We've been back to school for seven days and it appears everyone has fully reverted back to "school-mode". It's the time of fresh beginnings and endless potential. The path to a successful school year starts with developing good habits now. This means:
- Attending class regularly. Easy now, but much harder in the middle of February when its cold and dark out, you're exhausted, and SOOOOO many assignments due on the same day! Be strong. Poor attendance is the single greatest reason why students fail a course.
- Focusing in class. Keeping your phone in your bag is a great help, but you also need to actually pay attention. Yes, it can be boring and the math may seem pointless (you're not wrong...I'll save that for another day), but to learn, you must engage in the lesson. Somebody out there believes this is good for you.
- Trying the practice. Math is skill-based. This means the best way to learn it is through practice and repetition. And remember that practice is low-stakes. It's okay to make mistakes and not understand. Nobody's judging you based on practice. It's there to inform you that you may or may not understand something fully or correctly, and whether you should seek help. Which leads to the next point...
- Asking for help. It's harder for some than others, but, in my opinion, the single most valuable skill you can learn in school is asking for help (it's most certainly not math). If you're not sure about asking in class, please come by during flex time or after school. No question is too small. When you walk away with a better understanding, everyone wins.
Have an awesome school year! 😎
