http://www.coolmath.com/student

1) Always attend the first class meeting! This lets you know what the teacher is like and what is expected of you.

2) Read the class syllabus! (Or whatever the teacher passes out the first week) This will let you know all the rules regarding absences, exams, etc.

3) Be on time for class!  In fact, always try to be a little early, so you can get out all your stuff.

4) Don't miss class unless you are sick (nobody wants your germs! 8-) ). Your teacher can explain something to you in a fraction of the time that it would take you to figure it out on your own (or even with the help of a tutor.)

5) If you do have to miss a class, always call a classmate (before you return to class!) to find out what you missed and if your teacher assigned anything that will be due when you return.

6) During class, always have your calculator on your desk and have your text book out.   Teachers often do problems out of the book as examples.

7) If the teacher is making some sort of computation, work along with him/her.

8) Take very neat class notes. Write down everything the teacher writes down and try to write down most of what he/she says. Put stars by problems or points that your teacher stresses or get excited about. These are good potential exam questions!

9) Participate and ask questions!

10) Do your homework the same day that you hear the lecture on the material! If that isn't possible, always be sure to do the homework before you go to the next class.

11) Make friends in the class and study with them! I.E. Form well-balanced study groups. A good study group consists of 4 or 5 students with a range of capabilities. (Students getting D's and F's should never study together - This doesn't benefit anybody.)

12) The second that you start to feel overwhelmed with the material (ex: you didn't understand a thing the teacher said or you can't do the assignment that night) get help! Go to your math learning center, get a tutor, ask for help from a classmate and go to your teacher's office!!

13) Get in the proper frame of mind! This class is your job. How much effort are you putting forth? Do you always clock in late or do you just not show up? If this class was really your job, would you get fired or would you be up for a raise?

http://www.coolmath.com/studytip

When studying for a math exam, you have two main goals:

• Learn the material so you can do well on the exam.
• Learn the material well enough so you will still know it next semester!!! (Most of you will be taking more math. These classes ALWAYS depend on the material you learned the previous semester! If you don't really learn it (i.e. not just cramming for the exam), you'll crash and burn in your next class!

TIP #1: Have all memorizing done a couple of days before the exam.

TIP #2: USE FLASH CARDS FOR MEMORIZATION OF FORMULAS AND RULES!!!

1) Starting out:

• Look over lecture notes.
• REWORK EXAMPLES!!
• Look over homework.

2) Make an exam for yourself (or better yet, for a study partner):

• Take it after a delay period - So you won't remember where you got the problems - If you take the exam too soon, you may think you know the material better then you do! (This should be done at least TWO (2) days before the exam - NOT the night before or you'll freak yourself out!)

NOTE: It is extremely important that you be able to do the problems without knowing what section they came out of!! Be sure to mix the problems up when you are practicing!

3) Restudy:

• Go back over what you had trouble with on your practice exam. This is the stuff that you didn't absorb well enough from just doing your homework.

4) The afternoon before exam day:

• Read through your lecture notes and think! Work some problems and review memorizing.

5) The night before exam day:

• Do something fun ----------- But not too much fun! 8-)

6) One hour before exam:

• Glance over flash cards and don't talk to classmates -- They may say something to confuse you or make you nervous. 8-)

Most importantly ------- DO NOT CRAM!!

Anything you try to learn at the last minute (that means the night before) will dribble out your left ear when you get nervous!

Also, if you need to get some private tutoring for the exam, do not set your appointment for exam day - or even the night before. Being tutored the day of the exam may fry your brain. Waiting until the night before is cramming. Plan ahead for all tutoring appointments.