • The syllabuses &/or assignment lists for your classes 

  • The calendar page for the month 

  • Your Week Planner 

1. Calendar pages, syllabuses, assignment lists, etc:  Look at the next week and a half to see what will be happening (ex., appointment, test/quizzes, project components, etc.) and what else need to be done.

2. Weekly and/or Daily Schedule (paper or computer/phone app):  Thinking of the times listed on your Week Schedule, enter the tasks you need to do on the appropriate days on your weekly and/or daily schedule.

3. (Optional) If you want to keep your personal/family tasks separate for your school tasks, use different task lists and make sure that you look at both throughout the day. 

• Move tasks that could not be done onto another day, checking your Week Schedule to see which day will be best. 

• Congratulate yourself for what you have done!

Below are pages that provide more information on topics associated with time management.  

Links to Self-Help Videos are included.