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Teenage
Start studying early
BY Trish-ann Knight Observer TEENage writer Wolmer's Girls' School
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
As TEENs, we tend to want to strive for excellence, but fail to prepare to do so. TEENs are easily distracted and with the many TEEN parties every week, we tend to put less effort into studying. It is not that we do not have the ability, it is just that we need to do more time management.
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Some possible ways of doing so are:
1 Good time management: This includes you getting work done when the time is available. TEENs have the tendency of saying, 'I will do it tomorrow', when they have the time right there and then. They keep doing this until nothing is done and time runs out.
2 Set a timetable: This is useful as it will help you deal with your different work areas timely and at least get a little of everything done.
3 Opportunity cost: This is giving up one thing for another. As TEENs, we tend to gravitate to fun and excitement. In doing so we are further from finishing schoolwork. TEENage believes we need to learn to ignore some of the fun, like too many parties, for a while and pursue academics future. Remember parties will always be around but lost time can never be regained. (A good education will NEVER DECAY).
4 Revise regularly (double 'R'): This is vital to retaining information. TEENs have the habit of waiting until a test or major exam is on, then try to study. However, what they do is 'swat'. If you revise every night before sleeping, you keep building on this foundation, when a test comes around you will not be under too much pressure.
5 Find a study area: It is important to find a study area that is best for you. If you know you are easily distracted, it is not advised to study in groups or with music. It is not advisable to lay down and study, you will fall asleep. When the time draws nearer to an exam or test you could revise with a group. In doing this, you would already know your information and you would just be reinforcing it and getting a few extra points to put in your essays.
Follow these tips and see how much more you will capture. Be prepared, and be a success. All the BEST for this academic year.
Who wants more homework?
BY Gavin Plowright
Observer TEENage writer
MTI
School is in full gear and the homework has started to pile up. "Do Math problems 10 through 100; read pages five through 20 of your literature books, answer the 15 English questions, and don't forget your SBAs." Sounds like enough to have your hands full for the next few nights but unfortunately for some of us, this is typical of the workload for one night.
Most TEENs fail to realise that homework is a major part of going to school. Teachers use it as an evaluation tool to find out how much you understand of what is being taught in class so mastery of homework is essential to success in school.
Here are some tips to make homework seem easier and less:
. Make sure you understand the assignment before attempting. Don't be afraid to ask questions about what's expected. It's easier to take a minute to ask the teacher than to struggle all night trying to figure it out.
. Use any extra time you have in school to work on your homework. The more you get done at school, the less you'll have to do at nights.
. It's best to devote more time to your homework than to rush it. Come up with a homework timetable, especially if you're involved in sports or other activities.
. Most TEENagers' attention spans aren't very long. Sitting for too long without stretching or relaxing will make you less productive. Taking a 15-minute break every hour is a good idea.
Ask for help when you need it.
At times, even though you pay attention in class, doing your homework seems too hard. Nothing is weird or embarrassing about asking for help. No one is expecting you to understand everything.
. The first place to turn for help is your teacher. He or she may be able to work with you before or after school and explain things more clearly. If your teacher is not available, speak with another teacher who teaches the same subject.
. Ask an adult or older sibling for help, or call or email a classmate for advice. Don't ask someone you'll be up all night chatting with or you'll never get it done!
. Another option for extra help is a tutor, either after school, on weekends or in the evening.
Once your homework is done, you can check it over if you have extra time. Be sure to put it safely away in your backpack. There's nothing worse than having completed an assignment that you either can't find the next morning or that gets ruined by a careless brother or sister. And no teacher believes the "chewed by the dog" line, even when it's true!
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