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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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An after-school routine to help kids and parents beat homework stress

Back to school can be a difficult transition for many families , but even more challenging for some is the return to homework — for both kids and parents.

A new survey from Office Depot finds that nearly 25 percent of parents think their children are given more homework than they can handle, while four in five parents said they have struggled to understand their kids’ homework. Additionally, the survey found that nearly 50 percent of parents would opt their child out of receiving homework in at least one subject area, while one in three fessed up to having finished their child’s homework for them.

“We were surprised to find that nearly one in three parents admitted to completing their child’s homework for them at least once,” says Natalie Malaszenko, SVP, eCommerce for Office Depot. “We can only speculate, but parents might feel compelled to complete their child’s homework to help minimize their child's stress: 50 percent of parents reported their child has cried due to homework stress. Minimizing arguments could also be a factor since nearly 40 percent of parents argue with their child about homework at least once a week.”

Though some schools are banning homework , partly in response to growing research around the potential harm in overloading children , homework is still the law of the land for most school-aged children.

How can young kids and parents tackle after school assignments without any arguments or meltdowns? We spoke with a number of experts to build an optimal routine for getting homework done.

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Make it predictable.

Having a routine around homework is half the battle, suggests Joanne Ketch , a psychotherapist who has also served as an assistant principal and school counselor at a college prep private school in Texas.

“Make it predictable, preferably in the same place and at the same time each day,” says Ketch. “This routine trains the brain to prepare for homework and study, and the brain will begin to anticipate the activity and gather and prepare itself to be in the best mode for study.”

Emily Denbow Morrison , a high school English teacher adds that “when we make doing homework less of a decision and more of a natural habit for kids, they are far less likely to put it off.”

It’s been a long time since most of us revisited algebra, geometry, or the fall of ancient Rome, and even if it hasn't been that long, who says we understood it the first time?

Emily Denbow Morrison

Set up an organized, distraction-free space

An environment conducive to your child’s productivity is key. Denise L. Merchant , a former special education director and founder of Seeds of Advocacy , an education consulting firm, suggests that parents secure “quiet, clear from distraction space”.

“Make sure that there are appropriate utensils for the child: rulers, paper, erasers and pencils and whatever other instruments may be required,” says Merchant, adding that parents should also consider lighting, temperature and noise.

Whether it’s a desk in an office or in the living room, the same principles apply: “Make sure the surfaces are clean and there is a spot to place a notebook, laptop or whatever is necessary to accomplish the work,” says Rachel Rosenthal , owner of Rachel and Company, a professional organizing firm. “If the work is being done on the kitchen table, create a system that is easily transportable when dinner needs to be served.”

Take five for mindfulness

Before embarking on homework, Susan Crooks , a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at South Carolina Connections Academy recommends taking a few moments to relax and refocus.

“What if parents began a homework session with a five-minute mindfulness practice ?” she asks. “Even taking three minutes to settle the mind and breathe in and out can really help set the tone to begin.”

Map out a homework schedule on paper

“I tell parents to first sit down with their child and map out a homework schedule or an agenda on paper,” says Jennifer Hovey, owner of Huntington Learning Center in East Boise, Idaho. “Mapping out all the assignments and projects help students visually see what needs to be done and will naturally relieve anxiety. The assignments that are due soon are higher priority than the projects that are due further down the road. Tackling those high priority assignments will bring momentum and confidence in being able to tackle the assignments that are due later.”

Putting this schedule on a paper planner and not a digital device is key.

“Paper planners are crucial,” says Leighanne Scheuermann , a reading and learning specialist in Texas. “We know that physically writing down assignments and goals makes us all much more likely to keep track of them.”

Put small pieces together to add up to bigger projects

“Projects that have longer due dates and more components, like a book project for younger students or science experiments or research papers when your child gets older, can sometimes be overwhelming,” says Emily Levitt , VP of education at Sylvan Learning. “Break the projects into smaller pieces, showing your child the benefits of breaking out responsibilities over several days or weeks. The projects will be more manageable and also likely lead to higher grades — as there will be more time to review the work and make important adjustments.”

Should they tackle the easiest or toughest task first? It depends

As adults, we might find that tackling our most dreaded tasks first can help us conquer all the to-dos on our list and enhance our productivity , and this same approach can work with kids.

“Remember that we have a limited resource of time, attention, and energy. It's human nature to put off tasks we do not wish to do, and in organizing homework order, students often put off doing the task they least enjoy, but from a productivity standpoint, doing that task first conserves and manages energy best,” says Ketch. “The student will have a better chance of having sufficient energy to handle the subject matter that comes easier to them whereas if they put off the harder to them subjects (a natural reaction when under stress), they will have less energy to handle the toughest subjects and that increases stress.”

But Levitt actually recommends the reverse.

“Encourage your child to start with an assignment that seems easy,” says Levitt. “The feeling of accomplishment and confidence that results from getting one thing out of the way helps the homework session stay positive. Then, moving on to more complex work will be easier.”

It really depends on your child and their preferences, so your best bet is to try it both ways and see which works better.

Give your kid a brain-fueling snack

“Provide a healthy snack before homework or study time,” says Amanda Reineck, MSW, clinical utilization manager for Embrace Families . “Focus on brain-fueling options like a smoothie , hummus and vegetables, nuts and whole grains.”

New grade, new challenges? Talk it out and ask these 7 questions

It’s the start of a new school year, making now an ideal time to “sit down with your child to set expectations and prep [them] for what’s coming,” says Levitt.

You might also want to ask your young child a set of questions when they first sit down to embark on homework.

Dr. Gwendolyn Bass, the director of teacher leadership programs at the professional and graduate education arm of Mount Holyoke College, recommends asking the following:

• Before we even start the homework, tell me: how can I help you?
• Tell me what you did with this content/activity/book in school today?
• Do you like this problem-solving method/book/project? If not, what are you doing in school that you do enjoy?
• This looks different from what you brought home yesterday. Sometimes when someone gives me something new, I am afraid I won't be able to do it. Is that something you're feeling?
• What do you think the teacher wants you to get out of this assignment? How can you work with your teacher to make sure that you understand the homework?
• Just do as much as you can, and then let's make a list of questions you have about this assignment and you can bring them in to your teacher tomorrow. What are some of your questions?
• What can we do together when you're done with the homework?

Take breaks every 20 to 50 minutes

“Studies consistently show that studying in 20- to 50-minute segments is more beneficial than longer segments,” says Ketch. “Break briefly with something unlikely to distract in a way that will present a barrier. For example, walk a dog i nstead of check out Snapchat .”

Take note of the subjects/tasks your child struggled with and report to the teacher

“Write down the types of homework that really set your child into a tither,” says Merchant. “Share this information with your child’s teacher. There may be learning differences that warrant further discussions in order to get better, individualized support.”

If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 Accommodation Plan, Merchant recommends making sure your child’s teacher has implemented it appropriately. “If so, maybe it needs to be updated based on more current observations you will share with the teachers,” says Merchant.

Guide them to solutions, but don’t problem solve for them

“As a parent, it is natural to want to help your student when you notice them struggling,” says Dr. Kat Cohen , founder of IvyWise. “ Instead of taking over , encourage independent work habits as early as possible. If your child comes to you with a question about their homework, help guide them towards potential solutions instead of just feeding them then answer. This could be as simple as working with them to find the information in a textbook or handout that answers their question or working through a challenging equation step-by-step. Be sure to set clear homework boundaries: the assignments are your student’s, not your, and they need to take ownership of that as early as possible.”

Levitt notes that “One of the most important things parents can do for their child is give them the space they need to grow, and to give them a break when they need it so that their minds are open to learning.”

To ensure that you’re giving your child enough space, ease up on constantly checking that they finished their homework as they get older.

“Gradually take off the training wheels and give your child more independence,” says Levitt. “Stop checking on homework completion, especially as they approach the end of middle school.”

Be your child’s strongest advocate and line up resources that can help

Though this story is directed at parents who are usually helping their kids with their homework, please know that if you’re a parent who isn’t available during homework time, there’s no shame in that. The most important thing — and this goes for the parents who can be around every evening, too — is as Reineck says, “to be your child’s strongest advocate.”

This means compiling resources you can tap should your kid show signs of academic struggle.

“Who else among the family connections could be helpful for certain subject matters?” says Reineck. Build that support system and reach out to your kids teacher and/or the school counselor if needed.

Additionally, if you’re struggling with your child’s homework, cut yourself some slack. This stuff is hard!

“It’s been a long time since most of us revisited algebra, geometry, or the fall of ancient Rome, and even if it hasn't been that long, who says we understood it the first time?” Morrison reasons. “When children need more than parental motivation to get their homework done, parents can feel like it's their responsibility to reteach themselves the subjects their child is struggling with, [but] this isn't realistic. How can we tutor them in something we don't understand? We can't. But we can get in touch with their teachers, let them know our child is having a hard time, and ask who may be available to help.”

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Back To School

Hint: An after-school snack is never a bad idea.

When my oldest son started kindergarten, I was clueless about how to structure his after-school routine. Did he need to eat a snack immediately? Did he need to focus on homework or play? Should I limit screen time after school ? We needed a routine, but I had no idea where to start. I ultimately put a call-out on social media begging for my experienced friends to weigh in.

Any after-school routine should really be based around the needs of the individual child, says child psychologist Maureen Healy , and all kids need time to decompress after school. “The goal is to build that 'downtime' into the day,” Healy says, noting that kids need to “rest, relax, and recharge after a full day of school.”

Every kid is different and as they change and grow, their after-school routine may change as well. For example, elementary kids will still want time to play, while middle school and high school students may need to factor in school sports practices or part-time jobs later on.

After-school routine templates

These basic after-school routine templates below can help you put together the routine that works best for you and your family. They might look different day-to-day, so don’t be stressed if your routine is ever thrown off — because it will likely happen — but knowing generally what to expect is good for both parents and kids.

Preschool & kindergarten after-school routines:

• Nap or rest
• Free play (indoors or out)
• Family walk

Elementary school after-school routines:

• Extracurricular activities

Middle school after-school routines:

• Rest/quiet time (with or without screens)

High school after-school routines:

• Clubs, activities, part-time job
• Rest/quiet time

Whether you're home with your child after school or they're in the care of someone else, you can still find a way to make their routine work for them. Let the tips below guide you as you flesh out the details of your afternoon.

