Mr.
Reimer's Hints:
Being Successful in Math
| Believe in Yourself | Recognize your talents and abilities. Know & believe you can succeed. |
| Be Organized | Use an assignment notebook. Use three-ring notebooks for class notes, homework and tests. Have classmate's phone numbers. Keep your locker and backpack neat. Get organized before you go to bed. Select a consistent time and quiet space to do homework. |
| Manage Your Time | Use class time and study halls. Create your own study plan. Minimize interruptions. Prepare for the unexpected. |
| Conduct Yourself in the Classroom | Adapt to different teachers.
Each has a different style. Be aware of your body language and non-verbal behavior. Be a good group member. Treat others with courtesy and respect. No Whining (remember we are in a No Whining Zone) Leave baggage outside the classroom door. Focus on learning the subject! |
| Participate | Participate in class. Ask questions if you do not understand. Your teacher is not a mind-reader. Participation makes class more enjoyable, and you learn more. The teacher can more easily see what you understand and what you don't. That gives them a better chance in helping you understand and succeed. |
| Be Prepared | Come to class each day with the
materials you need. Enter the classroom with a positive attitude. Always do your homework. Study a little math several times a week. (In addition to doing homework!) |
| Take Good Notes | Be an active listener. Take notes to help you pay attention. Recognize important information. Highlight info using color, symbols, titles, diagrams... Copy all steps for every problem on the board. Review & highlight your notes as soon as possible. Get copies of class notes if you're absent. |
| Use Your Text | Read all vocabulary and rules.
(They're usually highlighted.) Know how your text identifies different types of info. (We spent part of a lesson doing this!) Go over all examples and make sure you understand all of the steps. Use the glossary and review sections. Use the answers in the back of the text. |
| Do Your Homework | Do your homework daily. Athletes practice daily to get better, you need to do the same. Mathematics is not a spectator sport, you need to be a player, not watch from the sidelines. Make corrections on your homework. Learn from your mistakes. Make sure the last time you do any problem, you do it right. Also make corrections on quizzes & tests for the same reason. Before you start, review your notes for 5-10 minutes. Do this even if you have no homework. Study for quizzes & tests by doing problems. |
| Study Smart | Find a good place to study. Plan a regular time to study. Get started. Sometimes this is the hardest part. Eliminate distractions and stop yourself if you find you are goofing off. In a presentation to VTSD teachers, Dr. Tal-Ben Shahar noted a Scientific study showing that multitasking while studying (e.g emailing friends) lowers your IQ by 10 points. Are you that smart that you can afford 10 IQ points? Know your learning style. Know how to study for tests. Use tricks to help you memorize information. Go over all returned quizzes and tests. Do you understand what you did wrong. Can you now do it? Recognize that sometimes you have to Study Hard as well as Smart. |
| Strategically Take Tests | Get off to a good start. Keep a tab on time, but do not watch the clock. Mark questions to which you want to return. Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions. Look for key words in True/False questions. Know how to approach word problems. Check your answers, and correct "sloppy mistakes". Be careful about "second guessing yourself". |
| Relax (A little anxiety before a test improves concentration. Excessive worry, test anxiety, lowers test scores.) | Start studying early, the night
before should just be a light review. Cramming increases test anxiety. Mentally practice going through the testing experience. Enter the class with your head up and shoulders back. (How you act affects how you feel.) Use a relaxation technique. Talk to your guidance counselor. |
| Use Your Support System | Involve you parents. Find a "study buddy" (Hint: Pick someone around your ability level AND you both care) Form a study group. The text is a good resource. The Internet is a good resource. Your notes are a good resource. Extra help sessions are available. |
"The Road to Success" by H.W.Longfellow (need FLASH to view)
Revised 6/29/10