How to get great grades!

1. Grade 5 Lounsberry Hollow Counseling Program by Cindy Moser 2009 How to get great grades!

2. Unit Overview • Objective: • Students will develop an understanding of effective study habits that can be used at school and at home. • Time Frame: • 3 Lessons • 2 in September • 1 in October

3. Lesson 1 Topics

4. Lesson 2 Topics

5. Lesson 3 Topics

6. Lesson 1 What Kind of Student are you? • Type • Poor • Average • Good • Attitude • Positive • Negative • Complete Checklists to see ! • Be honest • There’s always room for improvement!

7. Lesson 1 Believe in Yourself • The most important person in helping you become a better student is ………… • YOU ! • Confidence can be your best asset – get it and use it!

8. Lesson 1 Organization • Use a Student Planner or Assignment Book • Bring it every day! • Write down assignments and homework at the beginning of every class • If there is no assignment, write “NONE” • Check off assignments as they are completed • Look at your planner before you leave! • Break down large assignments into smaller tasks • Use monthly and weekly calendars • Write date assignment given and write it on due date • Start at due date and work backwards to create a plan

9. Planning a Long-Term Assignment

10. Lesson 1 Organization • Use Folders • classwork, handouts, notices • Use only 1 or use 1 for each subject • One side for home, one side for school • Go through every day! • Sort, hole punch, give to parents • Bring back and forth every day!

11. Lesson 1 Organization • Keep your Backpack Neat • Clean out every day! • Keep extra pencils • Label with your name • Never throw in loose papers! • Keep your Locker Neat • No garbage • No loose papers • Get Organized Before you go to Bed • When you finish homework, put it in your folder or binder • Always put your school things in the same place • Write a note if you have to do something in the morning

12. Lesson 1 Time Management • Use Class Time Wisely • Use extra time during class to do homework, ask questions, or get help • Never sit there doing nothing! • Create a Study Plan • Review work that needs to be done • Review your personal schedule • Create a timeline to complete your tasks • 3:30 practice • 5:00 do math • 6:00 dinner • 7:00 study for science

13. Lesson 1 HOMEWORK • Review the information in your planner • Share it with your parents • Write down names and numbers of 2 people in each class who can help you if you need it.

14. Lesson 2 Be Successful in Class Be There, On Time, Every Day Have a Good Attitude You have to believe you are a good student You have to act like a good student Teachers can “see” your attitude. • To get good grades you must be in school every day! • When you miss school, you miss discussions, notes, assignments, quizzes, and tests • You can never make up everything!

15. Lesson 2 Be Successful in Class • Be prepared • Always do homework • Participate in Class • Be a Good Group Member • Treat Others With Respect • Involve Your Parents • Let them help you with HW • They can help you solve problems • Take Responsibility for Your Grades • Be proud • Don’t make excuses • Do your own work

16. Lesson 2 Be Successful in Class “BE THERE” • Choose to make an effort • By choosing effort, you’re choosing improvement • Actively listen • Don’t just hear • Make sense of what is being said • Re-state in your mind • Ask questions • Follow Directions • Many mistakes are due to not listening to directions • Make sure you know what to do and when

17. Lesson 2Note Taking & Organizing Handouts Taking Notes Organize Handouts Put your name and date on top Put them in your folder right away Make notes on parts that you need clarified Review Handouts Ask for Handouts if absent • Pay attention & Listen • Copy important notes • Listen for things the teacher repeats • Listen for emphasis • Write it in your own words * • Be Neat • You have to be able to read it to learn it! • Write on one side only • Put name and date, number pages • Review Notes • Get copies if you are absent

18. Lesson 2 How to Read a Textbook Scan • Read titles, bold print, italics • Look at pictures and captions • Look at graphs, charts • Read summaries and review questions

19. Lesson 2 How to Read a Textbook

26. Lesson 2 How to Read a Textbook Read • Set a goal for reading • Turn title or headings into questions • Ask yourself why bold items are important • Pay attention to new vocabulary

