Studying for Tests

By Charlotte P

1. Take Notes and Review Them

More than half of your studying work is done in the classroom. Whether your teacher provides notes or not, take organized notes so you can review them later. These notes can be an outline, bubble map, t-chart, or any other organization structure, but keep them organized so you can review them later. Keep each subject’s notes separate, and make sure they are easy to read and review.

When you take notes, write down facts that your teacher emphasizes or writes on the board. Moreover, write in comprehensible short hand, and do not try to write every word of your teacher’s lecture or presentation. Practicing writing notes from your teachers’ lectures will prepare you for college lectures; learn to decide which facts are important and which aren’t.

At home, review your notes and perfect them. Add helpful diagrams and highlight important vocabulary words or key dates.

2. Plan Your Study Time

If you have several tests coming up on the same day, this is extremely important. Think about how much content will be covered on these tests and estimate how much time you need to devote to each test. A vocab test may need less studying time than a biology unit test or a U.S history test on the Civil War.

Consider “chunking” — breaking down large topics into smaller chunks — your test topics. Study each chunk each day before the test. Remember to review all that you have studied after each study session, however. If you have more than one test to study for, study for all of them a little each day.

Keep in mind that your mind will need a break when you study. Since most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes, so give yourself some rest every 45 minutes.

3. Know the Type of Test You Will Take

Will your test contain multiple-choice? Math grid-ins? Free response? Essays? If you are not sure, ask your teacher for a breakdown of the test. For multiple-choice questions, focus on facts, such as dates or vocabulary words, as well as the basic applications of the facts. Find practice questions online and keep drilling. Math grid-ins are usually harder math problems; review the harder math problems from the content, and do some practice questions.

Free response and essay questions require a more thorough knowledge of important topics. Look at the sections of the notes that your teacher emphasized the most and has the most details. Your teacher probably gave clues as to what the free response or essay questions would be for the test. Also search for essay and free response questions and at least contemplate how you would answer those questions if they appeared on a test.

4. Do Not Procrastinate

This is easier said than done. It is tempting to put off studying till the last minute. The best way to battle procrastination is to stay organized. Write down the due dates of assignments and the dates of tests and quizzes. Plan out study sessions and homework sessions beforehand in order to not procrastinate and follow a schedule.

Also give yourself incentives for doing your work early or following your schedule, such as leaving time to hang out with friends, party, or watch a movie.

5. Start a Study Group

The positive aspect of a study group is that members can hold each other accountable for fulfilling their roles in the group and studying adequately for a test. The negative aspect is that friends can provide distraction instead of support. However, if you need others to push you to study, consider forming a study group.

Carefully choose the members of the study group as well as the location to meet. The members of your group should be familiar friends, but also known to be responsible and mindful of their academic performance. The location should be a place that encourages quiet study and not playful conversation, such as a library or a café.

Rewards of Studying

Despite feeling deprived of energy and social time, studying will raise your confidence for the test. Moreover, taking the full effort to study will have you perform your best on test day.

More Than Just Reading the Textbook

By Nicole R.

Have you ever found yourself reading a textbook for homework, and it just goes in one ear and out the other? If you answered yes to this question, then you should stick around. When I first started my AP Environmental Science class I had to read about 25 textbook pages a night and it felt pointless because by the time I got to class the next morning, I had forgotten everything I read. On the first test I scored poorly because of this. Then a solution came! I will do an outline of every chapter. This really helped and brought my grade up 10 points on the next test.

There are many different ways to do an outline. I do mine the way my history teacher taught me, but you should find the way that works best for you.

Mine goes like this:

Chapter # and title

Section #-# and title

Header Title

a. List a point you think is important to remember
b. List a point you think is important to remember
c. List a point you think is important to remember
d. List a point you think is important to remember ( I would try not to list more than four points.)

Header Title

a.

b.

c.

d.

