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Why am I failing
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My test scores are low (The
number one problem students have!)
I have zeros for
some of my assignments (The number two problem students have!)
Mister I am
having a problem understanding the assignment?
Number 1 reason students fail my class is test scores.
Lack of affective study is the main reason students fail tests. Here are some things that you can do to increase test scores:
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS READING
OVER THE NOTES A FEW TIMES AN AFFECTIVE METHOD OF STUDYING!
YOU MUST WORK WITH THE MATERIAL A LITTLE EACH DAY!
You should spend your time wisely in class and consider stopping by the lab during open lab times to look over the material again. Note cards, study cards and even making up your own test are good ways to learn the information for each exam. For note cards it is a good idea to put information together for a vocabulary word from all sources available to you (textbook, notes and labs) into one notecard.
If the lab is a practical, then the first day the new specimens are available, bring note cards (5 x 8) and make a quick drawing of each organism on one side of a card. You want one organism per card. On the back begin putting all the information you can about the organism. Pull information from notes, lecture and your textbook together. I would arrange the information based on organ systems (nervous system, digestive system..), taxononmy and on habitat. Keep the cards with you and go over them when you have down time. Repeatition and drawing new connections between organisms is a good way to learn. When we study higher vertebrates such as amphibians, you may need to break the material down into systems within each organism.
Form a study group! Having a fellow student to quiz over the material as well as be quizzed will reinforce the information. Again, try to make connections between the organisms. Example: How are the endospores of bacteria, cysts of Ameoba's and spores of a club moss the same? Answer: They all allow these organisms to have a "dormante period" and the carry all the information necessary to produce another organism at some later date.
Number
2 reason students fail is not turning in assignments
If you don't turn in the assignment, I cannot grade it and you recieve a 0.
Students your focus should be on your studies. I don't give nor do I believe in busy work
(even if you are in ISS or Choices). Each assignment has been developed to help you learn,
reinforce and work with the concepts and vocabulary. When you do not complete your
assignments (or ask for help when you don't understand), YOU
are refusing to be educated. As your teacher, I can provide the environment and tools, but
YOU must build your education. Right now your education is FREE! Take advantage of that. Most jobs require a high school
diploma. EVERY college requires a high school diploma. Well
paying jobs require a college degree. Do your work, turn it in - problem solved!
I could give you various reasons everyone in our society needs to understand basic Biology, but here's a very real fact - you must take and pass biology to get a high school diploma. Based on US Census Bureau data students with a high school diploma on average earn $850,000 more in their lifetime than their fellow classmates who drop out of high school. Students who go on and earn a graduate degree will on average earn $1.7 million more than a high school drop out. US Census Bureau, "The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-life Earnings," Current Population Reports, p. 23-210 (July 2002)
If you were absent, I still put a zero in the grade book until you make up the work. It is your responsibility to get your assignments. You have the same number of days you were absent to turn in the assignment as you were absent (See AISD guidelines). This means if you were absent one day, you get one extra day to turn in the assignment.
Mister
I am having a problem understanding the assignment?
Talk with me in class, see me before or after school, set an appointment to come in and
get tutoring, but do this BEFORE THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE. Don't just give up and not turn it
in. I am willing and want to work with you, but YOU have to
make the first step and TELL ME! Test days are generally set which means it is your
responsibility to see me BEFORE a test day.
Can I still turn in an assignment that is late?
Sure you can. Remember that I take off 15 points per class that an assignment is late. If
you are absent, you have the same number of days you were absent to turn in the assignment
late as you were absent (See AISD guidelines).
Reset on 10/15/2006
Mr. Todd Watkins
Science Department
James Bowie High School
2101 Highbank Drive
Arlington, TX 76018
Email: wwatkins@aisd.net
©Todd
Watkins 2006 "All Rights Reserved."
October 15, 2006