Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings

Students who do not get particularly high marks for their tests are often classified as lazy or inattentive stamped. If you are not very successful at school or have problems with the material, then you should not discount yourself as stupid or the teachers like useless - There may be some subtle things underlying your inability to develop your study skills. Make things more interesting and you will immediately start learning more effectively. Simple things like learning to listen, taking notes, and being more organized can develop your potential learning ability further than you ever thought possible.

To step

1. Find out which learning styles suit you best. The basic forms are learning by see, do and to hear. Think back to something you remember well from your class; was it an active assignment? Did the teacher give you a detailed essay? Did you receive a sheet of study material? Once you know how to learn, you can improve. However, it is important to note that most people respond better to a combination of learning styles. There are tests available on the internet to determine your learning style.
2. Learn by doing. Manual activities are great because they improve your retention and can help you:
   • When conducting classroom experiments, make sure to concentrate.
   • Actually take notes, even when they are not needed during a lesson. The more open your mind is, the faster the information will linger.
   • As an alternative to taking notes, you can record the lesson with a memo recorder and pay attention to listening; use the recording afterwards for taking notes. This extra step takes time, but takes advantage of what psychologists call the "dual coding hypothesis," where the likelihood of learning something increases when you experience it in two different ways (i.e., listening and writing, in this case).
3. Free yourself from distractions while learning. Cell phones, music and your chatting companion can distract you from the teacher. Sit in a good place because classes are for you to focus, not talk to your friends. Keep valuables in a pocket, or far enough away so as not to divert your attention.
4. Have good relationships with your teachers. If you hate your teachers, you will have a lot of learning difficulties. Be polite, show respect, and make an effort, which will placate your teachers and make classes a lot more enjoyable.
5. Imagine yourself small goals. For example, take notes in class and see if you can write a short essay on it at the end of the week based on the material you have learned. Before you start a new unit, write down some questions on the topic, and at the end of each lesson, see how many of those questions you can answer. Whenever you reach a goal, reward yourself by buying a CD or an item of clothing, going out, having fun, or just taking a break.
6. Make things more interesting by making lessons more fun. Find ways to motivate yourself:
   • Find something about the topic you are learning that interests you, try to learn as much about it as possible. The more you do something want the more you learn shall to learn.
   • Find a "study buddy" - that is, a friend or classmate to study with. Submit each other to small tests / quizzes, discuss things you don't understand or interest you, or take notes together. Studying with someone can motivate you more.
7. Check if you can summarize what you learned in a small notebook after class. Write down a sentence or two that will take you through and remember the day.
8. Ask for help if you are struggling with something. A lot of people don't do this. If you find yourself struggling with something, know that almost all teachers want to help you keep up. See if your school has a library where you can study during homework hours, or go directly to your teacher. Don't be ashamed to ask.

Tips

• If you have trouble understanding the subject matter, ask a teacher, parent, or classmate who does understand the concept to help you. Don't be embarrassed about that or feel stupid, because education is very important, and any problems you may have should be addressed.
• Try to be more attentive. You can practice listening and remembering details inside and outside the classroom. Think of the lessons as another way to hone your observational skills.
• Set yourself a big reward in store for motivating you across the board. For example, promise yourself an expensive object or something luxurious to do if your grade average has improved significantly.
• If your school offers tutoring or some other form of special help, you can make use of it.

Warnings

• A bad relationship with a teacher can mean that they judge you more harshly during tests, or be less lenient if you forget your homework or run into trouble. It doesn't always happen, and you don't have to become a heel-licker, but keep in mind that teachers can hold a grudge too.
• If your grades are very low or bad, it takes time and determination to boost your average again. Hold on and things will improve.