General Hints for a Great School Year

A professor named Jacob Neusner wrote once "Much that you learn today won't be true five years from now; many things you haven't heard of today will be important five or ten years ahead. If I teach you something supposedly 'relevant' I'm guaranteeing irrelevance. If I teach you how to work, to have good attitudes, to take responsibility for your own ideas, to communicate and to think a problem through, no matter what the subject matter I use in order to get those basic skills of mind and intellect across, then I'm giving you something you can use for a very long time. Those skills will never change. These stakes are for your lifetime.”

 
Each of you must give your best effort – you must TRY!  If you give your very best and cannot seem to do the work YOU must assume the responsibility to ask for extra help. To begin with: have your parents provide a quiet study time and location, review almost every night, don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help, and a very important concern, come to class every day and participate.

 1.  A great deal of learning takes place in class.  You must listen carefully and takes notes at the same time.  You can’t draw or scribble notes and expect to learn.  You must be willing to concentrate in class and then study diligently at home.  Always be ready to start class.  Have plenty of notebook paper and several pencils ready for use.  Good students work hard at being good students and students with poor academic records can become much better students with discipline, good study habits, and hard work.

 2.  Studying at home becomes much more important than in past years.  This is the work you do beyond just completing homework assignments.  Organize your study time to do it effectively.  This gives you more time to do the things you enjoy.   Study effectively and you will lose yourself in the material. Use my website if possible:  www.sciencebyjones.com

 3.  Turn in all assignments on time – this will help your grade average more than anything else.

 4.  Read and review your notes and handouts during study time every night.   Establish a daily 15-30 minute study time for each subject. This time should be used to review what happened in class, recopy notes, read new handouts, review for test, plan projects, etc.

 5. Use a consistent note-taking system.  If you develop it you will use it.  Use a highlighter to emphasize key points, terms, etc., in notes and handouts.

 6.  Use the Internet and library.  Dig deeper than the classroom level.  You may come to my room in the mornings before school to ask questions.  All the best students do this consistently.

 7.  Ask me to check your notebook to make certain you are getting all the notes you will need.  Study with other students and look over their notes. 

 8.  Work sample problems over and over till you know exactly how to do them.  You must do these sample problems even if they are not to be turned in for a grade.

9.  Prepare for test several days in advance – ask review questions the class period before the test.

10. Be ready for class.  Have plenty of notebook paper, notebook, textbook, and pencils.

I am available every morning (by 7:30 AM) for review help!