You should keep going until you finish the chapter

Here is an example of one I did in my AP Environmental Science class. This is just one section.

4-6 What roles do species play in an ecosystem?

Each species plays a role in its ecosystem

A. Ecological niche- the role a species plays in an ecosystem. It is a species way of life in a community.
B. Generalist species have broad niches. They can live in many different places, eat many different foods, and live in many different environmental conditions. ex. humans, deer, mice, and rats. Cockroaches are very general.
C. Specialist species occupy narrow niches. They can only eat certain types of food and live in one of two places. They are more prone to extinction.
D. When environmental conditions are the constant is better to be a specialist with few competition, but when conditions change it is better to be a generalist.

Species can play five major roles within ecosystems

A. Native species- normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem.
B. Non-native species- migrate into an ecosystem. They are also called alien, invasive, and exotic species. They can compete with native species and reduce the amount of them. This is not good.

Indicator species serve as Biological Smoke Alarms

A. Indicator species provide early warnings of damage to a community or an ecosystem. Birds and butterflies are these.

Case Study: Why are amphibians vanishing?

A. They are indicator species. They are the first vertebrates. They are better at adapting to environmental changes through evolution than many other species.
B. The eggs of frogs can not protect themselves from pollution.
C. The population is declining because of human population impacts.

Keystone species play a critical role in their ecosystems

A. Keystone species are species whose roles have a large effect on the types and abundance of other species in an ecosystem. They exist in limited numbers
B. They pollinate plants and regulate the population of other species.
C. The loss of keystone species can lead to population crashes and extinctions of other species in a community that depend on them for certain ecological services.

Foundation species help to form the bases of ecosystems

A. Foundation species play a major role in shaping their communities by creating and enhancing their habitats in ways that benefit other species. For example; beavers
B. The difference between keystone and foundation species is that foundation species help to create habitats and ecosystems. Keystone species do this and more,; they play a role in foundation and an active role in maintaining the ecosystem and keeping it functioning.

This is most commonly beneficial in AP classes where the teachers are not so demanding in how you learn the material as long as you learn it. They give you more flexibility. The key is to not write down everything. You can write too much and it will not be beneficial at all. If you are unsure what to write it is good to start with bold words and italic words. Another suggestion is that I always make my chapter # and title, my section #-# and title and my header # and title different colors. Then before you take the test refer back to these notes to study. GOOD LUCK!

The Value of Learning

by Charlotte P

“When will we use this in real life?” So many teachers have heard this question numerous times, and some have come up with clever answers. However, the question remains: what is the value of learning what we may not use in our future careers?

We are not talking about whether or not school should also teach necessary life skills such as filling out tax forms, budgeting, or cooking. This article is mainly about whether an aspiring scientist should be learning about literature, or whether an aspiring athlete should study calculus.

Possible Solution 1: There is actually no value in studying disciplines irrelevant to students’ future career plans.

Although highly opposed among adults, many of my fellow students have come to strongly believe this statement. And to a certain extent, they are correct. Time is precious, and life is short. All the time spent in those classes may have been used to further hone in on necessary skills. However, careers change over time. Are there any more telephone operators? Are there not less bank tellers at the bank than before? As for the jobs that withstand the test of time, they require skills in numerous disciplines. A medical doctor, for instance, though primarily focused on the sciences of biology and chemistry, must also be familiar with Latin, Greek, mathematics, and reading comprehension. Moreover, knowledge not used at the workplace can still be used in everyday conversation and, perhaps, in helping the next generation with their schoolwork.

Possible Solution 2: Education should be more work-related as students advance through their education

Of course, few would disagree that an elementary school student should have time to get a taste of everything before specializing. Then, according to this concept, a middle school or junior high student should be able to further specialize, but still must take core classes in math, English, social studies, and science, which generally cover the basics. However, in high school, students should not be required to take classes beyond the necessary level. For example, a student who only needs to know basic algebra need not take geometry or pre-calculus. The problem with this idea is that the high school student still does not know all the available career opportunities and changes his or her interests almost daily. We must admit that teenagers (us) are rather capricious.

