Top Tips for Classroom Success!

1. Top √100 Tips for
Classroom Success

2. Copying or writing notes during lectures is the traditional, time-
honored way to learn information. Unfortunately, it is almost
impossible to listen, copy, and comprehend at the same time.
Students are usually forced to choose one of the three and hope
they are able to make up for the other two in some magical way.
This can lead to falling behind on essential conceptual learning.
The optimal way to comprehend everything presented in class is for
the student to have a basic idea of the concept before the instructor
begins the lesson. This is possible if the classroom is flipped. This
means that lessons are previewed in video format the night before
they are presented in class. This allows for formulation of
meaningful questions and reinforcement during class time.
Everything written on the board or spoken in class is important!

3. It is no longer necessary to use actual paper and pencil for note
taking. There are iPad apps, such as Notability, which integrate
handwriting, typing, recording, and PDF annotation. You can take
notes, organize and annotate them, and import and export.
Copies of the lecture notes can also be made with smart phone
apps, such as Whiteboard Photo+, which photograph the white
board and filter out the bright white background. They allow the user
to take pictures of a whiteboard and convert them to PDF files.
Notes can be added and photos can be shared.
Everything written on the board or spoken in class is important!

4. One method of resolving questions, which students often use, is to
turn to their fellow student during lecture and ask them to answer
the question. This option is not actually productive. It interrupts the
learning of the student with the question, the student who is being
asked, and any student nearby. Ultimately the entire class may be
disrupted.
The solution is fairly simple. Ask the instructor. However, the most
obvious solution may not be that easily employed. There should be
an agreement at the beginning of the course between the instructor
and the student for resolving questions. Some students feel
intimidated in a classroom full of their peers and think that asking
questions may make them look “stupid”.
Ask questions about concepts or problems you do not understand!

5. Just as all students do not learn in the same way, all
instructors are not created equal. Some do not want to be interrupted
and prefer to answer all questions at the end of the lesson. Some may
want to respond to questions at the time the question occurs in the
student’s mind. Traditionally, instructors set aside time during the
regular day for office hours as private consultation time. This may
alleviate anxiety about asking questions in front of the class.
Instructors may be willing to implement alternative, or
supplementary, methods of answering questions. Using texting, some
instructors may encourage students to ask questions of them at any
time of day. There may be a web site or a blog site where comments
and questions may be posed. Instructors may use iPad apps, such as
Screen Chomp, to work out problems and email them directly to the
students upon request. These instructors expect and encourage
students to communicate. Talk to your instructor to see if they currently
use, or are willing to start using, these methods of communication.
Ask questions about concepts or problems you do not understand!

6. In today’s world, students are pulled in many directions. They
have club, sport, community, and volunteer activities. There seems to
be an emphasis on college resume building beyond the GPA or the
national exam scores. According to the Top Ten Strengths and
Experiences Colleges look for in High School Students, these
activities are beneficial in the personal information portion of the college
application, but colleges are still looking for students who have proven
that they can function independently in a strong academic environment.
While, it is true that there will always be a small percentage of
students who will get scholarships due to athletic ability or another
particular talent, the vast majority of students will be chosen for college
entrance based upon academic achievement in their course work in
high school. While some instructors are becoming aware of this trend
and assigning fewer but more relevant problems or shorter
assignments, some are still taking up homework every day and grading
it as to completion and or accuracy.
Homework is important!

7. The general rule of thumb is that for every hour in
class, there should be equal time outside of class spent on
Review, Reinforcement, and Preview. Time must be budgeted to
meet these necessary components of conceptual understanding.
Students should try picking the problems they can work
through quickly first and then go back to the ones who will require
more time or they understand the least. There are many time
management programs and apps available for the
computer, tablet, or smart phone, such as Asana, which can help
with listing and prioritizing tasks.
Homework is important!

8. Practice makes perfect. Well, not exactly. Perfect practice
makes perfect. Repeating the same process over and over
incorrectly will reinforce the incorrect process. Answers need to be
checked to make sure the student has actually mastered the correct
process. Most textbooks have odd answers. Some textbooks have
websites where students can go to check answers.
Check your solutions to your homework problems!

9. Online programs are available with matching apps for the
iPad and the iPhone, such as Wolfram Alpha, which work out
mathematical problems for the student and show the steps in the
process. To find extra practice, visit web sites such as Hotmath.com
for problems and their solutions. Problems which were previously
missed should be reworked to assure the student has completely
mastered the concept.
Check your solutions to your homework problems!

10. Many schools are now recognizing the importance of
electronic devices and are allowing personal use during non-
instructional periods of time. This may include the time between
classes. This allows for a brief interlude for a student to check email
or texts. Once a student arrives in class, cell phones should be
silenced and used only as a learning tool as approved by the
instructor. There will be plenty of time later to catch up with friends.
Focus! Focus! Focus!

11. The same goes for iPods and other MP3 players. Although
some students can study with music in the background, learning
new concepts is extremely difficult if focus is divided. If students pay
as close attention as possible to everything discussed in class, they
will find that less time will be required outside of class to learn new
concepts.
Focus! Focus! Focus!

12. While this may seem obvious, the obligations of life can
sometimes get in the way. Doctors can insist upon appointments at
certain times on certain days, and families seldom consider school
obligations when planning weddings. Illnesses and deaths will
happen. These are all part of life. There will be times that it will
simply be impossible to go to class.
Minimize absences from class!

