The article I shared with my classes today focused on a more specific academic success skill: note-taking. I encourage my classes to take notes. Often times they are a required assignment. But I have been noticing that many students don't know how to take notes effectively. Many try to write down every word that is said or appears on a page. For others, it's the opposite problem: they only write down a list of equations and bolded words from the text. What can you do to help your student with this skill?
I hope this helps! There are a number of studies referenced in the article that support note-taking as a success strategy in academics. It's a good habit to get into in high school, before they head off to college and have to pay big buck for their classes...and their mistakes!
Speaking of things you can do do help your student...check PowerSchool with your student and identify any assignments that are marked as missing (orange dot) or "NHI" for "Not Handed In". Set aside some time each day over break for them to make progress on these assignments. Have them pick one assignment and work on it until it's complete before moving on to another. This is a great opportunity to catch up, especially for so many of my AP students who are loaded with tough classes and activities!
Physics Phamilies... Tonight I will be hosting another Physicspalooza in my room after school. Please encourage your student to attend if they are available. This is a chance for them to seek help, work with classmates, complete and check missing assignments, or just have some Physics work time.
Finally, to everyone: Please enjoy the time off. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving break. Take time to give thanks for the people around you, and whatever blessings you can count. I look forward to coming back in a week, rested and recharged, and ready to make the final push to the end of the 1st semester!
As always, feel free to leave comments below, or contact me via email or Twitter with questions.
R. Mason
- Read the article yourself. Talk it over with your student. Ask them questions about it. Ask what, if anything they are already doing from that list? What are one or two items from the list that they would like to start doing?
- Encourage them to pick one tip from the list to begin implementing with their own notes. Every week or two, check back in with them. Ask them about their progress with it. If they have mastered that tip, work with them to add another one.
- Every week or two, ask them about a specific class (physics perhaps?!). Ask to see their notes in that class. Compare them with the tips from the reading. What are they doing well? What is working for them? What can they do differently?
I hope this helps! There are a number of studies referenced in the article that support note-taking as a success strategy in academics. It's a good habit to get into in high school, before they head off to college and have to pay big buck for their classes...and their mistakes!
Speaking of things you can do do help your student...check PowerSchool with your student and identify any assignments that are marked as missing (orange dot) or "NHI" for "Not Handed In". Set aside some time each day over break for them to make progress on these assignments. Have them pick one assignment and work on it until it's complete before moving on to another. This is a great opportunity to catch up, especially for so many of my AP students who are loaded with tough classes and activities!
Physics Phamilies... Tonight I will be hosting another Physicspalooza in my room after school. Please encourage your student to attend if they are available. This is a chance for them to seek help, work with classmates, complete and check missing assignments, or just have some Physics work time.
Finally, to everyone: Please enjoy the time off. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving break. Take time to give thanks for the people around you, and whatever blessings you can count. I look forward to coming back in a week, rested and recharged, and ready to make the final push to the end of the 1st semester!
As always, feel free to leave comments below, or contact me via email or Twitter with questions.
R. Mason