New Year, New You: A Guide to Success in the Second Semester

As the new year unfolds, high school students find themselves at a crucial juncture – the beginning of the second semester. It's an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to break free from bad habits and cultivate a more effective work ethic. In this post, we'll explore valuable advice for students looking to make the most out of the upcoming semester. From strategic study tips to building positive relationships with teachers, this guide aims to help you navigate the second semester with confidence and success.

1. Reflect 

Take a moment to reflect on the first semester. What went well? What went … not so well?  Identify habits that hindered your academic performance. Whether it's procrastination, lack of organization, or ineffective study methods, acknowledging these habits is the first step toward improvement.

2. Prioritize Efficient Study Techniques

Studying is not just about going through the motions. Focus on quality over quantity. Instead of simply reviewing terms, delve into the concepts in context. Rewrite lecture notes with the Natural Reader plug-in, create practice tests using ChatGPT, and seek out additional resources (like YouTube) to reinforce your conceptual understanding.

3. Initiate Communication with Teachers

Don't hesitate to approach your teachers. They are there to help you succeed. If you have concerns about your performance, schedule a meeting to discuss improvement. This is especially important with teachers you might feel disconnected from. Students often mention feeling like a certain teacher “hates” them … but this is rarely true. Instead, there has likely been a miscommunication along the way. Now is the time to reset that relationship by being open to feedback, showing dedication to learning, and winning them over.

4. Organize Once Again

Quickly edit binders from first semester. No need to carry around old worksheets and study packets. Keep syllabi, lab protocols, formula cards, conjugation sheets, and any exam prep that would be cumulative for a class like Chem of PreCalc. Take all that old work and file it away; there's no need to keep lugging it around.

As you embark on the second semester, remember that it's never too late to make positive changes. Break free from old habits, adopt effective study techniques, and foster strong relationships with your teachers. Prioritize your well-being and approach the upcoming semester with confidence and determination. Happy studying, and best of luck!

Surpassing Senioritis

With spring comes senioritis - a contagious condition that kills the motivation and attention span of previously productive twelfth graders. The struggle to keep up the rigorous pace of the last three and a half years can be daunting. The end is in sight and countdown apps provide daily reminders of just how many more wake-ups there are before never having to return to high school again. Yet, seniors must remember… their futures can still be altered by that final, looming high school report card. Here are a few tips for rediscovering that drive and initiative:

• Defy Indifference: Despite what you’ve heard… senior grades matter. If you are attending a four-year college, your university expects you to maintain the same scores and academic rigor you demonstrated at the time of application. Worst case scenario? They can rescind your offer! Don’t panic. Just do your homework and study for exams. If you aren’t planning on jumping into a four-year college right now, you might still need that transcript for a future application or vocational program.

• Motivation is Key: Motivation carries over from one area of life to another. The second semester of senior year is probably not when you decide to delve into academia. However, creating a goal outside of school – whether that be a fitness goal, financial goal, artistic endeavor, or other personal challenge – will likely keep you on track with your academics as well.

• Put Away Procrastination: Thinking about doing work is often worse than doing the work itself. Set a timer to use the Pomodoro Method or implement my favorite productivity approach, Eat the Frog. Whatever way, just get it done.

• Celebrate: You’ve worked so hard to get here. Plan ways to celebrate achieving this milestone: beach day, dnd party, concert, scavenger hunt, camping… Just ensure your reward is after you finish your task list.

• Ask for Help: Still feeling slothy? Go see your favorite teacher/counselor/coach … or, more likely, ask Discord or Reddit. 

Remember, everyone struggles with motivation at some point... Just ensure you don’t become another victim of senioritis.

Watch Your Drive - Getting Your Digital Life Together

With school in flux for the fall semester, it’s vital to prepare for whatever schedule students are hit with, whether that is distance, hybrid, or in-person learning. Since the format of the 2020-2021 academic year is likely to change as we go, setting up systems for hybrid learning prepares students for all school models. Tidying up one’s digital life prior to Day 1 limits frustration and maximizes efficiency in the upcoming year.

1. Clean up your Google Drive. Create a folder for this school year, ex ‘Freshman Year.’ Then, create sub-folders for each of your classes: ‘Algebra 2,’ ‘English 9,’ etc. Create folders with this naming system for all previous years as well. If you are lazy and/or just want to get back in the pool, create a file called ‘Old Stuff’ and move everything from previous years into it. You now have two folders: ‘Old Stuff’ and ‘[Your Current] Year.’

2. Fix up your email. Make sure your inbox isn’t inundated with Pinterest articles and Urban Outfitter sales. Go through all the services you don’t use and click ‘unsubscribe’ at the bottom of the page. This will limit junk and allow you easy access to important emails. Also, is your email accessible on your phone? If not, add it. So many of my students miss important deadlines and communication because they don’t check their emails on their computers often enough. Most schools are Google based so they can be added to iPhones: Settings - Passwords & Accounts - Add Account.

3. Set up a binder as if you were in regular school. Refer to Blog Post: Organize for the Fall Semester. Still use a planner, even though you might be working from home. Write all assignments, tests, and scheduled meetings in your planner.

