Star students ask questions and make comments during classroom discussions. They finish classroom assignments in a timely manner, without interrupting others. And, they complete homework tasks and projects on or before their due date. However, what makes a star student stand out in a crowd is the extra time and effort they put into being great. They study a little longer than the average student. They read a little more than what is required to achieve a passing grade. And more importantly, they associate their personal net worth with the level of effort they apply in life. In other words, they know who they are and where they want to get in life; and they plan to apply themselves accordingly.
In order to become a star student, it is important to establish an individually tailored learning plan, and stick with it. A plan that works for one student may not always work for everyone else. There are some basic guidelines every parent and student should be cognizant of when striving to improve educational performance.
I. Know who you are and what you represent
The journey of life is a blessing to be cherished. As a person it is important to love and cherish your life, and to be able to answer one question. What makes you different from everyone else? The things that make you different from others are the experiences you go through in life.
When we feel happy, it makes us realize that we like to be in particular places, doing particular things with certain people that we care about. And when we are not happy, it allows us to understand the things, people, and places that we don’t like as well.
After summarizing our likes and dislikes, we are left with personality traits. Our personality traits allow us to know who we are, and what we represent. The first modern day personality test emerged in the early 1900’s. Since then there have been many different types of test designed to help determine a persons’ character traits. Regardless of the type of test, five major personality traits are the same, but may pertain to different situations.
The five major personality traits are:
1.
Openness: a measurement of a person’s active imagination, aesthetic sensitivity, attentiveness to their inner feelings, preference for variety, and intellectual curiosity.
2.
Conscientiousness: is a measurement of someone’s character. Traits are taken into considerations like their self-discipline, carefulness and thoroughness, organization patterns, their ability to think carefully before acting, and their need for achievement.
3.
Extroversion/Introversion
a.
Extroverts tend to be gregarious, assertive, and interested in seeking out excitement.
b.
Introverts tend to be more reserved, less outgoing, and less sociable.
4.
Agreeableness: the tendency to be pleasurable and accommodating in social settings.
5.
Neuroticism: lasting tendency to experience negative emotional traits.
Once we recognize who we are, we can then examine our strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you know that you tend to get higher scores in math and science classes, and lower grades in language arts classes; that should alert you to spend more of your study time on the subjects with the lowest scores (language arts). You will build your intelligence as a whole by spending more time fine tuning your weak areas of study, and less time reviewing things that already come easy to you. Therefore, a planner is needed to schedule important deadlines and daily events such as testing dates, project due dates, and daily study times. Be sure to schedule each class with the proper amount of time needed based on your ability to understand the content being studied.
Having a daily “to-do-list” is just as important as learning to set your personal goals. Personal goals are a road map to the future. They are very similar to a “to-do-list” but are usually made and revised on a regular basis, and can cover a period as early as six months or as long as 5 to 10 years.
Personal goals should include things like:
• Your grade performance and behavior in school.
• Your behavior at home with your family.
• The type of peers you want to be associated with and their core values.
• How you conduct your relationships with your friends.
• Your spiritual growth.
• Building on your talents and natural abilities.
• Focusing on improving your weaknesses.
II. Establish effective study habits
Have you ever wondered why you study twice the time some of your classmates study, yet they continue to get higher test scores? That is because they are studying more efficiently. They are using their study time much more wisely than you. Instead of studying by the television; they chose to go into a quite room with nothing around to distract them. And, instead of studying late at night after dinner; they chose to study immediately after school when the information is still fresh and new to their brains. Again, what might work for one person doesn’t always work for the masses. Therefore, it is always good to experiment with different times and places to study.
Successful study habits must be acquired. As a result, it is important to learn effective habits for efficient studying.
A.
Find a conducive learning environment: The most important study tip is to find a conducive learning environment to study in. Be careful where you choose to study. Make sure you are in a quiet place with little-to-no distractions. It’s good to “hear” yourself recite things you are reading in your head. Just as you would when proofreading what you wrote. That is our brain’s way of absorbing the information we consume, and retaining it to our memory.
B.
Have a homework/study schedule and follow it: The second most important study tip is to know when your body is functioning at its maximum state of alertness. Our body has a natural intrinsic production cycle, in which our nervous system and organs are functioning at their best, and when they slow down, or rest altogether. During the slow and rest phases, our brain cells are not as responsive as they are when in more alert states. The general rule is that we are most alert in the mornings after eating a meal. Our brain starts to slow down during mid-day after lunch, and continues to slow down more and more as the day comes to a closure. Therefore, it is good to study as early in the day as possible in order to retain as much information as possible - as quickly as possible. Leaving time for more enjoyable things. By having a study schedule to follow, it will ensure that you plan your daily study and homework time around your brain’s most productive time of day.
C.
