HOMEWORK HELP

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Recognize your strengths and weaknesses

• Believe in yourself and in your abilities
• Take responsibility for your future
• Set short and long term goals
• Take challenging courses and earn good grades
• Be aware of the requirements for graduation
• Develop technology skills
• Manage your time
• Get organized, so you have what you need when you need it
• Get to know your teachers, counselors and administrators
• Learn how to outline, take good notes and read a textbook
• Read! This is the best way to improve your word skills on standardized tests

Additionally,

• Take notes even if your teachers don't require it.
• Think you'll look silly if you're the only one taking notes? You won't look too cool if you don't pass high school. Try to pick out the main ideas, but don't have to write down everything.
• Ask questions and then write down the answer.
• Write down any formulas and examples and make the important points stand out using colored hi-liters or by underlining.
• Ask your teacher what will be on the test if you're having trouble knowing what to write down.
• Listen and ask questions.
• Still afraid of looking stupid? Don't worry about it. If you've got a question about something, chances are your classmates do too.
• Review your notes and assignments before class.
• Give your teacher your full attention and concentrate on what is being said. Relate the topic to what you already know and listen for main ideas and take notes.
• Ask questions if you don't understand.
• Study
• Yeah, that's right. STUDY. Read, review and analyze class material so you know it. This takes time, effort and a quiet place. If you learn how to study now, you'll be way ahead before you even start college.
• Ask for help if you're having trouble.
• You may need to ask more than one person. Have a special area for studying where you won't be distracted.
• Study in small "chunks" and take regular breaks
• Try not to cram. Have a regular study routine to make studying a habit.
• Study with a friend or group and share information.

Read
You can read whatever you want: Sports Illustrated, Jet, The New York Times, comic books, Harry Potter, your Cheerios box, online blogs or web articles...whatever! Reading increases your brainpower. Look up words you don't understand in the dictionary. Read assignment questions first to help you identify key points. Take breaks from reading to write down what you learn. Read outside of class to improve your reading skills. Read out loud.

Write
Writing is a way to express yourself: your ideas, opinions and knowledge. And you may do a lot of it in college and on the job. Write a little every day. Try keeping a daily journal to make a habit of writing. Read outside class to increase your vocabulary and understanding of grammar. Break up long writing sessions into shorter periods with regular breaks. Let your writing sit for a while and then come back to it. Read your writing out loud or have someone read it to you. Edit someone else's writing and let that person edit yours.

Do the math
Even if you're struggling in math, stay with it. Knowing math gives you options. It opens doors to good jobs in computers, engineering and business. And it helps your mind get organized. Take math problems one step at a time. Do your math homework every day.

Falling behind will make it that much harder
Ask for help and study with friends if you are having problems understanding a concept.