4. Make sure your devices are in check. Is your laptop camera working? Do you receive texts through iMessage on your Macbook? Are your parents' phone calls ringing through your shared iCloud? Fix these problems before school starts. 

5. Learn how to function digitally. Pictures can be scanned and turned into PDFs with an awesome iPhone app called GeniusScan+. It’s $8, but the best app I ‘ve ever bought. If you take pictures of work and text photos to yourself on your computer, you can easily create a single PDF. Selecting the files in the order you want from your desktop. Double click on the selection and click ‘Quick Actions’ followed by ‘Merge PDF.’ Please do not send your teachers random photos of your work as it is hard to find and harder to grade. iPads with the Notability app and an Apple pencil are also incredibly helpful. Students can quickly download a worksheet, fill it out, and send it back since Notability and Google are integrated platforms. Most teachers seem to be comfortable with this technology during distance learning, but many resist its implementation in the classroom. The basic iPad model will do, no need to purchase an iPad Pro unless you want other features as well.

 Best wishes for a successful fall semester!

Organize for the Fall Semester

With the first day of school comes an overwhelming number of syllabi, handouts, and textbooks. While students are often given supply lists to keep themselves prepared, they are rarely taught how to properly organize the massive quantity of learning materials they are expected to haul back and forth on a daily basis. An organized calendar and proper filing system not only relieve stress and anxiety, but prevents missed assignments, ensures earned points, and keeps students from being physically weighed down by thirty pound book bags. Set aside some time this weekend and get organized according to the following tips. 

A one-binder system allows students to have access to everything they need at once. Using a two-inch binder with pocket dividers for every class prevents locker runs, forgotten homework, and completed assignments that will never see points because they were not turned in. This system is essential for students who struggle with organization and memory. When leaving school for the day, the student only needs to remember one binder and the appropriate text books. (Consider purchasing or renting additional textbooks for home use. Copies of older books can often be found on Amazon.com’s Used category for less than $10.)

1. Binder organization is key. Each binder should have front and rear pockets. The binder should open to the student’s weekly calendar with binder paper directly behind it. Consider using a label maker to mark the following areas.

2. Front Binder Pocket - Assignments to Complete: The front pocket of the binder should be used for assignments that need to be completed. This is current work or homework that needs to be done. Do not worry about separating this area by class. It is the one place where everything a student needs to do can be found.

3. Divider Pockets - Assignments to be Turned In: Each separate subject is separated by a divider with a pocket. After students complete homework or assignments that need to be turned in, they place the work in this folder. At the beginning of each class, the student flips to the subject folder and removes the work they need to submit. No more lost points because a well-done assignment got crunched at the bottom of the book bag. 

4. Rear Binder Pocket - Work to be Filed: Students are frequently given papers while rushing out the door. Take all of these papers and put them in the back binder pocket for filing at a more convenient time. These returned papers, notes, and handouts should be filed chronologically in the appropriate section.

Keep your bookbag light. How is all of one semester’s coursework supposed to fit into a two-inch binder? It’s not. To keep yourself light and organized, use an at-home filing system for previous work. This does not mean to throw out old assignments! Materials are needed to study for final exams or to prove an assignment was graded if points were not properly rewarded. 

1. Set up an at-home filing system with a large file box. Use dividers to correspond to the sections in the binder. 

2. Always keep current study materials and handouts in the binder until the test for that chapter. Once the test is complete and all work has been entered in the gradebook, move that section into a labeled manila folder and place it into the file box. For example, while studying the Chapter 7: Civil War, keep all of the materials for the Civil War in your primary binder. Once the Chapter 7 exam is over and the class moves on to Chapter 8: Reconstruction, leave the Chapter 7 materials at home and make room for the new Chapter 8 work. Be sure to save Chapter 7 for finals studying!

3. Organize your work. Students should label the chapter and date on every piece of paper they come across: worksheets, handouts, notes, exams. Papers should be filed in the binder chronologically so they are easily accessible. If a student is missing an assignment, it is easy to check the binder and file box for the work.

Every student needs to utilize a full-page weekly Calendar/Planner. This calendar should be the the first document in the student’s binder. Every homework assignment, test, practice, game, and social commitment should be listed on this calendar. Students need an accurate picture of their week in order to plan their study time. While schools may provide a separate planner, this is another item students have to keep track of. A paper planner should list Monday - Sunday and can be made on a word processor. Each daily section needs to be large; students have lots of homework to record. Consider using hole punch reinforcements and printing the semester’s worth of calendars in advance. Paper calendars are recommended since electronic use in the classroom varies teacher to teacher.

*Teachers may suggest or require a particular kind of organization for one class. I still recommend a one binder plan. If students are given points during “binder checks,” simply transfer the work from the primary binder and file box into a temporary binder to be graded. This requires some foresight, however it will be less stressful and complex than a multi-binder system. Individual notebooks are an exception. For example, a Biology Lab notebook will need to follow the provided guidelines. 

