Sometimes when students get behind in their online classes, they become overwhelmed and stop working. They just give up. One student told me, “I feel like just doing an assignment won’t make a difference in my grade.” While one assignment may not make much of a difference, getting started will break the ice and help you feel more confident that you CAN do this.

As a teacher, we do NOT want you to give up. Here are the two steps you need to take:

1. Reach out to your teacher as soon as possible, to get help making a plan to get caught up. Ask these questions:
   • What do I need to focus on completing first?”
   • Should I complete assignments in order, or is there a certain project I should work on first?
   • How do you recommend getting caught up?
2. Write out a game plan on a sheet of paper or Google Doc. Then, figure out how many tasks do complete each day, and add then to your calendar.
   • Use the same process I outlined in Working Ahead Before a Vacation:
     • Figure out how many extra assignments you need to complete.
     • Then, figure out how many days or weeks you have to fix the situation.
     • Divide # of assignments by # of weeks = number of additional assignments per week that need to be completed
       • For example:
         • You will need to complete Unit 4 (12 assignments). Your deadline for getting caught up is 3 weeks away.
         • 12 / 3 = 4 additional assignments each week

If you’re behind in your online class, take a deep breath, and make a game plan.

Let me know if you have any questions!