How much time should my student spend on high school English course work?

How much time should my student spend on high school English course work?

How much time a student should work on a particular subject can vary depending on the student's interest, mastery, and other obligations in the home environment. Some students are faster readers than others, and can spend less time on English than other subjects. The general rule of thumb is to have the student tackle the most challenging subjects when he/she is most alert (either morning or afternoon depending on the student). 

We recommend a HS student spend 6 to 7 hours/day on schoolwork. There is such a thing as working too long if it leads to burnout. Consistency of time and place is key. The student starts at particular time, takes breaks at particular times, and ends at a particular time. Excessive schoolwork can burn out the student and lead to a desire to simply "finish" rather than learn. Of course, there are assignments students need to complete, and they have a year from their start date to complete the coursework. But steady, consistent work in a routine is the ideal. Because of interruptions or other variables can be inevitable, it is not the end of the world if things get a bit behind or off-schedule. But try to aim for at least 6-7 hours of work per school day. 

One thing that can also help is block scheduling the courses. Instead of trying to hit every subject every day, your student could dedicate one day to only one or two courses. 

It is also an option to spread out the reading assignments. The lesson plans do not need to be followed exactly. They give a recommended time frame, but it is entirely fine for a student to take longer on readings since different students read at different speeds. One thing that can help him/her save time for assignments or tests is to review the tests (if open-book) and assignments prior to reading and regularly throughout his reading. This can allow him to highlight, flag, annotate, etc. relevant passages that connect to the test questions or essays assignments. Reviewing the assignments also makes sure he does not leave something out or forget something outlined in the instructions. Receiving an Incomplete because of a key element that was missing delays a student's completion of the course. 

To divide up the reading for the novel the student is currently reading, try to aim at least 30-40 pages a day if possible. You can also break up this reading to different parts of the school day instead of at one sitting. He/she can also do some of reading at night if that works for him. 

9am to 4pm is definitely a long-enough school day. If your student is still reading at 4pm, have him find a good stopping point (end of page or paragraph) and have him transition to other things. Again, if needed he/she can do a bit more before bed or after dinner.