Prioritize food

My kids are always ravenous after school. Sometimes lunch periods are in the late morning and by pick-up time, they’ve worked up a serious appetite again. An immediate snack after school to keep energy levels up is never a bad idea.

While your kids might beg for something sweet to eat after working hard at school all day, Angie Weiss , the nutrition services director at Wichita Falls Area Food Bank in Texas, tells Romper that parents should encourage foods with energy-boosting qualities after school. It's tempting to reward kids for their hard work at school with a sweet treat, but Weiss says to reach for "less candy and more whole grains, veggies, fruit, and lean protein" to prevent late-afternoon sugar crashes.

Get homework out of the way

If your child dreads homework, you may choose to get it out of the way sooner than later. After they’ve fueled up with a snack and had a few minutes of rest, break out the books. With the whole evening stretching in front of them, they’ll be able to take their time and not feel hurried, which can take the edge off some of their homework stress.

Give them after-school chores

You don’t have to pile a lot of housework on their shoulders, but giving your child some simple tasks to do around the house can help build their sense of self-esteem. In fact, a Michigan State University study concluded that assigning children age-appropriate chores to complete daily can lead to a more balanced household, and leaves more time for parents and children to spend together.

Provide flexible free time

"I would build 20 to 30 minutes into your after-school schedule so they get to unwind and not rush anywhere," Healy says. "They may sit outside under a tree, play a video — depending on your family rules, take a nap, or play with their Lego toys, as examples. Of course, some children may need more time while others need less — but remembering that rest and restoration are essential to healthy development on a daily basis is an important part of intentional parenting."

Screens may play a role in your child’s after-school routine when it comes to free time. Expert advice varies depending on your child’s age and what type of screen time they will engage in, so it is up to you to decide what is best for your family.

My own kids have trouble focusing on homework if they don't have at least some free time after school. Even if it doesn't happen until after homework time, knowing they will have time to play or relax gives them something to look forward to after a long day at school.

Engage in organized activities

Participating in organized youth sports can provide "an emphasis on fun while establishing a balance between physical fitness, psychologic well-being, and lifelong lessons for a healthy and active lifestyle," a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine found. When you allow your child to participate in an organized activity after school, you're also giving them another opportunity outside of school to socialize with their friends and let off some steam after a long day of learning.

If an organized activity is too much for your family, you can reap similar benefits by letting kids play with their neighborhood friends once they're home, or having a quick game of catch in the backyard before dinner.

Take a walk

One thing that my own kids have really enjoyed having as part of our after-school routine is regular walks. Especially when the weather is particularly nice, they are just itching to get outside after being at school all day. They get to stretch their legs, breathe some fresh air, and bounce around to get their extra energy out.

Practice gratitude

"Parents who can invest — it's really an investment — five to 15 minutes per child every evening to establish a practice of gratitude or connection build a stronger parent-child relationship, which contributes to positive emotional health," Healy says. She suggests trying an exercise called ‘three good things’. "Every night, you name three 'good things' from the day," Healy says. "Some days are easy like ice cream, pizza, and puppy dogs, while other days are harder like having the ears to hear and arms to hug, but this is a positive practice for parent and child."

Another activity Healy recommends is "the 'rose and thorn,' where, before bedtime, you ask your child what his 'rose' or favorite part of the day was, and the 'thorn' which may be the most challenging moment. Of course, we want to focus on the rose, but also coach our child on how thorns exist and how to handle them, too."

Whatever after-school routine you create with your children, the key is figuring out what’s comfortable for you and your kids. Every family’s routine will look a little different, and that’s totally OK.

Studies cited:

Merkel DL. Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. May 31, 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3871410/

Sources interviewed:

Maureen Healy , child psychologist, author of The Emotionally Healthy Child

Angie Weiss , nutrition services director, Wichita Falls Area Food Bank

This article was originally published on July 30, 2019

THANKS FOR AN INCREDIBLE 2024 HAPPY MOM SUMMIT!

Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)

I’ve learned one major thing about picking my kids up after school.

I cannot – by any means – ask them in any sort of cheery voice, “How was your day?”

My nine-year-old daughter recently told me that for some reason that question produces this fiery rage inside of her. She can’t explain it, but it makes her so mad.

I asked my husband about it that night and he said that the question has too many expectations attached to it. If someone really wants to know about your day, they will ask you directly with no fake cheer.

The cheer places too much of a burden on having a happy answer in response and that’s all fake.

OK, I get it.

But then, I realize that the response to anything I ask my kids to do after-school is met with groans and whines.

Why? Are your kids like this too?

After a long day of being told exactly what to do:

where to sit…

how to talk…

the right way to hold a pencil…

I can see how more demands can push anyone over the edge. Especially, when the person making those demands is mom – the safest person to explode around.

Getting through the after-school grumble

Here’s where previously set expectations work perfectly. And you can do this super easily through an after-school checklist.

A checklist can help with:

• Homework organization
• After school chores
• Emptying out lunch boxes
• Making sure kids get a snack

All wonderful things.

But first, a quick word of warning:

The Same After School Checklist Won’t Work on every kid

The book, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, dissects what it takes for normal people to achieve extraordinary feats.

But you and I, can use this research to help our kids transition from school time to home is the easiest manner possible.

Have you heard of chronotypes?

You’ve probably heard them referenced in the phrases “night owl” and “early bird”. They are not urban myths, but documented real types of people.

It’s based on whether you function best early in the morning (a lark) or late at night (an owl).

When we design our kids after-school routine, or even their schedule in general, they will function best if their chronotype is taken into account.

Is my kid a lark or an owl?

To determine your child’s chronotype, or yours, Stulberg and Magness suggest you ask these questions:

• If you had complete control over your evening with no reason to wake up early, what time would you go to sleep?
• If you have to do 2 hours of hard work, when would you like to do it?
• If you have to take a 2-hour school test that you know will be hard, when would you choose to take the test?

Making the After School Checklist

Now, we get into the good stuff.

My two kids are complete opposite chronotypes – my daughter is an owl while my son is a lark. While my daughter will complete most, if not all or her tasks immediately after school, my son chooses to leave some things for the next morning.

Which is fine because he usually wakes up at 5:30am EVERY SINGLE morning.

They can still use the same after school checklist, but don’t need to complete it at the same time.

First, we sit down and brainstorm together exactly what needs to be done after school.

Do this step with your kids so that they have ownership over the process.

Some ideas are:

• Unpack backpack
• Take out homework folder and box
• Do homework in kitchen/ office/ desk.
• Check homework with mom/ dad/ grandma.
• Change out of school clothes
• Do homework
• Make lunch for tomorrow
• Count supplies in homework box and put backpack

Notice that you want to not only designate what you want done but also how you want it done.

• If your child needs to do homework, where should she do it?
• If he needs to have his homework checked, who should he check it with?

Your perfect after-school checklist

I’ve created an after-school checklist absolutely free for you to download   RIGHT HERE.

The best thing is that it’s completely editable. So if some of the items don’t apply to your family, simply change them and print yourself a new copy.

GRAB YOURS RIGHT HERE!

Your after school routine can be so much easier! All it takes is having a set procedure for kids to complete when they get home. An after-school checklist helps with that.

And if you want more help with homework and after school organization, check out:

• 3 Steps to Create an Awesome Bedtime Routine For Your Kids
• 6 Genius Ways to Wake Up Kids For School without Yelling
• The one tip you need to master your kid’s homework organization

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CEO/Founder at No Guilt Mom

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• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Enjoy Homework

Last Updated: April 19, 2023

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. This article has been viewed 52,263 times.

Homework can often feel stressful and boring. Unfortunately, if you're in school it's a part of life. If you consistently dread doing homework, you should look into ways you can enjoy the task. This way, school will be more pleasant for you overall. You can start with subjects that interest you, give yourself breaks and rewards, and work on changing your mentality regarding homework in general.

Planning Homework Time

• It may help to take a few days to measure your natural ebb and flow of energy. You may find that, during late afternoon, you feel a sudden slump in energy. However, as it gets closer to the evening hours, you may suddenly have a boost in energy. Therefore, instead of doing homework after school, try to do your homework after dinner each night.
• You'll feel happier and more productive if you're studying during a time when you're experiencing a peak in energy. Homework will seem to go by faster, and you will not struggle as much to concentrate.

• You can alternate between subjects you like and dislike. This can help give you motivation while moving through subjects that bore you. For example, if you love science but hate history, do half of your science assignment, then half of your history one, and then return to science.

• Even small changes can make homework time more enjoyable. You could, for example, move your desk near the window. Natural light may lead to a more calming environment, and you can occasionally look up and enjoy the view.
• You can also think about studying outside the house. If you love hanging out at a local coffee shop, try doing your homework there. You can get a latte or a coffee as a treat as you move through your homework.

• You may have to experiment with different songs. Some songs may be distracting. If a song makes you want to get up and dance, for example, it may not the best to include on a homework playlist, as you will lose focus in your homework. Some people find that classical music is very helpful when studying.
• Not everyone can concentrate with music in the background. If you find music is making it harder for you to study, you may want to nix the playlists and focus on other means to enjoy your homework.

Giving Yourself Motivation

• Good examples of what to do during your breaks are taking walks, meditating, stretching, or getting yourself a snack.
• Many people find it's most effective to work in short spurts. You may want to plan to work in half hour to 45-minute intervals, for example, and then take a 5 to 10-minute break.
• Be careful with breaks, however. Make sure you time your breaks wisely so they don't end up running over. If you allow yourself a 10 minute Facebook break every 40 minutes, set a timer on your phone to make sure you do not end up procrastinating on social media for hours.

• Be careful who you include in a study group. While you want to be able to enjoy yourself, you also want to get work done. Choose people who are serious enough students that you won't end up distracted all night.
• Together as a group, you can brainstorm ways to have fun. For example, you can agree you'll do homework in silence for 40 minutes and then take a 15 minute break to chat.

• Be careful, however, not to do sloppy work. If you're trying to break a record, you may speed through your homework. Strive to work efficiently rather than quickly.
• Talk to your parents to see how the topic your studying may affect them in the present day.
• Be careful not to get distracted in this extra research or you’ll lose focus on your homework. Set a timer for yourself so you don’t spend too much time doing it.