Possible Solution 3: A well-rounded education allows for exploration and enrichment.

There is a reason why the Ivy League Universities (and other prestigious universities) believe in the liberal arts curriculum. They have core requirements in addition to major-specific degree requirements. Why? Because they believe that such a system would introduce their students to new fields and possible interests. Many students say that without such a system, they would never have found their interest in (insert academic field here). I believe this idea applies to high school as well. Although I love biology and hope to be a doctor, I also love calculus and literature, and I may indeed land a career in one of those fields instead. If that happens, I would still be content because I know I enjoy those fields. As for enrichment, it’s pretty much a big word for that sensation students get when they say, “Before I took this class, I had no interest (or hated) in the subject. Now, I actually find it to be quite interesting, although I’m still not passionate about it.” For human beings, it’s nice to learn something, whether at school or elsewhere.

So, when will we use (insert school subject name here) in real life? Honestly, maybe never. But learning a wide variety of academic disciplines, including derivatives and integrals, makes you a better person. It is not a waste of time if you learned something.

Navigating AP

By Josh K

It’s time to talk about AP - Advanced Placement courses. The mere utterance of that word may send chills down your spine, or cause you to break out in a cold sweat. Yes, AP courses are tough - they’re supposed to be, as they’re college level courses meant to be taken in high school. Naturally, this means more effort and time is necessary to do well; you can’t “cruise control” through AP courses like you can honors or standard, unless of course, you’re aiming to fail the class! Not to worry though, most (if not all) people can survive AP, as long as they chose wisely and understand what they’re getting into. Allow me to explain:

How to succeed in the AP program

1.) Know what AP means

AP is short for Advanced Placement. The whole idea behind AP classes is that high-school age kids, like you and I, should have the opportunity to take college level courses while still in high-school. By doing this, you can be prepared to take an end of year AP exam; should you do well enough on that, you can earn college credit and place out of the course entirely. AP exam scores range from 5 to 1, 5 being top-notch, and 1 representing no recommendation to receive credit. Generally, people shoot for around a 3 to a 5. The College Board (the people who are behind the SAT and the AP program) insists that AP: a.) Looks great to colleges, and b.) Can save you money in college. Both of these are true, assuming you do well in the course. A bad AP score/grade is simply a bad score/grade. It definitely won’t be doing you any favors.

2.) Choose the right area

What does this mean, you ask? Simply put, you have to choose classes and subject areas that you’ve traditionally done well in, and have a genuine interest for. For example, if you’re an amateur journalist/poet/author/writing guru, you should consider taking a course in AP English. Keep in mind the word “consider”; while you may good at English, you should really make sure you understand the dedication required here. For some people, AP just doesn’t work. And that’s absolutely fine. If you try to take an AP class in a subject like psychology, and you hate psychology, you’re going to have a bad time! Like I’ve said in an earlier post, achievment requires passion - if you’re going to achieve in an AP course, you have to have the passion for the subject.

3.) Choose the right number

“I have an idea - I’ll take a full load of AP courses since that’s what colleges love to see! I’ll get into Harvard/MIT/Caltech/Yale for sure!!!!” - NO. Whatever you do, understand that just like many other things in life, quality is stressed over quantity when it comes to AP classes. An AP course typically merits 1-2 hours of homework a night, depending on your teacher and subject. Therefore, if you take a full load of AP’s (full load = 4 classes), then worst-case scenario, you’re looking at 2 hours x 4 classes = 8 hours of homework. Plus, most people participate in extracurricular activities, which takes time away from the AP course at hand. Unless you’re an academic masochist (and if you’re one of these people, by all means go full blast), most people stick to around 3-4 AP’s a year. For example, if you’ve taken 3 your junior year, consider doing 4 senior year. The point here is to keep your load manageable, whatever manageable means to you.

