Taking Notes and Keeping a Journal

Listening Skills Working Together Managing Your Time

Think how helpful notes can be to you. Notes should help you remember what you learned in class.

Notes should also serve as a guide when you try exercises on your own.

Make notes on any new concepts and formulas you have just learned.

Write down any concepts your teacher put on the board. You’ll need to know these for a test.

If your teacher gives you problems to solve, look back over your notes for help.

Note-taking improves your understanding of new topics because it makes you listen carefully and focus on the key details.

A math journal is a good place to record examples as well as fun facts about mathematics.

Write about new vocabulary, use symbols with examples, and draw diagrams or illustrations.

Include descriptions or discussions of how mathematics is used in the world around you.

Listen attentively - Think about what the teacher is saying and how the problem is being solved.

Ask a question if you are uncertain about a particular step or part of a solution.

By listening, you will also be ready to respond if you are called upon.

Learning to work together in a group is an important skill.

Whether the project is with school, community, or family, the group that is able to work together will have good results.

To make a group more effective, practice these good work habits.

Cooperation - The only way a group can cooperate and work together successfully is to use common courtesy and share a common goal.

Everyone in the group should take part in the project and no one should be left out.

Responsibility - Success is learning and reaching the goals of the group.

You need to be responsible for yourself and for the whole group.

Do your assigned task carefully and help others do theirs.

Listening - Listen to group members as they explain the methods they used to solve a problem.

For many problems there are alternate solutions, and you can learn a lot by listening to others explain their thinking.

Encouragement - Give words of encouragement and credit a job well done or a good suggestion.

Persons in the group who feel their efforts are appreciated will contribute more and feel better about their contributions.

Remember to be courteous.

Decision Making - The group often must decide what the project will be and when, where, and how to do it.

Be sure to state your points clearly.

But also, be willing to follow a different but equally good plan.

Creativity - Apply what you already know to learn new concepts, but be open-minded about new approaches and strategies.

Look for rules, patterns, and strategies.

Explore and make sense of new ideas as you work together to try to make new connections.

If you can’t seem to get things done on time (or at all), you might want to practice time management.

This will help you organize both your study time and your free time more efficiently since you should be spending less time on procrastination!

Keeping a Weekly Schedule A weekly planner helps you organize your assignments and plan for time to complete them.

It allows you to plan ahead and prepare for exams, projects, or assignments.

Keep this schedule in your notebook or in your math journal.

Make a Daily List - Write down things you need to do today and must do tomorrow.

Number them in order of importance.

Hang the list is a place where it is easy to check.

Check off items as you complete them.

Have a Homework Schedule Set aside a specific time for doing homework assignments.

Allow yourself short breaks between each assignment.

Do not make any break longer than 5 minutes, so you can finish your homework accurately and quickly.

Set Goals - Set realistic goals and reward yourself for completing tasks that you set for yourself.

Do not be too hard on yourself.

Try to learn from goals or tasks that you don’t quite achieve.

Reward yourself for reaching key goals.

Get It Done and Turn It In On Time - Go over all the directions your teacher has given you for completing an assignment.

Check your notes and your textbook to make sure that you know how to accurately complete an assignment.

Turning In The Assignment Keep completed assignments someplace where you can’t possibly forget to take them to school.

On the floor by the door Put in your book bag With your lunch money In your math folder