TOP TEN STEPS FOR SUCCESS IN MATHEMATICS ###################################################

STEP 1: PAY ATTENTION **************************************** Pay attention and take careful notes. In particular, note the solutions to problems that are worked in class and copy them down in pen. Keep these notes organized in a separate notebook (i.e. a notebook for “Homework” or “Classwork” only) for future reference during homework.

STEP 2: ASK QUESTIONS **************************************** Don't hesitate to ask questions in class. Other students will usually have the same questions but will be reluctant to ask them for one reason or another. Everyone will benefit from the additional explanation.

STEP 3: PRACTICE BY WORKING THE EXAMPLES IN YOUR NOTES ********************************************************* Do your homework only after reading the textbook and reviewing your class notes. Many students simply move past homework problems they don’t understand how to do without taking the time to review their note and/or the textbook examples and seek help from the video tutorials. Homework is simply independent practice of the problems done in class and which you copied into your notes notebook (the “Example” problems in your notebook correlate, or are identical, to the “Example” problems in the homework). The extra effort of reviewing your notes when you come across homework problems(s) you’re struggling with will pay off in your understanding of the math concepts and performance on tests..

STEP 4: DO THE WORK!!!! **************************************************** Do NOT take shortcuts. In math, taking shortcuts often lead to wrong answers. Being good at math requires time and effort. Make sure your DO THE WORK for EVERY problem. This is not only helpful in your understanding of the procedures, or steps, you need to take in solving a problem, but it is also helpful if you need help with the problem later on. If the teacher, student, or tutor helping you can see what you did to solve the problem, they can help tell you where you went wrong and address the misunderstanding that you have so you don’t make the same mistake again. Also, make sure your work is organized. Do not do the work for a problem anywhere you want and randomly write all over the page. This is a very poor way to do math and will often lead to problems big problems. Make sure your work is together, organized, and with the problem. Again, if you need help, the person helping you needs to be able to see the steps you took in solving the problem. He or she can’t do that if your work is a jumbled mess.

STEP 5: WORK NEATLY **************************************** Write numbers and math symbols neatly. Use a new line for each step and skip a line between problems. Graph paper is useful for helping you to organizing your work by allowing you line up numbers (if you write one number or letter per box) and draw pictures using the lines. Make sure that the problems are clearly separated from each other and be sure to write large enough so that you and others can read your work. It might be helpful if you color-code your work by writing the problem and answer out in black or blue pen and the work to the problem in pencil.

STEP 6: CHECK YOUR ANSWERS *************************************************************** Always check the answers to the odd numbered problems in the back of the book. If you make an error and are unable to determine what went wrong, mark a red star or other symbol next to the problem to indicate it is wrong and that you need help with it. Then, ask for help with these marked problems the following day during the Homework Review session at the beginning of class, and if needed, during Lunch or an After- School Tutoring session. Again, make sure that you take notes in pen on any problems you receive help with, so you can refer to these notes when preparing for a test or if you see a similar problem again. Even better, work more of the same type of problems (Mr. Rosen can direct you where to find these if you can’t find any on your own) to reinforce what you have learned.

STEP 7: REVIEW THE MATERIAL & WEBSITES *********************************************************** After completing each lesson, look over the textbook and class notes again. Identify the main objectives and don't be content until you feel you have mastered them. Write a summary of the section or make an outline for future reference. You can do the online quizzes associated with each lesson on the website by clicking on “Practice Quiz” (in purple) after the lesson you would like to take a quiz on. This will help you identify problems areas of struggle. These quizzes are computer-scored and will provide you with instant feedback about how you did. You can then print out your results and bring these quizzes in to get help with problems you missed during Lunch or After-School Tutoring sessions.

STEP 8: PREPARE FOR TESTS *************************************** Use the “Practice Tests” assigned for homework to prepare for tests. Work the problems under test conditions, without looking back in the text, your notes, or at the answers (in other words treat practice tests as if though they are really tests). Time yourself. When you have finished, check your answers and rework problems that you missed. If you still can’t figure out your mistake, get help with these problems during tutoring sessions.

STEP 9: LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES **************************************************** All problems that you miss on all homework, classwork, quizzes, and tests should be corrected. Keep all corrected homework, quizzes, and tests to refer to when preparing for whenever you come across similar problems on homework / classwork and when preparing for state exams (i.e the STAR Test).

STEP 10: BE PERSISTENT… DON'T GIVE UP!!! ***************************************************** If you want to become good at something, like a sport, you need to stick with it and PRACTICE. That’s definitely true with math. The more time you put into practicing it, the more you will gain understanding and the better you will become. If you are struggling with a particular concept, this not means only getting help with it but also practicing similar problems so that you become better at it. If you need help finding additional practice problems, please ask Mr. Rosen.