Here are 5 secrets to getting good grades:

1.    What’s Your Teacher’s Style?

If you have a new teacher, ask him or her if you could see one of his or her older tests (obviously not the same one you will be writing).  It can be from a different subject and even a different year.  See what kind of tests your teacher likes to give.  Does your teacher prefer multiple choice or essay questions?  If your teacher likes to give essay questions, then what ‘keywords’ does he or she use (e.g. compare and contrast, explain, describe)?  Obtaining a test from your current teacher will give you more insight as to how to study for the test. 

2.    Time Is On Your Side.

Studies show that students retain more information when they study in small chunks as opposed to longer periods of time.  Set specific times for yourself and stick to it, even if you’re not finished.  If you aren’t finished, you should still take the break and come back to your work.

If you are consistent with the breaks, you’ll be consistent with the study time as well!

Get the hardest and most undesirable work out of the way first; otherwise you will spend too much time on it later on as it will steal your time away from you.

3.    #3 Is For Three Calendars.

That’s right.  Three calendars.  Get a weekly, monthly, and yearly calendar.  The weekly calendar is perfect for when you have a test next Thursday and a report next Friday.  By ‘seeing’ the next week, you will be better planned.  The monthly calendar is good for being prepared for exams, major projects, and mid-terms.

The yearly calendar, though, doesn’t have much function.  Then why am I suggesting that you get one?  Well, a yearly calendar provides you with a significant psychological advantage.  You see, by putting up a yearly calendar, and of course filling it out as you go along (i.e. you should first write on the weekly and monthly calendar, then copy them to the yearly calendar), you will be able to look back and see the amount of work you have done.  When you see all the assignments, and the amount of work you have put in, you will be more likely to be motivated to continue studying even when you don’t feel like it. 

Imagine, it’s January and it’s winter time.  You are tired and you don’t feel like doing homework or studying any longer.  So, you look at your yearly calendar and realize that you’ve put in tons of work over the past few months.  It would seem like a waste to quit now, wouldn’t it? 

4.    Know Thyself.

Everybody has down times and peak times.  What are yours?  Perhaps you have extra curricular sports after school and other sports or lessons in the early evening.  Then when do you plan on doing your work? 

It’s important to know the time of day that you have your energy and the time when you are tired.  Maybe from 5:00 to 6:00 would be a good time to study before you go to karate class which starts at 7:00.  Or perhaps you can squeeze in 45 minutes right after school.  What you must do is determine the best times to study, and stick to that schedule.  There’s no point on saving homework for 8:00 after you’ve had baseball practice and swimming lessons.  Find your time!

5.    What’s Your Type?

What kind of learner are you?  Are you audio, visual, or kinesthetic?  Is your dominant intelligence verbal, artistic, interpersonal, or logical?  There are many free online tests you can take to get an idea of your learning preference and type of intelligence.

So, let’s suppose that you are a visual learner (you learn best by watching).  Then, you should try to study by using visual aids such as mind maps, diagrams, and pictures.  Or perhaps you are an auditory learner who is dominant in musical intelligence, then you might consider remembering math formulae by writing them into song lyrics.

Regardless of your learning style and type of intelligence, you can find ways to study that’s best for you.

     Clearly, the pattern here is to study smart.  Make studying cater to your lifestyle and skills and take advantage of some of the resources that at your disposal.  Persistence, hard work, and some self knowledge will help you get better grades in school.

1) Know the Basic Skills

 The biggest problem students have with math, reading, and writing, is that students don’t have the basic skills that are needed.  Math and writing in particular, require the cumulative understanding of skills.

For example, in order for a student to understand how to multiply fractions in grade 5, he must have several skills under his belt.  He must first understand the concept of a fraction (this is usually covered in grade 3).  Also, he must know his multiplication and division tables.  If a student has these skills, multiplying fractions shouldn’t be to difficult.

Another example is writing.  In order for a student to write a narrative essay, for example, she must be able to write a proper paragraph.  In order for her to write a proper paragraph, she must be able to write a topic and supporting sentence.  In order for her to write a topic sentence, she must know how to properly write a sentence.

So, this is the first secret to improve math and writing skills.

