Too Much Homework, Too much Stress!

2020 Book Creator competition - all entrants

During Recess&#8230;&#160; Harper and Evan went to Mrs. Adams, &#8220; Mrs. Adams, the class has been really stressed about all of the work and tests we've been receiving. I think preparing for the test interfered with all of homework, and it made us more stressed out. &#8221; Mrs. Adams was unaware of how her students were feeling. &#8220; I will speak to the class tomorrow, thank you for coming to me.&#8221;&#160;&#160; Evan and Harper suddenly felt less stressed. They realized that speaking with Mrs. Adams was a good way to manage the stress, and they felt more comfortable knowing she was going to talk to the class.

Grace and her friend Harper met up at dance. Harper was in Mrs. Adams class, and she hated all the homework they were getting too. &#8220;Harper, we have so much homework tonight!&#8221; said Grace. &#8220;I know, it has me super stressed out and I don&#8217;t even know how I can do all of it.&#8221; replied Harper. While in ballet, she couldn't stop thinking about all the work.&#160;She messed up a move and fell into another dancer. Her dance team and teacher got upset.

By Kristen Stalzer and Katerina Pramataris

The next day as Mrs. Adams walked around the class checking homework, she stared at blank packets and incomplete review sheets. &#8220;Girls and boys, I&#8217;m very disappointed in all of you. You did not put full&#160;effort into your work and you certainly did not do it correctly. Hopefully you've studied instead.&#8221;&#160; Alex suddenly looked very scared and turned to Evan. &#8220;I totally forgot about the test today...I was so caught up in convincing you to do your homework that I forgot to do mine! What am I supposed to do Evan?&#8221; Evan told Alex not to worry about it.

Top 5 tips for helping with&#160;stress!! 1. Talk to a trusted adult/friend.&#160; 2. Tell yourself it&#8217;s okay, or look at positive quotes.&#160; 3. Listen to your favorite music or watch a funny movie so you can laugh. 4. Exercise or do something active.&#160; 5. Get lots of sleep!

The next day&#8230;&#160; Everyone got&#160;there test back and their grades weren&#8217;t so good. &#8220;A 68? How did I get a 68?&#8221; exclaimed Alex. &#8220;I was very disappointed with the grades. You are showing me that you are not trying, and this test is a big grade on your report card,&#8221; stated Mrs. Adams. Harper and Evan, looked at each other and agreed to speak to Mrs. Adams about what's going on.

Harper and Evan looked at each other and then at the teacher; they knew they had done the right thing. Sadie looked a little upset about not getting as much homework, but she smiled and knew the work had affected her too.&#160;Now she had more time for activities and hanging out with her friends. Alex and Grace felt so much better. All of the work, was holding them back from the things they enjoyed. Alex didn&#8217;t have to worry about staying up late, and now maybe he could improve his grades.&#160;

Later that day&#8230; Alex called Evan, &#8220; I don't understand any of this homework. Mrs. Adams didn&#8217;t teach it, and she didn't tell us what the test is going to be like.&#8221;&#160; &#8220;I don't really care about it,&#8221; Evan replied. &#8220;You have to do the homework or you&#8217;re gonna fail, Evan. The class is super stressed too. You gotta try.&#8221; Evan hung up and went back to playing video games.

The next day Mrs. Adams had a long talk with her class, she&#160; apologized for giving all the homework.&#160; &#8220;I had no idea it was giving you so much stress, but some of your classmates came and talked with me about it, and now I&#8217;ll be more aware of the work I&#8217;m assigning.&#8221; The whole class thanked Mrs. Adams.

&#8220;And finally today for homework there will be a math packet, the book report due in 2 days, a quiz tomorrow and a a review sheet for social studies,&#8221; said Mrs. Adams. &#8220;Yes! I love book reports,&#8221; said Sadie, the teacher&#8217;s favorite. &#8220;How can I complete all of this homework? I have volleyball tryouts, a soccer game, and dance!&#8221; said Grace. Mrs. Adams turned to Grace. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, homework is to help you, this isn&#8217;t a lot.&#8221;

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