13. Overextending of schedules through
activities, however, can be controlled. Not going to class because of
just not feeling like going will inevitably cause issues because real
illnesses will pop up. Learning to meet personal obligations when
one doesn’t really want to and showing up on time are life skills
which are expected in the work force. When a student is absent
from class, there is a very good chance that something will be
missed.
Minimize absences from class!

14. “Did I miss anything?” is one of the most frustrating
questions that absent students consistently ask of their teachers. If
they were not in class, there is a very good chance they did!
Teachers prefer the question be posed as, “What did I miss?” There
are several ways this issue can be avoided altogether. If a student
knows in advance that they will be absent, getting assignments
ahead of time is a better option. However, students seldom actually
work on that assignment and even more rarely understand the
material well enough to complete the assignment while absent.
In the event of an unavoidable absence, ask for class
notes or handouts from the teacher or a fellow student!

15. Collaboration with teachers and fellow students by electronic
means is a superior option. Check with the teacher to see if handouts or
assignments are available online through a class website. If not, the
students can ask the teacher to email the assignment to them if the
assignment is available electronically. The teacher or another student
can scan the handout with a smart phone app, such as Genius Scan,
and email the scanned document.
The teacher or other students can set up a Google Doc
through a gmail.com account and share notes and documents with
many students at the same time. Sometimes notes may need to be
converted to .pdf files due to issues with mathematical symbols. Social
networks such as Facebook and Twitter can also be used to
disseminate information regarding classwork or assignments. The
teacher could also sign up for an account with Edmodo, an internet
based education forum with a Facebook appearance, where students
can interact and find assignments.
In the event of an unavoidable absence, ask for class
notes or handouts from the teacher or a fellow student!

16. The teacher may not always be available for help when a
student wants or needs it. There are web sites, such as Kahn
Academy and PatrickJMT, which provide videos explaining many
topics. These can be used to Review, Reinforce, or Preview the
lesson of choice. A private mathematics instructor may also be of
help.
Seek help from outside sources.

17. Even though many students have private music instructors
and private athletic trainers, some students may think it sign of
failure or personal weakness to employ a private instructor rather
than see it as an investment in their future. Hiring an experienced
instructor to make sure the student does not fall behind can solidify
the knowledge on which future knowledge is based.
Seek help from outside sources.

18. The majority of a student’s grade is calculated from the
scores achieved on tests and quizzes. This is their chance to show
what they have learned to their instructor. The traditional classroom
is still largely using paper and pencil to determine the knowledge
level of each student and thus assign a grade. The old adage, “If
you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” never rings truer than when it
comes to preparing for a test or quiz.
You must set aside time to adequately review for these
assessments. Just as time must be budgeted for homework, the
same holds true for tests and quizzes. Time management programs
and apps, as mentioned above, are available for the
computer, tablet, or smart phone which can help with listing and
prioritizing tasks. There are also calendar programs, such as the
one available through Google, or apps such as Informant, which can
help manage tasks by scheduling specific hours of the day.
Preparation for assessments is imperative

19. Being in class is imperative. Listening and focusing are
very important as well. However, class notes and homework should
still be reviewed before assessments. Problems need to be
reworked. Instructions need to be reviewed. The big concepts need
to be thoroughly understood. Notes can be saved in Evernote, Drop
Box, or Google Docs and then shared between students, if desired.
Be sure to discuss with the instructor the type of test which
will be given. Will it be at school or at home on the computer? Will it
be paper and pencil? Will it be multiple choice or free response
formats? Does every question have the same point value? Is there
a penalty for guessing on the multiple choice questions? Are there
parts of the test which can be taken with a calculator and others
without a calculator? All of these questions can lead to one form of
studying or another. Knowing the format of any test going into it is a
big advantage.
Preparation for assessments is imperative

20. Even though they may feel they do not need
it, teenagers need sleep. A teenager needs 8 ½ to 9 ¼ hours of
sleep each night. One study shows that typically only about 15%
of all teenagers actually get this much sleep. According to the
National Sleep Foundation, “excessive sleepiness may be the
cause of learning, attention, and school problems”.
Sleep is food for the brain. Sleepiness can limit the
ability to solve problems and make good decisions. It can lead to
skin conditions, obesity, aggressive behavior, nervousness, and
depression. Sleepiness can also be fatal if a driver falls asleep
behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.
Get a good night’s sleep

21. Naps are a solution to the problem of insufficient sleep, but
students sometimes try to take naps during class. The obvious problem
with this, of course, is there is a lack of focus on the lesson. The
secondary problem, which teachers have also noticed, is the general
drowsy state in which the student may remain after awakened from the
nap. Arousing the student from sleeping may also cause a class
disruption and thus interfere with other student’s concentration.
Regular daily exercise can assist with the ability to fall asleep
and sleep more deeply, but not within three hours of bedtime. Limiting
caffeine and eating no later than two hours before bedtime can also
help. One solution for getting to bed and falling asleep is to adopt a
bedtime routine, just as they had as small children: warm baths, calming
music, reading. Students need to plan a study routine that does not
require staying up so late One hour before bed, turn off all television and
video games, all iPods and computers, and all Facebook and Twitter. Let
the electronic world rest along with them.
Get a good night’s sleep

22. Questions?
Sue Pinion
706-202-5157
Sue@AStepAheadMath.com
www.AStepAheadMath.com