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Balancing School & Home

If you haven't perfected your ability to bi-locate, you may find that it is difficult to get everything done. This is true for most people who have a job outside the home, or who have other people to care for at home, or who are going to school. If you are doing two or more of these things, it's not difficult--it's impossible. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can learn ways to make the situation better. You still probably can't do it all, but you can do more of it. More importantly, you can do the parts that really matter to you. In this section, you will find information on studying more effectively, managing your time better, and finding ways to balance career and family. If you have ideas to add, join the iParent listserv and share them.

Studying more effectively

Many resources on studying are aimed at the traditional-age college freshman. Overlook the "don't study at night" references (when else do parents have time to study?) and glean some general tips from Dartmouth University's Academic Skills Center "Where to Study/How to Study."

Reading

"The difference between a textbook and sleeping pills is that the pills come with a warning not to operate heavy machinery" --quote from a former colleague and 20-plus-year teaching veteran. Reading for class is different from reading a novel, but many people approach the two in the same way--they pick up the book (or article) and read it through from start to finish. Most experts recommend a different method that involves previewing the material, reading it, then reviewing it. The following sites have more detailed explanations of this approach:

• Dartmouth University Academic Skills Center, "Reading Your Textbooks Effectively and Efficiently."
• Glendale Community College, "Reading Better and Faster."
• Unilearning, "How to read efficiently." (This includes sections on academic texts, typical textbooks, and journal articles.)

Taking notes

The purpose of taking notes is often to help you remember what you have heard, but it can also be helpful to take notes while you are reading. As with reading, notes are more effective when they are reviewed. There are several good techniques for note-taking.

• Dartmouth University Academic Skills Center, "Taking Lecture and Class Notes."
• Unilearning, "Introduction to Notetaking" (starts with a quiz).

General Resources

These sites have information on more than one area of effective studying:

• Dartmouth University Academic Skills Center.
• University of Washington Distance Learning Online Student Handbook, Study Tips.