Learning how to prioritize schoolwork can help students use their time more deliberately.

Start by Seeing Everything at Once

Students often prioritize based on whichever assignment they happen to notice first.

A better starting point is to create a quick overview of everything that needs attention.

This might include homework, projects, reading, upcoming tests, unfinished classwork, and assignments with specific deadlines.

Seeing the entire workload makes it easier to recognize which tasks actually require immediate attention.

Consider More Than the Deadline

A deadline is important, but it should not always be the only factor.

An assignment due tomorrow may need immediate attention, but a major test scheduled for next week may also deserve time today because preparing for it cannot realistically be completed in one short session.

Students can consider:

• How soon is it due?
• How much work will it require?
• How difficult is it?
• Does it depend on another task?
• Will waiting create more pressure later?

These questions provide a clearer picture than simply sorting assignments by date.

Estimate the Size of the Task

Not every assignment deserves the same amount of time.

A short worksheet might take twenty minutes, while a research project could require several separate sessions.

Students can make rough estimates rather than trying to predict the exact number of minutes.

This helps prevent a common problem: starting a large project too late because its deadline initially seemed far away.

Separate Urgent Work From Important Work

Some tasks are urgent because they are due soon. Others are important because they have a major effect on learning or require substantial preparation.

The two categories can overlap, but they are not always the same.

For example, completing a small assignment due tomorrow may be urgent, while beginning preparation for a difficult exam next week may be important.

A useful study plan makes room for both.

Look for Tasks That Unlock Other Tasks

Some assignments depend on earlier steps.

A student may need to choose a research topic before finding sources. A project may require completing an experiment before writing the report. A reading assignment may need to be finished before a class discussion.

When deciding what to do first, students can ask:

“Does another task depend on this one?”

If the answer is yes, moving that task forward may make several later steps easier.

Don't Always Choose the Easiest Assignment

Easy work can provide a satisfying sense of progress, but completing several simple tasks while avoiding the most demanding one may not improve the overall situation.

Students can sometimes begin with the difficult task while their concentration is strongest, then use shorter or easier assignments afterward.

On other days, beginning with one small task may be useful if the student is struggling to get started.

The goal is not to follow one rigid rule. It is to make a deliberate choice.

Divide Large Priorities Into Sessions

A major assignment does not have to be completed in one sitting.

Instead, students can decide what portion deserves attention today.

For example:

Today: choose a topic and gather information
Next session: organize notes
Following session: create an outline
Later: write and revise

This turns one intimidating deadline into several manageable steps.

Reconsider the Plan When Circumstances Change

A study plan is not a contract.

If an assignment takes twice as long as expected, a new deadline appears, or a student discovers that a difficult topic needs more practice, priorities may need to change.

Students should be comfortable adjusting their plans instead of treating an earlier schedule as something that can never change.

Use Priority Decisions to Become More Independent

Knowing what to study first is a skill that improves with experience. Students gradually learn how long different types of assignments take, which subjects require more preparation, and which tasks become difficult when postponed.

Tutors Who Care of Parkland can help students develop strategies for evaluating their workload and making practical decisions about where to begin.

The goal is not to create a perfect schedule for every day. It is to help students look at their responsibilities, recognize what matters most, and make a thoughtful decision about the next step.