How to get better grades

Get Organized

Clean out your bookbag, locker, binder, and desk at home. Less clutter will help you find what is most important.

Have a clean and quiet work area at home for homework. This will help you focus and allow you to study more efficiently.

Label all your notebooks for each class. That way you don't have to search through each one.

Make sure you keep all your notes in that notebook, that way you won't lose them.

File papers in your binder by which class they are for and when they are due.

File graded work at home in case you need it again for something, don't carry it in your binder.

Time Management

Study at the same time every day. Even if you don't have homework, spend at least a half hour reading, or studying every night.

Use your agenda! Write down what you do in each class every day, to remind yourself. Write down homework you have and due dates of assignments.

The agenda can be your best friend if you really use it.

Do your most important, or hardest, assignments first. That way they are done and finished before you run out of time.

Plan time to exercise, sleep, and have fun. Make sure you don't over schedule yourself with work.

All work and no play makes Johnny a tired student.

Set Goals

Choose realistic goals, then increase them as you meet each one.

Choose small, short-term goals to start with.

"I will get my next assignments in on time in all my classes." Is a great place to start.

Choose larger, long-term goals for a trimester or a year.

These goals do not have to relate to grades. However, picking an overall grade point average for the trimester is a good start.

Revisit your goals on a regular basis. Do self checks to see how well you are doing in reaching your goals. Then adjust your behavior to help you better achieve your goal.

Ask For Help

Don't be afraid to talk to your teachers, they want to help you.

Ask the right questions. Don't ask what it will take to pass a class. Ask if the teacher has any suggestions for what you can do to better understand the subject.

Follow your teachers' suggestions. Your teachers know what works.

Make sure you know the teachers' policy on late work, extra credit, and assignment do-overs.

Know How to Use Your Textbook

Know where the table of contents, index, glossary, and resource pages are in your book. These will often help you in fining information

Don't skip over the questions in the reading. These questions are there to help you review what you just read.

Read the book! Wouldn't it be nice if the information you needed on a subject was located all in one spot? Guess what, it is!!

Try taking notes as you read. This will help you better remember the content of the reading, and will give you something to review before the test or quiz.

Do Your Homework

The whole point behind homework is to reinforce what you are discussing and doing in class.

Teachers don't assign homework randomly, they carefully choose practice work that will help you learn the concepts being taught.

Don't wait until the last minute to do your homework. You'll do a much better job if you take your time and think about the assignment.

Use your class time to do as much work as you can. That way you won't have nearly as much homework.