Learning
It probably goes without saying that you’ll be expected to learn a lot at your new high school. The increase in course load is overwhelming for almost every student, but it can be a lot harder for those of us coming from middle schools where we did a lot less, or did things very differently.
To avoid feeling overwhelmed, we suggest that you take a look at the information and advice we’ve gathered here. Things like taking notes and staying organized may seem trivial or intuitive, but doing it properly can make a huge difference in your high school experience. On this page you’ll find advice from some of us on how we do these things, how we suggest you develop a method, and places to look for extra guidance.
Note Taking Tips
By Rebeca Sabnam
Don’t copy down everything the teacher says/ writes down on the board (unless your teacher says otherwise). Not all of it may be useful and you might end up wasting your time in the long run.
If your teacher repeats something multiple times or says that it will be important to know, it's a clue to write it down.
Use abbreviations for long words or words that you’ll be writing down multiple times (because-bc, government-gov., etc.).
Write in bullet format. It helps to organize the notes and make things easier to read at a glance. In addition to this, write heading and subheading for everything. It helps you categorize information to refer back to easily later on and. This also helps to make your notes into a study guide. Example:
Birmingham Campaign
Project C
“Notes”
Children’s Crusade
“Notes”
If there are diagrams that are relevant to understanding the content (usually in math or science), it’s helpful to copy them down. Similarly, in subjects like math, if there is a common type of problem you don’t understand, copy down the steps/ methods that will lead you to the correct answer. Use a sample problem as a guide for the general types of problem (ie. solving systems of equations.) Sometimes, your teacher might use analogies to better experience problems, so it could be helpful to also copy those down.
Everyone has those days where it can just be really hard to concentrate in class because of other factors. At times like this, I would ask my teacher if it is okay to record the lesson on voice memo to refer to later on. So when you do get into a better mindset, you can listen to the voice memo and copy down relevant notes at your own pace. If the teacher uses slides, you could also ask for a copy of the slides as well.
If possible, only have one notebook per subject. Having too many subjects per notebook makes you disorganized and makes it hard to find information.
My Experience
Trying to find a style of taking notes has taken me all of my ten plus years in school to find. Even now, there is so much that needs to improve. Know that your notes don't need to look perfect. If they are legible and make sense to you, that’s good enough. That is something that I struggle with. In biology, I would get so stuck on trying to copy down every single bit of information while simultaneously making it look neat that I’d fall behind on note taking. I end up refusing to take notes on the current topic unless I finish perfecting the previous topics. Of course, not everyone is as anal-retentive as me. Bottom line, write in a way that is most comfortable to you. Perfection is not the goal, but rather retaining as much relevant information as possible. Also, taking notes is NOT SOMETHING OPTIONAL. Unless you have a photographic memory, it’ll be really hard to recall information when you need it in subjects like history, math, or science.
Tips for Studying for Tests
By Rebeca Sabnam
Always start studying for tests weeks in advance. If it is a cumulative exam for a test at school, it's helpful to review all the material you learned during the week, over the weekend. You might think that you’ll be able to get by studying at the last minute the day before (or even the day of) the test, but there’s only so much information you can retain. Even if you were to remember some things, that information will only stay in your short term memory. To put information into your long time memory, you must constantly be reviewing the information to solidify it into our brain.
Quiz yourself! Cover the answers to practice problems and test how well you know the information.
If it it memorization based (e.g., Biology, History), practice writing down the information 5 times, reading it 5 times, and speaking it outloud 5 times.
If it is concept based (ie. math), do as many practice problems as possible.
DON’T HAVE ANY DISTRACTIONS NEAR YOU (i.e., phone, TV)
For tests like SHSAT or SAT, take practice tests. Take a practice test everyday or every other day. Make sure to do so as consistently and as frequently as possible.