4.) Be aware of the work load

Like I mentioned earlier, AP’s are college level classes. With that comes the extra-responsibility and dedication needed in order to learn and do well on that AP exam, come the end of the year. AP classes are intensive; they really make you think, and on occasion, will stump you beyond relief. That’s OK - the important thing about getting knocked down is having the discipline to pick yourself back up. Fail to do that, and you’ll be miserable, drowning in the sea of AP.

5.) Don’t take them if you’re not ready

“Even though I’m a sophomore still getting used to high school, I’m going to take 2 AP’s like all my friends do and hope for the best.” - this is planning to fail. Last year at my school, there was a large influx of sophomores who considered themselves ready for AP, and took the historically known “easy AP’s”: AP Psychology and AP Environmental. Suffice to say, these classes weren’t that easy, and a sizable number of them ended up doing horrible. They were miserable in the class, they felt bad about themselves, and it was just an awful time. Don’t be like these people - if you’re not ready for AP, for whatever reason, don’t do it. Oh, and FYI: there’s no such thing as an easy AP.

So after reading that dissertation of a blog entry, you may be wondering why you should even bother with AP. The answer is different for different people, but often times, taking AP courses comes from a passion for learning. If you want to work and have a great reward at the end (college credit is pretty cool), AP is for you. I honestly hope I didn’t scare any of you out of it; most people, if not all, should consider AP. There’s a variety of courses to choose from, whether you’re an artist or a scientist. Just remember: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” - Thomas Edison.  

The Benefits of Encouragement

By Emily S.

“Good job,” “You can do it,” “Thank you,” “You’re doing really well,” “I like how you actively participate”: all of these are positive encouragement. Encouragement is a wonderful tool in anything: tutoring a student, working on a project with somebody, and as I learned recently-working in a team. All of these three things applies to the PTC. We’re a team, we work together with each other and the people we help, and of course, we tutor others.

Now if you’re being tutored, I’m willing to bet you don’t really understand the topic. Now with that, you might be a little hesitant. I’ve seen it with people I’ve tutored in math, it was like if they got the question wrong the scary math monster would come out and attack. One girl in particular was like this when we first started tutoring, but by the end of the session she was already working on the next step of the problem before I even asked the question. Yes, she still wanted me to check her work and make sure she was right but she was no longer hesitant and was confident in doing the problem.

This could just because she practiced and got better with that, but I also like to think encouragement helps. Think about it, which would you respond better to out of the following choices:

Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.

1. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?

A. They is not going to the store.

B. They are not going to the store

C. They ain’t going to the store.

D. They are not going to the store.

Millie: B?

Tutor: No! How can you not see that there is a period there? Are you blind?

Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.

2. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?

A. They is not going to the store.

B. They are not going to the store

C. They ain’t going to the store.

D. They are not going to the store.

Millie: B?

Tutor: No, try again.

Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.

3. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?

A. They is not going to the store.

B. They are not going to the store

C. They ain’t going to the store.

D. They are not going to the store.

Millie: B?

Tutor: That was a good try, Millie. However it is D because answer choice B did not have a period at the end, and is not grammatically correct because of it. It was a simple mistake though. Want to try another one?

We would all probably respond best to the third choice. With the first choice, I would have left, however I don’t think any PTC member is like that. While choice two would work as well, however, if you’re feeling discouraged the encouragement helps pick up confidence and makes them want to participate more than if it was a simple “wrong, try again”.

Now if you give encouragement when they get the answer wrong, when the student gets the question right, you should give them praise. It can be simple, like “good job,” but it is still very encouraging. I like being told I did a good job, and don’t we all?

Using their name also encourages them and shows them that you care and are actively participating. Doesn’t it feel better when your teacher uses your name instead of never using it (I personally have had a teacher who never used my name at all the entire semester, and then I had one who used the wrong name--it wasn’t the best feeling in the world). By using their name, this is also a small way of encouragement.

