Shades Mountain Christian School

1. Be enthusiastic about your schoolwork – your attitude is key.
 
2. Make sure you schedule sufficient time for studying at home.
 
3. Minimize distractions while you are studying. Time spent on instant messages and phone calls does not count as “study time.”
 
4. Prepare a place to study at home with everything you need so you don’t need to waste time looking for a pencil or paper.
 
5. Know your dominant learning style. Do you learn better if you see it or hear it? Do you like information in a predictable sequence, or do you prefer to take things in rapidly? If you know your dominant style, you’ll know how to adapt when necessary. Teachers can usually help you determine your dominant learning style IF you will ask them!
 
6. Rest and sleep are important (at night, not in class). During growth spurts, your body typically needs more than 8 hours of deep sleep a night. Get to bed so that you get enough rest and don’t wake up tired.
 
7. Don’t cheat – and yes, copying homework assignments is considered cheating. You may get away with it and earn a higher grade, but what is the value of the grade if you sacrifice your integrity to obtain it? You may also get caught, and hardly anything disappoints a teacher more than academic dishonesty. Integrity is something no one else can give you, but you can throw it away in a heartbeat.
 
8. Keep your mind on what you are doing; concentration is another key.
 
9. Research has proven that there are things you can do to help retain more accurate information in your long-term memory (helpful for tests!). You need to read back through written lecture notes within 12 hours of writing them down (the same day, at least before you go to sleep). You need to use multiple senses as you study whenever possible: Hear it, see it, say it, write it, and do it.
 
10. Try reading an entire assignment rapidly for basic content, and then reread for detail; you’ll be surprised.
 
11. Write clearly. Teachers will sometimes look at written work with more scrutiny if they struggle with the handwriting. In these situations, it naturally follows that they are likely to find more problems with your answer. In the “real world,” neat handwriting is valued and will always be a skill that is carried with you wherever you go.
 
12. Math and foreign languages must be practiced daily. Don’t put off these assignments because it will cost you.
 
13. Don’t put off studying to the last moment. Create and keep yourself on schedule.
 
14. For multiple-choice tests, start by eliminating the answer choices that you know are wrong. This increases your odds if you have to guess. Never leave an answer blank.
 
15. For any test, answer the questions you know first, and then return to the more difficult ones. The right-side of your brain will continue to work on the difficult problems as you move ahead, and you may just have an “ah-ha!” response when you look back at the question again. This also helps to keep your frustration from blocking information that you do know.
 
16. Eat nutritious meals on a regular schedule. Blood sugar levels have a direct impact on learning comprehension.
 
17. Train yourself to listen and watch for verbal clues from your teacher. The verb the teacher uses when explaining an assignment will tell you exactly what you need to be able to do.
 
18. Organization counts! Use the tools you’re given. Write dates and assignments down and keep your papers in a binder or notebook separated by class and ordered by date. This one action alone can often add 5-10% to a typical nine-week grade.
 
19. There is no substitute for hard work when it comes to academic success. If you find yourself in trouble, talk to your teacher and your parents. Believe it or not, they can help you!
 
20. Remember that you are not working for a grade. You are working for God and preparing yourself for what He has specifically created you to accomplish for His glory.