Being a student is hard, stressful, and time consuming. This is a small list of the most important things I have discovered over time that I believe are the most beneficial things a student can do to be successful, without all the stress.
Time Management and Procrastination
Time management is a big part of high school success. Having a lot of homework to do and the motivation to do it will only get you so far unless you plan out the time to actually complete the assignments. High schoolers are notorious for busy schedules, being a part of sports and countless clubs, students often find it hard to set out time to do homework. This is when procrastination becomes a big problem.
Waiting until the last minute to complete homework is how bad grades appear because the work is not the best it could be. Creating a weekly schedule that lays out when all due dates are and when you have time available for doing work can go far when trying to be successful.
Start out each night with the things that are either due the soonest or the hardest and most time consuming. You don’t want to start with the easiest thing and then not have the motivation or time to complete the rest. Setting out enough time to complete all assignments well is the first step to getting good grades.
Note Taking
The main problems students have with studying for tests are that they don’t understand the textbook or the online notes that the teacher provided. The issue is that the words in the textbook are about as complex as the information gets, and you might not understand all the words it uses or all the material.
Bringing a notebook to class and some colorful pens will help with note taking in class. Don’t write down exactly what the teacher says, instead reword it to be in your own words. This way, when you’re studying, you will know exactly what the paper says and studying your own notes will help you remember what the teacher taught.
Use whatever note style best suits you, whether it’s bullet points or drawing a lot of pictures. Also, using colored pens and highlighters all over the paper will help you remember the material more on the test. Usually, when I read a question on a test, I am able to picture where it was in my notes.
Organization
It is very easy to let that school binder get bogged down with all of the papers students get daily. This makes it very easy to lose assignments, misplace papers, or crumple them. The best way to keep your binder organized is to put in colored pocket dividers, one for each subject.
I like to coordinate the colors of the dividers in my binder with the notebooks and folders for each class, so math has a green divider and a green notebook. This way, when I’m in math, I can flip to the green divider and all of my worksheets will be neatly placed in the folder, not shoved into my backpack. Then it’s easy to reach for the green notebook to be prepared to take notes and turn in homework.
Doing homework after school is also easier and less time consuming. When you’re able to grab an assignment out of a colored folder, where you know it will be, it makes it easier to start that homework and get it done.
Get to Know the Teacher
Or maybe I should say let the teacher get to know you. Sitting in the front of the classroom is one of the main signs to a teacher that a student is in their classroom ready to learn and succeed.
Asking questions in class can make the teacher feel like you care about their class and the subject, and most importantly, that you believe the teacher can successfully teach you, and you value their opinion about the topic.
Going to your teacher’s tutoring sessions can also help the teacher get to know you. When studying the night before prepare a list of questions you have, so you can make the most of the teacher’s time during sessions.
Getting to know the teacher and spending time showing that you care about their class will help you because the teacher will be more willing to help tutor a student that they like, and that they know cares.
Stay Positive and Motivated
Getting a poor grade on a test is not the end of the world. It is all part of the learning experience.
When you do bad on a test in a certain class this tells you that you need to study harder for the next test in order to do better. The point of learning is to improve your skills and knowledge, not to start out a pro at each subject.
A bad grade on the first test of a class will not make or break your high school career. All the grades will get buffered out by the tons of grades you receive throughout the semester, so there is no need to stress about the very first grades you get. Do not let bad grades discourage you from continuing to try the rest of the year, and stay motivated to get a better grade on the next test!
Attempting to complete all of these success tips every day when you go to school, even just a couple at a time, can change your grades and the way you go through your education. It will certainly help your grades, and you will have a great learning experience.