1. Take an honest look at your own study and work habits. Most students do
not struggle in school because they lack the intelligence or ability to succeed.
Instead, grades suffer due to poor organization and time management.
2. Believe in yourself. You are an intelligent, creative, important person. Your
teachers, family and community are all here to support you!
3. Make a decision to do your best every day. When you are getting ready for
school in the morning, make a commitment to yourself to work hard and do your
best work, just for that day. Do this every morning!
4. Work with your own strengths and weaknesses. No one goes through school
and "gets it" in every class all the time. If you are confused or feel that you are
falling behind in a class, talk to a teacher or another adult right away.
5. Ask for help! It is your responsibility to let the people around you know when
you need help. Whether you are struggling with school work or a personal issue,
the only way to improve the situation is to talk to someone about it.
6. Manage your time well. We all know what its like to put off something we'd
rather not do in order to play one more video game or one more game of pick-up
basketball. Too many "one more's," however, can pile up and leave your behind
in your school work. Try setting aside a certain amount of time a day for
homework. If you have an especially long homework assignment on one day, you
can take extra "you" time on another day.
7. Work smarter, not harder! Using the time you do have effectively will reduce
the total time you spend doing work. For example, if your teacher gives you time
to work in class, use it! Every minute you spend working during class is one more
minute of free time after school!
8. Get organized! While every person has a different organizational style, most
find it helpful to write down lists of things to do. You might use this strategy by
keeping a notebook agenda where you write down all assignments for each class
every day. If you're not the type to remember to bring the same notebook to
school everyday, keep a stack of index cards in your room. Put one in your
pocket every day before heading to school and write your assignments on the
card at the end of each class. Or find another style that works for you!
9. Be honest with your parents and teachers. If you don't understand what the
teacher is saying, raise your hand and ask questions! Don't let the teacher move
on to a new topic until you are clear on the first one.
10. It's never too late to turn around! Every student can and should succeed in
every class. Don't give up on yourself. If you have given up on yourself, change
your mind!
11. Enjoy learning! Find things in your classes that interest you and explore
them on your own. Like writing poetry? Solving algebraic equations? Learning
about Roman history? There's no rule that your learning has to be limited to
school hours.
12. Help other students! Find other students who are struggling and show them
how you have overcome similar struggles. The best way to learn something is to
teach it to someone else (that's why teachers always seem so smart!)
If these seem too tough, just remember this: Don't give up on yourself.
not struggle in school because they lack the intelligence or ability to succeed.
Instead, grades suffer due to poor organization and time management.
2. Believe in yourself. You are an intelligent, creative, important person. Your
teachers, family and community are all here to support you!
3. Make a decision to do your best every day. When you are getting ready for
school in the morning, make a commitment to yourself to work hard and do your
best work, just for that day. Do this every morning!
4. Work with your own strengths and weaknesses. No one goes through school
and "gets it" in every class all the time. If you are confused or feel that you are
falling behind in a class, talk to a teacher or another adult right away.
5. Ask for help! It is your responsibility to let the people around you know when
you need help. Whether you are struggling with school work or a personal issue,
the only way to improve the situation is to talk to someone about it.
6. Manage your time well. We all know what its like to put off something we'd
rather not do in order to play one more video game or one more game of pick-up
basketball. Too many "one more's," however, can pile up and leave your behind
in your school work. Try setting aside a certain amount of time a day for
homework. If you have an especially long homework assignment on one day, you
can take extra "you" time on another day.
7. Work smarter, not harder! Using the time you do have effectively will reduce
the total time you spend doing work. For example, if your teacher gives you time
to work in class, use it! Every minute you spend working during class is one more
minute of free time after school!
8. Get organized! While every person has a different organizational style, most
find it helpful to write down lists of things to do. You might use this strategy by
keeping a notebook agenda where you write down all assignments for each class
every day. If you're not the type to remember to bring the same notebook to
school everyday, keep a stack of index cards in your room. Put one in your
pocket every day before heading to school and write your assignments on the
card at the end of each class. Or find another style that works for you!
9. Be honest with your parents and teachers. If you don't understand what the
teacher is saying, raise your hand and ask questions! Don't let the teacher move
on to a new topic until you are clear on the first one.
10. It's never too late to turn around! Every student can and should succeed in
every class. Don't give up on yourself. If you have given up on yourself, change
your mind!
11. Enjoy learning! Find things in your classes that interest you and explore
them on your own. Like writing poetry? Solving algebraic equations? Learning
about Roman history? There's no rule that your learning has to be limited to
school hours.
12. Help other students! Find other students who are struggling and show them
how you have overcome similar struggles. The best way to learn something is to
teach it to someone else (that's why teachers always seem so smart!)
If these seem too tough, just remember this: Don't give up on yourself.
12 Steps to Success
in School!
in School!