Changing Your Mindset About Learning

• It can help to make a to-do list. Your studies are items you can check off the list, allowing you to relax and unwind. You'll also feel a sense of achievement with each item you check off your list.
• Stop and think about what you've accomplished when you finish your homework. Try to feel proud of yourself for getting your work done. You'll learn to work towards this sense of accomplishment in the future.

• If you dislike your writing assignments, pause and consider how good writing skills can help you get a job. If you dislike your computer class, try to keep in mind that basic computer skills will be important in college and the working world.

Expert Q&A

• If you have a friend who's a serious student, ask him or her for tips on how to make homework fun. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are reviewing for a test, review it for 15 minutes then give yourself a break. Go back to studying for 15 minutes and then take another break. This method can help you to process the information, which in the end should result in better results! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/how-to-enjoy-studying-flow/
• ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/studying-fun.html

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Building An After-School Routine to Balance Homework, Fun and Rest

August 27th, 2020

When you’re a kid, one of the sweetest sounds in the world is the dismissal bell at the end of the school day—or perhaps the call-end chime signaling the close of the day’s last video call. But what happens next?

After school ends, kids may have hours of free time on their hands, and that can be hard for a young person to manage. Routine can help structure their after-school time to ensure they fulfill their responsibilities; spend quality time with family members; and take care of themselves physically, academically and emotionally.

Particularly at a time when so much of what kids may normally look forward to looks so different, it’s important to support them with a routine that helps them stay inspired, not overwhelmed.

So how can you structure your kid’s after-school time to make it efficient but not a total drag? By finding the right scheduling combination while also listening to their needs and feedback, you can strike a good balance. In short, structuring after-school routines can take a lot of pressure off everyone and help home life run more smoothly.

Make the Most of Free Time

Getting your kid into a daily routine can build a feeling of normalcy that makes them feel safe and comfortable. It also helps them make the most of their free time while teaching important time-management skills.

To get started, consider whether the schedule will be time-oriented or task-orientated. The former blocks chunks of time to give guidance on the priority at any given moment, while the latter focuses on a list of must-do tasks.

While some kids—particularly those who are younger or who need more structure—may benefit from a more prescriptive routine at the beginning, giving kids more agency in this process is a great way to build skill in prioritization and decision-making. With a task-oriented model, you can then let your kid decide when to do each task on their list. Within reason, allow them to make their own choices around when to tackle a task and how much time they’ll need to do it.

No one expects their kid to be able to make this kind of decision for themselves every single day without some direction, and there are bound to be some mistakes . But when they can say for themselves, “I think I’ll do my homework now and get it out of the way,” it shows they are becoming more responsible. And for any parent, that’s a beautiful thing.

When you have your framework, it’s time to make it visible. Find somewhere to post your child’s schedule or list. Whiteboards are great for this, since items can easily be checked off or edited.

Finally, it’s important to remember that kids need time to rest and decompress. Allow your kid to have some time to chat, have a snack or just goof off—particularly right after they finish school for the day. When they’ve have had enough rest and have gotten their second wind, you’ll definitely know. Then it’s time to decide how they’ll use their newfound energy before dinner and bedtime.

When to Do Homework

Homework is priority #1 in just about any after-school routine. Doing homework teaches kids responsibility and helps them practice the things they’re learning at school.

Do you tell your kid when to do their homework, or do you allow them to choose? A lot of parents think it’s best to get homework out of the way and want their kids to do it as close to the end of the school day as possible. Teaching kids to get work done sooner rather than later can show them the benefits of not procrastinating.

On the other hand, this can be mentally draining on a kid who needs some time to recharge. This is why some parents allow playtime or other fun, restful activities right after kids wrap up. They may opt to save homework time for later, like the pre-dinner window.

Ultimately, if your kid has the maturity and good judgment to decide when to do homework, let them. But if they aren’t there yet, giving them a set homework time can help them get used to homework. As time goes on and your kid gets used to doing the tasks they need to do after school, you can give them more flexibility.

“Me” Time & “Us” Time

Think about what other activities are important to you, your kid, and your family. You’ll want to set aside some after-school time to spend together, whether that’s one-on-one or with the whole family. Some families like to do an activity in the evenings, such as play a game, watch a favorite television show, tidy the house or learn something new together.

And then it’s time for bed. While bedtime can get a bad rap, but it’s also a prime opportunity to teach kids about self-care. They may spend each night taking care of their hygiene, setting aside supplies for school in the morning, or choosing what to wear.

When it’s time to wind down before bed, nothing helps kids settle down like a good old-fashioned bedtime story. Younger kids might like to be read to, while older kids might want to wind down solo with a book they choose for themselves. Whatever the story, make sure it’s analog and say goodnight to screens a full hour before lights-out.

And of course, kids benefit greatly from a set bedtime. Whatever your process for creating a routine, kids’ bedtimes should be non-negotiable.

Fun You Can Count On

The school day looks very different for many families these days. With so much of the normal day looking anything but, a routine that keeps kids learning and playing is more important than ever.

At Galileo Online , parents and caregivers can find engaging online experiences that inspire pre-K – 8th graders to ignite their inner innovators.

From our awesome weekly club to summer and school break camps to customized parties, Galileo Online offers a whole range of easy, enriching ways to innovate from anywhere.

With single-session, week-long, and once-a-week options, you’re sure to find the right fit for your family.

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Easiest After School Routine Kids Can Follow Daily in 2024

By: Author Teresa

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2024

Categories Free Printables , Organization

Is your life chaotic after school and it’s stressing you out? Don’t worry you can fix this with an easy after-school routine that will work for you. You’ll be amazed at what a difference adding a daily schedule for kids can make.

You’ll find the best after-school routines are ones that let your kids decompress after school but also ensure kids get all their tasks done. A great way to do this is to create a mix of screen time, free time, family time, after-school activities, and homework time. It’s a balance that sounds hard to find but you can do it don’t worry.

I’ll go through everything for you to consider when you’re creating your own after-school routine so you can make a stress-free daily routine that works for kids and parents.

I know it sounds overwhelming but it really is easy once you know how to do it and find a plan that works for your family.

Plus you’ll get our free printable After School Checklist and homework assignments tracker to help keep you organized. So let’s get started and create the perfect after-school routine for you!

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How to make an after school routine that works for you.

There are so many things to consider when determining what you’re after-school routine will be. Such as your kid’s personality, what activities they’re in, and the best times to do their homework.

But don’t worry I’ll walk you through this so you can make your after-school time less stressful and enjoyable for everyone.

Make sure to read our Smart Back to School Organization Ideas & Hacks for Busy Moms to find more ways to get you organized and ready for the school year.

Why You Need an After School Routine

Less arguing.

Do you find yourself spending tons of time arguing about putting shoes away, asking where their backpacks are, and telling your kids to do their homework?

The best part of a routine is there is less arguing because everything they need to do is set and it just becomes part of their daily lives.

Sets Expectation

Your kids will know exactly what they need to do every day so you won’t have to nag them. Once you get the new routine going they will know they are expected to do things such as hang up their backpack when they get home and do homework assignments after dinner for example.

These routines will be set so there is no questioning or forgetting what needs to get done.

Consistency

The best way to start a new evening routine is to be consistent. This will help both parents and kids have consistency in their daily routine. You’re not asking them to do something one day and not asking them to do it another day. This is usually where the kids and you get upset.

Honestly, the consistency part can be the hardest part for parents to maintain. What I have found that helps me the most is posting a before school & after-school checklist on our fridge.

This keeps us all on track and helps the whole family stay consistent. I can just point to the chart and say “what do you need to do next”. This goes back to less arguing too!

Plus kids really thrive when there is consistency to their day and they know what to expect.

Want To Customize Your Before & After School Checklist? Create a checklist that matches your family’s needs with an Editable Before & After School Checklist .

The 11-page printable templates include pre-done checklists you can alter & blank checklists to create a totally customized routine for your family. Bonus it includes an editable chore chart too!

Keeps You Organized

Organization is the key to taking away the daily stress in your life with kids. When your kids hang up backpacks and put away their lunch bags you can easily find them in the morning. This helps make your morning routine less stressful too.

It also reminds everyone to go through their backpack to look for any school folders sent home or homework assignments the kids need to do. This way you are keeping on top of everything and not running around at the last minute to finish some project or fill out papers that were sent home.

Having a set time to do homework will also make things less hectic so kids aren’t trying to finish assignments at the last minute which tends to stress everyone out.

You can end that by sitting down at a certain time each night to go over their work even if it’s just 5 minutes to make sure everything is completed.

Creating Your After-School Routine

Now the question is what should I do after school with the kids? Let’s go through the after-school activities and what to consider adding to your daily routine.

At the end grab your FREE Printable After School Checklist or the Blank After School Checklist to make your own schedule.

First Thing Put Away Backpacks & Lunches

The first thing to do is get your kids in the habit of emptying their school bags and hanging them up after school.

Consider creating a DIY Backpack station or cubbies to store their backpack, coats, and shoes by the front door or in a mudroom. This way there is a designated spot to hang up their school bags and it sets the expectations for where they should go.

The kids should also make sure to take out any school folders they brought home or homework assignments from their backpacks. While also discarding unneeded papers they bring home.

Then I would suggest having the kids bring their school lunch bags to the kitchen. This will help you or the kids be ready to pack school lunches easily the next day.

If you consistently ask your kids to do this it will become routine and then you won’t even have to ask it will be just what they do after school.

Tip: Send funny Lunch Box Jokes with your kids to school once a week. They’ll love the surprise in their lunch box and sharing it with friends at the lunch table.

Healthy Snack

I don’t know about your kids but mine are starving after school. So once their backpacks are hung up it’s time for a healthy after-school snack .

A huge time saver is making your snacks ahead of time and having them ready in your fridge or pantry for the kids to grab. I know it sounds like a lot but I promise you it will make things smoother after school.

Plus it gives your kids some independence to pick out their own snacks from the choices you left for them.

See how I did it in my DIY Pantry Organization Ideas for Snacks & School Lunches .

Let Them Decompress with Free Play

After snack time let the kids have some free play. It’s a long day at school and they probably need some time to just relax and play.

This is when you need to decide if you will let the kids have screen time or not. I would suggest setting the precedent right when you begin your routine so there is no fighting about it later on.

Give the kids ideas of what they can do during free time such as play outside, build legos, do a craft, play a board game . Here are tons of fun indoor activities and outdoor activites for kids they’ll love.