Encouragement helps build up confidence, and when you are confident in a subject, you do better. We all want the people we tutor to do better in their class right? Also the encouragement factor makes them feel good and by flip turn hopefully makes them want to come back to the PTC.

Extracurriculars

By Josh K

You’ve heard it before - extracurricular activities are so important, you can’t get into college without them. It’s like you have to participate in a million different activities, balance a tough school load, and then save the world in order to get into a college of your choice. But trust me, it doesn’t have to be that way at all. In fact, if you’re thinking of extracurriculars this way, you’re doing it wrong. You’ll end up miserable and wiped out, and that just sucks. Here’s a simple guide on how to choose your extracurriculars, and the number of them (don’t go crazy folks!).

Know your capabilities. Before you volunteer yourself for 10 different charitable organizations, take a step back and honestly ask yourself: how much can I do? Some people are able to juggle large amounts of commitments, others aren’t. The good news is that you don’t have to do 5,000 of them in order to benefit from extracurriculars - it’s all about the work and interest you put into these activities that make them worthwhile in the first place. If that means deeply focusing on just two or three, you’re doing it right. Quality is better than quantity in this case.

Choose something you enjoy. If I had a dollar for how many times I saw my friends joining clubs they didn’t care for, just because it looked good on a college application, I’d be filthy rich. Halfheartedly joining an honor society, such as the famous National Honor Society, and sacrificing a passion of yours, such as Orchestra or band, does nobody any favors. The people in the honor society will be expecting so much out of you, and you’ll fail to deliver. Extracurriculars are a way for colleges to see what you can achieve outside the classroom - if you want to look good, and be happy, you have to achieve. Of course, the easiest way to achieve is by doing something you love.

Shyness should not be holding you back. If you’re shy, I’ve got news for you: lots of people are in the same boat as you. Many successful people are introverts, and it’s no big deal. When you join a club or organization that has people that are just like you, it’ll be pretty hard not to talk to people! You’ll be hanging around others that have the same interests as you, and before you know it, you’ll have made a bunch of friends. Oh, and you’ll be thanking yourself you didn’t let your shyness hold you back :).

Don’t be afraid to back out. Contrary to popular belief, quitting isn’t the worst thing in the world. If you’re not enjoying a certain club, it just might not be the thing for you. When you’re in this situation, you have a few options. First and foremost, talk to the club president/leader/dictator, whatever. It may turn out that there is something else you could be doing in the organization that’d be better suited to you.  Most people are flexible in this sense, and are willing to help you out. Secondly, try giving it some time. For some organizations, such as a sport, you may feel like you’re wasting your time or are undervalued. I’d try sticking with it; you’d be surprised as to how important you actually are, should you try to leave. Finally, if you’re at the last resort, talk to the team captain or advisor, and just tell them how you feel. If you’ve truly exhausted all other options, then it simply means you’re not in the right place. It’s OK to admit this; of course, try to take to care of any commitments you may have made to the club, whether that mean finding a replacement, or at least helping finish one last project, etc.

Understand the purpose of extracurriculars. People usually do things better if they understand why they’re doing them in the first place. With extra-curricular activities, there are several goals. One of them is to develop your passions and interests; this means joining the robotics club because you like technology, or becoming a part of the choir because you like singing. By participating in such things, you get better at what you enjoy (and you can even win awards and be recognized). Colleges like to see personal development; they want to know what makes you unique, what differentiates you, etc. By being part of a club or sport, and enjoying it, you show colleges (and yourself) that you have a life outside of the plain old school setting, and that you have interests and passions. Basically, you’re telling them you’re a unique human being, with goals and aspirations that you’re willing to work to fulfill. And that’s great!

