How to Survive Forgetting Your Homework at School

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Have you ever sat down to complete your homework only to realize you left some important component (like a worksheet or textbook) at school? Don’t freak out! You have many options for getting ahold of what you need or finding a suitable replacement. If all else fails, you may be able to complete the assignment when you return to school.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Getting a Copy of a Worksheet

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  1. If you forgot some type of worksheet or essential assignment sheet, call up a friend. Ask if you can borrow their worksheet for a few minutes. Then take the worksheet to a nearby office supply store and have it photocopied.
    • If you have a scanner and printer or a copy machine, you can complete this task at home.
    • Most printing places charge $0.10 for a single black and white copy.
    • If you do not have access to a copy machine, or do not have a ride to your friend’s house, you can ask them to take a picture of the worksheet or scan it and send it to you by text or email. [1] If you can’t print it out, you can copy it by hand using your best handwriting.
  2. Does your school use an online platform to post assignments and grades? If so, it is possible your teacher posted a copy of this worksheet to that page. Log in, look for the name of this assignment or the chapter it corresponds to, and locate the worksheet. Print it out at home. [2]
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  3. If the worksheet was produced by the company who made your textbook, you can likely locate a copy of it online. Search by the publisher, textbook title, and subject matter or chapter you are working on. Locate a PDF of the worksheet and print it out at home.
  4. Often times, your teacher will have an electronic copy of the worksheet that they can send to you. Email your teacher right away and request a copy of the worksheet, or politely ask them for an extension if you won't be able to get the homework in on time. [3]
    • Be sure to use clear grammar, complete sentences, and good etiquette in your email.
    • You can only use this method once or twice before your teacher will become frustrated with you.
    • Your teacher may be less than pleased that you don’t have the worksheet if you’ve had an extended period of time to complete it rather than if it was assigned that day.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Finding a Textbook

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  1. It is very likely that a copy of the book will be held at your school’s library. You may be able to search by the name of your course, the course number, or your teacher’s name. If the library at your school is not open, a public library may also have the book.
    • You can search an online card catalog or call the library to see if they have your book. Then go there in person and check it out.
    • Sometimes the textbook may be “on reserve,” meaning you will have to work with it in the library.
  2. You may be able to find an ebook or PDF of the book. Search by the title of the textbook, the publisher, and/or the author. Download the PDF or ebook and read it on your computer or tablet.
    • Ideally, you will want to try to find the exact same edition, but a different edition will be better than nothing. Keep in mind, though, that the chapter or worksheet may be different from the one your teacher assigned.
    • If you can find out the ISBN code for your textbook, this can be a good way to search as well.
  3. If you have a friend in the class, call them up and ask them to borrow their book. If they have the same assignment, you may need to wait until they are finished using the book. Another option is to go over to their house, share the book, and work on the assignment together. Be careful not to violate your teacher’s policies on completing assignments!
  4. If you simply need your textbook in order to answer questions, you may be able to find different books containing the information. If you need information about United States history, for example, the library will have many books that will contain the answers you need.
  5. You may also be able to find the information you need using online sources. For example, if you need information on cell mitosis, you can probably search for an article online that will have the information you need to complete your homework.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Completing the Homework Later

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  1. If there was no way for you to complete your assignment without the materials you left at school, try to go in early the next morning. If your school offers early morning study hall (or a breakfast period), you can easily get there early and work in the morning. [4]
    • If you need to get into your classroom, you can email your teacher to see if they can let you in early.
  2. If you are not able to go into school early (or if you do not finish your assignment during that time), you can work during any downtime you have during the day. If a teacher gives you time in class to work on something, you can work on the homework from last night instead. [5]
    • You can work during any free period, recess, or lunch in order to get the assignment done.
  3. If you were not able to get the assignment done during your school day, you may still be able to turn it in without getting a late grade. Talk to you teacher and find out if you can stay after school for a little bit to finish the assignment.
    • It is likely that your teacher will need to stay for a little while anyway, and they may respect your initiative to get the late assignment complete as soon as possible.
  4. A similar option is to email the assignment to your teacher. Sometimes if you can get it to your teacher the same day it is due (even in a digital format), your teacher will not mark the assignment late. Talk to your teacher and find out if this is an option for you. Then complete the assignment as soon as you get home.
    • If you have multiple email accounts, use the one associated with your school.
    • Once again, use proper grammar, complete sentences, and good etiquette when you communicate with your teacher via email.
  5. If all else fails, talk to your teacher about getting an extension. Explain what happened, describe all the methods you tried in order to get this assignment done, and ask for permission to turn it in late.
    • Keep in mind that if this happens more than once, your teacher may be less likely to give you an extension.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What do I do if I can't find copies of the worksheet for my homework online and my friends are busy and can't help me? I don't want to email the teacher.
    Alexander Peterman, MA
    Test Prep Tutor
    Alexander Peterman is a Private Tutor in Florida. He received his MA in Education from the University of Florida in 2017.
    Alexander Peterman, MA
    Test Prep Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Hello there. If you definitely can't reach your friends at any point that evening, your only remaining bet would be to get to the school early. Try to gain permission for early access to where you can complete the work and hand it in on time.
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    Not Helpful 18 Helpful 41
  • Question
    What do I do if I left all of my homework at home?
    Community Answer
    If possible, call your parents to see if they can bring you your homework. Otherwise, tell your teacher the truth and ask if you may hand it in the next day. To avoid this issue in the future, write yourself a reminder note and place it in a spot where you will see it before leaving for school.
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    Not Helpful 52 Helpful 59
  • Question
    I forgot my poem from school and I have to learn it off by heart by tomorrow. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Ask a friend if they have a copy. See if the school is still open or ask your teacher for a copy by email (have your parents email the teacher). Another alternative is to read it a lot just before class the next day, then say what you can remember, then say "um, I can't remember the rest". It's not the end of the world, so stay calm, people do forget lines.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Exchange contact info with some people from your class ahead of time so that you can contact them in a situation like this one.
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      • When searching for answers off the Internet, don't type in the direct question. Instead, type in key parts of the question. For example, if the question is “What was the population of Canada in 1900?" type in “Population of Canada 1900” instead of the full question.
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      • Try making a mini bag that will carry all the supplies needed to do homework, like an extra copy of every textbook, lined paper, a ruler, a protractor, etc.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Ask a friend who's in class with you to take a quick picture of the worksheet and text or email it to you. This saves you a trip to their house or having to meet up.
      • As a last resort, be honest with your teacher, explain why you don't have the assignment, and ask if you can stay late or email it to them to avoid a late grade.
      • For a textbook, call the school library first to ask if they have a copy on hold. If not, search online for either an ebook version or a different edition.
      • Check whether your teacher uses an online platform for assignments. If so, log in and see if the worksheet is posted there to print out.
      • When emailing your teacher to ask for materials, be extra polite and use proper spelling/grammar so they're more likely to help you out.
      • If you can't complete the work at home, get to school early the next morning and finish during free periods or study hall time instead.
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      Warnings

      • If you consistently forget your homework, you may get in trouble or your teacher may lose their trust in you.
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      References

      1. ↑ Katie Styzek. School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
      2. ↑ Katie Styzek. School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
      3. ↑ Katie Styzek. School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
      4. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
      5. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html

      About This Article

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      • Anonymous

        Feb 26, 2017

        "It has helped me. I had forgotten my English homework and my teacher let me do it late."
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