Academic Success - Basic Tips
from the Career Center
August 15, 2007
Academic Success
Attendance plays a big role in academic success. Students need to be in attendance unless truly ill. Unless a student has a fever over 100 degrees, they should be in school. Avoid scheduling appointments during the school day whenever possible. If a student is truant, parents should provide appropriate consequences at home.
Homework: Most Students do best with a regular time and place to do homework assignments. Reading and review are important as well as specific homework assignments. Students should use a school planner to write down daily assignments and due dates.
Being able to ask for help when needed is an important skill for students to develop. If you are confused or concerned about how you are doing in a class, make an appointment with our teacher. Come with specific questions and listen to make use of your teacher�s recommendations. Working with other students is also a valuable study skill and a good preparation for the teamwork often used to solve problems in the adult world.
Grades: Students are encouraged to monitor their grades in each class and make sure all assignments are turned in when due.
Parents should monitor student grades through progress reports and report cards which are mailed home every 3 weeks. Parents should also attend Parent Teacher Conferences in the spring and fall, however, teachers, counselors and administrators are available at all times to help if you have questions or concerns. Feel free to contact them through e-mail, voice mail/telephone, or by making an appointment.
Studying for Tests: Whether a quiz, a unit test or a final exam, tests can be a source of anxiety for many students.
Following is a list of strategies that will
help you to do your best in testing situations.
Good study habits throughout the semester/year are your best
preparation for testing success. Some basic study habits to
aide you toward that success are:
Time management
*Get to
class on time everyday. If you have to be absent, get your
assignment and
complete it promptly
*Use class
time wisely. Listen , ask questions, take notes and
participate in
discussions. Ask questions if you don't understand
something.
*Set aside time for
homework and study each day.
Organization
*Use a daily planner to record assignments in every class
*Keep materials for each class in a separate folder, binder or
organizer
*Keep notes, assignments, review sheets, old quizzes and tests for
review
*Each night, check your planner and make sure all assigned work is
completed
*Organize everything you'll need for the next day before you
go to bed at night
Studying for Exams
*Don't expect to do all your studying the night before.
Start early
*Find out
what the test will cover so you know what to study. Some are
comprehensive and cover the entire term which others focus
primarily on current material. If you don’t know what the
test will cover, ask.
*If the test
is comprehensive, focus your studying on going over notes,
worksheets, and old tests.
*Ask what
type of questions will be on the test; essay questions and multiple
choice questions require different types of studying.
*Pay attention to
any study tips given by your teacher
*Study with a
friend and ask each other review questions
Test Taking Strategies
*Prepare for
the test as best you can and enter the classroom with a positive
attitude
*Look over the
test and plan how to use your time.
*If you have lots
of time, you may want to start with the harder questions
while your mind is still fresher.
*For multiple
choice questions, read the question carefully, read all the answer
choices carefully, eliminate answers you know are wrong and then
choose from the remaining choices.
*Pay close
attention to the wording of true/false statements. A single
word can change the
whole meaning. Statements containing words like always and
never are often false.
*Read essay
questions carefully and be sure you write about what is asked
*Organize your
answer by brainstorming ideas and outlining what you want
to say. Don't ramble or write about
other topics you know more about which aren't part of the
question.
*If you don't know the
answer to an essay question, jot down what you know
about the topic. Partial credit is better than no credit.
*If you are feeling
anxious, sit up and take some deep, slow breaths, inhaling and
exhaling slowly and completely. You may want to close your
eyes, relax your mind, and visualize a relaxing place such as the
seashore, a meadow, or your favorite spot.
*Check your
answers before turning in the test. Avoid the temptation to
complete the test and hand it in as quickly as possible.
*When you have a
big assignment or project, break it into parts and give
yourself a timeline for completing each part and putting the
parts together.
*When you
have a big assignment or project, break it into parts and give
yourself a timeline for completing each part and putting the parts
together.
