Reading cultures an tradition

Excelling Academically
Always pay attention in class. This is the number
one tenet of getting good grades: always, always,
always pay attention in class. Here's a whole bunch of
reasons why:
You might miss some important information.
Plenty of teachers talk about tests and quizzes in
class. If you're not paying attention, you could
miss the answers.
You could get bonus points. Most teachers reward
students who are active and participating with
extra participation points. This could be a sizable
chunk of your grade.
Paying attention in class makes the homework a
million times easier. You'll have much more free
time breezing through your homework at night if
you've already spent the time in class thinking
about it.
It makes tests easier, too. If you've already spent
an hour that day in class engaged, you have to
study that much less.
Sometimes your grade will lie on a cliff between a
regular whole letter and a plus or a minus, like a
A- and an A, or a B+ and an A-. In many cases,
the teacher will take into account if you're a "good
kid" and if he or she likes you. The more you pay
attention, the more likely it is your teacher will
give you the benefit of the doubt.
Do the homework. If you do the homework, the
readings, and pay attention in class, there's almost
no way you can get bad grades. Make sure you don't
slack off because a certain assignment is "just graded
for completion." There is no point in doing homework if
you aren't going to do it right. The information will be
useful later on for the tests or final exams.
Make homework time fun. Turn up the music and
have some snacks handy. If that doesn't work,
reason with yourself. Remember that teachers
have to do the same amount of work you do but
for all of their students. They only assign
homework that is necessary for you to learn the
material.
Organize everything. Take all of those loose
papers and notes of yours and organize them.
When you're more organized, it's easy to find exactly
what you're looking for, streamlining the studying
process and avoiding frustration. Here are a few ideas:
Invest in a few small binders (multiple small
binders are better than one large binder). Be sure
to hole punch your papers instead of cramming
them into pockets in your binders.
Keep your syllabus in the front pocket of your
binders. You'll be referring to it often, so make it
easily accessible.
File away any homework that is more than a
grading period old (if you have rolling grades, you
should keep all of your papers with you until the
end of the year just in case).
Use topic-wise indexes for easier access when
you need them. Label each paper clearly with a
colored pen: CW for classwork, HW for
homework, N for notes.
Clear out your backpack. Dump it on the floor, sort
everything into piles, then place all necessary
papers into the correct binders and throw out
what you don't need.
Make and maintain a study place. If you don't
have a set study place, make one now. Is your
study place organized and clean? Is it well-lit? Is it
quiet and well-ventilated? Do you have necessary
materials at your fingertips? If so, good! If not, work on
it. When you have a set study place, it's easier to buckle
down and get it done. And the TV won't be distracting
you!
Store all textbooks, notes, etc. within reach as
well as a computer (desktop/laptop) with Internet
access if possible. If your house is always
crowded or noisy, try the library.
Know the syllabus for every class. A syllabus is an
outline of everything you're going to do in the
class and when. Your teacher should provide this to
you, and if they haven't, be sure to ask for one. That
way you know which areas are concentrated on (these
will likely be of focus on tests) and when the tests will
be.
Knowing the syllabus – or at least having it handy
to refer to often – will leave very few questions up
in the air. You'll know what topics your teacher
spends the most time on, you'll know all your
deadlines, and you'll know the test dates months
in advance. With your syllabus by your side, it's
hard to go wrong.
Set high standards for yourself. Make a promise
to yourself, and others, that you'll get acceptable
grades on tests and complete all your homework. Take
action if your marks start falling before someone else
has to point it out to you. Find ways to motivate
yourself, and convince yourself that you want to get into
college more than anything. Motivation is the key to
success!
If this is really important to you, talk to your
parents about helping you stay motivated. They
want you to get good grades, too, so they may be
open to helping out. Maybe at the end of the
semester, if you have all As, they can get you that
present you've wanted or extend your curfew. You
never know if you don't ask!
Do a little studying every night. The night before
every class, read through the material in the book
that you predict or have been told will be covered that
day. Use review questions at the end of the chapter to
make sure you have a basic understanding of it. Write
down any questions you have and ask your teacher.