If it’s back-to-school time have them color these cute & free back to school coloring pages .

I would suggest you try and balance out a certain amount of time to go outside or play indoor games with screen time.

Tip: You can set time limits on their iPads or pick specific shows so you can restrict the amount of time they spend on electronics.

Here’s a free printable Fall Bucket List to help you plan fun things to do with your kids all autumn long.

Do Your Homework Assignments

I find the perfect time of day that kids can best focus on homework is different for each kid. Some kids do better getting their homework done right away while others would prefer to have some time to play after school and get some energy out.

This might be something you have to play around with and see what works best for your kids.

They may be too wound up after school to settle down and do school work and playing outside after snack is a better option. While other kids might never get their homework done if they don’t do it right away.

Another thing to consider is what after-school activities you have this will play a role in when homework needs to get done too.

Get your homework organized with our free printable Homework Assignments tracker & checklist . It will make tracking what homework they completed easier for both kids and parents. 

Another great way to get your kids to focus is having a designated homework station . Create a place kids can just work on their homework without any distractions.

This could be the kitchen counter, kitchen table, or desk space in their room. I created cheap dollar tree homework areas for my kids to work and it’s been a huge help.

Daily Chores

As part of your after-school routine get your kids doing chores at home. It’s a great way to teach them some responsibility and help out around the house.

It can be as simple as making their bed or when they get older helping with the dishes and taking out the trash. Use our age-appropriate chore chart to give you some chore ideas to start.

Adding chores to your daily routine will help make it an automatic thing they do each day and not become something they dread doing each day.

Plus having each family member chip in at home will make it easier on everyone so you have time to relax at night.

Dinner & Family Time

Dinner time is different for each family with their work schedules and after-school activities. Figure out what time of day works best for your family to eat and adjust the rest of your after-school schedule around that.

For instance, if you like to eat early maybe your kids can do their homework after dinner. But if you tend to eat late they should probably get their homework done before dinner.

Having family dinners together is a great way to hear all about your kid’s day and connect with them. It’s getting away from screen time and just focusing on each other which is a really important thing for families.

Another great way to bond as a family is to plan a family game night . Try scheduling a game night at dinner time once a month and have a blast playing games together.

We love playing cooperative board games , detective games , and printable Escape room games on our family game nights.

If you have no time to plan use our Family Game Night Printable to get 12 Months of pre-planned printable game ideas, food ideas, prizes, and more. Everything is already planned for you so you can just relax and have fun together.

Reading Time

I always add reading time into our daily routine so that we don’t forget to do it. Reading is so important for kids of all ages but it can get skipped when we get so busy.

Making 20 minutes of reading part of your daily routine will ensure your kids create good habits for life.

We like to do our family reading time before bed so everyone calms down and relaxes enough to sleep. When the kids were little we would read to them and as they got bigger the kids started reading to themselves before bed.

If your kids are going to read earlier in the day make a comfy ready nook to inspire them to hang out longer and read. We made a cool DIY reading nook out of a recycled cardboard box. It was a huge hit!

So make sure to schedule reading time into your after-school routine.

After School Activities & Sports

The after-school activities and sports are what can throw off your daily schedule. But don’t let this stop you from creating a daily routine.

Your routine does not need to come with a set time you can just keep a general checklist of what you need to do each day. Then adjust that around your after-school activities.

Printable After School Routine

Make creating your after-school routine easier with our FREE printable after-school checklist & schedule . It has all these items we listed in an easy checklist format to follow.

Hang it up on your refrigerator and get started today.

Want to create your own routine for after school? Grab our blank daily schedule and create your own routine checklist.

Be Flexible With Your Daily Routine

You do not need to be rigid about your after-school routine. This is supposed to be something to help you and if it starts stressing you out that won’t be helpful either.

Use the checklist as a guide for after school but don’t feel you need to always do each activity in order or every day. Just do your best and figure out what works for your family.

Getting Your Kids to Do the Routine

This can be the trickiest part of starting an after-school schedule or routine. The best way to set your routine is to be consistent in what you’re asking your kids to do.

If you ask them to accomplish the same tasks every day then it will just become your routine. I think the first week will be the hardest while you’re changing your kid’s old habits. But once it’s set you’ll find it to be easy to keep up.

A great time to start these routines is Back to School or after a school break like winter break. But don’t let this keep you from getting started if you are ready just go and your kids will follow.

Are you ready now to get yourself organized and start your after-school routine? I am telling you it will make such a huge difference in your stress level with the kids after school.

Once you start your daily routine things will go so much smoother. Plus the after-school checklist will keep you focused on what everyone needs to get done.

If you enjoyed this article I’d love for you to become part of the Happy Mom Hacks community with our  weekly ENews.  My focus is finding ways to make a mom’s life easier and our newsletter is filled with ideas to help you.

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Mommy Minute: Tips for helping kids with homework

Homework can be stressful not only for kids but for parents as well.

To start off on a positive note, parents should check in with their child after school before getting out the nightly assignments.

“Kids are tired at the end of the day, so you want to make sure your child’s basic needs are met before beginning their homework. Are they hungry, thirsty or do they simply need a brain break,” explained Emily Mudd, PhD, a child psychologist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “Then, determine the best time of day for your child to do their homework, and keep in mind it may be different for each of your children.” 

Dr. Mudd said kids thrive when they have a set structure and routine, so it’s important to encourage them to start their homework at the same time every day.

It’s also helpful to have a dedicated space where your child can work and be productive.

Dr. Mudd said it’s best for kids to set aside cell phones and other devices when working on assignments.

Parents can use screen time as a reward after everything is completed for the night.

When it comes to intervening with your child’s homework, Dr. Mudd said parents can help with different assignments but should refrain from doing all the work.

“You really want your child to develop confidence and autonomy in being able to do their own work. Parents should wait until their child reaches out to them to say they need help with a certain problem,” Dr. Mudd said. “You want to create that relationship where your kids know you’re available during their homework time to help them when they need it.” 

Although helping your kids with homework can be stressful, it’s important for parents to demonstrate positive coping skills as a model for their children.

Dr. Mudd said parents can openly express that they need to take a break when they’re overwhelmed, engage in a relaxation activity with their child and then return to the assignment.

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The Rock Star You’re Ignoring: How Afterschool Staff Can Take Your Class to the Next Level

January 19, 2020

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Listen to my interview with Eva Jo Meyers:

When I was a teacher in New York in the late ‘90’s, the afterschool program at my school felt invisible at best, and annoying at worst. The afterschool staff were like shadows to me, vaguely showing up on the recess field as I dismissed my class, disappearing as I headed out the door. I don’t think I ever even knew their names.

When the program did catch my attention it was because of annoyances: having to vacate my classroom directly after school, the classroom being messier in the morning than I had left it in the afternoon, or finding classroom tools misused or ruined (like an expletive being scratched into the top of my prized classroom piano).

Ironically, when I left teaching, I began what would turn into a career in afterschool. My frustration at being unable to connect with teachers in my afterschool role was only paralleled by my embarrassment at how oblivious I had been when I was a teacher. I began to see that there were endless opportunities for teachers to work with afterschool staff; these partnerships and collaborations had the power to vastly improve the support available to students—and our school community as a whole. As part of the growing village around our children, I could see teachers’ potential to create a mutually beneficial relationship that dissolves the line between who is an “educator” and who is not.

When we break down the barriers between “school day” and “afterschool,” we are taking a giant step towards being in full service to our students and families. Here are few places to start doing just that:

1. Exchange Observations

One way to start bridging the school day with afterschool is to invite afterschool staff and leadership to observe and/or participate in your classroom. Likewise, classroom teachers could observe the afterschool activities. 

At one school I worked with, afterschool staff were invited by teachers into the classroom to lead the end of the day closing. This usually took the form of a check-out circle where students could share something they learned that day, something they were looking forward to the next day, someone who helped them, etc. It only took about ten minutes, but provided a seamless transition between adults in charge and helped establish connections between both students and adults. I have also worked with schools that invited afterschool staff to come in for a full morning or day to observe what their students were doing in the classroom. This helped open up conversations about teaching strategies, behavior systems, and classroom expectations, and even led to conversations on how to support specific students, with both sides contributing ideas. Afterschool staff may not always have the availability to do this, but without inviting them, they certainly won’t show up.

As a school-day teacher, you could ask to participate in the afterschool program for a day, an hour a week, or ten minutes at the start of each afternoon. If the afterschool program is putting on an end-of-semester performance or event, make an effort to attend. Students are proud to show off their talents in front of their school-day teachers. Anything to blur the line and share student time together works. 

2. Include Afterschool Staff in Teacher Events, Grade-level Meetings, and Celebrations

Is there a professional development day coming up for teachers to learn about a new curriculum or intervention system? Invite the afterschool staff to learn alongside you. 

The same is true for grade-level meetings. I have seen this type of collaboration be very successful. As teachers are planning out the themes for the year and mapping out what would be covered when, afterschool staff could plan enrichment activities that either front-load or reinforce concepts being taught in the school day. Since afterschool programs often have more flexible time, students can do art projects, science projects, and field trips related to the various topics being covered during the day. afterschool staff in this model become allies for learning, sharing common goals with teachers and supporting student development in fun and meaningful ways.

Similarly, inviting them to be part of school celebrations, like holiday parties, helps everyone get to know each other better and form bonds that can be hard to solidify in the day-to-day rush. If you have a list of teacher birthdays, add afterschool staff names to the list and celebrate them in the same way. 

3. Invite Afterschool Staff to Contribute Feedback for, and Participate in, Parent-Teacher Conferences

About ten years ago I launched a city-wide student dance showcase event for students from afterschool programs across San Francisco, and one of my favorite moments was when a school counselor who had decided to attend turned to me and said, “I wish all of the teachers at my school were here to see this. They would never believe how amazing [Martin] was.” He was speaking about a student who regularly struggled during the school day, but was shining in a highly skillful and choreographed dance number. 

Afterschool staff see another side of students, a side that isn’t always visible during the school day. Inviting them to contribute to parent-teacher conferences means that you will have a broader range of feedback to share with parents and caregivers. It may also open up some interesting conversations about why a student shows up differently in the two environments.

