Use the restroom between classes, so you don’t need to excuse yourself once class has started. You want to be in your seat with everything out of your bag and ready in front of you before class starts. Allow the time you need for this.
Never forget to bring the obvious things like pens, pencils and the right books. Use a 3-ring binder with dividers for different subjects to help keep things organized. If you can’t afford something you need for the class, ask to talk with your teacher about it after class or at another time. Your teacher will do his or her best to help.
It also allows you to follow along in class better and to ask questions you may have had while reading ahead. If you have poor handwriting, type assignments and papers as much as possible. The easier you make your assignments and papers to read, the better! Remember – your teacher has a whole stack, just for your class. Making it easy to get through is to your advantage.
If you’re not in a study group, consider asking others you know in class if they’d like to form one. A good study group should have about 3-5 members. If it’s too large, it can get loud and confusing. Cramming for tests generally results in lower overall grades. You pump your brain with information, but it’s only stored in spotty, short-term memory.
Going to bed with your laptop, smart phone or TV on is a bad idea. Research shows it makes getting to sleep much harder. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source Also avoid caffeine products, such as soda, coffee and chocolate, for several hours before going to bed. It can take 6 hours for caffeine to leave your system, often making it hard to fall asleep. [6] X Research source
Ultimately, your teachers want you to learn. That’s what makes them most happy.
”Please,” “thank you” and “excuse me” are appropriate signs of respect at any time. When your teacher is teaching to the class or directly speaking to you, maintain eye contact. It shows you are listening, interested and engaged. It’s a compliment to your teacher.
Be aware of your body language. Sit up straight. It shows you care and are involved. Slouching to the side, with your head in your hand, can be considered quite rude by teachers. Make sure you take good notes in class, which also shows you’re paying attention, focusing on what’s important and not letting your mind wander. Notes are also a written record of what your teacher says in class and will help you do well on assignments and tests. If you’re having a really hard time focusing in class, talk to your teacher and to your parents.
When working in groups, don’t be overbearing and take over the group. But also don’t be the one who doesn’t do much on the group assignment or project. Be an active member. While participating in open class discussions and asking questions is encouraged, be careful not to overdo it. Make sure others have plenty of time to talk and ask questions, too. [10] X Research source
Make sure you are consistent. Doing really well only the first week or two to make a good first impression won’t be enough. It will later make your teacher think you aren’t living up to your potential. If you put in the time and effort to do well the duration of the class, you will reap the rewards of your teacher’s high regard. If you do a lot of in-class work and are able to sit wherever you want, choose a seat away from talkative friends. This will let you focus and word hard, which your teacher will happily see.
If you have a special situation and need to have your phone with you, talk with your teacher about the situation. Ask if you can have it on vibrate during class. While some classes now utilize smart phones for exercises and assignments, leave yours in your locker or at home if you think you might be temped to pull it out during a class in which you don’t need it.
Don’t bully your teachers either. They are in charge, not you! Remember: Bullying not only has very negative consequences in terms of your relationship with your teacher. It can get you kicked out of school, or worse.
Also, don’t pass notes in class. When passing notes, you might as well be shouting to your friend from across the room while your teacher attempts to teach you how to simplify square roots in Algebra. It’s simply that obvious to everyone.
If you find yourself overwhelmingly and consistently tired in class, and simply unable to stay awake, talk with your teacher about it. You probably aren’t getting enough sleep and need to readjust your schedule.
The best option is to not get in the situation in the first place. If you do, however, the best thing to do is tell the truth. Your teacher won’t be happy with the choice you made leading to not completing the assignment, but he or she will respect you for admitting it.