It's not smart to constantly retake the same practice tests without reviewing what you got wrong first. Don’t simply take the practice test and most of the rest. Review and redo the questions you got wrong until you get them right. For SHSAT or SAT, keep a simple log of the questions you got right and wrong to track your progress . For example for SAT, it might look something like this:
My Experience
I hate taking tests. It makes me really anxious and easily stresses me out. SHSAT and SAT were definitely the hardest things I have ever had to study for. But the one good thing about it is that, while I might have not known what exact questions were going to be on the test, I could predict the types of questions I would see. The only way to predict these things is to continuously take practice tests. Unfortunately, SHSAT and SAT aren’t really much about information you can learn, but rather how good of a test taker you are. Getting familiar with the types of questions that will be on the test is the best way to train yourself to take these kinds of standardized tests. The most important thing is to remain consistent. You can’t go from study everyday to studying once a week without expecting a significant drop in your scores.That was definitely that case for me. Think of training your brain like how you train your body. If you don’t actively work all your muscles, you’ll end up out of shape. The same goes for your mind: if you aren’t actively practicing for these tests, you’ll be out of tune. But remember, it's okay to get a bad score once in a while. A few bad grades do not holistically define you as a person/student. Take breaks when you need to. And definitely DO NOT overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion. It's counter-productive.
Staying Organized
By Hayoung Oh
Staying organized can be difficult but definitely something that needs to be prioritized in high school. Being organized can benefit you in different ways such as saving time, increasing productivity, reducing stress levels, and meeting your goal or deadline. Organization helps save time because it allows for you to spend time working on what is actually important rather than having to search for the things that you need, allowing you to be more productive. It helps in reducing your stress level as well since everything should all be easy to find and you won’t have to worry about where certain assignments for certain classes are.
It also helps when you are trying to meet a goal or deadline because if you already have your work planned out ahead of time, the chances of you missing or forgetting about it are very low. There are many different ways to stay organized— one popular way being color coding your school materials according to a specific class. (eg., making your math notebook and folder blue, english red, science green, etc.) If color coding is something that you don’t really like or do, labelling your materials is also a really good alternative to stay organized. Another thing you can do is to have a planner. A planner can help you keep track of the assignments you have for that day or even upcoming days. Lastly, it is important to declutter every now and then to make sure that your bag doesn’t get too messy or heavy.
My Experience
Personally, staying organized is also very challenging for me. I feel that is because I'm such a lazy person who procrastinates a lot. I always do my assignments very last minute and I tend to be a person who crams all the information 5 minutes before the test. Learning from my mistakes, staying organized allows you to have a clearer mind and keep you on track for exactly what you need to get done. Being able to stay organized not only allows you to stay focused and successful in high school, but will help you create good habits for your lifestyle.
Learning Critically
By Brianna Clarke
History and other humanities classes require a consciousness of the outside world. These classes are designed to provide a well-rounded education that will give students the tools to engage in the world and the history of its formation. This makes history and other humanities classes inherently political; history is a bird’s eye history of politics (wars, coups, revolutions, inventions, elections, colonization) and english is a worm’s eye experience of that history. To critically engage with the material taught is central to developing an actual understanding of what is taught and learning to apply the skills learned in class.
The content of history class, in particular, will remain relevant throughout life no matter what you go on to do because it explains how things have come about, the creation of America, the tensions that play out on the news, the state of the world and the lives lost because of it. Remain conscious that everything that is taught is particular to a teacher, a history department, a school, the state and its educational requirements, and the general consciousness of an area and time period. Never disregard the present; the present is upheld and created by history. Often, history class can become a list of facts and events disconnected from one another. Look instead at the intense interconnectedness of every event and keep out an eye for the actors in any scenario. Watch out for what propels the decisions of an actor (in this context, a participant in an action or process,) the people affected by government action, and their outrage, more indicative than their obedience.
Subject everything to intense investigation. Often it is easy and encouraged to consider actors as individuals rather than the products of their history, large and at the scale of the civilization, as well as small and their relationships with other actors in that time. For example, explanations of racist acts can simply be described as the product of racist ideology. This view should be expanded to be an actual historical examination of an act. How specifically does that racism manifest? How and why is that different than it would manifest in another time and place? Compare and contrast racial, ethnic, and national conflict, where do these distinctions come from and why? Who materially benefits from that racism, they will have a significant role in creating those attitudes to suit them, like governments which exploit colonies.
There is an interest that molds everything, including the history curriculum itself, and it is motivated by material impacts and advantages, tangible things like exploitation for profit . Often the reasons provided by actors are purely rhetorical, words given to save face and justify an action. Multiple actors can provide the same reason for acting a certain way, but then proceed to act differently because their interests are the result of their historical development. Some countries retain their monarchies, others abolished them, the features of the political landscapes of those countries differ. This is relevant not only to understanding these histories in class, but for looking at how the present and current events remain dictated by history, for building a political consciousness to carry on with you.
