It Takes A Number of Things
Being a good student starts with eating a healthy diet, including breakfast, and getting enough sleep on school nights. Eating a healthy diet means getting a good selection of foods in the five food groups - meat or a substitute protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy. That doesn't even always have to mean eliminating junk food (although the less junk food, the better). It just means making sure you get enough of the good foods (whether or not you eat junk food).
Getting enough sleep can seem like a challenge for young people, but lack of sleep affects health and school performance. Young people need a lot of sleep, and it can be difficult to get enough sleep every single school night. Ideally, getting to bed at a decent hour Sunday through Thursday would be what you need. Since you people often like (and need) to sleep as late as they like Saturdays and Sundays it can be hard to go to sleep early Sunday night.
It's not ideal, but if you have to have a slightly later bedtime Sunday night (and be more tired Monday morning) even that's better than never getting enough sleep.
Put together the things you need for school the evening before.
Do all the homework. Find a homework plan that works for you. If you do something like finish all the quick-to-do homework in the afternoon (or in study hall) you'll have only the longer assignments to deal with separately. Getting the reading done in study can reduce what you need to do at home later. If you need help with homework ask for help. Not doing the homework will bring down your grade, so even if you get A's on tests you won't get A's on your report card. Also, doing the homework all the time shows you are putting in the effort and could make the difference between getting a D and a C, if you're a student who has trouble with the subject.
In order to be able to do homework properly you need a space in your house where you have quiet. If your family is one where there's a lot of activity everywhere in the house, ask your parent(s) if they'll help you find a homework space and tell others not to disturb you while you're working. (You'll show younger brothers and sisters that school work is important too.)
Get to school a little early or at least on time. Starting your day off on the right foot (and being there for whatever goes on when the day starts) is important.
Behave and stay out of trouble. Maybe all students can't get all A's, but all students can behave, which means respecting others (particularly teachers and other school officials), following school rules, and listening in class. None of these is difficult to do, and behaving can go a long way in building the foundation for being a good student.
Pay attention to what is being said in class and try to do your best to learn. Learning is easier for some students than it is for others, and some teachers are better at capturing students' interest than others are. Still, no matter who the teacher is or who the student is, paying attention to what's going on in class, trying to learn what is being taught, and generally putting in an effort will make any student a better student.
Some students can do well in all subjects when they try. Others can do well in some subjects but struggle in others. Do your best in every subject. If you're someone who has subjects that make you struggle ask for help in those subjects; but don't forget that you can do well in other subjects.
I knew a little boy who had a learning problem that made it hard for him to learn to read and do math. He was a really well behaved little boy in school, so he always got S's ("satisfactory" rather than "need improvement" or "unsatisfactory") in conduct. He was a bright boy and wanted to do well, so he always got A's in non-reading/non-math subjects, like physical education, art, science, health ed, etc. Because he tried hard he would get S's in effort, and he always got S's in all the other behavior areas as well (works well with others, etc.). That meant that even though he got poor grades in reading and math (which, of course, meant he needed help), his report card was still full of A's and S's - and he was, in his own way, a good student.
It would have been better if he could have done well in those all-important reading and math areas; but the point is, even though he didn't, this boy didn't just "write himself off as a bad student" and stop doing well in those areas in which he could do well.
What this boy did do, however, was try to improve his reading and math skills at home, on his own. He would take books that interested him to bed every night, and before he'd sleep he'd browse the books and try to read them. He played math games (although not as much as he tried to improve his reading). He found things that interested him in any number of subjects, and tried to learn on his own.
All students can do that kind of thing. Learning isn't just about what is taught in school, so trying to find things about which you can learn on your own helps in a number of ways. It can help you understand what is being taught in school more easily, but it can also make you feel good to know that there are things to learn that are actually interesting. Trying to learn on your own (even if that's just reading a lot of books, having hobbies, or watching tv programs or DVD's that tell you something you don't know) helps you get in the habit of seeing yourself as someone who is interested in learning.
If teachers off a way to get some extra credit do the work to get the extra credit.
