High School -- Grades

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[Waldfrau]

Yuki-onna, are you still here?

[Louisvillian]

Well I'm having a problem in high school, and half my grades are slipping below the "A" belt, and one is on the borderline of a "C".   

Wait, wait, wait...you're seriously complaining that you have a few B's, some A's, and maybe a C?
You have NO idea what bad grades are, then.

[Star]

Wait, wait, wait...you're seriously complaining that you have a few B's, some A's, and maybe a C?
You have NO idea what bad grades are, then.

Depends on the student.  If all you've ever gotten are A's, then yeah, a B is disappointing and a C is pretty dismal.  If all you've ever gotten are D's, a C is great and a B is fantastic.  It just depends on where you're coming from.

[Mithril]

Depends on the student.  If all you've ever gotten are A's, then yeah, a B is disappointing and a C is pretty dismal.  If all you've ever gotten are D's, a C is great and a B is fantastic.  It just depends on where you're coming from.

Yeup. I've been known to go ballistic over an 89. I try not to because I know how much annoys all the people with B averages, but I can't help it. Personally, I think it's good to always strive for excellence and not settle for a grade that's considered good by other people if you know you can do better.

[Diamond NightShade]

Wait, wait, wait...you're seriously complaining that you have a few B's, some A's, and maybe a C?
You have NO idea what bad grades are, then.

This was my exact thought. But that is only because of late, I have been struggling with my academics alot. Let's see... First year of high school: 7 A's and one B... Second year: 7 A's one B! Wooo! But hey look!!! Next year: Oh boy see if I remember... It was a few A's, a few B's and a C... (Can't remember exact number.) THAT was terrible for me. But this year, I am real bad. After the first semester, I have an A, 2 Bs and a D. (One of them Bs might even be a C...) And progress report so far this semester: a C and an F (whoaaaa)...

Mostly, I think, because I have been way too concentrated on my boyfriend ( I have been with im for a little over 2 years, after all. Which is about when I started having problems...) And plus I just am tired of the mindlessness of it all. All the teachers are conserned with are assessment. It isn't about *learning* anymore. it's about that final test...... I have had 3 teachers, of all my classes, that weren't like that... Also, part of my problem is that I have been off my ADHD medicine for about half a year maybe? And before that I had probelms even remembering to take it. And I think my depression and ADHD pills were counteracting each other or some thing like that. Also, my study skills could use improvement. Or, I shoudl say, my -non-study skills........... I think I have fully studied for about maybe 4 or so tests, I mean sure I looked at my notes a few tests... For like 5 minutes.

But I still have college to get my act together. That is, if this graduation-requirement "senior project" doesn't keep me from getting that diploma... Which I am determined not to let it.

Aaaand... I am itchy all over. *scratches wildly* Okies.

[Louisvillian]

Depends on the student.  If all you've ever gotten are A's, then yeah, a B is disappointing and a C is pretty dismal.  If all you've ever gotten are D's, a C is great and a B is fantastic.  It just depends on where you're coming from.

Yeah. True.
Despite my intelligence and passion for learning, I am lazy beyond measure when it comes to schoolwork. So, my grades all through high school have been pretty crappy. I get mostly C's, some D's, and often one U in a class I am really struggling in. Although I always have gotten A's and B's in my history classes and language-arts classes.

Mostly, I think because I have been way too concentrated on my boyfriend.

Similar reasons here, for why I get lazy about school work. I concentrate a lot on maintaining not only my relationship with my girlfriend, but also with my broad group of friends.

And plus I just am tired of the mindlessness of it all. All the teachers are concerned with are assessment. It isn't about *learning* anymore.

Exactly! It's like all year they're just training you to take a standardised test, so you can make the school look get and pull down more funding- which the schools invariably use on all the wrong things.
In senior year, that's changed a bit, because (at my school at least) seniors don't have to take a standardised assessment, like the CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System) for Kentucky. The only standardised test we have to really worry about are the ACT/SAT tests for college.

[Mithril]

Exactly! It's like all year they're just training you to take a standardised test, so you can make the school look get and pull down more funding- which the schools invariably use on all the wrong things.
In senior year, that's changed a bit, because (at my school at least) seniors don't have to take a standardised assessment, like the CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System) for Kentucky. The only standardised test we have to really worry about are the ACT/SAT tests for college.

Exactly. We spent the time we would have spent on Shakespeare preparing for a *minimal* skills test in a PreAP english class...

