History

DO THE READING! Take notes over what you read.
When writing essays for history, get to the point! More words does not equal a better paper.
Be as specific as you can--use key terms, dates, names--if you don’t know, find out!
Reserve shelf in the library has books that your teachers have pulled for you to use for research.
Using history books as references for your papers--use the index!
CITE YOUR SOURCES! Chicago Style

Math

Practice “decoding” word problems--they are all asking you to do things you KNOW how to do, you just have to figure out what they’re asking!
Make sure you know what it looks like to “try” a problem? How do you work on something if you know you’re not right? If you don't know, ask your teacher for guidance on how you can show effort if you're unsure of the answer.
Khan Academy, cK12 Open Source textbooks--you need to know the “name” of what you’re doing to make sure you are finding the best practice materials you can

English

Know the assignment
Start with a good argument (thesis statement)
Find support for your argument--record your sources
Make a thorough outline
Proofread and proofread again
Avoid plagiarism
Be specific and concise. Don’t use “filler” words.
Get feedback and revise
Don't try to shortcut any of the steps of the writing process--putting in the work from the beginning will make the final writing of the paper much easier!
Don't lose points for "easy" things like improper MLA format, spacing, page numbers, etc.

World Languages

Use www.wordreference.com NOT GOOGLE TRANSLATE!!!
Participate (SPEAK!) in class
Use the language every chance you get
Old skills matter--stay sharp!
The more language you take in (reading and listening) the better you will be at producing language (writing and speaking).
Be courteous to your classmates. Students need to feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes in a language class, and if students fear being ridiculed for mistakes, they will stop trying.
Learn material as it is taught

Science

Seals--use the materials available on Mrs. Seals’s website
Know when to use Quizlet to help you study (vocabulary)
Read and re-read the textbook/CK12 materials
Use materials your teacher has created/linked from Kahoot, EdPuzzle, Khan Academy, etc.
Ask your teacher if you need more practice problems.

General Test-Taking Tips

The Penn State Learning Center has created a very useful site full of test-taking tips. If you are struggling to do well on a specific question type (essay, multiple choice, true/false) or struggle to complete tests in the required time frame, take some time to look over the site and consider implementing some of their suggested strategies. The most effective test-taking tip happens after you take your test--review your answers, correct any questions you got wrong, and write down in a "Review" section of your notes the topics that you still need to study based on your test performance. A test should not be the end of your learning--it should inform your "next steps" in the learning process.