Take part in at least one school activity if you're old enough. You'll meet friends who are interested in getting the most out of school too.
Get plenty of exercise. Exercise helps keep you feeling good and energetic. Being a lethargic couch potato and then dragging yourself to school doesn't do much to make you feel motivated and capable.
Keep girlfriend/boyfriend relationships kind of light (not serious and intense). If you spend every minute of your day with a girlfriend/boyfriend and are all wrapped up in your "relationship" you aren't going to be concentrating on school the way you need to. Having a girlfriend/boyfriend is fine, but school always has to come first. School doesn't last forever, and there are weekends and vacations for socializing.
Never, ever, cheat. While cheating may result in getting a higher grade, it will never, ever, result in your being a "good student". More importantly, you will not be a person with integrity.
We often think of the term, "good student," to mean a student who get's all A's and wins all kinds of awards, and are at the top of the class in achievement. Not all students can get all A's or be at the top of the class, but that doesn't mean they can't still be good students. Even students who have learning problems can - like the little boy I mentioned above - be good students in a lot of ways (which is better than not being a good student in any way).
A whole lot of students, though, don't do as well as in school as they could; and that's because they can't or won't do the things that would help them do better. Doing all the things good students do usually will result in better grades, no matter how easy or difficult it is for a student to learn.
One final note: You should know that sometimes kids can't concentrate in school or when doing homework because they "can't make themselves interested". Students who have trouble concentrating on school work need to know that stress and worry can make your body have elevated stress hormones, which makes concentrating difficult.
Any student who has trouble making himself do the homework (or pay attention in class), no matter how much he wants to do what he should be doing, should talk with parents or a teacher about the problem. Being unhappy or bored with school can be stressful enough to cause a problem. Problems in the family can too. Being a kid other kids make fun of or bully is another source of stress.
If you try to do your schoolwork/homework and find you "just can't make yourself do it" don't think you're lazy or lack self-discipline. Talk to an adult and try to get to the root of what is making you stressed out.
Summer's on the way. Have fun, but don't forget to find some books that interest you too. If you've had trouble with any subjects up until now, see if you can brush up (either with help from a parent, DVD's, games, books, or website) over the Summer.
....................................................................................................................................
Getting enough sleep can seem like a challenge for young people, but lack of sleep affects health and school performance. Young people need a lot of sleep, and it can be difficult to get enough sleep every single school night. Ideally, getting to bed at a decent hour Sunday through Thursday would be what you need. Since you people often like (and need) to sleep as late as they like Saturdays and Sundays it can be hard to go to sleep early Sunday night.
It's not ideal, but if you have to have a slightly later bedtime Sunday night (and be more tired Monday morning) even that's better than never getting enough sleep.
Put together the things you need for school the evening before.
Do all the homework. Find a homework plan that works for you. If you do something like finish all the quick-to-do homework in the afternoon (or in study hall) you'll have only the longer assignments to deal with separately. Getting the reading done in study can reduce what you need to do at home later. If you need help with homework ask for help. Not doing the homework will bring down your grade, so even if you get A's on tests you won't get A's on your report card. Also, doing the homework all the time shows you are putting in the effort and could make the difference between getting a D and a C, if you're a student who has trouble with the subject.
In order to be able to do homework properly you need a space in your house where you have quiet. If your family is one where there's a lot of activity everywhere in the house, ask your parent(s) if they'll help you find a homework space and tell others not to disturb you while you're working. (You'll show younger brothers and sisters that school work is important too.)
Get to school a little early or at least on time. Starting your day off on the right foot (and being there for whatever goes on when the day starts) is important.
Behave and stay out of trouble. Maybe all students can't get all A's, but all students can behave, which means respecting others (particularly teachers and other school officials), following school rules, and listening in class. None of these is difficult to do, and behaving can go a long way in building the foundation for being a good student.
Pay attention to what is being said in class and try to do your best to learn. Learning is easier for some students than it is for others, and some teachers are better at capturing students' interest than others are. Still, no matter who the teacher is or who the student is, paying attention to what's going on in class, trying to learn what is being taught, and generally putting in an effort will make any student a better student.
