the secret to getting better grades

8/3/2019 The Secret to Getting Better Grades

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-secret-to-getting-better-grades 1/54

Eric Mayo



©2007 Eric Mayo

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blished by Believe PublicationsO. Box 1671easantville, NJ 08232

ww.BelievePublications.com

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informationstorage and retrieval system, without expressed, written consent from the author.

The suggestions in this book are without guarantee. As in all things, trust your own judgment



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction I

Plan to be Successful 1

Getting Organized 3

In the Classroom 11

Dealing with Teachers 12

Using Textbooks 16

How to Take Great Notes 18

Homework 21

How to Study 22

How to Write a Paper 25

How to Take Tests 29Setting Goals 33

Dealing with Stress 37

Peer Relationships 39

Final Thoughts 40



INTRODUCTION

You are reading this book so you must believe that getting good grades and doing well in schoolis important. You are reading this book because perhaps you know someone who needs to getmore out of an educational experience.

Getting good grades is not just book learning but the development of skills that will serve one forlife. For some, doing well in school is easy and for others a little work is necessary. We willlook at what it takes to get good grades, but before we do that, let’s understand why education isso important.

The purpose of education is to gain knowledge necessary to make better CHOICES. After all,life is all about making choices. Knowledge makes people self-reliant and prepares them to takeadvantage of opportunities. Knowledge is essential for economic development and freeingoneself from poverty not to mention making one a more responsible human being.

Learning Physics, Mathematics, Latin and Sociology and the like are wonderful things but it isthe life skills that are acquired during learning that are the most powerful effects of education.

The five basic skills learned in every subject are:

Reading

Reading is more important now than ever before. It is the most effective method of acquiringinformation in the world. Being able to read and understand information is the most singleimportant of life’s skills. Reading can unlock all of the world’s secrets. What are you doing right

now?

Writing

Just as important as reading, writing allows you to effectively share your thoughts with those whoare not in your immediate company. Your ability to do this will give you a huge advantage notonly in school, but in life.

Thinking

Thinking is the ability to interpret and use information. Thinking also includes considering

possibilities and being able to consider many points of view. This allows the individual toconsider not only what exists but what could exist.

Coping Skills

Everybody is exposed to stressful situations, both positive and negative. Stress exists in the livesof all creatures, and it plays an important role in survival. Stress can have negative effects on ourphysical and emotional health. The important factor in dealing with stress is not the amount but

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the method that we deal with it positively. Dealing with life’s stresses plus the added pressure of getting an education is a learned skill that gets stronger with practice.

Organization

Putting everything in its proper place so that they are effectively utilized makes life easier.Resources have to be properly organized or they will be wasted. The most valuable resource istime.

If learning important life skills is not enough for you to want to do better in school, consider thesefacts:

Life expectancy rises by as much as 2 years for every one percent increase in literacy.

82% of prison inmates are high school dropouts (the percentage is higher on death row)

Dropouts are more likely to receive some form of welfare.

Nationwide average income for high school dropouts is $19,000

Nationwide average income for high school graduates is $28,645

Nationwide average income for college graduates is $51,544 (those with advance degreesmade $78,093.)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

In general, more education means better jobs, more money and a better life. When you get goodgrades, your parents and relatives are proud of you and you feel good about yourself. What elsedo you need?

Now that we have all the reasons to get the better grades lets look at how we can get this done.Some people believe that you have to be a genius to get straight A’s. Fortunately this is not true.It’s all about how organized you are, developing a plan and how hard you are willing to work.Anyone can learn how to get excellent grades. I will help you develop the plan. It’s all up to youafter that.

CHOOSE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

To be successful, you must develop some academic skills. Academic skills include organization,how to study, how to take notes and how to take tests. Success will depend totally on yourpersonal attitude and the tried and true methods outlined in this book. This information comesfrom my own experiences as both a student and an educator.

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This program has worked for countless people. How well it will work for you will depend onyour commitment, self-discipline, attitude, and desire. Results will depend on mapping out acomplete plan of action and developing successful habits. I can help you do that. What I cannotdo however, is apply the time, preparation, perseverance and effort necessary to be successful.Only you can do that. The choice is yours.

To get the most out of this book, read it through completely at least twice. Understand the entireprocess before you begin. To achieve maximum success, follow each step carefully.

We will focus on the factors that determine good grades

Test scores – the largest part of your grade will depend on the grades you earn on quizzesand tests. Good note taking and study habits impact grades to a large degree. We willconsider how to develop study habits that work and how to take notes effectively.

Homework - Teachers know the value of homework in learning course material. Since

most teachers grade on homework assignments, we will explore ways to get it done moreeffectively

Dealing with teachers – Like it or not your relationship with your teachers has a hugeimpact on the grades you receive. We will take a look at how to develop betterstudent/teacher relationships as well as how to deal with difficult teachers.

Throughout this book, you will find “A-Ideas” which are powerful pieces of informationthat will give you a boost. Use the “A-Ideas” to get the edge.

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PLAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL

"Every battle is won long before it is ever fought."

--Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Most people who want good grades but fail to get them are most often victims of bad habits ratherthan ability. Habits are things we do repeatedly without thinking. If you want to get good grades,you will have to eliminate the habits that work against your goals and develop habits that work inyour favor. Before we examine the things we need to know to get better grades, let’s identify thetop ten bad habits of students who get poor grades. The bad habits must be eliminated for anychange to take place.

Bad Habit #1: Missing classes. It is so easy to get behind in any class. Miss one class and youare behind. Being even one class behind will make a tough job even tougher.

Bad Habit #2: Not getting enough sleep at night. The brain requires 8-9 hours of restful sleep tobe able to properly retain information. The entire body requires restful sleep to repair itself properly.

Bad Habit #3: Not paying attention in class. Not all classes are interesting, but simply put, if wepay attention we are better able to understand what is being taught. If you don’t pay attention,you will pay at test time.

Bad Habit #4: Not doing homework or reading assignments. Teachers cannot cover all requiredmaterial in class. Reading assignments are necessary to fill course requirements and to learn.The purpose of homework is to provide practice for the day’s learning. Not doing homework orrequired reading will definitely lead to failure.

Bad Habit #5: Bad associations. We are all influenced to an extent by our surroundings. Thisincludes the people around us. We tend to associate with people who are a lot like us. If you aredoing poorly in school, chances are so are the people you spend the most time with. If you arenot around people who encourage you to be your best everyday, you need to make some changes.If things are going to change for you, you must surround yourself with positive people.

Bad Habit #6: Wasting time. How much time do you waste? If you look at it, you probablywaste more time than you think. How much time to you spend watching television, talking on the

phone, playing video games or hanging out with friends. Count up all the hours in a week youspend on unproductive activity. I’m sure they will add up to poor grades.