You'll be so far ahead of the curve during class the next
day that even the most difficult questions will be easy.
When it comes to little facts like dates, names,
and equations, our memories are very good at
quickly forgetting, especially when these facts just
get replaced with new ones. Studying a little bit
every day keeps the information fresh in your
memory, making it easier to remember.
Take good notes . A good rule of thumb is to copy
down all diagrams as completely as possible and
write down anything you think you might not remember.
Write them down where you can read them and put
them in order by date for easy reference later.
Come up with a shorthand system so you don't
have to write down every word. Use abbreviations
where possible so you can keep up.
Try to go home and retype the notes, adding any
extra information. Some teachers bounce back
and forth between topics. You may remember
something they mentioned that you didn't have
time to copy down or it may be written down in a
different place. Then study your notes and any
extra information you've added.
Get a tutor. A good tutor will be able to help you
understand concepts, make the class fun and set
problems which are neither too easy nor too difficult for
you. A tutor is not just for the "dumb" or mentally
challenged – even the smartest kids can benefit from
after-school tutoring. Sometimes there is a student
tutor in your school who can offer help and advice
between classes or after school.
Talk to your counselor or teacher about a possible
tutor you could work with. They likely know an
older student who needs a tutoring gig for their
college resume or a student who's enrolled in an
after-school tutoring program who is looking for
someone to teach.

How to Excel in High
School
High school is all about endurance and management – no
longer can you coast by. With competition for high-demand
courses and tuition fees in colleges rising, and consequently
scholarships becoming more and more of a necessity, it's
time to face the facts: you'll need to do well in high school
to get the college admission you want and scholarship you
need.
Part One of Five:
Getting Ahead before High School
Make the best grades you possibly can in your 7th
and 8th grade years. Many students think that it
isn't important to start doing your best until your first
year in high school, but this is far from the truth. If you
want to start off your freshman year with Honors
classes, you have to make As (or high Bs) in your 8th
grade year; otherwise you likely won't get accepted into
these competitive, impressive, and highly sought after
Honors classes.
Every school is a bit different. Some schools
require tests to be admitted to Honors classes,
some take students based on teacher
recommendation, while others will put you in
whatever classes you feel like taking. To make
sure you can start out high school ahead of the
curve, it's best to impressive during your years in
junior high, too.
Start your extracurriculars now. If you want to
excel in extracurriculars in high school – which is
a great way to get scholarships, attract attention to
colleges in general, and show you're well-rounded –
you need to start now. There will be some really good
athletes and performers in your high school, so keep up
with them by starting early.
Experiment with a few activities while you're still
young enough to drop them if you don't like them
and pick another. And don't just stick to one area
– if you're big into sports, branch out to dancing
or a musical instrument. If you're more artistic,
find something athletic to give a try. You could be
great at it!
Pick the classes you enroll in carefully. Read the
class descriptions and talk to other students who
have taken the classes you're interested in. Taking a
class just because a friend is taking it too won't help
you and, what's more, your friend will probably just be a
distraction. Instead, look for classes with students and
material that is slightly above your level as the best
motivator is competition.
If you're looking to be valedictorian, one of the
ways to cinch that is to take loads of Honors
classes (provided you can still get As). Straight As
in Honors classes are even more impressive than
straight As in regular classes, so take as many
difficult classes as you can handle – without
compromising your GPA, of course. A great GPA
in normal classes is better than a poor GPA in
Honors.
Keep in mind the subjects necessary to pursue
your intended career. If you're considering
becoming a psychologist, for example, take
psychology and sociology over Metal Shop and
Ceramics.
If you can, look at the textbooks for the various
classes. Oftentimes the rigor of the textbook will
reflect that of the class.
Obtain the textbooks early, and supplemental
ones, too. Ask your teacher or office staff if you
can get the textbooks during the summer – most
schools have last year's textbooks in a closet
somewhere just waiting to be read. Unless the books
are new and they're being shipped, there's no reason
you shouldn't be able to get yours to read for the
summer.
