Course Correcting

With September behind us, students have returned to their routines, classes have ramped up, and workloads have increased.  In addition, most students have experienced their first big assessments.  Whether test, quiz or major paper, in middle school, high school, or college, gradebooks are open and grades are being recorded.  It is easy to look at grades as either wins or losses, but it is far more helpful to shift your thinking and look at them as pieces of information that can help you create a plan of action. 

If the first assessment went well, that’s a great start!  Students should feel good about it and also use the information they gleaned from that experience to continue doing well.  But if the first grades received aren’t as strong, it is helpful to not get bogged down with thoughts of the ramifications to a GPA.  While GPA is a reality of school, the beginning of a semester/year offers you a unique position to gather information and course correct. 

So how do you do this?  The goal is to always be prepared for what is coming your way.  Understanding more about a teacher’s quiz/test format and grading can help you predict the best ways to study.  Therefore, consider what you now know about format and timing. 

For example, weekly quizzes often have a predictable format.  This can hold true for language classes in high school or for college courses requiring a novel to be read each week.  Study for that format.  Therefore, if your professor quizzed you about minute details in a novel, take notes on those types of details as you read.  

Second, think about the grading system.  What do you now know that could help you with your next assignment?  Also, think about your timing during the assessment.  Were you rushing to finish?  Was there any extended writing, which required more time?  Was it a five minute quiz that required quick rote memorization?  Knowing what to expect will help you study for what is to come and ultimately lead to better results in class. 

As grades roll in - good or bad - try to look at assessments as information to help you prepare for the semester/year ahead.  Teachers use the quiz/test formats they find to be the most accurate measurements of knowledge.  Therefore it is logical to assume those formats will be repeated.  Gather the information you can and use it to move forward. 

As always, we are here to help!