Bad Habit #6: Quitting when things get tough. Failure only happens when you give up.Quitting is a terrible habit that gets stronger every time you do it. Every time you stay with aproject until you finish, raises your self-esteem and encourages you to accomplish more.

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Bad Habit #7: Only studying at test time. Trying to learn a lot of information in a very shorttime is referred to as “cramming.” All information is processed in the brain and first stored inshort term memory. The problem is that this information sort of overloads the brain and is notkept for very long. The short term memory may keep a little of the information and transfers it tothe long term memory. Once something is transferred from short term to long term memory we

say it has been learned. It dumps the rest. If you're learning something new it's harder toremember. You have to look at information over and over before it can be remembered. In short,cramming does not work well!

It’s very simple. Change your habits and improve your grades!

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GETTING ORGANIZED

Getting better grades will depend largely on your ability to organize your two most importantresources, time and class materials.

Time Management

Students are some of the busiest people I know. Going to school, studying, activities and a sociallife is a tough balancing act. The trick is to get everything in without sacrificing anything.Getting good grades shouldn’t mean no time to socialize or participate in activities or just plainhave fun. Time management means creating a success routine that makes the best use of yourtime. With effective time management, will have time to do all the things you have to do andstill have time to do the things you want to do. Being successful as a student requires good timemanagement. The best way to manage your time is with a schedule. The purpose of the scheduleis to help use time more efficiently, better planning, and less procrastination.

Let’s start with a basic schedule.

Weekly Study Schedule

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun.6:00 a.m.

Get up,shower andBreakfast





7:00

8:00 Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom

9:00 English English English English English10:00 Math Math Math Math Math

11:00 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

12:00 Physics Physics Physics Physics Physics

1:00 p.m. Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology

2:00Phys Ed.

Studyhall

Phys Ed.Studyhall

Phys Ed.

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00 9:00

10:00 Bed Bed Bed Bed Bed11:00

12:00

PotentialStudyHours/Day

8 8 8 8 8 16 16

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The sample schedule on the previous page has a potential 74 hours for study. That of course, isnot realistic. You must fit in study, activity time, travel time and meal time into the 74 hours.The point is, that if you budget your time wisely, you should have more that enough time tostudy. The purpose of a schedule is to assign times to all of your activities so that little time aspossible is wasted. That is effective time management. Keys to keeping managing time:

1. Don’t be afraid to make changes to your schedule (use a pencil or erasable pen.)

2. Do your most difficult or boring tasks first.

3. Use waiting time to study. How much time is wasted on the bus, barbershop or salon?

4. Get a good night’s sleep. Being tired makes everything more difficult.

5. Take or make telephone calls at designated times. Let your friends know when that timeis and stick to it.

6. Make a “To do” list every day. Put the most important things at the top and do them first.Things you don’t get to, go on the top of the next day’s “To do” list.

7. Get a day planner. Use this to record “due dates” for all assignments, test dates andactivity meetings.

On page 6 is a blank weekly schedule. Tear it out and make copies.

Get control of your time by gaining control of these time killers:

Useless Net Surfing – YouTube, Myspace and instant messaging are cool, but before you knowit, hours have gone by and you have not accomplished anything meaningful. Save your fun surf time as a reward for completing your “To do” list.

Procrastination – Making up excuses that keep you from getting started won’t help you. Getstarted at the time you decide

Talking on the telephone – Limit your telephone time. Tell your friends what your phone hours

are and make them respect them.

Video Games – Developing good hand/eye coordination is a poor exchange for a bad reportcard. Once again, save the video game as a reward for a job well done.

Television – record your favorite programs and watch them during breaks or after the real work is done.

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NOTES

5



Weekly Study Schedule Week of Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun.

6:00a.m.

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00p.m.

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

6



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PROCRASTINATION

Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin.

-Victor Kiam

Procrastination is a major problem for many students. Not doing well is seldom caused byinability, but failure to get things done on time. The problem here is some people have aproblem getting started. That is what procrastination is – not getting started. Some might getstarted, but by the time they do, they are running out of time and end up doing a poor job.

The opposite of procrastination is persistence. Persistence means you never give up. Somepeople even if they get started, they have a tough time finishing what they start. This too is a

form of procrastination.

Often people procrastinate because they have fear of failure. In a strange kind of way, they feelthat if they don’t do anything, they cannot fail. I know that sounds crazy but true.Procrastination also comes from just plain laziness. They put off for later what they should bedoing now.

We are going to discuss how to overcome procrastination. I'm going to show you how to turnprocrastination into persistence. I will suggest two powerful solutions to turn procrastination intoproductivity.

Solution One

When students fail to complete assignments in my class, I may ask them why. Sometimes I getanswers that are absolutely garbage, but often I get honest answers. The most frequent honestanswer I get is that the student gets overwhelmed. They look at a large project and getdiscouraged by its size and are paralyzed.

My suggestion to them is “Eat a cow.” Can anyone eat a cow? Sure they can - One bite at atime. It may take awhile but if they cut it up into small pieces, they can eat an entire cow (minusthe hooves and horns.) I do a lot of writing. To write one small book like this one may takeover 100 hours of writing, revising and editing. How do I handle it? I make up my mind to

write for one hour everyday for six months. I take an hour out of my schedule everyday to write.After six months time, I have written for 182 hours. That’s the secret. You can conquer anytask, no matter how large, by breaking it down into small manageable pieces and scheduling timeto work on it.

Follow these steps to getting jobs done.

1. Break your project into manageable pieces

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2. Plan these project "pieces" into your daily activities

3. Do the worst job (or part of the job) first and get it out of the way

4. Set a "completion point" for accomplishing each small task

5. Don't try to do everything perfectly

6. Alternate unpleasant jobs with tasks you enjoy

7. Work on tasks at times you work best

8. Reward yourself for each accomplishment

Solution Two

The next solution we will look at is planning. Most people never get started because they neverhave a plan for attacking a project. If you wanted to build a house, you would call a contractor.You would tell him what you wanted and where you want the house to be built. The first thinghe will ask you is “Where are the plans?” Without plans you will be wasting time and energytrying to think of what to do as you go along. By failing to plan, you are planning to fail.

Write your plans down. You may do this in the form of a “To do” list. Write down what youneed to accomplish and what you need to get it done. Keep a daily record of your progress.Make adjustments if you need to.

Don’t forget the five P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Presentation

Here are more tips to help you plan better.

1. Start with a written plan of action to avoid getting distracted

2. Keep your plan simple and to the point

3. Make a daily “To do” list and stick to it.

4. Start with the one thing you must get done each day

5. Set a time limit for every daily task and stick to it

6. Take time to review your progress everyday

7. Plan your actions for the next day

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Materials Management

To get the most out of your schedule you need the right tools. I suggest the following:

Daily planner or assignment sheet: Take it with you to every class. When you are given an

assignment, write it down on the day that it is given and also on the date that it is due.

