Getting Better Grades

Here are some specific strategies to being the best math student you can be!

How to Get Better Grades IN MATH …. Through Better Study Habits

Get CLARIFICATION until YOU understand a math concept 100%

Mark notes and concepts with an asterisks ( * ) or highlight it that are unclear to you.
Get things that are unclear clarified BEFORE you leave class. [Thinking that it is unimportant or that the math problem will go away; it won’t because each concept builds up on the other]
When any concepts is unclear at home, review your notes, use your textbook index to look up the topic or for similar examples, or ask your parents or a ‘math study buddy’. If no resolution, see your math teacher before school or after school for clarification.
Write out as much of the question as you can so your math teacher can see where specifically you are stuck on and can therefore optimize the help session. Include a diagram for word problems to show how you understand the problem.

There is no such thing as “No Homework in Math”. Review lessons and start those unit test reviews. Redo difficult math questions when studying. Continually ask yourself “what was the main idea in each lesson?”

RECORD RECORD RECORD

Write down all the notes in Math class. Include all the steps and explanation given by your teacher. Showing your work helps you have something concrete to refer to when studying and when you need help doing your math homework. Remember – Math is about process so showing correct steps will be easy marks on tests.
Record all important test dates and quizzes in your agenda. Record all daily homework questions. Check off your agenda after each is completed: there is a great sense of satisfaction when you are done.
Show all your quiz and test results to your parents/guardians so that there are no surprises and they can help you map your learning progress.

When you miss a math class – give yourself double the time to catch up. Read the topic in the text that you missed, try the assigned homework posted on the homework calendar, get the notes from a classmate with neat handwriting as soon as you get back and ask for help if you need more clarification after all the above is done. ** Learn the material you missed well enough that you can explain the concept to someone else.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS AT HOME – DAILY

Complete the daily 30 minutes of math homework questions.
SHOW your steps in your homework so that when these questions are asked and taken up in class, you can see where you made your mistake.
Most important, check your answers with the back of the Textbook answer section or given answers if it is a handout with a different color pen or pencil color so what is wrong will stand out clearly.
Correct mistakes on homework and quizzes and go over missed concepts; they will likely appear again.

"It is okay to make mistakes in Math – just as long as you learn How to FIX the mistake when it really counts!"

When you miss a class in Math – you should spend double the time catching up on the missed material…. Read up on the missed topics in your text and attempt the assigned homework posted on the daily homework calendar online, and get the notes photocopied from a classmate whose handwriting you understand as soon as you get back to school.

** Learn the math concepts you missed well enough as if you can explain the concept to someone else.

Finally, ask questions and participate positively in class. Have fun Learning!

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