Make the Grade: Everything You Need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School

by Lesley Schwartz Martin

Overview

Every teacher, school, and class is unique, but there are certain things that successful students have in common no matter what. Make the Grade helps students everywhere stay on top of schoolwork by dissecting the school week as students actually experience it, and offering realistic solutions to common problems, from difficult teachers and over-booked schedules to boring homework and the endless variety of distractions. This book also includes sections on memory tricks, reading tips, note-taking, organization, and test preparation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541581906
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	174
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Lesley Schwartz Martin is a professional teen academic coach and tutor. She is the creator of a customized academic planner used in Bay Area schools, and is the coauthor of Where’s My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide.

Table of Contents

Part 1 A Roadmap to Success

Chapter 1 Setting Meaningful Goals 10

Chapter 2 Keeping Your Time in Check 20

Chapter 3 Getting Head in the Game 37

Part 2 Staying Classy

Chapter 4 Grades and Expectations 46

Chapter 5 Working the Classroom 58

Chapter 6 Taking Notes 66

Part 3 Studying Smarter

Chapter 7 Studying Basics 78

Chapter 8 Getting Organized 90

Chapter 9 The Right Read 103

Part 4 Testing Things Out

Chapter 10 What to Learn and How to Learn It 112

Chapter 11 Mastering the Test 127

Conclusion 135

Index 136

Editorial Reviews

"How many times do students realize they have misplaced, forgotten, or simply ignored an important assignment? Or blow off preparing for a big test? Using her background as a high-school social-studies teacher, Martin offers solutions for the ever more demanding job of balancing high school and extracurricular activities. From setting goals to learning about expectations, and from getting organized to acing the test, her ideas are practical, straightforward, and easily implemented—if a student is motivated to follow them. Of particular interest are the chapters 'Working the Classroom' and 'What to Learn and How to Learn It.' Individual students with natural initiative might pick up this book, read it, and take the suggestions to heart. Less motivated students, however, might need to be persuaded to give it a chance. Used as part of a study skills course, the book could reach a broad audience of students, many of whom could benefit from Martin's suggestions."—Booklist

From the Publisher

09/01/2013
Gr 6 Up—In this volume, students learn time management skills, how to construct an essay, memorization tricks, and how to study effectively. Martin attests that poor study habits and bad grades can be overcome with practice and developing strong learning strategies. The text takes readers step-by-step through the basics for achieving success. From the beginning, the author urges students to set reachable goals and priorities that focus on creating adequate time for study and test preparation. Sample weekly schedules and different note-taking tips are nicely outlined in examples and diagrams. Students are shown how to create individualized study guides from their notes or from teacher-supplied guides. Though getting enough sleep is mentioned several times, the sample schedules fall short of the National Sleep Foundation's recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours per night for adolescents. Useful hints for dealing with challenging teachers and school assignments are also covered. Struggling students who are determined to make improvements will also find the book helpful.—Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

School Library Journal

Help is on the way for teens wanting to do better in school. Following her Where's My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide (2010), Martin offers help for the too-busy, overscheduled teenager. Assuming such teens are organized enough and motivated enough to seek out this kind of help, there is much here for them. Advice on setting goals, managing time, getting organized and being more efficient in the classroom will help teens be more aware of themselves as learners and, thus, be able to better take charge of their academic lives. Teens who look up long enough from the iPhones, iPads and video games will even find a section discouraging studying in bed with the television on and the iPhone within reach. Though the design is dense, a variety of charts, worksheets, case studies, sidebars and checklists offers visual relief and plenty of additional information. Though not likely a book high school students will pick up on their own, this can be a valuable guide for tutors, academic coaches and teachers of study-skills courses looking for a systematic and informative handbook. An earnest, comprehensive and "everything-you-need" compendium. (index, author's note) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews