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• Managing Time During School Years

How to Catch Up on Missed Schoolwork Quickly

Last Updated: May 12, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. . Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 117,554 times.

When you miss class, the work can start to pile up quickly. All those assignments and deadlines can be pretty overwhelming, but don’t panic. Talk to your teachers and friends about what you missed. Then, make a plan for tackling your workload, prioritizing the most pressing assignments. Take breaks, reward yourself, and stay positive to boost your productivity. Catching up on missed schoolwork isn’t easy, but with a little organization and strategy, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges that come your way.

Talking to Teachers and Friends

• Say something like, “I’m sorry, but I’ll be out of class tomorrow for a family reunion. Please let me know what I need to do to stay on top of my work.”
• You may need to provide a note from a doctor or parent. Check with your school administration to find out.

• Say something like, “I’m so sorry I was out yesterday with the flu. I’m doing my best to get back on schedule. Is there anything important that I missed?”

• You might say, “I’m sorry, I’ve been really busy with soccer lately and I’ve fallen behind on some assignments. I want to do everything I can to catch up. What would you recommend that I do?”

• While talking to students is helpful, it shouldn’t be a substitute for communicating with your teacher. Ideally, you should do both.

• You may be able to meet with your teacher before or after class for extra help.
• Keep in mind that your teacher probably won’t have time to re-explain the entire lecture. Look over all your notes and materials beforehand so you’re as prepared as possible. It may be helpful to come in with a list of questions.

Making a Plan

• Break down big assignments into smaller sub-steps, and nest these under the big assignments on your checklist.
• Don’t forget to check off items when you complete them! It’ll feel super satisfying.

• Put a star next to your top items or highlight them.
• You can color code by priority, underlining the most pressing items in red, the moderately pressing ones in yellow, and the least urgent ones in green.
• If you’re having trouble determining a top priority, ask yourself, “If I only had time to complete one assignment, which one would it be?”

• If you need even more structure, you might schedule your workload by time of day (morning, afternoon, and evening) or even by the hour.
• Input your schedule into a planner or online calendar and refer to it regularly.
• Consider turning a weekend into a “Homework Retreat”. Schedule out an entire weekend to do the assignments you missed. However, don’t overstretch yourself, and make sure to schedule breaks, snacks and other things to keep you energized.

Being Productive

• Say to yourself, “I’ve got this. I’ve caught up on work in the past, and I can do it again.”
• It may help to do something fun before you buckle down, like going for ice cream with friends or taking your dog on a walk.

• You should do something completely unrelated to your work during your breaks. Look at funny memes, take a walk, grab a snack, or chat with a friend. [9] X Research source

• Make sure your rewards are appropriate. Don’t give yourself a huge reward for finishing a relatively small task, and don’t select an insignificant reward for a major task.
• Make your rewards meaningful, specific, and immediate. For example, you might reward yourself with a quick trip to your favorite restaurant for lunch.

• It's fun to laugh and joke with friends, but do your best not to get distracted. Take turns reminding each other to stay focused.

• Teens need around eight to ten hours of sleep each night. For better sleep , try to go to bed around the same time everyday. Staying up late on the weekends can hurt sleep quality. [13] X Research source
• Eat a balanced diet containing lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins, like chicken. Always eat breakfast, and drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated. [14] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

• Do your best to balance your social life, extracurriculars, and schoolwork.

Expert Q&A

• Be honest with your teacher if you think a deadline is unreasonable. They may give you an extension once you explain your situation. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If you have a ton of work to finish, it’s easy to get paralyzed. However, remember that it’s always better to work on something than nothing. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If this missed work was avoidable, think about ways you can stay on top of your work in the future. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

• Cutting class can be tempting, especially for college students, but it can lead to hours of missed school work and stress down the line. Thanks Helpful 26 Not Helpful 2

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about catching up on school, check out our in-depth interview with Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. .

• ↑ http://www.students.org/2013/09/25/miss-day-school/
• ↑ https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/tips-help-child-get-back-track-missing-school/#.WXpe4DYqteB
• ↑ http://www.parents.com/kids/education/homework/catch-up-on-homework/
• ↑ http://time.com/2933971/how-to-motivate-yourself-3-steps-backed-by-science/
• ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-rule-of-52-and-17-its-random-but-it-ups-your-productivity
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins
• ↑ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814050009
• ↑ https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/teens-and-sleep
• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm

About This Article

If you’re behind on schoolwork and need to catch up quickly, start by creating a chart or checklist of the assignments you need to accomplish including their due dates. Next, use highlighters to color code the assignments by priority by underlining the most pressing items in red, moderately pressing ones in yellow, and the least urgent ones in green. Once you know what needs to be done, create a detailed schedule you can follow. Just don’t forget to give yourself time for a 20-minute break every hour or so. It might seem counter-intuitive, but rest actually increases productivity! For more tips on catching up on missed schoolwork, including how to approach the situation with a positive attitude, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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