[Louisvillian]

Yeah. This is basically why senior year is your only real pure-learning year. At least at my school, almost all of your classes besides English 4 are electives, so you actually are taking classes to learn the material out of interest. Even in English 4, you read a lot Shakespeare and Dickens, and in my class, we are working hard on college-level writing- you actually do something productive in Senior English classes.

[liquidy]

*snip*
I can't seem to really master the topics, and I want some tips on how to study. How do you guys study, prepare for tests, and overall do your best in classes. Have any tips in memorization?
Thank you 

My only piece of advice to you is this: Do not cram your study session. Take a break every 20 minutes or so to give your mind a few minutes to process what you've read and memorized. If you pile too much in with a resting period you will forget chunks of it as you progress, as your brain can only process so much information at a time. This is also the reason you don't "cram" for tests.

This is what works for me, I am long out of high school, but I am in college now learning to be a teacher.

Hope that helps and good luck. There is a lot of awesome advice here.
-Liquidy

[Keriander]

Exactly! It's like all year they're just training you to take a standardised test, so you can make the school look get and pull down more funding- which the schools invariably use on all the wrong things.

Precisely! And I thought that was only in Holland.  For example: french. Our final exam only consists of texts we have to read, and what happens? We focus on reading only. I've had french for six years now, and I STILL can't hold a conversation in french. I think it's a pity.

[Diamond NightShade]

Precisely! And I thought that was only in Holland.  For example: french. Our final exam only consists of texts we have to read, and what happens? We focus on reading only. I've had french for six years now, and I STILL can't hold a conversation in french. I think it's a pity.

Oh thank goodness it isn't just here! I Seriously thought it was an American thing... gah.
And, whoever it is that doesn't have to do the standardized tests, lucky you! I don't either this year, because I have 20th Century History which is just a teacher-made exam, and English USED to be "EOC"s, but guess what it is replaced with? An overly extensive "Graduation Project" that takes up almost ALL of English class time, we are almost done with this half of the class, and we have only read I think Beauwolf, Canterbury tales (just skimmed that) and some Arthur text that we also skimmed over.. And that is the best part of it is the British literature and whatnot... I love reading, and we have hardly done any of that.

This senior year would not be bad at ALL if it weren't for this project. I -love- my 20th Century class, it is *so* involving, and you learn so much and it is so interesting. And I -love- everything about English, that does not have to do with this project....

[Nyktipolos]

I'm from Canada and I don't speak french either! (And I live in Manitoba, which has a large population of french-speakers. Not the majority, but quite a few) It's definately not an American thing.

[Louisvillian]

Precisely! And I thought that was only in Holland.  For example: french. Our final exam only consists of texts we have to read, and what happens? We focus on reading only. I've had french for six years now, and I STILL can't hold a conversation in french. I think it's a pity.

Oddly, our only really good classes are our foreign language classes and arts classes (performing and visual kinds), mainly because they're not on the major standardised tests, so they actually concentrate on teaching you things. I took a year of German (freshman year), but they took it out, so I took two years of Latin (sophomore-junior year), and now, as a senior, I'm taking Japanese, and each of the classes were pretty informative.

[whambamcam]

Oddly, our only really good classes are our foreign language classes and arts classes (performing and visual kinds), mainly because they're not on the major standardised tests, so they actually concentrate on teaching you things. I took a year of German (freshman year), but they took it out, so I took two years of Latin (sophomore-junior year), and now, as a senior, I'm taking Japanese, and each of the classes were pretty informative.

So unlike my school where the language classes where the worst taught, next to art.  You had to be naturally good or you could not do the subject.  I dont think my education was that standadised, especially the more advanced it got.  My advanced higher history class was basically a Uni class.  We were left to our own devices especailly when we had to do a dissertation (which was fun).  English was also great so much discussions going on. 

[saxnot]

So unlike my school where the language classes where the worst taught, next to art.  You had to be naturally good or you could not do the subject.  I dont think my education was that standadised, especially the more advanced it got.  My advanced higher history class was basically a Uni class.  We were left to our own devices especailly when we had to do a dissertation (which was fun).  English was also great so much discussions going on. 

Absolutely. The way art's taught (and assessed) in this country's ridiculous, though... what is it, 97% for an A at A-level now?
And the AS level's destroyed the way history's taught. Exam technique is so important... moreso than real history or historiography...

In conclusion, I'm so happy to be at uni.

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