Let afterschool staff know in advance that you will be soliciting their feedback , and then provide them with a list of student names with space for their comments. Better yet, schedule a meeting where the two of you can go over the students you share in common and write down any observations from the afterschool staff. Best still, invite them to attend the actual conferences and provide feedback in real time!

4. Leave the Teachers’ Manual or Answer Key for Homework, or Provide Tips on How Best to Help Students with Your Assignments

School-based afterschool staff are often helping 20 students with their homework simultaneously; these students may not all have the same homework as they typically come from different daytime classrooms. With community-based programs, those 20 students could even come from multiple schools. Managing homework help is therefore one of the most stressful times of the day for both afterschool staff and students. This is compounded by parental pressure put on staff for students to finish their homework in the afterschool program. I have found that teachers sometimes express resistance to sharing this information, as there are concerns that afterschool staff will give students the answers. The point here is to help afterschool staff more quickly note what is to be done for the homework, and sometimes seeing the correct completed assignment can make all of the difference in a staff member’s ability to lead students in the right direction. As long as everyone is clear on the purpose for sharing the answer key, this strategy can be very helpful.

Better yet, join the afterschool program for an hour a week to provide targeted support. You’ll not only be helping your students, but can model what appropriate homework help looks like for staff who may be struggling.

5. Allow the Afterschool Program to Store Materials in a Corner of Your Classroom or Closet

I have seen it all: rolling carts, wagons, wheeled plastic crates. Each day afterschool staff scramble to set up makeshift learning spaces all over schools. In those lucky instances where they actually are given classroom access, they walk on eggshells to keep students from using materials which they normally have free access to during the school day (scissors, stapler, pencil bins). I have seen arguments about who “owns” these items, because, sad truth be told, often these things were purchased with teachers’ own money, and the teachers are rightfully worried about things being misplaced after school. But students don’t delineate or understand the boundaries between using materials during the school day or after school. The classroom dictionary is the same classroom dictionary at 4p.m. that it was at 9 a.m. If you don’t feel comfortable giving the afterschool program full access, at least help make it easier for their own materials to be stored and used. A shelf in your closet, a drawer, a corner to store a bin heavy with pencils and paper, anything you can do to help make their job easier is a small step for you, but a huge gesture to them. Ask them what would be helpful, what they need, and how you might be able to support each other in sharing space and materials. You might be surprised by their responses.

6. Recognize the Value of Afterschool Staff

While they may not (yet) hold a degree or have the same background in pedagogy that you do, afterschool staff often have deep roots in the communities they work in. And they tend to come from and look more like the population of students being served than the teachers sometimes do. This familiarity with the community is an invaluable asset, as they often understand the needs of students and families in ways that you may not. Honor that knowledge. Seek it out. 

Having trouble connecting with a parent? Solicit advice from the student’s afterschool teacher. Want more culturally and linguistically relevant projects integrated into your curriculum? I bet they have some fantastic ideas. Need help with a struggling student? They’ve got you covered. 

It is also important to remember that afterschool staff are the ones who are interfacing with parents at pick-up time, and they often have relationships with families that go beyond their school jobs. Recognizing and understanding this valuable contribution that afterschool staff make, especially if you do not live or come from the community in which you work, is the first step in building a more cohesive school experience for students. 

7. Advocate for More Funding for Your School’s Afterschool Programs so Staff Can Be Paid Better Wages  

Over the years I have grown more and more concerned about the inequity of afterschool program wages. Until we show that we value the contributions of afterschool staff by paying them a living wage, offering health benefits, paid time off, etc., any of our thank-yous and nods of inclusion or approval are just lip service. Far too often all we offer afterschool staff is a low hourly wage, sometimes less than the local fast food chain is offering, with far more responsibilities and demands. 

Bring this up with your school’s governing body, principal, and PTA. I have seen incredible shifts in staff retention and program quality when funding to afterschool programs increases. The meager federal funding (and local or state funding if you’re lucky) your school might receive is never able to cover the full costs of running a program. Sliding scale fees charged to families who can afford it can often help, but contributions directly from a school’s budget or fundraising efforts have the added benefit of demonstrating the school’s commitment to its afterschool staff and program.  

I hope this list offers concrete and manageable suggestions to integrate and support afterschool staff into the larger education ecosystem. It is simply meant to open up a conversation about where your afterschool program and staff sit in the larger picture of your student support network and expose potential blind spots. The most important thing is to start somewhere, even if that just means pausing to ask, “Hello, how are you today?” as you’re heading out the door.

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Categories: Podcast , Working Together

Tags: programs & systems

How I wish this was our middle school! As teachers, we have absolutely no say in the “babysitting” that happens after school. The staff are barely literature themselves and certainly cannot help the students. What a difference that would make to our students if after school care were viewed as a learning extension of the day.

Thank you so much for post and podcast episode! I currently work as a recess coach and after school educator. It has been a first step in my career change to becoming a teacher. I wholeheartedly agree with many of the key points made by Eva. Most of my coworkers are either looking to develop careers in education, and would welcome any opportunity to connect and collaborate with the teachers of our after school students. Especially when it comes to supporting them in homework completion, feedback on behavioral/academic challenges or concerns, and aligning our program with current classroom lessons, etc. I have reached out and developed relationships with several of my students’ teachers, and the collaboration has been very helpful for identifying concerns, sharing feedback/tips, etc. Loved this topic, thanks again!

Thank you so much for this post! I really hope all the teachers with blogs share this, because this is good and potentially transformative thinking.

We don’t have after school programs at the high school I work with, but we do have tutoring & testing centers & your advice about ways to be inclusive & collaborative with the knowledge we can all share to help students has me thinking 🙂 Thanks!

As someone who has spent time in both spheres, this post really resonates with me. After graduating college I spent a few years working full-time for a summer/after-school camp company. I then transitioned into classroom teaching, and now I’ve transitioned again to running our school’s extended-day program.

Something your post touches on that teachers would benefit from understanding is the difficulty of being viewed as a “transitory” program. A classroom teacher has the benefit of certain environmental control; after-school staff rarely have control that is anywhere close to a day-time teacher’s. Between unexpected meetings that force room changes, materials that get misused/moved (it goes both ways), the scramble when Johnny’s adult didn’t tell us that he was absent that day OR that he went home sick at 1 PM, and the fact that after-school programs are rarely told what happens with students during the day…it’s no wonder that these programs can seem chaotic and haphazard. Then the vicious cycle begins: chaotic programs don’t get the fiscal or growth support organized programs do, causing a shortage in fiscal and growth support that stymies the program and causes it to standstill or backslide.

None of that is to say that, given resources, all after-school programs would suddenly become 110% better. Since these programs are sometimes created as after-thoughts, certain programs are very unintentional. Think about common times when staff meetings/professional development takes place: after-school. How can after-school staff feel like a part of the community when they are excluded from community events? When are community expectations/school norms reviewed? Were the after-school staff present? Were they invited? Who told them?

Example: I taught in the upper-grades which utilized a different playground area then the lower-grades/after-school. I had a training with my staff (first one we presented) where we walked around the area and talked about certain common-sense items, like throwing sand and the maximum # of kids on the slide. Two months into school, one of my staff members was grumped at as they facilitated a game of wiffle-ball. The lower-grades had decided that hitting and kicking balls presented too large a risk to nearby windows. Teachers discussed it at a staff meeting, informed their students, and wanted to know why it wasn’t enforced in after-school. I don’t blame these teachers: we are expected to uphold school-day expectations in the after-school program. And how did we know this new expectation?

Intentionality in the after-school programs starts with, as in most cases, communication and collaboration. Thank you for this post, and I hope teachers use the points mentioned to start the conversation with their own after-school programs.

Thanks so much for sharing your insights, Kevin. You bring up some valuable points that I hope others will take to heart. Good collaboration definitely starts with effective communication and is required if schools and afterschool programs are to successfully partner with one another.

I know that we do have some after school programs and tutoring but I’m not sure how limited we are to some of these things. I know that we do have a couple of students that try to help out but on their time. I have met plenty of students that would love the extra time to learn so they can get better and succeed. More after school programs would be great for all schools and grades. They have to start somewhere..

I work for an afterschool program as a Paraprofessional and love working with the students. Our program helps with the children’s homework every night. We help so many children improve their math scores and improve their reading levels. We have a wonderful program at our school.

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5 Reasons Your After-School Practitioner Is Your Biggest Ally

After-school program staff are an untapped resource that can help support teachers and enhance learning and development for students.

After-school programs have changed dramatically over the last 20 years, and there are currently efforts underway to professionalize the field. The after-school practitioner, also known as an out-of-school-time (OST) practitioner, is a professional who works with children and youths within the context of an after-school program. While some after-school practitioners are certified teachers, many are not.

After-school programs are indeed distinct, but too often educators think of after-school as a separate entity rather than an opportunity for partnership and collaboration with the school day. It’s not uncommon for teachers to be unaware of what their students do after the final bell rings or who works in the after-school program at their school.

Stronger collaboration between teachers and after-school practitioners offers mutual benefits for both educators, while strengthening student learning and development. Here are five reasons why your after-school practitioner is your biggest ally:

1. They Do Homework With Your Students

The number one question working parents ask their kids when they pick them up from their after-school programs is typically along the lines of “Did you finish your homework?”

After-school programs dedicate time and staff to help students complete homework and often provide individualized support and coaching to those who are struggling with an assignment or subject. The quality of the support can increase, however, when practitioners know what students are working on during the school day.

If teachers build a bridge of communication, practitioners can help students navigate their homework and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. Furthermore, this can be deeply beneficial for students who are off track or are harder to reach during the school day. Try using this sharing tool with the staff in your after-school program for guidance.

2. They Are the Link Between the School Day and Home

The after-school practitioner may see parents or guardians daily when they pick their children up after work, opening up channels for communication and family engagement opportunities that teachers often do not have.

The after-school practitioner can serve as a bridge between school and home, relaying important information to parents while helping to them engage in their children’s education.

3. They Have a Different Relationship with Your Students, and That’s a Great Thing

Students need a village: The various adults in a child’s life all bring about something different in the child, which is essential to children’s healthy development. Because after-school practitioners tend to be younger and engage with students in a different context than teachers do, they are more likely to have a mentoring relationship with students. Oftentimes, practitioners are even learning and exploring alongside the students while providing critical coaching support.

