Skip to main content

Participate More in Class

One of the easiest ways to improve your grades is by participating more in class.  If you embrace even a few of these techniques, you'll find that your performance in school will improve rapidly:

  • Ask Questions: This is perhaps the easiest technique, since there really are no stupid questions, and teachers will never evaluate a question as being wrong or right.  Asking questions whenever you don't comprehend something will ensure that you do not fall behind the rest of the class, and your classmates will probably also be grateful when they have the same confusion.
  • Raise Your Hand: Don't be shy when you know the answer to a question.  Raise your hand and show off your knowledge.  Your teacher will appreciate your participation and often improve your grade as a result, especially if your grade includes classroom participation.  By the way, be strategic about trying to answer the easy questions that often come first.  Your teacher will make a mental note of your correct answers, and you also might avoid getting cold called for the harder questions that come later.
  • Nod Occasionally: When you grasp the subject matter, do an occasional nod of your head.  Your teacher like the positive validation, and you'll be sending a small signal that you're smart and a quick learner.
All this seems like pretty easy stuff, but it's really important.  Aside from the direct benefits, these simple participation techniques will keep you engaged in class, which is one of the best ways to improve your comprehension, retention, and overall school performance.  Start participating more in class today!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Calm Back-to-School Anxiety After a Break

I used to get anxious the night before going back to school after winter or spring break. I’d lie in bed, wide awake, thinking about my early alarm clock, what to expect academically and socially upon my return to school, and the general chaos of getting back into a routine. And of course, the more I stressed about not sleeping, the harder it was to actually fall asleep. Eventually, though, I figured out a few ways to handle that pre-school anxiety and make the transition back a lot easier. 1. Get Back Into Routine Early One of the biggest reasons going back to school feels stressful is because breaks completely throw off your schedule. If you’ve been staying up late and sleeping in, suddenly trying to fall asleep early the night before school starts is basically setting yourself up for failure. Instead, try adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before break ends—go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, and get used to a normal routine again. 2. Prepare the Night Before A lot of my a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing

Let’s be honest—writing can feel like a chore. You sit down to craft a simple paragraph, and suddenly you’re wondering if you even know how to use commas anymore. The good news? You don’t need to be the next Shakespeare to write clearly and confidently. Here are some ways to level up your writing—no painful grammar drills required. 1. Know What You’re Trying to Say (Before You Start Writing) Writing is a lot easier when you actually know the point you’re trying to make. Before you dive into your essay, take a minute to ask yourself, What am I trying to argue or explain? If you can sum it up in a sentence, you’re on the right track. Otherwise, you might end up writing a lot of words that don’t actually say much—which is impressive, but not helpful. 2. Keep It Simple Big words might sound impressive, but no one wants to read a sentence that feels like it was written by a robot with a thesaurus addiction. Use clear, straightforward language. Instead of saying, “I endeavored to ascer...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Value of Extracurriculars (Besides Just Impressing Colleges)

Getting good grades is important—but if all you do is study, you might start to wonder if there’s more to life than memorizing the periodic table. Extracurricular activities—those magical things that happen outside of class—aren’t just resume fluff for college applications. They actually make life more interesting, and here’s why you should try a few. 1. You Might Discover You’re Good at Something (Besides Taking Tests) Maybe you’ve got a hidden talent for playing the trombone, scoring goals, or arguing so persuasively that you could win a debate about whether cereal is a soup. Extracurriculars let you explore hobbies and skills that algebra class somehow misses. Plus, finding something you love can make school more enjoyable. 2. Friends: They’re Easier to Make When You Leave Your Desk Sure, you could form a lasting friendship by bonding over a group project—but do you really want your social life to depend on dissecting frogs? Joining a club, sport, or volunteer group connects you...
Post a Comment
Read more