Nearing the end of the first marking period

October 25, 1:24 AMMontgomery County College Prep ExaminerMarjorie Goode

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The first marking period is almost over, which means you’re at the mid-point of the first semester. With the termination of the first quarter brings your first report card for the 2009-10 school year. YEAH!! Does this bring joy or sadness?

It probably brings joy if you know your grades and you expect them to be very good. You might also feel this entitles you to some type of reward for your effort. Perhaps your parents negotiated an incentive at the beginning of the school year. Or maybe you are anxiously awaiting the ice-cream party at your school that will recognize the first quarter honor roll students. If this is your first time making honor roll, the celebration of your success is probably more exciting than for those students who regularly make the grades.

If this is not a joyful moment, don’t mourn forever. Evaluate your mistakes and plan on doing better. Don’t just “lip-sync” it…this calls for action!! Check with your counselor and teachers regarding resources at school that can help you improve. Find out when your teacher is available for assistance…before or after school, or maybe even during your lunch period. Inquire about peer tutoring through various honor societies. Some students may need the assistance of professional tutors, who advertise their services in your school. Inquire about this through your School Counseling Department.

Whether this is a joyous or sad occasion, both emotions require you to buckle down and work your very best the second quarter, and prepare for the end of the first semester. If you are a wise student, you started preparing for your semester finals the first week of school. If not, immediately get in gear.

A freshman should review notes 1-2 nights weekly; a sophomore 2-3 nights, a junior 3-4 nights, and a senior 4-5 nights. If you started this strategy the first week of school, the eighteen weeks (length of a semester) of repetition will enable you to store the information in long-term memory. Thus, you will be better prepared for your semester exams and last minute cramming will not be necessary.

In some school districts, the semester exam grade will significantly influence the outcome of the semester grade. Semester grades are posted on your transcript and your GPA’s, weighted and unweighted, will be calculated from these grades, per semester. The GPA’s you earn will affect your post secondary education options.

So everyone, plan on doing your very best the second quarter!!