How+can+I+Improve+my+Mark?

Wondering "how can I improve this mark"?
=You might be working hard.. but could be working __better__.=

Think about the answers to the following:
> > >
 * Do you have systems in place to help with your __organisation__? Being organised is a key student skill. Also, organisation was one of the top tips given by students last year who were asked to give advice for upcoming students. Organisation really makes a difference.
 * Do you have an **agenda** or other place where you write down all homework and test dates to keep track of when things are due? This will help with your marks as you're more likely to hand things in on time and also will know to prepare for tests. You could highlight all items that you need to remember to bring home that evening so that when you check after school, you can quickly see what you need to grab.
 * Is your **binder organized**? Do you have a way of organizing so that you can always find the papers you need when we're discussing an assignment, when you're trying to find an answer key, or when I ask for something to be handed in? One suggestion is to have a section for notes; a section for homework; a section at the beginning for your glossaire and informative handouts. Make sure that each day you receive something or write something that you write the date (and title). Your notes and homework should be in order.. the earliest items at the front and the most recent at the end. You can organise your binder each night if needed.
 * Do you have a **plan for remembering** to bring home things to be signed, and homework that needs to be completed? You could have a separate folder or organiser you put these things in, or you could check your agenda at the end of the day.
 * **Do you come to class every day prepared** with everything you need (pencil, ruler, calculator, text, binder, paper, homework, agenda, things to hand in ), or do you waste class time going to get things from your locker that you've forgotten (and thus missing instructional time or missing time you could have spent working on homework)? If you find you're always forgetting, make a list at the front of your agenda of what you need for the morning/for the afternoon. Check it as you're getting ready for morning/afternoon classes.


 * __Are you finding it difficult to find time to get all your homework finished__? Have you considered working on **homework at lunchtime and before school**? Try to plan for homework in the same way as you plan for your extracurricular activities. At lunchtime, you can work alone or with a friend in the hallway, in the library, in an open classroom (with the teacher's permission) or even better in my classroom (Tues Thursday at lunch) or in the resource room where you can get Math help as needed.


 * Do you do __all__ homework.. every question? **//According to certain studies on memory, approximately 62% of what a person has just learned is forgotten after the first day if it is not reviewed and/or practiced. Doing Math homework is critical to learning and to retaining what was learned.//**
 * Do you do all the questions __in the way that Mme demonstrates in class__.. with a similar method of showing work?
 * If you're unable to do a question, did you __try looking in your notes or text__ where there may be a similar question that you can use as a guide?
 * Did you at least __start the question__? Sometimes if you start.. you'll find you're able to figure out the next step.
 * If you've looked in your text and notes and started and still weren't sure.. did you __seek help__?
 * If you've written "ask Mme" in your homework.. did you actually __ask Mme__?
 * Do you __correct__ all homework? Do you look at the answer key after each question to make sure that you have the same answer as the one in the answer key?
 * Do you __re-do__ each question with an incorrect answer to try to come up with the correct one?
 * (Your homework isn't finished until it's all done __correctly!__ You need to know how to do a question to get the __RIGHT ANSWER!__**
 * Do you __ask for help__ if you're unable to come up with the correct answer? **It's critical that you understand each mistake that you've made (which means that the first step is to correct so that you know you made a mistake).. so that you hopefully won't keep repeating the same mistake. (If you don't understand your mistake.. or even know that you've made a mistake.. you will likely continue to make that same mistake on every test and exam.)**
 * Do you __practice__ a type of question **unti**l you can do it **easily, confidently and quickly**, __without help or looking at your notes__?

Any "no" answer to the above is something you could attempt to change to see if that makes a difference on your next test.

**-You don’t expect to be able to play guitar or play hockey or drive a car without practice. Learning mathematics involves doing exercises to practice.** **Math builds on prior knowledge.** ** Putting homework off often causes problems to pile up because if you didn't do yesterday's homework.. today's might be even more difficult. In no time, the problems can seem overwhelming. Doing homework regularly helps you learn class topics as they are taught. ** If you're wondering about seeking help, see the suggestions under "help" on the home page of the wiki.
 * -Complete your most difficult homework assignments first. Often, this means math homework. D o your math homework when you are awake and alert. **
 * -Don't fall into the trap of copying answers from a classmate or from the answer key to survive. If you haven't learned the material yourself, this will be clear when you write your tests and exams. **

[|Steps to Doing Well in Math] - From About.com [|Some Tips for Math Success] - From suite101.com [|Math note-taking tips] - From mathpower.com [|Math test-taking tips] - From mathpower.com [|Math Study tips] - (__Active Study vs Passive Study__ and __Studying Math is Different from Studying Other Subjects__) www2.yk.psu.edu/learncenter/ac**skills**/**maths**tud.html

Your parents, your teachers, the principal are here to support you and to help you but in the end YOU are responsible for YOUR learning and your future!