“The staff member who creates the caring conditions within their group allows the youth to take risks, make mistakes, and have opportunities to lead,” says Anita Winkis, a former after-school program director.

And it is these experiences in high-quality after-school programs that have been shown to increase students’ attendance in after-school programs and during the school day. Teachers and after-school practitioners share a strong work ethic, unrelenting resolve and patience, and a dedicated heart. By working together they can make a real difference in students’ lives.  

4. Their Focus is on Positive Youth Development Strategies

Positive youth development strategies that support goal-setting and underscore characteristics such as grit and compassion link to key social and emotional learning (SEL) skills , which research proves contribute to classroom success. Positive youth development is foundational in character development, and it focuses on the strengths of the student while engaging them in experiences that interest them.

Most programs meet the needs of working parents while providing a rich environment for kids to develop their voice, build new skills, and engage in rewarding learning experiences.

5. They Want Your Students to Succeed as Much as You Do

Education and youth development are a dream team . After-school practitioners have the potential to be your support, your confidant, and your ally. They care deeply about the role they have in children’s lives and often say they genuinely feel their work matters and hope they’re contributing to whole child development. They may very well be an untapped resource that can give you support in ways you didn’t even realize you needed.

So what can you do? Start by identifying the after-school practitioners at your school and reach out. Talk to your principal. Build a bridge. You just might bring about meaningful change by developing new relationships that take you on new adventures.

Do you have any success stories? I would love to hear about them in the comments below.

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‘Back to school’ means anytime from late July to after Labor Day, depending on where in the U.S. you live

About 70% of the 46.7 million public school students in the United States are now back in class, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis. Depending on where you grew up or live now, your reaction might be, “That sounds about right,” “Already?” or “What took them so long?”

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to determine when public schools in the United States start classes. We collected school start dates for the 2023-24 school year from a nationally representative, stratified random sample of 1,573 districts.

To create this dataset, we began with a stratified random sample of 1,500 public school districts that was used in a 2023 Center analysis of school district mission statements (this analysis only covers “regular” public school districts and their equivalents; institutions such as charter schools and specialized state-run schools are excluded). That sample had been drawn from a comprehensive list of public school districts maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For more details for how that earlier sample was selected, read the methodology for that analysis.

We then supplemented that stratified sample in several ways:

• One district no longer exists and was removed from the dataset.
• Because school districts in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York City are classified not as “regular local districts” but as “component districts,” the initial sample missed them. So we drew an additional sample of 72 districts from those areas and added it to the original sample.
• The lone districts in Hawaii and Washington, D.C., neither of which were initially selected, were also added so that at least one district from all 50 states and the District of Columbia would be represented.

The data was weighted to account for each district’s probability of selection in both the initial and supplementary samples. Then it was calibrated so that both the weighted number of districts and the weighted number of students matched the totals for all eligible districts in the NCES list.

After these adjustments, we had a sample of 1,573 districts. For each one, we manually searched its website to find its 2023-24 calendar. If we couldn’t find a calendar (or a functioning website), we called the district office. In the end, we found start dates for 1,551 districts; the rest were coded as “no data.”

In most cases, districts had a single reopening date for all of their schools. When start dates varied, we used the date that applied to the most grade levels. In the few cases where we couldn’t determine that reliably, we went with the earliest reopening date on the calendar.

In some districts, certain schools may follow a “year-round” calendar rather than the “traditional” calendar (late summer/early fall to late spring/early summer). In those cases, we used the start date on the traditional calendars, since those were more comparable to the vast majority of U.S. school districts. As of the 2017-18 school year, only about 3% of public schools were on any type of year-round schedules , according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Teacher and Principal Survey.

Student enrollment figures are taken from the NCES database and are for the 2021-22 school year. In addition, each district was coded as belonging to one of the U.S. Census Bureau’s nine geographic divisions for regional analysis.

Some, but not all, U.S. school districts offer prekindergarten classes. Student weights for each district in the sample include pre-K students when appropriate, but start dates are based on grades K-12.

Information on the laws and policies governing school start dates in each state came from the Education Commission of the States , a nonprofit research organization that serves education policymakers throughout the country.

For most U.S. K-12 students, the school year runs about 180 days, spread over roughly 10 months with a long summer vacation. Within that broad timeframe, however, there are substantial regional variations, according to our analysis of over 1,500 public school districts. (The analysis only covers “regular” public school districts and their equivalents; institutions such as charter schools and specialized state-run schools are excluded.)

For example, school tends to start earlier in southern regions than farther north, broadly speaking. More than two-thirds of students in the U.S. Census Bureau’s East South Central division – Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee – went back to school the week of Aug. 7. They joined another 19% of students who had started classes earlier. In the West South Central division (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas), 94% of students returned to school between Aug. 7 and Aug. 18.

But in the six New England states, almost no one goes back to school before the week of Aug. 28. And students in the Middle Atlantic states – New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – go back even later: About three-quarters won’t hit the books until after Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 4 this year.

Even within regions, districts in the southernmost states sometimes start classes earlier than those farther north. For instance, within the sprawling South Atlantic division, sampled districts in its southernmost states (Florida and Georgia) have similar start-date patterns to those in the East South Central region, while the division’s northernmost jurisdictions (Maryland, Delaware and D.C.) more closely resemble districts in regions up north.

Some states stand apart from the overall trends in their region in other ways. In the West North Central region, for instance, roughly two-thirds of public school students start classes between Aug. 14 and Aug. 25. However, Minnesota law requires schools to start after Labor Day in most cases, and the vast majority of sampled Minnesota districts will go back after the holiday.

In the Census Bureau’s eight-state Mountain division, which stretches from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, nearly half of public school students overall return to school between Aug. 14 and Aug. 25. But almost all of the sampled districts in Arizona and New Mexico, the two southernmost states in that division, start one to three weeks earlier.

Why do start dates vary so much?

While such geographic variations are fairly apparent, the reasons for them are less clear. State laws certainly play a part: 16 states establish windows, either by statute or rule, for when school must start, according to data from the Education Commission of the States and individual state education agencies. But even in those states, the rules are fairly loose – merely requiring school to start before or after a certain date – and waivers for individual districts are not uncommon.

Contrary to popular belief, the school calendar isn’t a relic of the nation’s agrarian past . In fact, into the early 20th century, rural schools typically operated summer and winter sessions, with children working on farms in spring and fall to help with planting and harvesting. Urban schools, on the other hand, were open nearly year-round, though many children attended sporadically or for just part of the year.

Between roughly 1880 and 1920, urban and rural school calendars converged into more or less the pattern we know today, driven by factors such as pressure from education reformers, the high cost of keeping schools open year-round, the shift from one-room schoolhouses to age-graded education , and lower attendance in urban schools during the summer months (especially as family vacations grew in popularity).

Another possible explanation, for both the traditional calendar and the regional clustering of start dates, is “network effects,” in which a given standard becomes more useful as it’s adopted more widely. It’s easier, for instance, for a school district to recruit teachers from neighboring districts if those districts are on similar schedules.

School start dates could vary even more in the future with climate change. Some education experts predict hotter temperatures may force districts to adjust their start dates or times , especially in places like the Southwest, if schools can’t update air conditioning systems or make other accommodations.

Note: This is an update of a post originally published Aug. 14, 2019.

About 1 in 4 U.S. teachers say their school went into a gun-related lockdown in the last school year

About half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction, what public k-12 teachers want americans to know about teaching, what’s it like to be a teacher in america today, race and lgbtq issues in k-12 schools, most popular.

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• By Timur Zarudny

Name:  Timur Zarudny

Profession:  Editor and director

City: Khabarovsk

How long have you been doing photography?  From 2014. Basically I shot documentary movies.

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for?  Khabarovsk is a Far Eastern city located 30 km from the Chinese border. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East after Vladivostok. The population is about 600 000. 

What are some things that only locals would know about the city? Khabarovsk is featured on the R5000 banknote. Property prices are very high here, close to Moscow or St. Petersburg. 

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city?  The Austrian Prisoners of War Memorial near the central bus station; The Museum of Local Folklore; illustration of Malchish Kibalchish, the hero of a Soviet tale, near the mental hospital; the Central street, laid down at the end of the nineteenth century, lined by red and black brick buildings.

Website:   www.niceandeasy.me

Instagram: @ timocamillo

Photo credit: Timur Zarudny / @timocamillo

Tags: Russian Far East khabarovsk

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Khabarovsk, Russia

You are here, about khabarovsk.

Khabarovsk is one of the most significant and beautiful cities of Russia's Far East. It stands on the right bank of the Amur River along the scenic Trans-Siberian railway and almost touches the Chinese border.

The city of Khabarovsk played a crucial role in East - Russian history and is famous for its historic sights, monuments of architecture of different eras, religious buildings, lovely parks, gardens, and artificial lakes which surprise its visitors with impressive fountain shows.

Khabarovsk History

Founded in 1858, the city is now loved by Chinese travelers and those who are going on iconic train journeys along the world's longest railway from Siberia. After days of relentless taiga, people reach this vibrant city with multiple attractions, plenty of historical sights from the tsarist-era, and a number of places to try traditional Russian cuisine. Khabarovsk is indeed a charming city that deserved to be on your travel itinerary. Especially, if you are the legendary Trans-Siberian is on your travel radar.

We suggest beginning your Khabarovsk tour from the famous monument erected in honor of Nikolay Muravyov - Amursky, one of the best-known explorer of East Siberia, a general, and the founder of the city.

Continue your Khabarovsk trip with a riverside walk along the picturesque Nevelsky Embankment and pass through the third tallest church (35 feet) in all Russia - Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral standing on top of a hill. Take in the spectacular location and view of this Cathedral and its classic golden domes, dominating the city skyline and being visible from a large distance.

Your Trans-Siberian itinerary would become even better if you include a visit to the famous Khabarovsk Bridge as well. The railway bridge goes over the Amur River and is considered to be the longest bridge on the Trans-Siberian route.

Best Things to Do in Khabarovsk

• Stop by the Nikolay Muravyov - Amursky monument
• Visit the gorgeous Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral
• Take a picture by the renown Khabarovsk Bridge over the Amur River

Top Attractions in Khabarovsk

The Kamchatka peninsula is perhaps one of the most beautiful locations in the world. With about 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active, the mountains dazzle visitors.