As individuals, it’s up to us to define our lives, our character, and who we truly are. One of the best ways to do this is through extra-curriculars, where people get the opportunity to work alongside like-minded people, and do amazing things. Colleges, employers, all people  like to see awesome things that result from passions and interests that you hold, especially if it’s outside of school. Go out there, and see where your interests take you. You may find your future career along the way!

Oh it’s SUMMERTIME!

By Charlotte Pak

Congratulations! You have successfully finished your 2013-2014 school year, and the long-awaited summer vacation has begun.

My first tip on what to do with your summer vacation is to do something WORTHWHILE. This includes travel, work, volunteer service, online courses, summer camps and programs, studying, and college admission preparations. Sitting on the couch and watching your favorite television show for three months would be a squandering of precious time and will not develop you as a person. By employing yourself, you will also prepare for the following school year and college.

Travel

Many families travel during the summer. Popular destinations are theme parks, beaches, historical sites, national/state parks, and foreign nations. The rewards of travel are family memories, new experiences, and overall fun. Record your thoughts and experiences during your travels, so you can use these writings for college admission essays.

Work

For those of you old enough, work is another effective use of your time. Find places that are currently hiring and start working. Work can offer experience and a steady income, however small it may be. The money earned can be saved for desired purchases, gifts, and college tuition. Work experience also sets you apart from other college applicants and develops your maturity.

Volunteering

Regularly investing your time volunteering for a cause is also rewarding. The point of community service is not to look good to colleges and/or other people. Sticking to one activity and maintaining a significant impact is more fulfilling than merely collecting hours. Find a cause you care about and look for volunteering opportunities. Recording your observations and experiences will also help during college admissions.

Summer Camps and Programs

Sadly, many summer camps and programs have already finished signups, but it’s not too late to find the few that remain in your neighborhood. Keep an eye out for local news and search for camps/programs online. Again, keep in mind that your participation in such programs can be used in college applications.

Studying

Studying will prepare you for next year’s studies and prevent you from forgetting content you learned this year. Although saying that you just stayed at home and studied sounds like a rather boring summer to your friends, it will close the feared “summer gap.” This is how I spent most of my summer vacations, and it set me up for success and A’s every school year.

I strongly advise adopting a combination of these activities for your summer. All of these provide their own rewards, and your summer will be more fulfilling if you do at least one.

Surviving STEM

By Josh K.

Math and science courses - they can be the best of times, and the worst. With all of the big ideas, and the annoying minor details, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes can be a real endeavour. Of course, there are ways to survive - in fact, by adopting a few simple habits, you can not only survive, but thrive in STEM courses.  

Learn to ask questions. This seems to be something that’s rehashed over and over, with everyone telling their mother to ask questions. However, this especially rings true with subjects like mathematics and science - they’re loaded with small steps or connections, that if not made, can leave you clueless and confused. Just asking a question not only helps you and your classmates out, but it makes you seem smarter too (for all of you who are self-conscious).

Examples, examples, examples. You’d be surprised as to what a good example can do for you in terms of understanding and application. It’s one thing to learn a new concept in a subject like chemistry, but quite another to use it to solve problems. Through examples, you can build a framework and foundation for your knowledge, and use it in different situations. You can find worked out problems and the like anywhere online, in a textbook, wherever. By knowing how to apply your knowledge, you can ace any test thrown at you!

Do not memorize. STEM subjects don’t operate the same as English and Social Studies classes; memorization will NOT get your far in STEM. With science and math, understanding is crucial, and it’s important you know where equations come from, and what they mean. It’s tempting to memorize as many different situations as possible, and just pick and choose the setup for any problem you encounter. However, you end up shooting yourself in the foot with this technique. Eventually, you’ll come across something you don’t recognize, and shut down completely. If you learn to come up with relationships based on facts, you’re better off in the long run.