Some students can do well in all subjects when they try. Others can do well in some subjects but struggle in others. Do your best in every subject. If you're someone who has subjects that make you struggle ask for help in those subjects; but don't forget that you can do well in other subjects.
I knew a little boy who had a learning problem that made it hard for him to learn to read and do math. He was a really well behaved little boy in school, so he always got S's ("satisfactory" rather than "need improvement" or "unsatisfactory") in conduct. He was a bright boy and wanted to do well, so he always got A's in non-reading/non-math subjects, like physical education, art, science, health ed, etc. Because he tried hard he would get S's in effort, and he always got S's in all the other behavior areas as well (works well with others, etc.). That meant that even though he got poor grades in reading and math (which, of course, meant he needed help), his report card was still full of A's and S's - and he was, in his own way, a good student.
It would have been better if he could have done well in those all-important reading and math areas; but the point is, even though he didn't, this boy didn't just "write himself off as a bad student" and stop doing well in those areas in which he could do well.
What this boy did do, however, was try to improve his reading and math skills at home, on his own. He would take books that interested him to bed every night, and before he'd sleep he'd browse the books and try to read them. He played math games (although not as much as he tried to improve his reading). He found things that interested him in any number of subjects, and tried to learn on his own.
All students can do that kind of thing. Learning isn't just about what is taught in school, so trying to find things about which you can learn on your own helps in a number of ways. It can help you understand what is being taught in school more easily, but it can also make you feel good to know that there are things to learn that are actually interesting. Trying to learn on your own (even if that's just reading a lot of books, having hobbies, or watching tv programs or DVD's that tell you something you don't know) helps you get in the habit of seeing yourself as someone who is interested in learning.
If teachers off a way to get some extra credit do the work to get the extra credit.
Take part in at least one school activity if you're old enough. You'll meet friends who are interested in getting the most out of school too.
Get plenty of exercise. Exercise helps keep you feeling good and energetic. Being a lethargic couch potato and then dragging yourself to school doesn't do much to make you feel motivated and capable.
Keep girlfriend/boyfriend relationships kind of light (not serious and intense). If you spend every minute of your day with a girlfriend/boyfriend and are all wrapped up in your "relationship" you aren't going to be concentrating on school the way you need to. Having a girlfriend/boyfriend is fine, but school always has to come first. School doesn't last forever, and there are weekends and vacations for socializing.
Never, ever, cheat. While cheating may result in getting a higher grade, it will never, ever, result in your being a "good student". More importantly, you will not be a person with integrity.
We often think of the term, "good student," to mean a student who get's all A's and wins all kinds of awards, and are at the top of the class in achievement. Not all students can get all A's or be at the top of the class, but that doesn't mean they can't still be good students. Even students who have learning problems can - like the little boy I mentioned above - be good students in a lot of ways (which is better than not being a good student in any way).
A whole lot of students, though, don't do as well as in school as they could; and that's because they can't or won't do the things that would help them do better. Doing all the things good students do usually will result in better grades, no matter how easy or difficult it is for a student to learn.
One final note: You should know that sometimes kids can't concentrate in school or when doing homework because they "can't make themselves interested". Students who have trouble concentrating on school work need to know that stress and worry can make your body have elevated stress hormones, which makes concentrating difficult.
Any student who has trouble making himself do the homework (or pay attention in class), no matter how much he wants to do what he should be doing, should talk with parents or a teacher about the problem. Being unhappy or bored with school can be stressful enough to cause a problem. Problems in the family can too. Being a kid other kids make fun of or bully is another source of stress.
If you try to do your schoolwork/homework and find you "just can't make yourself do it" don't think you're lazy or lack self-discipline. Talk to an adult and try to get to the root of what is making you stressed out.
Summer's on the way. Have fun, but don't forget to find some books that interest you too. If you've had trouble with any subjects up until now, see if you can brush up (either with help from a parent, DVD's, games, books, or website) over the Summer.
....................................................................................................................................
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