Folders: Have a different folder for each class. Use it to store class handouts, tests and quizzes.Never put loose class papers in books, locker or your book bag. You will lose track of them.

Three Ring Binder: Use the binder to keep class notes in order. If you miss a class, you canget notes from a classmate and put them in the proper order for study later. Don’t forget theloose leaf paper.

Index Cards: Make flashcards to study anywhere. Flashcards are an excellent way to studyvocabulary, math equations, foreign languages, events and dates. You can take them to study

anywhere.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Do you enjoy class? Do you pay close attention to what the teacher is saying? Do you doodle orscribble just waiting for this awful part of your day to mercifully end? If you are not effectivelylistening in class, you are missing a great deal of what is going on in that class and it will show at

test time. Students who regularly miss classes usually have poor grades. Coming to classeveryday shows the teacher that you are at least interested and are making an effort to do well.

You may have a textbook and do the reading assignments but that is only a portion of what youwill be graded on. The teacher’s lectures and discussions highlight the important elements of thematerial in the text. To do well in any class you must effectively listen in class and take effectivenotes. At test time you will be amazed at what you will remember from hearing it in class.Many students spend too much time studying things that they would have learned just by payingattention.

Here are some tips to getting the most out of your time in class.

1. Go to every class and be on time – When you are not in class, you miss valuableinformation that cannot be made up. You can get notes from a classmate but they willnot make up for what you would have learned from discussions, lectures andassignments. Be in your seat with your notebook, pen and textbook ready when classbegins.

2. Sit in the front of the classroom – Studies prove that students who sit in the front andcenter of the classroom get better grades and enjoy the class more than students who sit inthe back or sides of the room. Slackers tend to sit in the back of the room where theyhave more privacy to goof-off. They attempt to distract or discourage others by verbal

and sometimes non-verbal communication. By sitting in or near the front row (the frontrow is better,) you will block out distractions and will be able to focus on the blackboardand the teacher.

3. Go to class and actively participate – Make class more interesting by participating inclass discussions and asking questions. It’s O.K. to ask the teacher to repeat somethingor to clarify. This will help you to absorb more of the material. Don’t forget to takenotes.

4. Rewrite your notes before class - Rewriting your notes from the day before will helpyou to retain more information and help you get ready for the day’s new material.

5. Do your homework as soon as you get it – Make home work a priority and get it doneas soon as you can. Having your homework completed at class time will make you moreenthusiastic about going to class. I guarantee that not doing it will have the oppositeeffect.

6. Have respect for the teacher and your classmates. Demonstrating respect for everyonein the classroom and the learning process as a whole will pay off at grade time.

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DEALING WITH TEACHERS

Too many students look at teachers as robotic demons whose only purpose in life is to makethem as miserable as possible. The truth is most teachers are dedicated, caring individuals whowant to see all of their students to succeed. Some teachers are fun. Some are serious. Some are

easy going and some are stern. Each teacher has his or her own style, and your challenge is tolearn how to adapt. You may benefit from teachers who are very warm and patient. You can alsolearn from some who are more business-like and demanding. Valuable life lessons can belearned from a caring teacher who is a bit firm. One of the most useful skills in life is learning todeal with the most difficult people and be successful. Dealing with teachers is often your firstopportunity to develop a relationship that is less emotional and more businesslike.

We each have our separate personalities and from time to time we meet people that we don’t carefor. It can be a problem when one of these people is one of your teachers. Each one of yourteachers has a different personality with different likes and dislikes. Personality conflicts are apart of life. If you show the teacher that you are willing to make the situation better, he or she

will probably be on your side in making things work.

In a perfect world, teachers would grade purely on your test scores and other assignments. Thatoften is not the case here in the real world. Personal feelings frequently come into play at gradetime. If you have impressed the teacher in a positive way a “B+” will probably be pushed up toan “A.” On the other hand, if the teacher doesn’t like you or feels you have been rude orotherwise disruptive, a “B-“ will more than likely end up as a “C” on the report card. Not fairyou say. Life often isn’t fair. Getting along with the teacher is the key to making class timemore pleasant and getting the best grade possible.

Want to get along with your teacher? Try these things:

Respect the teacher’s authority. The teacher is the head of the classroom and makes the rules.Like it or not you must respect the fact that the teacher is in charge.

Be on time for class with all assignments completed when class begins.

Listen attentively when the teacher is speaking. If you have questions or wish to make a point,raise your hand and wait until it is your turn to speak.

Always communicate with the teacher in a respectful manner.

Stay away from the troublemakers of the class. The teacher may consider you part of theproblem if you encourage or even associate with these students.

Be honest and sincere. Teachers know when you are being nice just to gain an advantage.

Control your feelings. You are not in class to like the teacher. You are in that class of only onereason - to get an “A.” Your personal feelings should not come into play. If you and the teacherget along, it’s a bonus.

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As hard as you may try, you are just not going to get along with every teacher. You are bound tomeet teachers who simply see things differently than you do. There is no good or bad guy here.You simply do not agree. Despite all of your efforts, you and this teacher cannot get along.Does it matter? Sure it does. He may not be right all the time but he is the teacher and he holdsyour grade in his hand. If you encounter this situation, there are several ways to handle it

without sacrificing your grade.

You can ignore the problem and hope it goes away. It seldom does. Often it grows into an evenlarger one. Your negative feelings will only get stronger and the rest of your time in class will beabsolutely miserable. It is very difficult to do your best in a class with an uncomfortableatmosphere.

You can give the teacher a tough time by acting rude or causing trouble. You can refuse to dohomework or cut class just to avoid the teacher or to get the teacher angry. These things willonly hurt you – not the teacher. You are in the class to learn what you need and move on. Thistype of behavior will not help you and it may mean you having to repeat the class.

You can confront the teacher in a negative way in front of the class. This never works. Theteacher is in a position of authority. If you challenge that position in front of everyone, you willforce him to defend his authority and make an example of you for anyone else who is thinking of doing the same thing. The end result is a very tough time in that class and an even tougher task toget an “A.”

You can speak to the teacher in private and share what you are feeling. Then you should ask forthe teacher’s advice on how to get over this and exactly would it take for you to do well in hisclass. You may say something like this:

“Mr. Jones, it seems that we have a problem communicating. How do you think we can get overthis because I like this class, and I want to do well in it. I don’t want there to be any hardfeelings between us.”

Most teachers are reasonable and will try to find a solution that will work for both of you. Inmany cases, the teacher will like your maturity and will be on your side from then on.

Some students make life more difficult for themselves by getting on a teachers bad side. In mostcases, students are the cause of negative relationships with teachers. Some students make troublefor themselves by attracting what I call negative attention. They annoy teachers with the waythey behave. Teachers hate being interrupted by a student who is goofing off or talking andtaking the attention away from what is important. The fact that teachers are human is oftenignored. What annoys you probably annoys teachers as well. Multiply that by 25 students,teachers get aggravated. When students cause problems for teachers, they may respond in a waythat has a negative effect on the troublesome student’s grade.