Focus on understanding, not the grade. This in particular can be really difficult to pull off; with mom and dad pushing you to earn A’s in every subject. As I said earlier, you will not only do far better if you shoot for deeper understanding, but you’ll feel way smarter too. When dealing with difficult parents and peers that push you for excellence, tell them that the first few weeks, maybe even months are rough. You have to put in the leg work to come out on top, which is what math and science are all about.

Learn to take a break. One day, you’ll have that one problem you just cannot figure out. No matter what approach you try, no matter what you do, you’re stumped. That’s a cue to take a break; do something else, be it homework for another subject, or enjoying a tub of ice cream. What’s important is that you take your mind away from the problem - often times, your mind will continue to do some processing in the background, and you’ll have a Eureka moment at the most random time. Heck, scientists like Richard Feynman knew how to take breaks - so should you.

Looking back, I’ve said a mouthful. A lot of this may seem bogus, since these strategies sound so simple. I’ll tell you right now, it’s going to be a long and tough road. You may feel like quitting time to time, and that’s perfectly normal. Learning to think and problem solve is like working out - you destroy your muscles (in this case, your brain cells) and build them back up to be stronger. Wherever you may be in your STEM career, just remember: you get out what you put in.

Talking to Teachers: The How-To Guide

By Annie B. We’ve all been there. You go online to check your grades, and see a zero for a homework assignment you know you turned in. Next comes the worst part: you have to talk to your teacher about it.

If you are anything like me, you’d rather not have this kind of conversation with your teacher. It wasn’t something I enjoyed in middle school, and when I reached my very large high school (over 2,000 students!), I felt even more intimidated.

The truth is, the majority of my teachers are overworked and underpaid. On a daily basis, they have to deal with a variety of students, ranging from polite and motivated to downright rude. I completely understand how teachers might react negatively when students come to “complain” about class.  

Since my freshman year, I have “fine tuned” my tips for meeting with teachers. Maybe these tips will help you, too.

1. It is always better to talk to your teacher in person instead of over email. I find it harder to explain my concern over email. Because email doesn’t involve face-to-face interaction, emotion is more difficult to convey.  There are various mediums you can do this through with a virtual teacher who you can’t see in person, such as a phone call or live classroom ( like blackboard collaborate).
2. You should always go into the meeting with a goal. What do you want to have accomplished by the end? This will help you avoid simply complaining to the teacher.  Honestly, that is the hardest part for me! It is so much easier for me to just complain to a teacher, especially when I am unhappy with the class. But teachers deal with complaining students on a daily basis. They don’t want another complainer, and they’ll appreciate your efforts to be constructive and collaborative.
3. Don’t blame your teacher. Ever. Most of my teachers are used to students blaming them for everything. Teachers are less likely to respond well when a student says, “You graded my test wrong. These questions are right and you marked them wrong.” Say something like, “I am confused about these questions on the test. I wasn’t sure what I did wrong, and I was hoping you could help me.” This gives the teacher the opportunity to look at your test with a fresh perspective instead of just reacting defensively.
4. Show them that you genuinely care about the subject and the class. Now, I get that some classes just aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Teachers understand that too. But many of my classmates show no enthusiasm for any subject. It is amazing to see how happy teachers are when you demonstrate genuine interest in a topic. The more you show that you care about the learning, the better the outcome will be.
5. Thank your teacher. As much as some teachers can make us extremely frustrated, remember that as students we can be pretty frustrating as well. Even if the teacher isn’t responding well to the meeting  - maybe he or she seems cold or disinterested - it is still appropriate to say thank you. By showing your appreciation at the end of the meeting (no matter the outcome), it makes you look better in the teacher’s eyes. Teachers like to know that their students appreciate their work. Wouldn’t you feel the same way if you were a teacher?

Most of the teachers I have met with have responded well when I kept these rules in mind. At the end of the day, teachers aren’t looking to fail you. They want to succeed just as much as you want to. As long as you are courteous, constructive, show your appreciation, and avoid complaining, (hopefully) they will be happy to help you out.