Introduction
As elementary students transition to middle and high school, they experience increased independence. This new freedom comes with greater responsibilities, such as taking ownership of their time and learning how to budget it effectively. Time management is a crucial skill that students will use throughout their lives, not just in school. In this blog post, we’ll explore useful strategies to help students better budget their time, a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills.
No-Prep Activity: The Time Allocation Game
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator and helps students visualize how they spend their time. Here’s how to conduct the Time Allocation Game:
- Ask students to think about their typical day and list all the activities they do, such as attending classes, doing homework, spending time with friends, and engaging in hobbies.
- Next, have students estimate the amount of time they spend on each activity per day.
- Then, ask students to rank their activities based on priority, with the most important tasks at the top of the list.
- Finally, have a group discussion about their lists, focusing on how they can adjust their schedules to ensure they’re allocating enough time for essential tasks and maintaining a healthy balance between school, extracurriculars, and personal time.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to budget our time effectively, especially as we transition to middle and high school?
- How do you currently manage your time? What strategies work best for you, and what areas could use improvement?
- What challenges do you face when trying to balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and personal time?
- How can you adjust your daily routine to improve your time management skills?
- What role can teachers and parents play in supporting students’ time management skills?
Related Skills
In addition to time management, there are other relevant skills that students should develop to be successful in middle and high school. These skills include:
- Goal-setting: Learning to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals helps students stay focused and motivated in their academic and personal pursuits.
- Organization: Keeping track of assignments, due dates, and materials is essential for staying organized and avoiding last-minute stress.
- Self-motivation: Developing the ability to stay motivated and persevere through challenges is vital for academic success and personal growth.
- Communication: Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, are crucial for expressing ideas, collaborating with others, and building strong relationships.
Next Steps
Time management is just one of the many skills students need to thrive in their academic and personal lives. To explore additional resources and activities that support the development of social-emotional learning skills, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. You’ll find a wealth of resources designed to help educators guide their students in building a strong foundation for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.
