Assignment Planner Crash Course: Helping Your Child Manage Assignments Without Stress

Over the past three months, we’ve spoken to over 15,000 parents in our fortnightly webinar series. Time and again, we hear the same frustration: 

“I’m sick of being up at 3 a.m. doing the last-minute cram with my child the day they have an assignment due!”  

Sound familiar? Last-minute chaos creates stress for everyone in the family. Whether the assignment’s writing an essay, building a castle, or even wrapping bandages around a mummy, the late-night always makes an appearance in our parent FAQs. 

But there’s a solution.  

In this 5-minute crash course, we’ll show you how an assignment planner can help your child break their project or assignment into four parts and manage it effectively—so you can avoid those 3 a.m. crises. 

Why Students Leave Assignments Until the Last Minute 

Students often procrastinate for three main reasons: 

1. Losing Sight of Deadlines 

Most schools give students week-by-week diaries, but this can cause them to focus only on immediate tasks that are due that week. When Sunday finally rolls around and they finally turn the page, they’re shocked to discover an assignment is due first thing Monday morning. Cue the frantic Sunday evening scramble. 

2. Underestimating Time Required 

Some students start early but fail to realise how much time is needed to complete their work. At 9 p.m. the night before the due date, they’re still working. Cue another all-night session. 

3. Boredom and Procrastination 

Assignments can be dull, leading students to delay starting. They’re aware of the deadline but avoid the work because it seems tedious. 

The Solution: An Assignment Planner 

An assignment planner looks like this (and don’t worry, you can download our free planner template at the bottom of this blog): 

Assignment Planner

Here’s how an assignment planner (or project planner) can help break down assignments into manageable steps: 

Step 1: Break the Work into Four Parts 

Divide the assignment into these stages: 

• Research 

• Organise 

• Write 

• Present 

Step 2: Identify Research Tasks 

Here, we zero in and decide what work needs to be done in order for us to adequately research the project. For example, if your child is creating a Viking village diorama for history: 

Task 1: Borrow books about Viking villages from the school or local library. 

Task 2: Read and make notes from book 1 (focus on relevant sections, not the whole book). 

Task 3: Read and make notes from book 2. 

Task 4: Watch a YouTube tutorial on diorama construction. 

Step 3: Organise the Research 

Now it’s time to plan. For an essay, this means drafting an outline. For a diorama, it’s deciding what the scene will look like, the materials needed, and where to source them. Write down a task like “Develop plan for diorama.” 

Step 4: Write 

If the assignment includes a written component, break it into steps: 

1. Write the first draft. 

2. Proofread. 

3. Create a second draft. 

Step 5: Build or Present 

For essays, this might involve adding diagrams or graphs. For projects like a diorama, it’s time to build. Add “Build diorama” to the planner. 

Step 6: Add Deadlines 

Now assign deadlines to each task. Work backwards from the final due date to ensure enough time is taken for each step. For example: 

June 30th: Finish essay.

June 29th: Finalise second draft. 

June 28th: Proofread essay. 

June 27th: Complete first draft. 

This process helps avoid underestimating work and keeps tasks small and manageable. Your child is less likely to procrastinate because each task feels less intimidating. 

Step 7: Transfer Tasks to a Diary 

Finally, your child should record each task in their diary. With everything clearly scheduled, they’ll always know what needs to be done each day. 

The Results 

By following this approach, you’ll eliminate last-minute stress and help your child submit better-quality work. Download the planner and try it out on their next assignment. It’s a more relaxed, stress-free way to achieve success—and you’ll be getting better sleep too!