2) Make Everything Relevant

This is especially true for boys.  It is common for students to reject learning when they realize that it has no practical application.  I’ve heard students say, and ask, “Why do I need this?”.  Okay, they may not need all of the lessons, but they do need most of them.  The key here is to show students how they can use that which they learn.  For example, in math, fractions and decimals can be applied to buying video games on sale.  Geometry can be applied to angles with regards to passing and shooting in hockey and soccer.  Number skills are used every day in the collection of sports statistics and standings.

Applying writing skills to real life is more obvious.  For example, business reports, letters of request, job applications, love letters, advertisements, etc…

I believe that these two factors are paramount with regards to improving math grades and writing skills.  Students can be organized, study, and try to pay attention, but, it’s not enough.

Teachers have begun (or should be doing so soon) to average out grades from assignments and test from this term.  Some teachers, and districts, tend to look for trends in grades from the term.  For example, if your child started off this term with C’s and D’s, but somehow ended off this first term with B’s and perhaps a few A’s, your child could possibly get B’s or A’s on this upcoming report card.

Most teachers and districts, though, tend to average out your child’s grades from the term.  This means that all the A’s, B’s, C’s, and D’s count.

What can your child do now?

Well…first thing first.  Find out from your child’s teacher if a) there is still time left to submit work that could be counted for this report card, and b) find out your child’s grades.

Why?  Well, the reason to find out if there is still time left is obvious.  Let’s say your child is getting a B- in writing.  If there is still time left, you can ask your child’s teacher if your child can redo the report or essay that he got a lousy mark on early this term.  If there is time left, and there won’t be much, your child may still have a chance.  As for b), well, if your child is going to receive a B+ in reading, and that’s better than he’s ever done before, then you know that he doesn’t have to try to get a better grade during this crunch time.

Lastly, make sure you go to the report card interviews.  I have found that over the years, this first report card interview time is probably the most important event in the school year.  Why? Well, this is a great time to open communication and design a plan of action if your child is having trouble in a particular area.

     I thought I would add one of my tips to my blog.  It seems that many students out there have difficulty writing a report.  Here is a little outline to get students started.

     A report is a factual piece of writing that contains information.  Reports involve research to explore a topic.

The key behind writing a good report is to be well organized.  Students must learn to organize their ideas and present them in a clear and succinct manner (the lesson on Report Writing here at Tutorgiant is one of my favorites).

     Here’s how to organize a report.

1.    Have your child choose a specific topic for the report assuming your child has a choice in the matter.

2.    Your child should decide on 3-5 main ideas to focus on.  For example, if your child is doing a report on elephants, he can focus on: 1) Appearance, 2) Diet,  3) Babies, 4) Behaviours 5) Predators

3.    Have your child find information on each of the 3-5 main ideas.  He/she can write the information in point form notes.  Make sure your child focuses on the facts. He should use relevant data, and good detailed information.  Graphic organizers are great tools to help with organization.

4.    Now, your child has enough information to write 3-5 paragraphs.  Help your child to write a topic sentence for each paragraph.  The topic sentences should introduce the paragraph’s content. Then, he can take his point form notes and put them together in sentences (see the tip on writing a paragraph..I go into more detail).

5.    After your child has the 3-5 paragraphs with good topic sentences, he/she should write a good, strong opening that tells the main idea of the report.  A good opening can be a question or very interesting fact.  A strong opening sentence makes the reader want to read on.

6.    A strong closing sentence or sentences finishes off the report.  The closing should sum up the report and connect the main ideas together.  It’s almost like a summary of the report.

7.    Finally, the fun part…edit and edit some more.  Have your child use an editing checklist, spell checker, thesaurus, and a good old fashioned dictionary. 

8.    When your child is finished, allow him/her to read the report out loud to family and/or friends.  Reading written work out loud is one of the best ways for a student to learn to self edit.

     Clearly, writing a report is not difficult once your child learns the proper organization and format.  It is important for your child to add in facts and details.  A report must have good factual information for the reader. 

I’ve taken the math curriculae from several regions, extracted specific concepts, and created my own Tutorgiant.com assessments.  The math assessments cover all 5 math areas; number sense, geometry, patterning and algebra, measurement, and data and probability.  The reading assessments foucs on reading comprehension skills such as; inferring, asking questions, synthesizing, determining importance, and making connections.

