¶ Use the student homework pad you were given at the beginning of the year to keep track of your assignments.

¶ Write down each daily and long-term assignment in your homework pad. Include the due date.

¶ Ask your teachers what assignments or tests you missed when you were absent. Arrange for make-ups.

¶ Keep important papers and handouts in a separate folder for each class.

¶ Check your homework pad before you leave home so that you are prepared for school. Check your homework pad again before you leave school to make sure you have everything you need.

¶ Keep your locker organized so that you can find books and supplies quickly.

¶ Have a set study time each day.

¶ Plan ahead: allow extra time for the more difficult subjects/assignments.

¶ Study when you are most awake and alert.

¶ Use libraries for individual and small group study.

¶ Ask a librarian for help with reference materials, especially for long-term projects.

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¶ Find or create a private study area at a table or desk with a lot of work space and good lighting.

¶ Keep distractions to a minimum: no television, no telephone, no interruptions, etc.

¶ Take a short break after thirty minutes of study. Stand up, stretch, walk around or get a snack.

¶ Ask a family member or call a friend for help when you when you need it.
 

¶ Recite information.

¶ Recopy your notes.

¶ Make cue cards.

¶ Create acronyms (words formed from the initial letters of a name). Examples: ROY G BIV = the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet); PEMDAS = the mathematical order of operations (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction); HOMES = the five Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)

¶ Create acrostics (a poem or series of lines in which the first letter in each line form a word or message). Examples: NEWS helps you remember the directions on a compass; PEAR helps you remember the countries engaged in battle against Napoleon.

¶ Create mnemonic sentences (sentences created by words that begin with the first letter of a series of words). Examples: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles" helps you remember the order of the planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto); "Every Good Boy Does Fine" helps you remember the order of the notes on the lines of a treble clef staff (E G B D F).

¶ Draw pictures or diagrams.

¶ Organize your notes by subject.

¶ Date each entry.

¶ Copy all of your teacher’s notes from the board, overhead or easel.

¶ Listen for important ideas that your teacher and classmates discuss and write them down as notes.

¶ Use abbreviations and symbols.

¶ Review your notes and highlight key ideas.
 

¶ Keep a dictionary handy in case you come across a word you don’t know.

¶ Ask yourself how the setting, characters, and plot are connected.

¶ Be aware of the author’s style of writing (e.g. humorous, diary, first person, etc).

¶ Look for literary techniques such as foreshadowing, flashbacks, and imagery.

¶ Jot down anything you might want to recall later, including questions you have about the reading.

¶ Think about the main idea or theme of the story.

¶ Enjoy!

¶ Slow down.

¶ Re-read the parts you don’t understand.

¶ Skim for key ideas.

¶ Ask for help.

¶ Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words. If this doesn’t help, use a dictionary.

¶ Make mental pictures of what you are reading to increase understanding.

¶ Start by reading the bold print and all headings.

¶ Skim the questions you have to answer.

¶ Read the entire article/selection, keeping the questions in mind.

¶ Take notes as you read to help you recall information.

¶ Ask the teacher about any parts you find confusing.
 

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Media Center Know How

¶ Know that the OPAC/card catalog is an index to all materials in the library/media center.

¶ Know that the OPAC/card catalog has a location code for all material which will help you find the information.

¶ Know that all indexes are "speed dialers" for quickly finding information.

¶ Know to use a variety of sources both print and electronic.

¶ No food or drink is allowed in the library.

¶ Books circulate for 2 weeks (late fee = 5¢ a day).

¶ Reference books circulate overnight. Books may be checked out at the end of the day but must be returned by homeroom the next day (late fee = $1 a day).

¶ Have something to do (class assignment, research, reading) and do it.

¶ Respect other students around you.

¶ Have a signed pass when you come to the library during school hours.

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Surfing the Web

 

¶ Currency: When was the page created and, more importantly, how often is it updated? If a Website does not have a date on it, you can assume it's old. In most instances it is best to get current information.