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Stay on the teacher’s good side by avoiding these behaviors:

Talk while the teacher is talking. For starters, it’s rude! It gives the teacher the impression thatwhat he or she is saying is not important and it is distracting to others who want to listen.

Ask stupid questions in attempt to simply waste time.

Cell phones ringing during class time. Ten times worse is answering the phone in class.

Walking in after class has begun. Being late is a decision based on attitude. Repeatedly comingin late will lead the teacher to believe that the student doesn’t care enough.

The “Class Clown.” Some class clowns are fun to have in class but teachers don’t like students

whose attempt to be funny affect the level of learning for the rest of the class.

Showing a lack of respect for adults, peers, rules, or the property of others.

Arguing when requests are made.

Making excuses for not completing assignments when they are due.

Teachers will remember these things when figuring grades

Difficult Teachers

Contrary to what many believe, no two teachers are alike but there are two types of teachers.Teachers who enjoy their jobs, and those who do not. But aren’t teachers supposed to love kids?Aren’t teachers fair? The fact is teachers are people with lives and families outside of school and just like everyone else have good days and bad days. Teaching is a tough job. Most teachershave more than 100 students with more than 100 different personalities and issues that he mustdeal with in a positive way while ensuring that he does the best job possible. Some make it look easy, but I guarantee that is not the case. They work long hours and have pressure from students,parents, principals and their own families.

Most teachers are hard working dedicated professionals whose goal in life is to help to enrich thelives of young people through education. It would be great if all teachers felt that way.Unfortunately, there are some people who should never have become teachers in the first place.They don’t like teaching. They don’t like young people and like any other profession, educationhas its share of the unprofessional and incompetent. Lack of professionalism presents itself inmany ways. Some are mean, cruel, unreasonable, and cause stress for their students. I’m nottalking about the teachers who challenge their students to do their best. I’m referring to those

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who add nothing to the educational process and make their students miserable. If you haven’talready had a teacher like this, eventually you will. If and when you encounter one of theseteachers from hell you will have the opportunity to learn one of life’s great lessons: How to dealwith difficult people and be successful. You are going to have employers, neighbors and peopleyou work with that will be hard to get along with for the rest of your life. Learn this lesson early

and you will be successful. Here are some tips for dealing with difficult teachers.

Find out what the class rules are: Learn the rules and stick to them. Remember this guy likesto make people miserable don’t give him a reason.

Show up with a smile and a positive attitude: Don’t allow one person to change your mood.Stay positive that things will work out well.

Lay low: Stand out as little as possible in this class. Don’t show up late. Don’t crack jokes anddo all assignments. This teacher looks for reasons to give students a hard time. Don’t give himany.

Always be respectful: Dealing with some teachers can be frustrating but avoid the temptation totreat them like they treat you. Always treat them better.

Don’t complain with classmates: This will only make you feel worse and make it moredifficult to deal with the class.

Keep a written log of incidents: If you feel that this teacher is treating you unfairly, has singledyou out for abuse or has disrespected you in anyway, write down the date, time and nature of theincident. You may need this information if things get out of hand and you have to notifysomeone. (That is always a last resort.)

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USING TEXTBOOKS

To most students, reading textbooks is one of the worst parts of any class or course. Why?Because they are boring! The chapters are long. There is no story to follow and there is a lot of information. Teachers cannot cover all the necessary course information in class so the use of a

textbook is needed. One of the most important skills you should develop in order to get the typeof grades you want is to learn to read textbooks. Textbooks are not story books so the approachto them is totally different than that of a novel.

BASIC PARTS OF A TEXTBOOK

Let’s look at how textbooks are written. They are all written basically the same way

Title Page

The title page is generally a title followed by an explanation of the subject matter. It contains the

publishers name, the authors name and copyright information.

Table of Contents

Following the Title Page is the Table of Contents. This is a listing of all chapters in the book andhow it is organized. It often will contain detailed descriptions of each chapter.

Introduction

The introduction is an overall description of the information covered and how to use the book.

Chapters

The chapters are the heart of the book broken into separate but related topics. Chapters usuallyhave an introduction which is an overview of the information covered and is the link to theprevious chapter. Some chapters have sub-sections that divide the chapter into sections thatmake sense. Finally, there is the chapter summary which brings the main ideas or topicstogether to help the reader understand the information. Sometimes there are study questions thattest what you just read.

Index

The index is a list of words and topics taken from the text of the book in alphabetical order. Theindex lists the pages where these words and topics can be found in the text.

Glossary

The glossary is a small dictionary of key words and terms used in the textbook. Usually thesewords and terms are printed in bold text to let the reader know that they can be found in theglossary.

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Appendix

Some textbooks have more than one appendix (plural appendixes or appendices.) An appendixis a page or pages that contain a variety of information that is related to the book's topic, but notrelegated to one specific chapter. For example, geography books may have maps or flags of

nations. Math books may have graphs for various functions, and chemistry books contain theperiodic table.

HOW TO READ A TEXTBOOK

When reading a textbook for the first time, read the table of contents and the introduction. Thisshould give you a basic overview of the book. Next, skim the chapters paying attention to themain title, all subtitles. Read the first sentence of each paragraph. Read the introductoryparagraph. Read the concluding summary.

The author has made it easy for you to see what information is important by making it stand out

by bold or italic text. These are the chapter headings, subheadings, key words and graphics. If your textbook has study questions at the end of each chapter, try to answer them. Now take yourtime and read the chapter again. Go back and read the chapter or section carefully. Look for themain ideas. The study questions will be easier.

Take one line notes as you read and make a study sheet. At the top of the page putthe date, the textbook name and the chapter the notes come from. Don’t copy informationdirectly from the textbook. Instead, summarize the information in your own words. This will help

you to concentrate and learn. Be sure to keep them in the folder for that particular class. Usethese notes along with your class notes and you will score well at test time. Write down anywords you do not know the meaning of and get the definitions.

Immediately after completing your notes on a chapter, return to the beginning of your notes andreview them. Review them also before your next class. You will be prepared for the next class.

Use these tips to make your reading more effective:

Improve your concentration. Never read more than a chapter at once and never read more than15 minutes at a time. You will retain more of what you read

Read with a dictionary. Be prepared for words you are unfamiliar with.

Read as early in the day as you can. Reading when you are most alert will increase yourreading speed and concentration.

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Read at a desk or table. Avoid reading on a sofa or the bed where you tend to relax too much.

18



HOW TO TAKE GREAT NOTES

Classroom learning comes from a combination of textbook information and outside informationfrom the teacher. It is necessary to take notes in class because not all of the information you willlearn will come from textbooks. I have had students who tell me “I have a really good memory.