Ask your teachers, older students or consult the
Internet to find the best sources for supplemental
readings. Use several reference books that will
augment your understanding of the material. This
way you'll be able to truly wrap your brain around
any concept your teacher presents you.
Don't be afraid of seemingly difficult material.
Think of it as a challenge and face it head on. It
may be confusing now, but when your class is
covering it, it will all click into place and you'll be
that much further ahead.

How to Feel Confident Before
an Exam
Even a pop quiz generates a little anxiety in most students,
and some students find exams completely terrifying. [1] But
test anxiety can be decreased by thorough preparation,
mental and physical relaxation, and help from others.
Knowing that you've done everything you can to prepare can
help you feel more confident before going into an exam.
Part One of Three:
Preparing for the Exam
Make a study schedule. To make sure you don’t
leave studying to the last minute, create a
schedule for when you will study during the days or
weeks before the exam. For example, you could commit
to studying for one hour a day right after school for one
week before the exam.
Making a study schedule can help you to avoid
allowing other activities to interfere with studying.
Plan to study for about 45 minutes at a time. It’s
difficult to concentrate for more than 45 minutes.
You may find it easier to concentrate if you take
short breaks once an hour. [2]
If the test will cover a lot of material, consider
using the “chunking” technique. Break your topic
into sections so that you can focus on each one
comfortable instead of trying to cover all of the
material in every study session. [3] You can then
plan your study sessions around specific sections
of the material.
Create, revise, and review your study tools.
Choose tools that fit the subject matter and your
learning style. Options include flash cards, outlines,
timelines, charts, and sample test questions.[4]
Create a one-page summary with the most
important ideas, equations, or methods for the
exam. The process of creating this summary will
prompt you to identify the most important
information that you need to know for the exam,
which will help you to study more efficiently. If the
exam is open-book, this summary sheet can also
be a helpful guide to your notes or textbook while
you’re taking the test. [5]
Keep your learning style in mind when creating
your study tools. For example, if you are a more
visual learner, you may retain more information by
drawing diagrams or mindmaps. [6]
Prepare based on the kind of test you’re taking.
You’ll need to prepare differently depending on
whether your exam will require you to write an essay or
answer multiple choice questions. Make sure you know
what kind of test you’ll be taking and prepare
accordingly. [7]
If you are taking a standardized test, take a few
practice tests to familiarize yourself with the
structure and timing of the test. For national
standardized tests like the SAT, you will be able
to find copies of previous versions of the test
which you can take for practice. [8]
If you will be taking an essay exam, practice
writing essay responses while you study. It can be
helpful to time yourself so that you know you’ll be
able to complete the essay during the allotted
test period.
If your test involves a lot of memorized material,
remember that you probably won’t remember
everything on the first try. Memorization and recall
improve with repetition. [9]
Collect your supplies the night before the test.
Make sure that you have everything you need --
pencils, pens, a calculator, your notes -- to take the test
prepared and ready to go the night before to avoid test
day anxiety. [10]
If you’ll be using a calculator or other electronic
device, check the batteries and/or bring a spare
with you. [11]
Find out which optional items you are allowed to
bring, such as snacks or your textbook for an
open-book test.

Preparing for Tests
Study with a friend. There is strength in numbers,
even when it comes to studying. Bouncing ideas
off each other and combining knowledge is a resource
that is invaluable. Just make sure you don't distract
each other or spend you whole time chatting with each
other about the day!
This takes the information off the page and
makes it fun and memorable. When you have to
explain something to a friend, your brain has to
wrap around it, instead of just taking it in and
hoping that it stays. Make flashcards and study
guides for each other to cover all the material.
Use memory tricks. Things like mnemonic devices
can really trigger information that doesn't
otherwise want to stick. Odds are you probably know
Roy G. Biv for the order of the colors of the rainbow or
"My very exhausted mother just slept until noon." for the
order of the planets. Why is that? They're effective
mnemonic devices that stick in your mind! Associations
work, too. If you're trying to remember that India used
to be a British colony, picture the queen jogging laps
around the Taj Mahal. When the test comes, you may
not remember what you actually should remember, but
you'll remember enough to jog your memory!
