Straight A Students: What’s Their Secret?
The smart kids. The straight A students. We all know who they are. They’re the ones with the highest grades in class and who always seem to know the answers to the questions that teachers ask. We tend to imagine them as always having their noses in books; however, that stereotype is not always true. High grades don’t always go to the smartest and most diligent students. Here are some basic techniques that some top students master in order to earn the high grades.
Be organized. Studying can be overwhelming, which in turn can create anxiety. However, breaking studying down into manageable pieces of work can make the process a lot easier. For example, writing a to-do list will allow your student to know what has to be done first and the timeframe in which it needs to be done. If your child has an essay to write, break down the project into manageable pieces: Gather information the first night, the following night structure the essay, then work on the introduction, etc. Folders are also important to staying organized. Label each folder and color-code by subject so everything is in its place.
Use your voice. The majority of A students always participate in class discussions, giving answers and also asking questions when they don’t understand something. Many of them also have tutors to help them out. Be sure to talk to your student about using her voice, especially when she has a question. Also, don’t be afraid to hire a tutor for subjects your student may find difficult.
Learn to read fast. Some A students learn speed reading, which teaches them to look at a book’s contents, pictures and graphs first. This gives them a sense of the material and helps them retain more. (Classes are out there that teach students how to speed read.)
Take good notes. Although it’s important to read the textbooks, the teacher is going to test the most on what he or she emphasized in class, and that’s where taking good notes during class comes in. Remember, too, that top students also take notes while reading the textbooks.
Do more work than asked. Successful students tend to go a little farther with their studies and schoolwork. For instance, if their teacher assigns them 10 problems for their math homework, they do 15. If their English teacher asks them to read one chapter, they will read two. The more a person practices and works hard, the more they learn. The more a student learns, the better the results.
Study with others. Don’t make scholarship a lonely activity. Encourage your child to get involved with other students with group assignments or study groups. Sharing the workload will make your student’s study time more efficient, and it’s much more enjoyable. As a bonus, he may learn some good tips on how other people study!
Teach others. Teaching other people is the best way to learn. When a person teaches someone else, he has to understand the subject well and learn how to best explain material in his own words. You may have seen some of the top students helping their peers with homework or even tutoring after school. Have your student aim to do the same, and she will build her confidence and learn a lot!
What it boils down to is that straight A students are not always more intelligent. They just work a lot harder and smarter. Have your student follow some (or all) of the tips above, and watch his grades soar to the top!
Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein homeschools her two daughters and often has them tutor each other on things they may need help with. This definitely helps build their confidence and allows them to retain what they just worked on.