I don’t have to take notes.” Incidentally, these students are not “A” students. Most of themaren’t even “B” students. Very few people have total recall. Studies show 95% of what is heardis forgotten if not written down immediately. To get the most out of your time in class you musttake good notes. The key to taking good notes is to pay close attention to what the teacher issaying. Taking notes in class will make even the most boring class more interesting because itwould cause you to focus on the lesson.

To begin, I suggest using loose leaf paper for class notes and organize them in your loose leaf binder for use when studying for tests. You do not need a separate binder for each class. Divideone binder by class to organize your notes. At the top of each note sheet, write down the day’stopic, the name of the course and the date. Be brief in your note taking. Except for formulas and

quotes, write your notes in your own words, not the teacher's. Remember, your goal is tounderstand what he is saying, not to try to record exactly everything he says. You have to learnto write down things the teacher thinks is important.

Teachers will give clues to what points are important and probably will beincluded in tests. These are the signals that important information is coming:

“Most importantly….”

“The main reason why….”

“For example….”

“Also….”

“In addition to.…”

“Now this is important”

“It is critical….”

“In addition…”

“For instance….”

“The basic concept here is….”

“Remember that….”

“An important point is….”

The signal that a conclusion to important information is coming, are phrases like:

“Finally….”

“In conclusion….”

“As a result….”

“Therefore….”

“What we have learned is….”

“From this we see…

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At the bottom of each page, write a summary of the notes on the page. This helps you digestwhat you've learned, and will improve your memory of the notes in the long term, for tests downthe road.

Make taking notes easier by taking out some word vowels to makeabbreviations. Ex., The White cow has black spots. = Th wht cow has blk spts.

Here is a list of common abbreviations and symbols that will make note taking a lot easierand faster.

↑ increased, increasing, goes up,rises

↓ decreased, decreasing, lowering& and@ at / perp pagepp pages¶ paragraph? question+ plus, in addition, and, also- minus= equal to, is

≠ not equal, is not~ about, approximatelyft foot, feetX times> greater than< less than$ money, cost, price% percent.·. therefore# number no. number #s numbers nos. numbersht height2 to, two, toow/ with (something)

w/o withoutw/I withini.e. that ise.g. for exampleetc. et cetera, so forthb/c becauseb/4 beforere: regarding, aboutesp. especiallymin. minimummax. maximumgov't. governmentASAP as soon as possiblewrt writert rightyr year yrs yearsc. circa, about, around, from

the yearvs versus, as opposed toch chapterQ question A answerex example

wd word wds wordsref referencediff difference

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Make your note taking more effective with the following tips:

1. Don’t try to take notes on everything. Concentrate on information that is new orconfusing to you.

2. Limit your notes to one line, two at the most, leaving space afterwards to add otherinformation or thoughts.

3. If there is anything you do not understand, ask for clarification and include the answer inyour notes.

4. Write down everything on the blackboard or on transparencies including examples andsketches.

5. Review and rewrite your notes while they are fresh in your mind. You will retain a lotmore this way.

6. Review your notes before the next class. It will prepare you for the new information.

7. Write clearly. Your notes are useless if you cannot read them later.

8. Exchange notes with classmates. They may have points that you missed and vice versa.

9. Buy a micro-recorder to record class. Check with the teacher first.

10. If you miss class make arrangements to get notes from a classmate. Don’t forget to dateand log the notes in your binder in the appropriate place.

Losing concentration in class or while studying? Keep a tin of mints in yourbag. I suggest Altoids. Mint has aromatic qualities that stimulate the blood flow, whichstimulates the mind flow.

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HOMEWORK

If you talk to most students, the absolute worst thing about school is homework. They feelthat homework is a teacher’s way of tormenting them after class is over. Of course that is nottrue. The purpose of homework is to review class material and practice newly learned skills.

When new information is given it must be reinforced by practice. For example, when a newformula is given in a math class, the best way to learn its use is through practice. You mustapply knowledge to really learn a subject. Teachers also use homework to prepare studentsfor new material to come.

Studies found that homework improved not only the student's grades, but also their scores onstandardized tests. Students in high school who receive homework outperform those who donot receive homework by 69%. Most teachers base grades on homework, so make it a pointto never miss a homework assignment. Simply, do your homework and you will have bettergrades.

Use these tips to do your best with homework:

Find a quiet place. A quiet, well lit place will help you concentrate. If you can’tconcentrate at home, try doing your homework in the school or public library.

Turn in something for every assignment. Even if an assignment is not perfect, still hand itin. Get the best grade you can get. It’s better than a “zero.” Let the teacher know that youare making an effort.

Go to every class. Missing one homework assignment will throw you off and put you at adisadvantage at test time. If you must miss class, go see the teacher right away to make up

any assignments you missed.

Use a homework planner to record assignments. Write your assignments in a dailyplanner or assignment sheet to help you manage your time.

Schedule time for homework every day—and stick to it. Plan a specific time everydayfor homework. If you do not have homework for a given day, use that time for study or extrareading.

Keep all of your homework assignments in your class folder. Keeping a record of all of your homework assignments will make studying for tests easier. File them by date.

Talk to the teacher right away if you are having trouble. Get help immediately if youdon’t understand something. If you don’t, you will fall behind quickly.

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HOW TO STUDY

I once overheard one of my students telling another one: “Only a genius can make straightA’s school.” Believe it or not, you do not have to be a genius to make an A’s. You do,however, need to know how to study efficiently and be willing to follow some rather sensible

study tips. Study is necessary when we have to learn multiple subjects. If we had only onesubject to learn life would be easier. You have multiple classes so you must have a system of study if you are to get the grades you desire. Having been a student and counseled students, Iam convinced that most of the students who make A’s do so primarily because they knowhow to study efficiently, not because they are smarter than students making lower grades.

Before we look at how to study more efficiently, let’s examine how the brain storesinformation.

As stated in chapter 2, all information is first stored in short term memory. The problem isthat this information sort of overloads the brain and is not kept for very long. The short term

memory may keep a little of the information and transfers it to the long term memory. Oncesomething is transferred from short term to long term memory we say it has been learned. Itdumps the rest.

Information flows from the outside world through our sight, hearing, smell, taste and touchsensors. Memory is simply ways we store and recall things we've sensed. This information isstored for only a fraction of a second in the short term memory. Some of it then transferredto the long term memory for use later. Everything else is dumped. By sensing the sameinformation repeatedly, more makes it to the long term memory. You learned the words toyour favorite song the same way. It didn’t happen the first time you heard the song. Youheard, repeated aloud and practiced the words over and over until it made it in small pieces,

to the long term memory.

Studying works the same way. We have to study the way the brain functions best with smallpieces and repetition.

The following study tips and suggestions should help you become more effective in yourstudying and make higher grades in all your classes.

Study in the library. Don’t study at home unless you absolutely must. You have far toomany distractions at home. By studying at the library, you will be more focused and get a lotmore done. If you must study at home, avoid beds or comfortable chairs. It is always better

to study in an upright position at a desk or table.