Stress Management

It’s a new year and already, students are stressed out. Frequent tests, endless homework, and crammed schedules can create frantic lives for many teens. For this reason, I can not emphasize the importance of self-care enough. Healthy habits are formed from a young age and creating balance only improves the lives of young people. Here are some ideas to take a step back and find some self-reflection.

1. Have a day of freedom at least once a week. When making a schedule, make sure to schedule downtime. Even a few hours blocked off on the calendar one day a week can be useful to unplug. 

2. Spend a couple of hours over the weekend getting ahead. Instead of playing catch-up all week with homework, work ahead for assignments you know you will have. Reading the next chapter of the Odyssey, learning the looming block of vocabulary words, or outlining that upcoming essay on the Cold War will all be beneficial next week. While this may not seem relaxing at the time, being ahead of your peers will take some serious pressure off of your school week. 

3. Find a stress-relieving activity other than organized sports. Engaging in a physical activity or hobby can release stress and immediately alter one’s mood. Yoga, boxing, hiking, dance, and fishing are all excellent ways to spend some time. The less time commitment an activity takes, the better. 

4. Limit drama. Examine your relationships. Have any of the people in your circle become toxic? Are they negatively affecting your daily mood? If so, cut back on the amount of time you spend interacting with them - if at all - and find a little peace for yourself. 

5. Take a mental-health day off from school to just relax. This should only be an option for students who will make up missed assignments and are responsible regarding teacher communication.

‘Tis the Season … for Final Exams

You have studied, presented, participated, written and bubbled one semester's worth of work. Despite your efforts, your fall semester grade comes down to one single test: your final exam. With only a week left before finals, it is imperative to review your current grades and determine where and how to spend your study time. 

Where to focus depends on exact percentages. Focus on grades that are on the cusp, not grades you wish were in another category entirely. Final exams generally range from 15%-20% of a semester grade. Unfortunately, most students do not improve their grades with final exams. In fact, final exams tend to drop grades approximately 3%. Based on this theory, an English class with an 82% should receive more study time than an Algebra class with a 76%. This may seem counterintuitive; students tend to focus on their lowest grades. Yet, a 76% is a solid C in Algebra that is not likely to become either a B or a D. Therefore, the focus should be on keeping that B- and not letting it fall to a C+. Review your grades and organize your studying by day and time. Calendar out all projects, finals, and study sessions. Include hours per class so you know exactly where you are dedicating your time. 

Study time often lacks efficiency. Please note, “studying” is not simply completing a review sheet of terms handed out in class. While Quizlet can be helpful in memorizing vocabulary, studying is reviewing concepts in context. Review your lecture notes by rewriting them. Go over past exams and make yourself a new blank practice test to see what you retain. If a teacher does not provide final exam specifics, past exams are a strong measure of content.  If your test is multiple choice, do a Google search of your class title and see what practice exams and presentations pop up. For example, “world history high school semester 1 final exam (or semester 1 study guide)” should provide some resources similar to your class content. Seek materials that include solutions to save yourself a step. Add in phrases like “pdf or multiple choice” to narrow your search. Is it exactly the same? No. Is it better than nothing? You bet.  

Be sure to use your preferred method of learning to study content. Visual learners may write, type, or sketch out information while an auditory learner needs to talk out the content with a parent, tutor, classmate or friend. Making a recording and playing it several times might help auditory learners with memorization. These techniques are especially helpful for students who have drafted essays at home that need to be written in class. Above all, make the effort. Do something for each class that your classmates have not thought of.  That is how you get ahead. 

Make studying as painless as possible. If you need new rainbow jelly pens to color coordinate your notes, go pick them up. Request your favorite takeout for dinner and stock your desk with ample snacks. Arrange study dates… only if productive studying takes precedence over social affairs. After all… misery loves company. Happy studying and best of luck!

Summer Learnin’

The summer season can provide more than R&R and a sun-kissed glow. Ten school-free weeks should be viewed as an opportunity to either catch up or get ahead, depending on the student. By spending just a few hours per week on academics, students can gain an advantage over their beach-bum peers.

Several platforms are available to support students who want to take learning under their own control. Are the SATs approaching? If so, check out Khan Academy's SAT Program. Students can access practice problems, self-teach through videos, identify areas of strength and weakness, and track progress. Khan Academy offers personalized math progress for advanced or struggling students. Parentals can also track the amount of time being spent on the program by registering as coach, although I prefer to just ask the student. Students can also register to take online high school courses through BYU Independent Study. Many of these classes are UC Approved and cost approximately $250 per semester. Courses are self paced and structured to teach a subject from scratch. I have seen independent learners have great success with this program, although it has been a struggle for students who lack motivation. BYU is an excellent alternative for students who have received a D or F in a core subject and want to be college eligible. Students who complete courses may be able to replace the previous grade on their transcript. California Community Colleges also offer free courses to current high school students. Special permission may be granted for advanced middle school students. Be sure to check with your own school counselor if you are seeking high school credit for any BYU or Community College courses. I suggest written approval from your school to prevent any potential discrepancies.

At the very least….pick up a book. The best student writers I meet are avid readers. Take a trip to the bookstore and leaf through some bestsellers or download some samples onto your eReaders. Grab a copy of The Goldfinch and get reading.