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Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/09/primary-school-offer-day-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/

Primary school offer day 2024: Everything you need to know

Parents of three and four-year-olds will soon find out what primary school has offered their child a place for the next academic year.  

The majority of pupils will be offered a place at one of their preferred primary schools, while most will be offered their top choice.   

Here, we explain everything you need to know about primary school offer day, from when you can expect to find out, to how to appeal a decision.  

When is primary school offer day and what time are school places released?   

Parents will find out which primary school has offered their child a place for September 2024 on  Tuesday 16 April.

The decision will be sent by the local council by either letter or email. Some councils allow parents to view their results through the admissions portal or system. Exactly what time the offers will be released varies by council.

How likely am I to get my first-choice primary school?  

We want parents to feel reassured when it comes to getting one of their top choice primary schools.

In 2023, 92.5% of families received an offer from their first choice of primary school and 98.3% received an offer from one of their top three choices.

At the same time, over 1 million additional school places have been created between May 2010 and May 2023, with many more in the pipeline.

What happens after I receive an offer of a school place?  

A parent or carer must formally accept the offer by the given deadline. This is usually set through the local authority’s admissions portal or system. You’ll receive details of next steps with the offer.  

Can I appeal a primary school placement decision?  

If you’re not offered your first-choice school, you can appeal the decision . However, even if you're appealing a decision, we recommend accepting the offer your child did receive so that they have a school place if the appeal is unsuccessful. Accepting another offer won’t affect your appeal or limit other options available to you.  

Parents or carers who want to appeal a decision should first contact the school’s admission authority, which is responsible for organising the appeal panel. Parents and carers can find their school’s admission authority by visiting their local council website:  Find your local council - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .  

The panel is independent and will look at the case presented by both the admission authority and the parent before coming to a decision.  

The decision of the appeal panel is binding – if the appeal is upheld, the admission authority must offer your child a place at the school.  

Admission authorities and appeal panels must comply with the statutory School Admission Appeals Code, which is available  here . Guidance for parents on the admission appeals process can also be found  here .  

How are primary school places decided?  

All schools have admission criteria to decide which children get places. This criteria is set by the school or local council.  

While all state-funded schools must give top priority to admitting children who are in care or have been in care, admission criteria is  different for each school. They may choose to give priority to children:  

• who live close to the school  
• who have a brother or sister at the school already  
• from a particular religion (for faith schools)  
• who are eligible for the pupil premium   
• whose parent has worked at the school for two years or more  

Your  local council  can give you information about a school’s criteria.  

Why has my child not been offered a place at one of their preferred schools?  

Some schools will receive more applications than places it has available and unfortunately not every parent will be successful. Priority must be given to those who most closely meet the school’s specific admission arrangements.  

If the local authority is unable to offer a place at one of the parents’ preferred schools, it must offer a place at another school.  

In the unlikely event that a parent does not receive an offer of a place on 17 April, parents should contact their local authority for further advice.  

Can I join a waiting list for my top-choice primary school?  

You can add your child’s name to the waiting list for any school that you’ve applied for. You should still accept the offer you received and this won’t affect where you stand in the waiting list.  

Schools must keep a waiting list for at least one term. The waiting list will be ordered by the school’s oversubscription criteria.   

In some areas, your child will be automatically added to the waiting lists of the schools you ranked more highly. In others, you must ask to be put on the waiting list. Check the school admissions section of your local authority website to find out how it works in your area.  

You may also be interested in:

• Can I appeal a primary school offer
• How we are growing our 30 hours free childcare offer
• Everything you need to know about childcare support

Tags: free school places , National Offer Day , national offer day 2023 , primary school , primary school offer day , primary schools , school admissions , schools , when is primary school offer day

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Khabarovsk: The city on the 5,000 ruble banknote

A night view of Khabarovsk, the capital of Russia's Far East. Source: Lori/Legion-Media

Located at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri rivers, Khabarovsk (6140 kilometers from Moscow) is the second largest city in the Russian Far East after Vladivostok. Having grown from a small military post in the middle of the 19 th  century, the city got its name from the famous Russian explorer Yerofei Khabarov, who surveyed the Amur River. Currently Khabarovsk is the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District.

Where to go on a first date with the city

Source: Lori/Legion-Media

The city was founded by Count Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky and the main street is named in his honor. Modern buildings and shopping centers coexist with old stone houses of gray and red. A monument to this famous Russian statesman can be found in the city’s Central Park. This statue can also be seen on the 5,000-ruble banknote.

The best way to explore Khabarovsk is on foot, beginning at Lenin Square and working your way towards the banks of the Amur River. The two main boulevards, Amursky and Ussuriisky, run parallel to each other. The architecture on Lenin and Serysheva streets, with its mostly Stalin-era structures, differs from the beautiful pre-revolutionary buildings on ul. Muravieva-Amurskogo. The Amursky and Ussuriisky boulevards did not exist until the mid-1960s.

Source: Shutterstock/Legion-Media

Khabarovsk is not a typical Russian city along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The unusual fusion of Russian and Chinese cultures is felt in the food, culture and even lifestyle of its residents. Japanese touches complement this picture in the form of blossoming cherry trees and cars with steering wheels on the right hand side. That Khabarovsk has such a strong Asian influence should not seem surprising, as the city is located only 17 kilometers from the state border with China. The nearest Chinese settlement, Fuyuan, is 65 kilometers down the river from Khabarovsk.

Khabarovsk’s gem is its picturesque river embankment and the Amursky rail and road bridge, which is also depicted on the 5,000-ruble banknote. Just like the Eiffel Tower, this bridge won the gold medal of the World Exhibition in Paris in the early 20 th  century.

Khabarovsk's museums

Khabarovsk became famous during the Soviet period for a popular song about border guards that stand on the "high banks of the Amur" and protect the motherland. It is not hard to find old cannons on display in the city that were fired during the Russo-Japanese War.

At the present time Khabarovsk is the headquarters of Russia’s Far Eastern Military District.

The Military Historical Museum of the Far Eastern Military District depicts in great detail everything you ever wanted to know about the formation and development of the army in the Far East. Models of weapons from different years are exhibited over the museum’s 13 halls and heavy military equipment is placed in the courtyard of an observation deck. The museum itself is located in a historic building right on the bank of the Amur River.

The Far Eastern Art Museum, also known as the "Far East Tretyakov Gallery" features original works of ancient Russian art, as well as local artists from the Amur Region. Among the artists on display are Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Shishkin, Ilya Repin, Vasily Surikov, Isaak Levitan, Alexander Benois, Apollinaris Vasnetsov and Mikhail Vrubel. Many of these works of art came to the Far East from museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Khabarovsk Regional Museum holds collections of flora and fauna, ethnography exhibits of indigenous peoples and Slavic settlers, and displays by paleontologists and geologists that tell the city’s story from its foundation. The only archaeological museum in the Far East is the Okladnikov Museum, which features 120,000 ancient artifacts pertaining to the Amur Region.

For those traveling with children, Khabarovsk has special kid-friendly attractions including an aquarium featuring fresh water fish of the Amur River basin, as well as the Gaidar Amusement Park and the Khabarovsk State Circus.

Source: TASS/Alexander Savchenko

A living museum of Far Eastern flora can be found at the Khabarovsk Arboretum, established as an experimental laboratory in 1896. It has collected about 300 plant species that grow in the Ussuri taiga as well as those from the Himalayas, Central Asia and North America.

Khabarovsk is known for its parks such as Dynamo or Yuri Gagarin Park. The Central Park of Culture and Relaxation is perfect for taking leisurely strolls and leads to the river station located within the park, where you can take a boat ride on the Amur River. Especially memorable is taking a walk along the river at night, when Khabarovsk is illuminated by hundreds of colored lights. In the park there is also an observation deck that offers a spectacular view of the Amur.

The cultural center of the Far East

Source: RIA Novosti/Ruslan Krivobok

The oldest Orthodox Church in Khabarovsk is a Church of St. Innocentius  of Irkutsk, erected in 1870 in honor of the patron saint of Siberia and the Far East. The impressive Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (its height with golden domes is 95 meters), built from the donations of inhabitants of the region, is the third largest temple in Russia after Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Several major theaters operate in Khabarovsk, which is often called the cultural center of the Far East. These include the Khabarovsk Regional Musical Theater performing classic operetta and musical comedy, and the Regional Drama Theatre featuring international and domestic classics. There is also the Triad professional mime theater, which offers unusual performances in interesting interiors. 

Why you should climb the Khabarovsk cliff

Khabarovsk is hot and humid in the summer with temperatures reaching 30 C and cold and dry in the winter with the average temperature being -24 C. However, the temperatures often drop below -30, making Khabarovsk the coldest city with a population of 500,000 or more in the world. There are massive ice sculptures on Lenin Square from January until the spring thaw in April as part of the annual Amur Crystal and Ice Fantasy festivals. City Day, celebrated on the last Saturday of May, is a good reason to visit Khabarovsk at the beginning of summer.

No matter the season, if it is clear, then climb the Khabarovsk cliff (ul. Shevchenko 15), a true symbol of the city. A famous building was constructed here on a rocky promontory 70 years ago by an architect named Starikov. At first it was a station for military observation, later becoming a rescue station. After the building was transferred to Khabarovsk Central Park of Culture and Recreation, a viewing platform was added that now offers the best panoramic views of the Amur River. Take a selfie here with a view of the Amur River at the monument to Count Muravyov-Amursky.

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How to Get Your Homework Done Fast

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Staying Focused

Getting organized, staying motivated, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,151,836 times.

Doing homework can be both time-consuming and frustrating, and you probably want to do more with your free time than just homework. When you have a lot of work to do, it can be tough to work efficiently. By staying focused, organizing and planning, and motivating yourself, you can get your homework done in a timely manner and move onto more fun and exciting activities. But you should start with putting away all distractions such as your devices unless you need them.They are normally the main distraction. You should also work in a quiet place so you are not attempted to go and do something else. For example, you should not work near your TV because you will be tempted to go and watch it.

• Download website-blocking apps such as Freedom or SelfControl to stay focused while using your computer for homework. Some, such as the Chrome extension Strict Workflow, even have the added bonus of preventing you from cancelling the timer once it has started.

• If one subject or type of assignment is taking much more time than the others, you may want to ask for a little extra help in that area from your teacher or parent.
• If you get distracted or go off-task, don't make excuses for yourself. (e.g. "I won't be able to focus until I do this anyway." or "I'm sure it will only take a minute or two."