Make a list of what you intend to study. Starting with your most difficult class, make a listof topics of study and stick to it.

Understand what you read. Simply reading is not enough. You must understand what youread. After reading a chapter, try summarizing the chapter aloud in your own words. If youcannot, its time to read the same chapter until you understand it.

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Practice re-writing your notes. You will remember more every time you do this.

Break down your study sessions. Break your study sessions into 40 minute intervals with10 minute breaks in between. You will remember more information.

Use flash cards. Make flash cards out of index cards and take them wherever you go.Flashcards are great for studying names, dates, vocabulary words and math formulas.

Do as much of your studying in the daytime as you can. What takes you an hour to doduring the day may take you an hour and a half at night.

Never study within 30 minutes of your scheduled bed time. Your body and mind isbeginning to wind down. You won’t get much done at this time.

Break up large tasks into smaller pieces. One big job can be so intimidating that gettingstarted will be hard. Break it up into smaller tasks that are easier to handle.

Review all lessons at least once a week. Research shows that “overlearning” reducesanxiety and raises test scores. Consistent studying over a period of time is more effectivethan cramming just before a test.

Listen to Baroque Music while you Study. This slow tempo style of classical music is saidto relax your heartbeat and improve memory recall.

Start a study group with others who are as serious as you are about gettingA’s. Some students find studying in a group to be more effective than studying alone. Youcan take advantage of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Get the most out of yourstudy group by:

Comparing notes and reviewing old homework assignments

Sharing resources and information

Quizzing each other on class material

Encouraging each other and keeping each other motivated

Learning study habits from each other

Helping each other learn subject matter

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Working with others with the same goal is a valuable life long practice - teamwork.Meeting two or three times a week in the library and working together will help bringeveryone’s grades up. Be sure to exchange telephone numbers and email addresses to stayin contact when everyone can’t meet. Have fun!

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HOW TO WRITE A PAPER

Teachers give writing assignments as a way to develop fact gathering, organizational andthinking skills in students. The topic may be assigned by the teacher or the student may beallowed to write on a self chosen topic. An instructor may give a student a topic and ask that

the student write a research paper on the topic. This type of individual study will indicatehow well a student has learned to conduct research, think decisively (determine what isimportant and what is not) and organize information into a clearly defined statement.Writing papers also teach life skills such as paying attention to detail, how to effectivelycommunicate with others, and how to meet deadlines.

GETTING STARTED

If you haven’t been given a topic to write about, its time to think about one. Pick a topic youare interested in. You will be spending quite a bit of time with the topic, so it should be oneyou won’t get bored with.

Once you have decided on a topic, you now have to find sources of information. A goodplace to start is the library. If you search the card catalogue or the database, you should findenough books, magazines or video material to get started gathering information. In eachsource, find information that fits each of your topics. Collect two or three times moreinformation than you intend to use. The more you know about your subject, the easier it willbe to put your thoughts together. When you find a page that has important information, makenote sheets. Note sheets should be in your own words not directly from the book. From thisinformation, your ideas will form. On each note sheet, list your source information to beincluded at the end of the paper. This is called “citing” your sources. Source informationshould include the publication name, the author, and the page number.

MAKING AN OUTLINE

Your outline is the basic structure of your paper. Use it as a guide to keep you paperorganized. It should contain three basic elements:

Introduction – A general statement that introduces your topic and gives a basic overview.The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and give an idea of theessay's focus. This is usually one paragraph.

Body – The main idea of the paper with information that supports it. There may be multiple

main ideas with sub-ideas that support the main ideas arranged in separate paragraphs. Thesample outline on the following page is for a paper about tigers. Ask yourself questionsabout tigers. The answers you come up with are your main ideas. For example, one questionyou may ask is “How many different species of tigers are there?"

Conclusion – A summary of all of your points providing a final perspective on your topic.

The sample outline in the next page illustrates how an outline is done.

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Tigers of the World

Tigers are the world’s largest cats. They are found in Siberia, parts of Asiaand in regions of the Pacific islands.

I. Species of Tigers

A. SiberianB. BengalC. SumatranD. IndochineseE. Chinese

II. Physical Description

III. Tiger Habitats

A. Diet

IV. Tiger Reproductive Cycle

V. Tigers as Endangered Species

A. Things that threaten tigers

Conclusion

You now have notes and an outline to follow. You are ready to make a rough draft of youpaper. Begin by using one paragraph per topic. As you begin to write, don’t be afraid tochange your outline. Ideas will come as you are writing

Once you have your introduction, start to work on your main ideas and sub-ideas. If youdon’t have enough material, you can always go back to the library.

Don’t expect your paper to look good the first time. You may have to re-write it severaltimes before you are satisfied with it.

Once you are satisfied, check your work for grammatical, structural or spelling errors. Next,read your paper out loud, to yourself. See if it all makes sense to you. Go back and read itagain later. You will probably see things you didn’t see before. My students often ask me,“Why do I have to proofread? The spellchecker on the computer does it.” Spellcheckers

26



often miss words that sound alike (here and hear), and they miss typographical or transposedletters in words like the word “form” when you meant to write “from.”

Finally, always type your paper even if the teacher says that it can be handwritten. Typedpapers are easier to understand than those written by hand. You will probably get a higher

grade for a typewritten paper. Use the standard margins of 1” on the top and bottom and1.24” on both left and right. Always double space to leave room for the teacher’s correctionsor comments. I suggest you use fonts with “serifs” on them. Serifs are those little flat endson the letters. I suggest “Times New Roman” size 12. It is fairly easy to read. Use a fivespace (tab) of five spaces to indent each paragraph. Once you have finished typing it, printout an initial copy, and have someone more experienced than you to proofread it. If you aresatisfied with the printed copy, save your work. You now only have to add a title page. Youtitle page should look like the example below.

Tigers of the WorldBy Fred Brown

EnglishMr. HamiltonApril 14, 2007

You are now ready to hand in your paper. Good luck!

On the following page are tips to get an “A” on your next paper.

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1. Start on your paper as soon as it’s assigned. In your planner, write down the day it isdue and work on it a bit each day. Don’t wait until the last minute to get started. Youwill be sorry!

2. Break your paper into sections and set dates to have each section done.

3. Use a dictionary to get the meanings of words that are new to you and a thesaurus toavoid overuse of words.

4. Always print your your work on white paper. It looks professional.

5. Use index cards for notes. You can also use them to manage paragraphs beforewriting your first draft.

6. Get to the point of a paper right away. Don’t beat around the bush. You have to getthe reader’s interest and hold it.

7. Use small words. Don’t use large words if small ones will do. Don’t bore yourreader.

8. If you need help, get it right away. Don’t wait until the pressure is on to ask for help.

9. Try to complete your paper before it is due. This will allow you to walk away from itand comeback with a fresh outlook so you can make changes before it’s due.