The assessments are a good starting point for parents to get an idea of their child’s weaker subject areas.  I’ve already had some good feedback on the assessments, especially math.  So far, I’ve had quite the response.  Most people have emailed me and said that the assessments were pretty much in line with their child’s report card.

I think that they are a good starting point for parents.  I have still been reminding parents on my radio and tv appearances to look back at that 3rd term report card in order to be aware of their child’s weaker subject areas.  I think that using the report card and my new assessments will help give parents a good picture as to where their child needs help before it’s too late.

     I will have over 30 asssessments.  I will have free math assessments for grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6.  Each grade will have 5 individual assessments.  That is, each grade will have an assessment for each math strand (i.e. numeration, geometry, patterning and algebra, measurement, and data and probability).  The assessments will have from 10 to 25 questions.  I took the essential learning skills and concepts from each math section and focused the questions around them.

     Hopefully, I will also have grammar, spelling and vocabulary, and reading comprehension assessments up and running by September as well.

     This will be a great way for you to see where your child needs help BEFORE school starts.

     You read this correctly!  Math games have few merits, if any, and undermine your child’s progression in mathematics.

    But how can fun, enjoyable games with educational components be harmful to my child you ask.

     They are! At least most of the time.

     Okay, before I rip math games apart, I’ll be a bit kind first.  The only merits I can see with math games (when I refer to math games I’m referring to online games and software you can buy) is that they may help small children remember math facts such as addition and subtraction.

     That’s it. 

     Now for the good stuff.  Math games pose major problems which you probably haven’t thought about, but should consider.

1.  Math games only help your child learn math on a superficial level.

2.  Math games create an experience that weakens your child’s interest/motivation in learning math.

     The aim for math games is to entertain, they don’t teach your child the process nor the fundamental intricacies of mathematical reasoning and computations! 

     Huh?

     Math games don’t r-e-e-e-e—eally teach your child MATH.  For example, you may find a game that asks for simple computation (i.e. addition) and even the conversion of units. But, math games weren’t designed to teach your child how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers nor show your child how to find the surface area of a cylinder. 

     A good math teacher understands the key parts of the lesson that guarantee both student success and failure.  Math games are too fast, flashy, and colorful to pay attention to that kind of detail.  Sure, they may be introducing and/or reinforcing some basic skills, but they’re not getting to the meat of the concept, only the bun.

     Also, most, if not all, math skills require knowledge and understanding of more basic math skills.  That is, a child will have difficulty finding common denominators if he doesn’t have proficient multiplication skills.  Math games do nothing to address this problem.  They assume that your child has the basic skills.  This is MATHEMATICS!!!  Skills, based on smaller skills, based on even smaller skills.  This is why kids have trouble in math!  They’ve missed out on some basic skills somewhere along the path, and that’s why they’re having trouble now.  Math games won’t fix this problem!

     I can draw an analogy to this entire idea of math games.

     “Let’s assume your child is doing a report on World War II.  Do you want him to spend his time reading high quality non-fiction literature in order to gain information and understanding?

Or…

     Do you want him to watch the movie Pearl Harbor (where perhaps there are some historical facts and see some mediocre acting) and play the video game Call of Duty?”

     Alright, my analogy may be a bit exaggerated, but I think you get the point.  These entertaining mediums won’t help educate your child!  Sure, they’re fun, but they have their own job…to entertain.

     This leads to my second statement that math games weaken your child’s interest in hardcore math lessons.  Let’s go back and assume that your child has watched Pearl Harbor and played the video game.  What do you think that will do to his interest level with regards to reading for information?  It may, ever so slightly, pique his interest.  Maybe.

     But let’s face it…kids are over stimulated by video games and movies.  Sitting down to read and extract information from a textbook is not as much fun for them.

So? How do playing math games and learning math in class differ from the WWII example?  I don’t believe they do all that much.

     In a nutshell…

     I’d stay away from math games IF your child is using them to improve math skills.  Sure, math games are a better way for a child to spend his/her time than watching television or doing something else unproductive.

     But if you want your child to learn math, properly, stick with real lessons.

Why does everyone give the same advice?

