This is the third article in a series aimed at supporting the achievement of school pupils in Grahamstown.
If you’ve embraced the suggestions in the first two articles, you should by now have a positive attitude and a few well-set goals.
This is the third article in a series aimed at supporting the achievement of school pupils in Grahamstown.
If you’ve embraced the suggestions in the first two articles, you should by now have a positive attitude and a few well-set goals.
Arriving at school without the necessary tools of the trade is a bit like trying to swim in an empty pool. It’s going to be painful and embarrassing and you’re not going to make much progress.
Use these tips to assist you in preparing for and organising your school day:
A sound start to a good school day begins the day and night before. Check that your homework, test and project assignments are completed. Use a diary at school to help you keep track of your scholastic responsibilities. (Effective diary keeping and management is a good life skill to have).
Check your timetable for the next day and pack your bag accordingly – books, stationery, sports clothes and kit, and other equipment. (Copy your timetable so that you have one at home and one in your school bag).
Set your own alarm clock time. Don’t rely on mom and dad’s free wake-up service – it’s not always a guaranteed service!
Make sure that you have the following tools for your school and / or homework;
– a sufficient supply of pens, pencils, felt tip pens, highlighters and other stationery requirements
– a note pad or jotter
– a dictionary and a thesaurus
– a few library cards
– the phone / cell numbers of a few diligent classmates, (this will be helpful for sharing information).
Create a suitable work space in your home or bedroom for homework with all your stationery at hand. You should have a suitable work surface, comfortable chair, good lighting and a bookshelf for reading material and resources.
Learn to prioritise your homework, tests and assignment tasks. Set up a study programme. Spend a little time each day on tasks that are not immediately required and allocate the bulk of your time to those tasks that have more immediate deadlines.
If you have a cell phone, use the calendar function to set reminders for urgent items.