10. Keep your sentences short. Sentences longer than 20 words are too long. Set amaximum of five lines per paragraph. Read a magazine or a newspaper, you will seeexactly what I mean.

11. Find a student who usually gets good grades on writing assignments and find outwhat works. You will cut out a lot of guess work.

Did you know certain foods can help the brain focus? The brain needs glucose,or blood sugar, to stay sharp and alert. The brain is the only organ in the body that uses only glucose for energy. Glucose comes from carbohydrates. The brain functions much better witha steady flow of energy from slowly absorbed complex carbs. Fresh fruit, raw vegetablesand sunflower seeds fuel brain power for studying.

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HOW TO TAKE TESTS

Taking tests are unavoidable. Teachers use tests to grade what has been learned. Since muchof your grade will depend on test scores, it is in your best interest to get the best scores youcan. I know students who consistently get high grades because they are excellent test takers.

The absolute best method of scoring high on tests is to study. How you take a test is at leastas important as your preparation for it. Students who both study well and have good testtaking skills score consistently high on exams. Fortunately anyone can learn to take testsmore effectively.

We will look at an overall test taking strategy and then we will examine strategies that willhelp you score well on True/False, Multiple Choice, Matching, Fill-in-the-Blank, Essay, andMath tests. Good test-taking strategy can make a big difference to your grade!

OVERALL TEST TAKING STRATEGY

Before taking the test, read all directions thoroughly so that you understand them exactly. If there is something you do not understand, get clarification before you start.

If there is more than one section, allow time for each one.

Answer the easiest questions first. Make a mark next to the questions you want to come back to.

Once you have answered all the questions you definitely know the answers to, consider thesesuggestions:

Multiple Choice Questions

Carefully read all of the responses even if the first ones look correct.

Eliminate answers you know are incorrect.

Usually the answer with the most information is the correct one. Test writers don’t spend alot of time writing false statements.

Look for opposite answers. One of these is usually the correct one.

If there are typographical errors in an answer it is probably incorrect. Test writersconcentrate on correct statements more than incorrect ones.

“All of the above” is often a correct answer. If there are two answers that seem true, choose“All of the above.”

“None of the above” is usually an incorrect response.

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Be on the lookout for questions which may answer other questions.

If you have no idea of the answer – check for options that “look alike” and consider the bestchoice among them.

Look to see if any of the answers repeats key words from the question.

Ex.A common injury among tennis players is

A) turf toeB) cauliflower earC) stiff neck D) tennis elbow

When you have to complete a sentence, see if one of the answers fits better grammatically

than the others.

The symbol of the United States is an

A) Wolf B) BearC) EagleD) Native American

In this question, the "an" gives you a clue to the right answer, because you know the correctanswer has to start with a vowel. " An eagle" works, but it would have to be "a wolf" or "a bear" or "a Native American" to be a correct sentence. The answer has to be "Eagle" --because "Eagle" is the only one that fits with the "an" in the question.

If you have absolutely no idea what the answer may be, choose (b) or (c). Test writers oftenhide correct answers in the middle of the choices

Answer every question. You will probably be able to eliminate some choices, therebyincreasing your odds of getting a correct answer.

Change answers only if you are sure of the new answer. First answers are correct more oftenthan changed answers.

For questions that require reading a passage, always read the question first. By doing this,you will know what you are looking for as you read.

True or False Questions

If any one part of the sentence is false, the entire statement is false even if another part istrue.

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Words in the question like, ""No, never, none, always, every, entirely, only" Usually thesetype of words imply false answer.

Ex. Airplanes always crash.

Words like "sometimes, often, frequently, ordinarily, generally" mean that if the statementcan be considered true or false depending on the circumstances. Usually these type of wordsimply a true answer.

Ex. Sometimes airplanes crash.

Often true/false tests contain more true answers than false answers. You have more than50% chance of being right with "true". When in doubt, guess true.

Negatives are confusing. Cross out the negative words (No, Not, Cannot).Read the sentence that remains and decide if it is True or False.

If it is true, then the opposite is false. If the opposite is false, then it is true.

Ex.

No penguins can fly.

No penguins can fly.

The opposite of “penguins can fly” is “Penguins cannot fly” which is true.

Often true/false tests contain more true answers than false. If you have absolutely no ideawhat the possible answer may be, you will have better than a 50/50 chance of being correct

by choosing “true.”

Essay Tests

Read the questions and pay attention to the directions.Watch for words like: Compare, List, Explain, Discuss

They will tell you exactly what to do.

List your ideas, thoughts, points you want to include in your essay.Just like on papers, write one well-developed answer with three things:

1. Introduction: state the topic2. Develop your point: Include the details3. Conclusion: Summarize what you just discussed

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Math Tests

I would like to tell you there were tips and tricks to help you with a math test. Unfortunatelythere are none. Math is a pure science with no guess work. Either you know the proceduresand formulas to solve problems or you don’t. Mathematics is a cumulative subject. You

must understand one lesson to move on to the next.

Follow these tips to do the best you can on math tests.

Do those problems that are easiest for you right away.

Write the formula out on scratch paper before working the problem out.

Show all the steps that you use to work out an answer. Even if the final answer is incorrect,you get partial credit.

Set a time limit for each answer. If you have time later, go back to the ones you didn’t finish.

If you aren’t sure of an answer, guess. Do not leave a question blank

Approximate an answer in your head, then choose the closest answer.

Pay attention to neatness. You may lose points if your work cannot be read properly.

Often math exams will include multiple choice questions. You can refer to the section onmultiple choice questions above.

Grade First-Aid. Doing poorly in a class? Want to avoid failing? Go to theteacher right away. Tell him or her that you would like to do better in class and ask if there isanything you can do to make your grade better. Ask if there is any extra credit work you cando.

Teachers don’t like to see students fail. Unless you really got on the bad side of a teacher,you will get the help you need to bring your grade up.

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SETTING GOALS

One of the most important things you can do is to set clearly defined, realistic goals. Theprocess of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. Most students that failhave no specific goal in mind. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know

where you have to concentrate your efforts. Just saying that you want to do better in school isnot enough. You must understand what you want to achieve and how better grades will helpyou get what you want. Do you want to graduate with high grades because you want to getinto a particular school or earn a scholarship? Do you want to go into a particularprofession?

Goals are broken down into two types.

“Big Picture” or long range goals are a particular outcome you would like to achieve as aresult of all of your efforts.

Short term goals are small manageable pieces of your long term goals. Short term goals keepyou on track and let you know where changes need to be made.