Be attentive in class: Remember the priorities you set for yourself when you made your goals, after discovering who you are and what you stand for? Well those same goals will need to be proceeded by action. Don’t let other people, or other interest distract you. It is easy to tune out important lecture information, or instructions on how to solve a math problem by writing notes to a friend, sleeping, daydreaming, or by talking and texting when you should be listening. When you are more tentative in class everyone benefits, and a lecture turns into a discussion; making class time more interesting. Teachers notate when a student makes their job easier by contributing to class discussion. So always remember that grades are merely one evaluation of classroom performance.
D.
Make effective notes from lessons: Some students say they listen carefully in class, but when they get home, forget everything the instructor discussed. It happens to everyone. That is why it’s important to take accurate notes during lecture time. Organize your notes properly, and be clear and concise when interpreting what you have heard. Some students find the use of things like mind maps and graphic organizers to be beneficial when taking descriptive notes. Always list examples and reference the book and page numbers next to all key topics. Just in case the teacher gets interrupted, or you get distracted and leave out key information by accident.
E.
Be quick to change study methods that do not work: Once you find your study methods are producing negative results, it is important to change them right away. Although it is very important to designate a standardized time and place to study and complete assignments. It is equally as important to look for better ways to understand the content. When you have a better understanding of something, it is easier to remember and apply it in different circumstances. For example, if you don’t understand the course material, don’t keep re-reading it. That is a waste of time. Instead consult with your teacher, a tutor, an academic adviser, a classmate, a study group, or your school’s study skills center.
III. Be positive and proactive towards learning
Few people look forward to fulfilling an obligation by a specific date or time. It makes us feel limited to a set of guidelines. However, the world’s existence is based on time. Have you ever heard the expression, “Timing is everything?” Well, it is. All things come with a time, or a deadline in which an event is to occur. Therefore, it is important to remain in the moment. Being present and open to everyday experiences in your life vastly expands your field of knowledge.
It is equally important to make the best out of a boring class by finding ways to associate what is being taught to a real life scenario. For example, take yourself out of a not so exciting science class for a moment, and place yourself in one of Australia’s most indigenous rain forest; studying the rarest species of seaweed algae known to man! Seems more exciting doesn’t it?
Once excitement sets in, curiosity is sure to follow. Asking questions never make a person look stupid. As a matter of fact, studies show that students who are more inquisitive in class have higher test scores than students who shy away from asking questions. If you want to participate in class by asking questions, but are afraid that your question will sound stupid; list “research” as one of your “to-do” assignments. Read more information about the subject matter being discussed in class. As you read, you will discover other interesting facts that pertain to the subject matter. Those tidbits make great discussion pieces.
IV. Develop your critical and creative thinking skills
It is important to build on both your critical (analytical) and creative thought process. Try fun activities that require you to combine complex thinking, along with your creative skills. These activities keep your brain cells firing, and they exercise mental alertness.
A.
Critical thinking activities
• Brain teasers
• Crossword puzzles
• Rush hour
B.
Creative thinking activities
• Music
• Art
• Dance
• Creative writing: Start a journal to express your dreams, fears, and emotions.
C.
Critical & Creative thinking activities
• Model making
• Jig saw puzzles
Always be careful to limit yourself on playing computer and video games.
V. PERSEVERE- failure is the mother of success
The most important accomplishments made in life will never happen overnight. It takes both hard work to learn a subject matter, and dedication to perfect it. Learning is just like anything else, the more you do it - the better you become at it. So do not stress yourself out if you don’t score as high in one class, as you did in another. Simply spend more time at home researching and studying your weakest subjects, and less time on the ones that come easier to you.
Take the time to learn from your mistakes. It is important that you consult someone for advice the moment you notice you answered a question incorrectly. Don’t wait until you move on to another topic. Correct it while the subject is still fresh in your mind.
Russian-born Albert Einstein, founder of the Theory of Relativity, suffered from dyslexia as a child and showed language impairments throughout elementary school. Yet he persevered to become one of the world’s greatest theoretical physicist/philosophers. Perseverance was Einstein’s secret weapon for success. When asked how he manage to accomplish such great deeds he answered, “I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times the conclusion is wrong. The hundred time, I am right.”
VI. Be Teachable
Albert Einstein was not afraid of criticism, and you should not be either. His teachers thought he was mentally challenged, and recommended he attend a school that catered to students with special needs. But, once Einstein mastered the proper learning techniques associated with his particular character trait, history was made.
Although it is important to listen when a teacher gives you constructive criticism, you are the only one who know your true capabilities. Listen to the advice your teacher gives to you. They are only there to build you up, not tear you down.
Becoming a star student does not happen overnight. Like all other accomplishments, it is a process that you develop, and build on over time. Therefore, you should always continue to challenge yourself by finding new and more efficient ways to become more successful in your studies.