¶ Authority: Who or what group created this page? What are his/her/their credentials? Is this person/group affiliated with a well-known and well-respected organization? Can you contact the person? If there is no author or contact given, then the page is suspect. It's better not to trust the page when the creator doesn't trust himself enough to reveal his identity. Authors/creators that are affiliated with a school, university, government agency, or reputable organization, can be trusted more, but you still need to be wary. Use your best judgment at all times.

¶ Accuracy: Where did the author/creator get his/her/their information? Do they cite their sources? If they are not citing sources, they may be making things up. The best sites will list their sources and give contact information for further research.

¶ Bias: Does the site only offer one point of view? Is there an agenda to sway your opinion on something? Beware of sites that are subjective. (You won't, for instance, want to get information on African Americans from a site affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan.) When you are unsure, look at the links within the Website. Are they to an assortment of reliable Websites? If not, you may want to reconsider using the original site.

¶ Bring a pen or pencil and any other materials you need with you.

¶ Look the test over as soon as you get it to find out the number and types of questions.

¶ Keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself.

¶ Read all directions.

¶ Complete the easy questions first.

¶ Spend the most time on the important questions.

¶ Skip any questions that give you trouble and return to them later.

¶ Be sure to answer all questions completely.
 

¶ Review all the answers.

¶ Read all the teacher’s comments.

¶ Listen and take notes as the teacher reviews the test.

¶ Ask about questions that you still do not understand.

¶ Make an appointment with the teacher to discuss concepts that were difficult.

¶ Learn from your mistakes.
 

¶ Find out what topics will be covered on the test.

¶ Anticipate test questions.

¶ Concentrate on studying the topics that give you trouble.

¶ Avoid waiting until the last minute to study.

¶ Do not cram.
 

¶ Rewrite your notes.

¶ Highlight your notes.

¶ Tape-record your notes and then listen to them.

¶ Create memory cards. Make matching memory cards (one with the

¶ Read each statement carefully.

¶ Remember that a statement is only considered true if it is entirely true. So, look out for words such as never, no one, always, everyone, all, and only.
 

¶ Read directions carefully.

¶ Underline key words such as compare, contrast, or, and, and list.

¶ Ask the teacher for clarification if there is something you do not understand.

¶ Think about what you want to write.

¶ Brainstorm and jot down main ideas you want to include in your essay.

¶ Organize a working outline and use it as your guide.

¶ Restate part of the question into your introduction.

¶ Support your position with specific examples.

¶ Answer all parts of the question.

¶ Check your organization of ideas.

¶ Check for errors in spelling and grammar.

¶ Read the question carefully.

¶ Eliminate any choice you know is wrong.

¶ Concentrate on the choices remaining and choose the one you think
is most correct.

¶ Pay close attention to words like but, except, not, and never.

¶ Think carefully about choices such as all of the above or none of the above.
 

¶ Check to see if columns have the same number of items. It’s always good to know whether or not you will need to use all of the answers.

¶ Find out if you can use the same answer more than once. If you are unsure, ask the teacher.

¶ Go down the list and match the items you know first.

¶ Check off the answers you have used.

¶ Concentrate on the remaining answers and match the ones you think match best.
 

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Doing Your Best

¶ Read and follow all directions.

¶ Stay on task.

¶ Complete all homework assignments on time.

¶ Start your homework as soon as possible while the content that you have just learned in class is fresh in your mind.

¶ Start long-term assignments early. Make a schedule and stick to it. Avoid waiting until the last minute!

¶ Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast so that you can pay attention during class.

¶ Complete all make-up work promptly if you are absent. Exchange phone numbers or email addresses with a classmate so that you can find out what you missed.

¶ Do not fall behind!  Remember, the class goes on, even if you are not there.

¶ Make an appointment to speak with your teacher if you are having trouble.
 

¶ Arrive to class on time.

¶ Come prepared with all necessary materials.

¶ Pay attention.

¶ Make eye contact with the teacher.

¶ Focus on any visuals.

¶ Take notes (see Taking Notes).

¶ Ask your teacher questions about anything you do not understand.

¶ Participate in class discussion.

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And the winner is… You!