Rules for effective goal setting:

1. Know exactly what you want and why.

2. Aim high. Shoot for the moon. If you miss you'll still be in the stars.

3. Goals must be realistic and have a deadline.

4. You must be able to mark your progress.

5. Write short description of your goals down and post them where you can see themeveryday.

6. Share your goals only with friends and family members who support you and want tosee you succeed.

On page 34 is a sample goal sheet. Tear it out and make copies. Put copies on your bedroomwall, in the bathroom, on the refrigerator – everywhere. Reviewing your goals daily is acrucial part of your success and must become part of your routine. Each morning when you

wake up read your list of goals. Then each night, right before you go to bed, repeat theprocess.

Every time you make a decision during the day, ask yourself this question, "Does it take mecloser to, or further from my goal." If the answer is "closer to," then you've made the rightdecision. If the answer is "further from," well, you know what to do.

If you follow this process everyday you will be on your way to getting better grades.

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NOTES

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GOALS

1. List the top three (3) reasons WHY you want better grades

A.

B.

C.

2. Write down your Goals:

My goal in class this marking period is to get





3. Write down your Commitments:

I will commit to being on time everyday.

I am committed to devoting ________ hours per week to study.

I will commit to taking notes in every class.

I will commit to going to every class.

I will commit to doing every homework assignment in every class.

I will commit to talking to my teachers every week to stay on top of my grades and ask forhelp when I need it.

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36



DEALING WITH STRESS

The high school years should be the greatest time in one’s life, but certain factors often makeit one of the most stressful times of life. Trying to balance school work, extracurricularactivities, friends, and family is a tough job. Dealing with parents and siblings; not to

mention worrying about how they look, fitting in with a peer group - and also handling loverelationships and sexuality only add to the pressures teen face. Dealing with issues of alcoholand drugs - and now there's a new fear of violence in and around schools. As if that wasn'tenough, they have to deal with all this while undergoing rapid physical and emotionalchanges. It’s enough to drive a kid crazy. How can you get good grades while dealing withall of this? The key is managing all of life’s pressures.

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The challenges caused by stress help to develop newskills and abilities. The problems occur, however, when stress becomes too much to handle. Is stress getting to you? Here are some warning signs of stress.

• Headaches• Nervousness, anxiety attacks• Sleeplessness• Inability to study, lack of concentration• Carelessness or forgetfulness• Boredom• Angry outbursts• Drop in school performance• Nightmares• Feeling sad all of the time

Ignoring the warning signs will always make matters worse. Learning how to deal withstress in a positive way will make every part of your life better – especially school.

Put Stressful Situations in Perspective-Will it matter a month from now? What about a yearfrom now?

Train yourself to relax. Find a nice quiet place and just take it easy.

Learn to say no. Often there is pressure from others to do things that will work against yourgoals or personal values. Always do what is best for you.

Talk things over with someone you trust. Sometimes just talking about situations will makeyou feel better. Maybe someone else has a different perspective on things and can offerhelpful suggestions to deal with problems.

Don't use alcohol or other drugs. These will add to your stress later on. Using drugs andalcohol to escape from problems, is only a temporary solution that will lead to largerproblems later.

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Try not to get upset about things you can't do anything about. If the problem is beyond yourcontrol, try your best to accept it until it can be changed.

Strenuous exercise will relieve stress and give you an overall feeling of well being.

Pray or read something inspirational.

Watch a funny movie. Laughter is therapeutic.

Stop worrying. Most of what you worry about doesn’t exist and will never exist.

Think back at some proud or happy moments.

Forgive yourself for all of your mistakes – and forgive others for theirs.

These tips can help you learn how to deal with stress on your own. If problems continue, ask for help. Know when you need help and go and get it. There is no shame in needing help.Talk to a counselor about where to get specific help with your situations.

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PEER RELATIONSHIPS

Our relationships play a large part in shaping who we are. Among our most powerfulinfluences is our peer group. Our peer group is the people we associate with who are similarin age, background, social status and interests. These people influence our beliefs and

behavior.

Teenagers make decisions about who they call friends by who they identify with or want toidentify with. Even though some teens prefer to go it alone, the desire for a teenager to fit inand to be part of a group is almost overwhelming.

You are about to make some serious changes in the way you do things. You want yourgrades to change so you are going to have to do things a lot differently. Where does yourcurrent group of friends fit into your new lifestyle? Do they want to see you be successful?Are they supportive of the fact that you are not going to do some of the things you used to dobecause you have to devote more time to your studies? Look at the people you spend the

most time with, do they encourage you to do your best? Are they working hard to do well inschool? If not then you may consider some new friends or spend less time with them.Negative people will sooner or later pressure you with their negative habits.

Combat negative pressures by learning to say no. If someone is trying to get you to do thingsthat make you uncomfortable or will work against your goals, just tell them that you wouldrather not. Make no apologies or excuses. Just say no.

Studies show that kids who get good grades, are involved in sports or otheractivities, such as music and other arts, tend to avoid peer groups that are into negative anddestructive behaviors. Peer pressure is the number one reason teens get into drinking drugssmoking and criminal behaviors.

Not all peer pressure is negative. Members of positive peer groups set plenty of goodexamples for each other. Having peers who are committed to doing well in school or to doingtheir best in a sport can influence you to be more goal-oriented, too. Being around positive,goal–oriented people can help you develop positive habits. They also can be a source of encouragement.

Work to develop positive relationships and avoid negative peer pressure.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

We have covered a lot of tips to help you achieve your goals and get higher grades, but I’mgoing to leave you with a few more that hopefully will send you well on your way.

Don’t wait to start on your mission. Start today. Remember the words of Walt Disney,"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."

Struggling is learning. Struggle is a part of life. There is no progress without it. Workinghard to find out answers on your own is the best way to learn.

Teach someone else who is not yet at the place you are. Teachers are always the beststudents. When you teach someone else, your understanding gets stronger. Help others tolearn. It’s the best way to learn yourself.

Never be afraid to ask for help. If you are having trouble, don’t be afraid to reach out forhelp. Get help from a teacher, a friend or a tutor. Use all of your available resources.

Never be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are learning experiences. Every time youmake a mistake you successfully identify something that doesn’t work.

Take responsibility for your choices. Blaming others is a waste of energy.

You will make good choices and bad choices. Accept it. Experience comes from makingbad choices.

Look at the big picture. Success in school is the foundation for your life. A solid

educational base will support your life’s goals.

Ask older people for advice. People will bend over backward to teach you something they

had to learn the hard way. Save yourself some trouble.

Never give up!

I’m glad you have made a decision to make some positive changes in your life - after all lifeis all about choices. Make some new choices that are going to work for you and eliminateold choices that don’t work.

If I told you this was going to be easy, I wouldn’t be telling the truth. You are going to betested in a lot of ways. You will be tempted to quit and go back to your old habits.Remember if you do, nothing will get better. If you continue to do what you have alwaysdone, you will get what you have always gotten. Make a commitment to yourself to do whattakes to raise your grades. Accept the responsibility and choose to succeed. Life is all aboutchoices!

Good Luck and see you at the top!

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