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.