• Consider consolidating your multiple different subject folders and notebooks into one big binder separated by tab dividers. This way, all of your schoolwork will be in one place.

• Decide how much time you want to spend on your homework collectively.
• Make a list of all the different tasks you need to finish.
• Estimate how much time you’ll be able to spend on each task to finish your homework when you want to.
• Work straight through your list and cross tasks off as you go. [7] X Research source

• A ten page essay that’s due in a week that you haven’t started should be labeled an “A” or “B” while a short five question worksheet due in three days may be labeled a “C”.
• Make sure you don't wait until the last second to get assignments done.

• Try eating celery sticks and apple slices with peanut butter.

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Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

• Wear something very comfortable while you work. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Make sure to hand in all assignments on time. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Try using a planner to help you remember the tasks that you need to complete. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• If you set a timer, it can motivate you to get your homework done more quickly. Be sure to take a 2-5 minute break in between. For example, if you're going to do an assignment that you expect to take 30 minutes, set a timer for 15 minutes. Take a 2-minute break when the timer goes off, then set your timer again for 15 minutes.
• It can be good to have friends over if they help motivate you and are interested in getting their homework done quickly as well. They might be a distraction at times but it can also be easier to work when there are people around you who are working too.
• If you drink something cold during your breaks it can help make you more alert so that you'll finish faster. It might also help to do it at night rather than during the day so you feel more time pressure.
• Try to get your homework done as much as you can in school. You could do it during a flex or study hall. If your teacher gives you time in class to work on it, use it.

• Take your time. If you rush through your homework and don’t try your best, you might end up getting a bad grade. Thanks Helpful 176 Not Helpful 19

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• ↑ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creating-ideal-homework-environment-for-kids-with-adhd-0913164
• ↑ http://info.achs.edu/blog/never-do-homework-in-bed-3-reasons-why
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/homework.html
• ↑ https://ofy.org/blog/homework-hacks-8-tips-get-done-faster/
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.

About This Article

To get your homework done fast, work in a comfortable, well-lit area that doesn't have any distractions. Also, try setting a timer with however many minutes you want to finish your homework in so you can glance at it as you work and see if you're spending too much time on something. You can also make a to-do list before you get started so you don't waste any time figuring out what you need to be working on. To stay motivated, have a snack and some water nearby, and reward yourself with a fun activity once all your homework is done. To learn how to get organized so it's easier to do your homework, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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In Russia’s Far East, a New Face of Resistance to Putin’s Reign

As the protests swell in the city of Khabarovsk, 4,000 miles from Moscow, residents who had never before found a public outlet for anger are becoming activists.

By Anton Troianovski

KHABAROVSK, Russia — Valentin Kvashnikov, a construction worker and recovering heroin addict, lives near the railway depot in a wooden shack, with a plastic trash can in the corner that serves as his toilet.

But he has risen from obscurity into a celebrity in far eastern Russia by helping to energize the antigovernment demonstrations that have gotten bigger and bolder in the past three weeks.

“It’s him!” a passing woman, Natasha Gordiyenko, said after she spotted Mr. Kvashnikov outside his house on Sunday, before unleashing a tirade of profanity against Russian officialdom.

The protests in Khabarovsk reached well into the tens of thousands over the weekend, establishing this distant city — some 4,000 miles from Moscow — as the site of the biggest popular challenge to President Vladimir V. Putin’s authority that a city in Russia’s far-flung regions has produced in his 20 years in power.

The protests have no leader and few concrete demands. But they have electrified a quiet city half a world away from the capital, turning apolitical residents into activists overnight and showing how quickly the embers of discontent over corruption, poverty and the stranglehold of Mr. Putin’s rule can ignite a conflagration.

“It’s not that there is something wrong with us,” said Elena Okhrimenko, a retired accountant, who has been protesting with homemade signs along with her husband, a retired truck driver. “We realized that there is something wrong with the country.”

The involvement of protesters from a broad cross-section of the city, an eight-hour flight from Moscow and only 15 miles from China, is a new kind of warning for the Kremlin. For years, large-scale protests have mainly been limited to Moscow and St. Petersburg, making them easy to dismiss as the work of an out-of-touch urban elite.

Yet the well of popular anger so far from the capital undercuts the Kremlin’s narrative of Mr. Putin’s Russia, which he has essentially ruled for the past two decades.

Mr. Putin won a heavily orchestrated referendum less than a month ago that rewrote the Constitution to allow him to stay in office until 2036. But many analysts have called the vote fraudulent, and while pollsters have identified rising discontent among Russians in recent years, the anger has never spilled into the streets with such force outside the nation’s biggest cities.

“For now, society doesn’t appear to be so radicalized as to storm the gates, if you will,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center, a research organization focused on politics and policy. “But from my point of view, that is only a question of time if the authorities are not able to see what is really happening in the country.”

Mr. Kvashnikov, long struggling with poverty and grousing at the state’s injustice, turned into a bullhorn-carrying cheerleader of protesters who have marched through the city each day since July 11 in defense of their popular governor, Sergei I. Furgal, who was arrested by the federal authorities this month.

The protesters gather in Lenin Square in front of the marble-sheathed hulk of the regional government headquarters — known locally as the White House — before spilling into the road for a three-mile loop above the sprawling Amur River.

Cars honk in support, drivers offer high-fives and marveling bystanders — the ice-cream vendor, the cosmetics shop security guard, the officer in front of the railway-company building — have their phones out to record the scene.

“I never believed our people were so united,” Mr. Kvashnikov said, describing the protests.

The protests have drawn their ranks from political novices like Elena Skorodumova, a 23-year-old kindergarten teacher’s assistant. On July 9, she was scrolling through a social media page devoted to local news and pets when she saw a post about the arrest of Mr. Furgal, the governor. In a sharp blue suit, Mr. Furgal was pictured being led away by a masked Federal Security Service officer in camouflage gear, a gloved hand pressing down on the governor’s head.

Ms. Skorodumova recalls that she got goose bumps from her anger. The “only way” to support the governor, she wrote in the comments, was to “go out in the streets.”

The arrest of the governor, on suspicion of having organized murders some 15 years ago, seemed to many residents a blatant power play by the Kremlin to get rid of a regional leader seen as insufficiently loyal.

Mr. Furgal, a former scrap metal trader, defeated the incumbent, a widely disliked ally of Mr. Putin’s, in the 2018 regional election. Then Mr. Furgal won over residents with a populist style that his staff assiduously documented on Instagram .

Officially dismissed by Mr. Putin last week, Mr. Furgal had highlighted how he set aside millions of dollars for school lunches, cut his own pay and put the governor’s yacht on the market.

More calls for protest over his arrest coursed through social media, often in the coded language of invitations for a stroll or “feeding the pigeons” in the central square.

On July 11, a Saturday, Ms. Skorodumova, the teacher’s assistant, packed sanitizing wipes and a toothbrush in case she got arrested and went to Lenin Square. She had never protested before.

Tens of thousands of her fellow residents also came. And they keep coming back.

Mr. Kvashnikov, the construction worker, found a wellspring of people who shared his disdain for Mr. Putin and what he sees as a system that enriches the few. He has scarcely enough money to eat, he said, and had been involved in criminal groups and done time in prison in an earlier life.

“You rabid dog, why don’t you deal with what is under your own nose?” he said of Mr. Putin. “Your people are hungry. Look at how your people live.”

Mr. Kvashnikov drew the attention of the many YouTubers livestreaming the protests by his almost daily attendance, his loud chants and his readiness to defy the police. In one widely viewed video , he can be seen shouting at a police officer that the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly. The crowd next to him starts chanting “We’re the ones in charge here!”

The crowds of demonstrators have grown for three consecutive Saturdays, with some estimates putting last weekend’s crowd at more than 50,000 — a spurt of spontaneous political activism that is rare in Russia.

Alyona Panteleyeva, 22, and her mother run a cramped sewing workshop and fabric store. She said she had never been involved in politics until one of her employees suggested producing face masks that say “I Am/We Are Furgal.”

For the past week, the workshop has been producing about 50 masks a day, and Ms. Panteleyeva said she was selling them at cost over Instagram and in her store. The first person who bought one, she said, paid in cash marked with a pro-Furgal slogan; such bills are increasingly in circulation in the city, she explained.

“I am sure that the protests will continue until the citizens get what they want,” including a public trial for Mr. Furgal in Khabarovsk, rather than in Moscow, she said. “We are fighting for the truth.”

Mr. Furgal’s popularity as a regional elected official is unique, so the Khabarovsk protests are not likely to be replicated elsewhere, the social scientist Sergei Belanovsky wrote recently . But they show an increased willingness to protest in response to any number of slights.

“Given the overall unfavorable economic and social situation, the reasons to protest keep growing in number,” Mr. Belanovsky said. “The fabric of the state has thinned, and to tear it requires less and less effort.”

Mr. Putin remains in control of the country’s powerful security services, and, though in decline, his approval rating stands at 60 percent . A major question is to what extent the Kremlin will be prepared to use force to put down protests — it has done so in Moscow but not yet in Khabarovsk. At one point on Monday, a sole police officer followed the column of roughly 1,000 protesters, apparently to keep the cars at bay.

Many protesters assume that some police officers sympathize with them. Analysts also say that the Kremlin seems to be hoping the protests will fade on their own, and the state media has largely ignored them. Meanwhile, the authorities seem to be putting pressure on some activists.

Late Sunday evening in Lenin Square, videos showed Mr. Kvashnikov haranguing a man in plainclothes who he said had threatened him, then being wrestled to the ground by other people in plainclothes; he was carried by his ankles, chest and elbows to a waiting police car.

Hours later, the authorities released Mr. Kvashnikov. Waiting video bloggers were there to record his walk from the police station. Mr. Kvashnikov had already let his fans know that he was taking a break from protesting, for his family’s safety.

“Don’t be afraid and keep at it, friends,” Mr. Kvashnikov said in a video message recorded on Sunday. “Most important, don’t abandon what we started together.”

Oleg Matsnev contributed research from Moscow.

Anton Troianovski has been a Moscow correspondent for The New York Times since September 2019. He was previously Moscow bureau chief of The Washington Post and spent nine years with The Wall Street Journal in Berlin and New York. More about Anton Troianovski