My Experience
My critical eye in humanities classes makes the material far more digestible. I understand why things happen, but that is not because I was taught it in school. Oftentimes, it is an understanding they disagree with. Even where I disagree with teachers and the curriculum, an evidence-based historical approach to forming my understanding ultimately arms me with the skills the class should be teaching. Teachers respect students who substantively disagree with them because their understanding is formed historically. I’ve written term papers where we had to discuss an invention and I have discussed the creation of anti-blackness and been held back by my teachers and curriculum, but a teacher has to acknowledge an engaged student. My teachers will consult with me on materials taught in class and consult me in class for analysis of an event when class materials are clearly limited and sometimes full of contradictions. Keeping an eye for the basis of events, the reasons why things happen because of the material interests of actors, makes the work I have done in class far more relevant for my life outside class. My hand is up often and I’m not as confused as I have been in the past because a commitment to an engaged and critical political consciousness honestly makes me feel far less hopeless when I turn on the news.
Class participation
By Hayoung Oh
Class participation is also something that should be prioritized throughout high school. Teachers tend to make class participation part of your grade, which makes it even more important to participate. It’s especially important so that you can leave a good impression on your teacher, and usually first impressions could give the teacher a pretty good idea of what type of student you are. Also, make sure class participation isn’t just happening the first week but something that you continue to do for the rest of the year. This is because class participation helps with understanding the course material. Being vocal about the topic that you are discussing in class will help with remembering and engaging in conversations. Not only that, class participation isn’t just answering the question that the teacher puts on the board but, you being able to ask questions to help better your understanding. But, it is normal to feel anxious when the teacher is cold calling and you have no idea what the answer is. Keep in mind, the teachers that cold call usually do not get much participation in their class meaning there are plenty of other students who may not know the right answer. It is crucial to participate in your classes starting freshman year so that you can build a good habit for your ongoing high school years. Participating also benefits you in the long run because it allows you to build on your communication skills which will be needed throughout your lifetime whether it be making connections or at your future job with your coworkers.
My Experience
I never really struggled with class participation or asking questions. Class participation has benefitted me because it allows me to be comfortable talking to my teachers and just other classmates. However, I know there are plenty of shy people who struggle with participating or being vocal in front of a group of people. The best way to think of it is that literally no one is going to remember what you said in algebra class two years ago whether it was the right or wrong answer. Don’t be afraid to participate even if you are unsure or have the wrong answer. It is all part of participating and being able to learn and grow from your mistakes.
Asking For Help
By Monay Ledbetter
Welcome to the asking for help section! Asking for help is a very crucial part to becoming a better student over all. At times, school does get really challenging and it can be a little embarrassing to ask for more help or see a teacher after class. Some students may even have this sense of pride that makes it difficult to become vulnerable and ask for help. One good thing to remember is; You are not alone! Dont ever feel as though asking for help makes you look dumb, plenty of kids need help and plenty of kids want to better themselves. It takes an honorable student to want to better themselves and grow from others.
Well, what are the different ways to ask for help? There's always the classic asking the teacher, during their free time. The teacher may go over a lesson into depth for you or even assign you some extra work to really make sure you're able to move on with the class. Now other methods may vary from school to school, but most schools provide workshops where students can help other students. These workshops are usually broken down into the different subjects of the school. You should attend the one you want help from the most. Some students may feel more comfortable with this method because the help comes from your peers and not teachers. Asking for help has so many benefits that can help you be the best student you can be. So, if you are feeling frightened or even have high pride, go be bold! Go for it! Who knows maybe you can spark other students.
My Experience
I am currently a Junior that attends the Brooklyn Latin school. My school provides office hours which consist of teachers helping students a little more after school. It also allows students to be able to correct their past work for extra credit on that assignment. I have visited office hours with my friends countless times and we can truly say we've benefitted from the extra help. We were grateful that we were able to leave feeling more confident in class along with better grades. I encourage every student to atleast check out these outlets their school has, sometimes you're confused about what you're confused about and that's okay. These places welcome you with open arms!