How to become an excellent student

Listening and participating makes a great student. If your purpose in school is to excel and get great grades, the following tips may just make it easier for you to achieve your goal.

In order to be a good student, one of the key areas you`ll have to work on is being organized. Color code your notes, arrange them in sections or folders, whatever you feel is best for you. Without organization, you`ll have trouble finding your school supplies and notes!

Buy a binder to store your notes, homework, and tests/quizzes in it. To distinguish the difference between each class, purchase tabs or make some of your own. Another option is to purchase folders to either replace the binder or assist it.

Buy a pencil case and put all your writing utensils in there. Be sure you always have an extra pencil in there in case something happens to the pencil you`re using. If you prefer mechanical pencils, make sure you have extra lead in the pencil case as well.

In case you have no access to a pencil sharpener in the classroom, bring your own small one. The kind that catches the shavings is recommended, and make sure it doesn`t make too much noise! And if you don`t have a small one already, ask a nearby student for one!

To be prepared for math, it is recommended you slip a small calculator in the pencil case as well. If your pencil case is big enough, put a ruler in as well.

Buy a planner or an agenda to make note of the due dates of assignments, tests, and big projects. That way, when you arrive at home in the evening, you will be able to organize your homework schedule and figure out which assignment is due first, and when you should work on it. Good prioritizing is necessary in this area.

Make sure your locker is clean and organized. Keep it free of random papers - keep all papers in your binder or folder(s) - and do not clutter it with unnecessary decorations, as they are pointless and you`ll have to take them down at the end of the year.

It is recommended you stack your books in your locker in the order of your classes. That way, you can easily grab your book from the top stack, and later slip it underneath the pile for tomorrow!

Dress appropriate and nicely, as it shows respect. Avoid wearing clothes that are too small or too big. If you have a uniform, wear it neatly, tucking in your shirt and making sure it looks fine.

Follow your school`s dress code, keeping in within the boundaries. Be grateful that the school board was willing to allow you to wear your own clothes, and know that they could have made you wear a uniform instead.

If you add accessories to your clothing, follow the rule: look in the mirror before you leave and remove one item.
Make sure you have done your homework and take good, clear notes that you will be able to read later on. Leaving until later what could be done today is asking for trouble and crammed results. If a report is due by Monday and you`ve had three weeks to do it, don`t wait until Sunday. Try to work on it daily for a while until you are finished with the report.

Show that you are a willing participant and that you are eager to learn. If you do not understand don`t be afraid to ask the teacher. When you have something to share, raise your hand.

Read further than the chapter in class. If you want to take the lead in your class you need to work hard (sometimes, teachers don`t want you to read ahead, so this is not always a good idea). Fill out the study guides if they are supplied, or make your own guides.

Feeling refreshed and awake are perfect studying conditions. Distractions during study time will make your studying less effective. This includes TV, people talking, the radio, and some music etc. - anything that is taking your mind off the task at hand.

Go to school with the attitude to learn! If you are thinking that you will totally fail the test, think again! When you learn something new, you will get smarter every day.

It is proven that people with 3-5 extra-curricular activities do better in school, so don`t overload your schedule, but don`t be anti-social. Join clubs and extra-curricular activities such as the school sports teams, drama clubs and other things that might put on performances for the local community, or have competitions against other schools.

If you see someone being mean to a newbie, stand up for them. Get yourself known as a great friend and helpful person and people will respect you. Besides, if they can rely on you to help them, chances are you can rely on them when you need help.

If someone looks upset and is on their own, go and check on them. Invite them to hang out with you. If someone is sitting alone at lunch, invite them to sit with you, or go to sit with them. Perhaps they`re very insecure or just need someone to talk to. If you befriend them, you can help them gain confidence in themselves. If they`re on their own because they have no friends, chat to them, invite them to go shopping with your friends or to a movie.

When in a conversation, don`t dominate it by going on and on about yourself. Remember: almost everyone`s favorite topic is themselves. People will feel like they belong, and they`ll feel happier and more comfortable in front of people, rather than a sad little loner.

Run for class president and/or school council - go somewhere along those lines. Relax! Once you are done with homework, have some fun. Maybe catch up on TV or start that book that you`ve been dying to read.

Source: wikihow