I don’t agree at all !!!   I’ve had students who simply work better when there’s noise, and lost of it.  Sure, there are a handful of kids who need absolute silence to read or do math problems, but there are just as many who would rather be surrounded by other people, a tv, or a radio!

Why do we all have to study in quiet?  Why do we tell kids they have to study alone in their rooms?  I hated being in my room to study!  I felt like I was missing out on something, especially when I heard the tv or laughter from downstairs.  You bet I rushed to get my homework done fast. 

I believe that there are many kids who would rather study in the kitchen or in the living room than in solitary confinement upstairs.  They would rather be near people.  Maybe they could actually study better with some background noise (I personally work best when there’s a lot going on).

Here’s another point to add to this issue.  Have you ever thought that maybe it would be good for kids to learn how to tune out noise and distractions and practice focusing at their task at hand?

How many workplaces are completely silent?  Aren’t we trying to prepare our children for the workforce?  Shouldn’t we try to emulate a real-work environment?

What do you think?

     You can help your child learn by involving him/her is real-life hands on learning at home.

     The first way you can help your child is to have the two of you do some cooking or baking.  Cookbooks and measuring cups provide a good opportunity for learning fractions.  Cookbooks have the measurements and the measuring cups are good hands on tools, often labeled with the fractions.  Your child will be able to see that 1 cup is greater than 1/2, which is greater than 1/3 and so on.  You can teach your child how to add fractions by adding the contents in the measuring cups.

     Food shopping is another great way to learn math skills.  When you take your child to the supermarket, you can look at food prices and compare them.  This strategy of comparing decimals and whole numbers is an important math skill.  After you have paid for your groceries, you can have your younger child categorize the foods on the bill.  Your older child can round the decimal prices to whole numbers (e.g. %7.89 could be rounded to $8.00) to see if the food bill was correct.  This can also be done after dinner at the restaurant.

     Instead of throwing away all those flyers (and perhaps sometimes coupons), you can use them to show your child how to compare prices and determine which flyer has a better sale.  Again, this skill requires estimating, rounding, and adding.

     Board games are great educational tools.  Boggle and Scrabble are two great choices.  Scrabble is an obvious winner with regards to learning spelling and vocabulary.  Allow your child to use a dictionary.  This will help him/her improve vocabulary, learn correct spelling, learn how to use a dictionary, and boost his/her confidence.  I let my kids use a thesaurus and if they can come up with a synonym I give them extra points.

     You can also take out a deck of cards to teach math.  War is a great game to play with young children.  Take out the face cards and have your child determine who wins each round.  This will force your child to look at the two cards and compare the numbers.

  Finally, are you planning on doing any renovations around the house?  If so, measuring tapes are excellent tools for learning math skills.  Your child can measure length using fractions (e.g. 5 ⅜) and whole numbers.  You can also teach your child how to find the perimeter or area of a specific space.

  There are many more ways that you can prevent your child from losing math skills over the summer if you are creative.  It is well known that the best learning is done when it applies to real life.

    Dina Pugliese, the host of the show, was terrific!  She kept the conversation fluid and informative.  She is excellent at what she does.  During commercials, she asked me questions, gave me her personal experiences, and prepared me for the upcoming conversation.

    I went on the show to talk about the 3^rd term report cards and give some tips for parents to help their children learn at home.  Dina had a good understanding of the report card process and more than that, she was empathetic to students who have difficulties come September.  I think I gave some good information this morning.  I remember saying that, “The June report card is important because it is an indication of problem areas that should be addressed immediately when school starts,” (We’ll maybe I didn’t say it in exactly those words but I think that’s the message I conveyed).

     I also gave parents practical tips to help their children learn math and language over the summer without spending much money.  I discussed how parents can use shopping bills to teach their children categorizing, addition with decimals, and estimating.  I also mentioned how children can learn vocabulary and spelling by playing scrabble.  I think the producer liked my idea of having children use a tape measure to learn fractions, perimeter, and area.  There was also mention about cookbooks (for procedure writing and following directions), measuring cups (for fractions), and travel brochures for reading and research.

     It was a good experience.  I plan to have the video of my segment up on my media page sometime in July.

    I’m heading uptown this afternoon to give a similar talk on CFRB 1010.