Study in the places that you feel comfortable in.
You need a good, calm place to study. Make sure
you have a sweater in case it gets cold, a good, comfy
chair, some dark chocolate (brain power! [3] ), a bottle of
water, and whatever else you may need. That way, you'll
have few interruptions.
Research also shows that you should study in
more than one place. It sounds a little funny, but
your brain makes associations with your
environment. So the more associations it has, the
more likely you are to retain the information.
Locate all the comfy chairs and study in them all!
Stop cramming. Although it's inevitable
sometimes, cramming isn't the way to go. In fact,
taking breaks is good for your brain and will help you
retain more. Try to study in 20-50 minute intervals,
taking five or ten minutes in between. [4]
And if you're on top of things, it's best to study
over a full week. Several sessions will cement the
knowledge in your head and by the end you'll be
able to notice how much better you know the
content, allowing you to relax and be confident.
Relax. Easier said than done? Remember - you
have all of the answers in your head already! The
only challenge is getting them out! Your first instinct is
nearly always correct. Don't go back and change
answers. If you are really not sure, skip it and come
back later.
Always read the questions given on a test.
Skimming over them might tell you the opposite
of what you need to do.
If you're uncertain about the wording of a test
question, go and ask the teacher what it means.
As long as you don't flat out ask for the answer to
a question, just what they meant by the question;
they will usually answer.
Get a good night's rest. You need sleep in order to
stay focused, and without it, you will have a hard
time staying on task and may forget what you just
learned. That's part of the reason why cramming is so
evil!
Sleep is wonderful. Sleep deprivation can lead to
accidents, dumbs you down, and can actually
cause health problems. [5] If you have to choose
between one last cramming session and sleep,
choose sleep.

Doing Your Homework
Do your homework immediately after school.
Time management is essential. If you're given an
assignment that's due next week, don't procrastinate;
get started within a few days of receiving the
assignment. The more time you have, the less you'll
stress.
If possible, try to get assignments finished at least
two or three days before the due date. This is to
avoid last minute emergencies, like "the dog
eating your paper," a party invitation, the printer
running out of ink, illness, family emergency, etc.
Most teachers will deduct points for each day
your work is late. Some do not accept late papers
at all. If it helps you, try handing in your homework
a couple days before it's due.
Homework counts for a large portion of your
grade. If your teacher has any extra credit
assignments, do them! It won't hurt if you try it
out. Even if you get some wrong, your teachers
will still notice your effort to try to learn more.
Why you should do your homework. Make sure
that if you do your homework when your teacher or
friend checks it that after school you go through it. If
you do not understand it it will be better if you write
down any questions that you need to know and ask your
teacher after politely. Join extra classes too it will help
you get better grades fast. Get tutor lesson if you can
not afford your teacher will help you for free if she or he
wants to.
Put homework first. Set yourself goals and make
sure you reach them before you go out and party.
Having a social life is important, but your grades can
affect a lot of your choices for the future. Schedule time
each day to study, just as you would schedule dates or
parties.
You can reward yourself for getting your
homework done! Once you've completed it, it's TV,
food, or party time. If that's not enough, ask if
mom or dad can help you get incentivized. They
want you to get good grades, too!
Work with friends. Studying for tests with friends
is super beneficial, so why not do homework with
friends, too?! Not only will you stay motivated (and
possibly stay interested in the class), but you'll be able
to combine your levels of awesome and get things done
more quickly, effectively, and possibly creatively.
The key here is to choose a friend that will pull
his/her weight. You don't want to work with a
friend that expects you to do all the work. Nor do
you want a friend that wants neither of you to
work! Choose a friend that's as goal-oriented as
you are.
Don't plagiarize. The quickest way to get a zero
on an assignment is to plagiarize it. Technology is
amazing nowadays and your teacher will know if you're
plagiarizing. Whether it's Google Translate or a speech
by Martin Luther King, Jr., they'll know. So don't risk it.

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Being a reflective learner