29. Lesson 2 How to Read a Textbook Review • Don’t close your book yet! • Try to remember the main idea of each section • Go over words in bold and italic

31. Lesson 2 HOMEWORK • Use the SCAN READ REVIEW Process for one of your reading assignments

32. Lesson 3 Studying for Tests • Use your study guide • Pay attention the day before • Teachers usually go over what will be on the test – take notes • 5 W’s – Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? • Do your reading ahead of time! • Go over review questions from the book • Explain material in your own words • Explain it to someone else • Take short breaks (every 20 minutes)

36. Lesson 3 Studying for Tests USE TRICKS! REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT Write down information Stare at it Close your eyes See it in your mind Say it aloud Open your eyes and look Repeat until you know it • Use flashcards • Vocab • Facts • Lists • Make associations • Find something to connect the information to • Make it personal • Use mnemonic devices • Use the first letter of words to make a silly sentence • Remember the first letters of a list

37. Flashcards Vocabulary & Facts Lists Inventions of Benjamin Franklin: Battery Odometer Lightning rod Bifocals Pennsylvania Fireplace • Noun: person, place, thing, idea • Verb: action word • Adjective:describing word • ******************** • The Middle Passage: • Voyage from Africa to the West Indies

38. Make Associations Growing Season (NE Colonies) Skiing/Snowboard Season Cold enough for snow to last December – February (winter) Go with family • Warm enough for plants to grow • May – October (spring/summer) • Grow enough for family

39. 50 States • YouTube - Association Techniques • Make the information meaningful to you • What does it remind you of ?

40. Lesson 3 Sample Mnemonic Colors of the Spectrum Word Trick R O Y :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: G :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: B I V • Red • Orange • Yellow • Green • Blue • Indigo • Violet

41. Sample Mnemonic The Great Lakes Huron Ontario Michigan Erie Superior

42. Use Your Resources Online Books use tutorials practice tests vocabulary Online Grade Book check your grades and assignments Library/Media Center See links to resources • Online Books/Resources • Parent/Student Portal • Homework Help • VTSD: Home

43. Lesson 3 Taking the Test Off to a Good Start Questions Make a mark by any question you are unsure of, go back later Multiple –choice Try to come up with the answer before you look at the choices Read all choices Eliminate the ones you know are wrong Make your best guess True/False True = “often, sometimes, most, many” False = “always, never, all, none • Relax • Write down anything you want to remember at the top or on back • Read all directions first • Make a plan

44. Lesson 3 Taking the Test Essay Questions Math Tests First try to estimate or guess the answer Try drawing a picture Don’t spend too much time on one answer, go back later Show all your work! • Read all questions • Start with the easiest • Brainstorm • Plan • Write • Reread to make sure it makes sense • If you don’t know the answer, write what you do know about the subject

45. Lesson 3 Taking the Test CHECK YOUR ANSWERS! ALWAYS! USE ALL THE TIME!

46. Sample Test! • Name the 5 Great Lakes. • Name the 7 colors of the spectrum. • A noun is not: • A person • An action word • An idea • True or False: The only inventions by Benjamin Franklin were the battery and the odometer.

47. Sample Test • Describe the New England colonies’ growing season. Give at least 2 ideas. • When you raise or lower a flag on a flagpole, you are using a simple machine called: • An inclined plane • Arms • A flag raiser • A pulley

48. Sample Test • True or False: • Some people get nervous before a test. • Write your first name backwards. • Skip to the last question. • ________, read, review are the three steps in reading a textbook.

49. Lesson 3 Know When to Get Help • If you need help with your schoolwork or if you have a problem with a class, assignment, grade, or person ASK FOR HELP

50. Lesson 3 HOMEWORK • Create a study / work space at • home • A comfortable place to work • Seating, something to write on • Good lighting • Quiet • Supplies