6 Things That Could Be Hurting Your Grade

• Zoning out in class
  Zoning out, even for 10 minutes, will be something you will regret when you miss the test date. If you find yourself tuning out, here's what to do: Sit up straight, and keep yourself actively engaged in the lecture by participating in discussions and taking notes.
• Procrastinating
  We've all done this... it's 2:00 in the morning and you still have 5 more pages to write for a research paper. The only way to prevent this is have good self-discipline, and great time management techniques. It takes practice!
• Cheating
  Cheating WILL come back to haunt you. Just because you passed that quiz by looking over at someone's paper does not guarantee that you know the material for the next test. Better to study yourself, and not take the risk of getting caught AND failing the next string of assignments and quizzes.
• Not being organized
  Organizing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure good grades. Make a folder for every class, or a section in a notebook. Keep on top of things by filing papers away immediately instead of tossing it into the black hole that is the bottom of your backpack. It will save time in the long run.
• Not asking questions
  Teachers are there to help you. If you don't understand something, you need to ask that same day, before the teacher moves on to more complicated lessons. Most teachers would be happy to help you during lunch and before or after school. This is the best thing to do to help yourself really understand what you're learning.
• Getting on the teachers' "bad side"
  Teachers are human too. If you goof off in class, and are rude to them, they will be less likely to be willing to help you out. Treat them like you would like to be treated, and take the first month of school to really make a great impression.