Sustaining “A” grade in school

Middle school is the bridge between elementary school and high school, where students transition from children to teenagers. At Arcadia schools, it is the first time we get graded with a letter system. It is a very important part of education because the habits one learns in middle school will either help or be detrimental in high school.

Emily Zheng

<Editor’s Note: blogger Emily Zheng is a freshman at Arcadia High School.>

This is what I’ve learned from my experience at Dana: First of all, always do your homework. No exceptions! This has been emphasized constantly by teachers, parents, and possibly other students for a reason. Do not procrastinate because, if you do, your homework will build up until it is too much to handle. Homework will really boost your grade. Even if homework is only about 10% of your grade, if that 10% is kept stable, you will have a higher chance of getting an “A.” Homework also gives you practice for what is taught in class, which will lead to higher grades on tests.

Don’t understand your homework? Ask someone who is an expert at what you’re having trouble with: your teacher! If you have any questions, or are confused about something that the teacher went over in class, it will really benefit you to ask them. Don’t be afraid of looking “bad”; there is probably at least one other person in your class who has the same question. Take that incentive and ask! The question you have will probably haunt you and might cost you a bad grade. You can also ask your teacher if they are available before or after school or during lunch. This is also the best time to ask a question that requires a longer answer.

Peer tutoring, held after school, is also a great way to receive help. There may also be lunchtime clubs to help you out. Dana offers an “Eyewitness History Club” run by Dr. Green that reviews all history for each grade — sixth, seventh, and eighth — for the upcoming CSTs. Clubs like these are win-win: you review all that you’ve learned before, which gives you a higher score on the CST and also provides review material that may be covered in high school.

Second, one of the important parts of learning is participation. Participation may or may not be a part of your grade, but it will help you learn. Don’t be afraid of being wrong: if you are, the teacher will explain what you did wrong and why. Write these things down and correct your mistakes using a red pen; it is always important that you have a different colored pen in your backpack so you can find your mistakes quickly when you are studying your notes for an exam. I also advise using a pencil, not a pen, to do schoolwork and homework.

Third, a way to ease stress for classes is to read the chapter before you learn it. Reading, even  skimming the next chapter, whether in an Honors math class, History, or Science will give you an idea about what you will be learning in class. That way, if you have any questions about the chapter, you will know what to look for during lectures. Take notes while you’re reading the chapter and in class; it will help you organize and remember what you’ve learned.

If you’re ever on the border line between two grades, extra credit can help you raise a B+ to an A- or even a solid “A.” Extra credit is really important for your grade. Not all teachers offer extra credit but if your teacher gives you an opportunity to receive extra credit, take it. I spent my entire winter break completing an extra credit project. Even though it was optional, I decided that it was worth trying. In the end, my final grade went up by a whole percentage just because of that project. When I added those extra credit points to the others I earned in that class, my final grade went up by over 3%. Every single extra credit problem, worksheet, or project will be beneficial.

Not sure if your teacher graded your test correctly? Ask! Always make sure to check that the grade you received is accurate. We’re all human, and teachers have to teach many students — which means a lot of papers to correct — so there might be an error once in a while. Make sure that all the points add up correctly and ask your teacher if you’re not sure about your grade. It never hurts to ask. If your teacher says you’re wrong, but you still think you’re right, think about it at home. Consult with someone you know. If you’re absolutely positive that you are right, take the opportunity to prove it to your teacher. Once, in Geometry Honors, my teacher said that my method was wrong on finding the longest diagonal in a rectangular prism. I decided to see for myself if my method was true. I made a model of the rectangular prism using an empty tissue box and labeled all the steps to find it. The next morning, I proved that my method was right to my teacher. Now you can go to Mr. Smith’s classroom at Dana and ask to see my tissue box!

One misconception about middle school is that grades don’t count. The truth is, they do count if you are interested in doing advanced courses such as Algebra 2 Honors and English Honors in high school. It is not absolutely essential to get all A’s in middle school, but I hope that this was helpful to all of you in elementary and middle school. Just try your best and enjoy your time in middle school. Best of luck!

— By Emily Zheng