Dear parents and students, 

Below you will find some proven ways to improve grades in classes. Many of these tips have been used by some of the best students in high school and college. They are listed here to help students, with encouragement of parents, do a better job studying and completing homework. 

Tips for studying and doing homework. 

1. Have a set time and place to do homework and study. 

2. Keep your study place free form distractions. 

3. Complete the assignment(s) for one subject at a time. 

Start and complete your hardest subject first. 

4. Read all your class notes every day. This will help keep the information fresh in your mind for test and quizzes.

This will also help you avoid the need to cram the night before a test.  

5. Take notes in class. Do not just underline in your book. Notes are less confusing when you are studying for a test or quizzes. Taking notes will help you remember what was taught in class, organize information, reduce the amount of information your have to learn, and require less time studying. Remember, it take less time to read over a few pages of notes than a chapter or two in a book. 

6. Use note cards to record important information from your textbooks. Although underlining in textbooks is a good way to identify important information in your text, notes or note cards are better for studying.  

7. If your teacher gives out study sheets, use them! Answer all the questions. Answer as many as you can, then check your answers from the textbook. It is best to answer them in statement form. Remember test questions do not appear the same way or in the same order as the study sheet. 

8. Do not try to "watch" TV while studying. THIS IS A DISTRACTION. Your brain cannot do two things at the same time.

9. Recheck your work to ensure you completed all of it. 

10. If you miss a class, get that day’s notes from a trusted classmate. 

11. Complete all homework on time. Many teachers take points off for late work. Homework should never be late.

Remember, late graded homework can effect your class grade, which will later effect your GPA.

12. Approach reading assignments in a four step process.

a. Skimming the material to be read to look for main ideas.

b. Read the text while taking notes, and creating questions.

c. Recite out loud important material.

d. Review what you have just read. Especially review what caused you trouble in the recitation step.  

A study plan is only as good as your willingness to use it. Organization and planning are an important part of a successful school year. 
 

Yours in Christ,

Wayne L. Jeffries

Guidance Counselor