How to Get Good Grades:
Step One: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Set goals and believe that you can achieve them.
Step Two: BE ORGANIZED
Use an assignment notebook.
Have classmates phone numbers.
Keep your locker and backpack organized.
Organize all you will need for the next school day before you go to bed.
Keep homework in a common folder so that it is always with you.
Color code your notebooks and folders to find them easily.
Step Three: MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL
Use class time and study hall time to get school work done.
Create a daily study plan.
Get plenty of rest.
Step Four: BE SUCCESSFUL IN CLASS
Be in school, on time, every day.
Learn how to adapt to different teachers.
Go to class prepared with a pencil, book, and school work.
Sit toward the front of the class if possible.
Be aware of your body language, do you look ready to learn???
Participate in class discussion.
Be a good group member.
Treat others with courtesy and respect.
Involve your parents.
Take responsibility for your grades.
Step Five: TAKE GOOD NOTES
Be an active listener, this means pay attention and participate.
Take notes to help you pay attention.
Recognize important information, consider highlighting important points.
Take notes that are easy to read.
Go over your notes as soon as possible to review.
Get copies of class notes if you are absent.
Step Six: KNOW HOW TO READ A TEXT BOOK
Scan a chapter, the read the chapter, then review the chapter highlighting the important points.
Step Seven: STUDY SMART
Find a good place to study with no distractions.
Get started, don't put things off until later.
Know how you learn best.
Organize your study time, prioritize work.
Know how to study for tests, teachers will give you instructions.
Use tricks to help memorize information, like flashcards or rhymes.
Know how to write papers, outline first.
Have good computer skills.
Step Eight: USE TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
Have all study materials gathered and ready to go.
When you get the test, look it over entirely and create a plan.
Mark the questions that you need to think about and come back to.
Try to narrow down the miltiple choice- think of the answer before you look at the choices.
Look for key words in the true/false.
Know how to answer essay questions. Be sure to provide each answer the question calls for, often essay questions have multiple parts.
Be prepared for open book tests by reading and highlighting.
Check your answers.
Go over all returned tests to review mistakes and avoid them in the future.
Step Nine: REDUCE TEST ANXIETY
Start studying early, being prepared helps you be more confident.
The night before a test, review the material and get a good night's sleep.
During testing, take a deep breath and if necessary "visit" a place in your mind where you feel totally relaxed- take the test from your "happy place".
Practice positive thinking and test confidently.
Step Ten: GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT
Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help, if you are not comfortable during class, stop by the teacher's classroom later that day. Write down the question so that you don't forget.