Class Preparation
First and foremost, a student has to be in class consistently. There is no substitute for being in class. In addition, each day students are expected to show up with a positive attitude, an open mind, a pencil/pen, assignment(s), and something to put handouts/assignments in to stay organized. I strongly encourage a 3-ringed binder to keep materials organized. I provide a 3 hole punch for those students that utilize the binder. It is essential to be organized because students are allowed to use any notes and/or assignments on their Content Quizzes. Furthermore, it helps them be organized and prepare for future tests/exams.
Test/Quiz Preparation
Again, the student has to be in class consistently. Numerous examples and explanations are detailed in a classroom setting that cannot be replicated outside of the classroom. In addition, simply looking at a study guide or staring at pages/papers is not studying. Students need to be active when studying.
What does being active look like?
Preparing flash cards with the question on one side and the answer on the other, students
teaching their parents, reading questions and answering aloud, or in the event of matching or labeling (ex. a map) point to the
correct area and say the answer aloud.
Active studying ideas:
Doing assignments/home work, writing out note cards and studying from them, preparing a lesson and teaching materials to a parent, repeating items aloud when studying, answering the question words (who, what, when, where, how, and why) about a
topic or subject, using visuals (ex. maps) and pointing or labeling.
Focus on material you do not know or need to brush up on.
Students often like to try and study everything when preparing for a test/quiz. However, often students gain a false
read on what they know because they will continue to focus on the items they are comfortable with. As a result,
they are not focusing on the items they truly do not understand therefore not giving them much of a chance to
improve themselves. In the end, the student often ends up with a grade he or she is disappointed with after "studying
hard."
What does being active look like?
Preparing flash cards with the question on one side and the answer on the other, students
teaching their parents, reading questions and answering aloud, or in the event of matching or labeling (ex. a map) point to the
correct area and say the answer aloud.
Active studying ideas:
Doing assignments/home work, writing out note cards and studying from them, preparing a lesson and teaching materials to a parent, repeating items aloud when studying, answering the question words (who, what, when, where, how, and why) about a
topic or subject, using visuals (ex. maps) and pointing or labeling.
Focus on material you do not know or need to brush up on.
Students often like to try and study everything when preparing for a test/quiz. However, often students gain a false
read on what they know because they will continue to focus on the items they are comfortable with. As a result,
they are not focusing on the items they truly do not understand therefore not giving them much of a chance to
improve themselves. In the end, the student often ends up with a grade he or she is disappointed with after "studying
hard."