|
By Emma Twigg
High school brings a lot of responsibility, especially when it comes to studying. It is your responsibility as a student to study in order to show your skills on an assessment. There are more tests and quizzes with a lot more information. It can often seem overwhelming, but if you remain focused and have a plan, studying can be a breeze. Try out some of these study tips to better enhance your studying or try one of the well-reviewed study apps. Both can improve study time and make the process of reviewing a little less stressful. Study Tips:
By Devin Green
Most teens know the feeling of coming home after a long day of school or work. That moment where you change into your pajamas and settle in for some much needed rest. This is a universal experience, as is the dread that comes with getting up at 5 or 6 am to prepare for school. Whether it’s due to AP classes or after school activities, some of us stay up until midnight doing homework or studying. The irony in this is that many studies suggest our lack of sleep can actually hinder our test scores. A study conducted in Hong Kong by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that a lack of sleep had a direct correlation with scores in math and english. Another study completed at UCLA suggested that sacrificing sleep for time to cram in studying or homework was counter productive. The less you sleep the harder it is for you to process the information you’re studying and in the end may simply impede your ability to ace the test.The professor in charge of this study, Andrew Fuligni, said that “These results are consistent with emerging research suggesting that sleep deprivation impedes learning.” Now that we’re aware of the dangers of sleep deprivation how can we avoid it and improve our test scores? The first question that has to be answered is just how much sleep do teens need? The National Sleep Foundation recommends at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. To a lot of people that number might seem impossible. Staying up late to do homework has become a staple of high school. By completing homework the second you get home it becomes easier to manage. This gives you the rest of the day to recover from the school day and lets one knock out their homework while still in “school mood.” If clubs and sports get in the way of this try to do some work during your free time in the school day or set aside a few hours of each day to complete homework preemptively. Doing homework is recognized as a great way to study and doing it early gives you extra time to sleep or relax. Hours slept isn’t the only factor in sleep deprivation as quality of sleep also plays a role. It is important that your sleep isn’t just long but is also comfortable enough for your body to rest and recharge. The higher quality of sleep one gets the better they’ll feel when they wake up in the morning. Try to begin sleeping “rituals” like taking a shower before bed every night. The body will slowly start to think that a shower at night means it’s time for bed and less time will be wasted trying to get the body ready for sleep. Of course, the path to better sleep is relative to the individual so experiment and find out what works best for you. Try new things when it comes to sleeping, and don’t be afraid to completely overhaul your sleep schedule if it means better sleep in the long run. It is very important for you to study for your tests but if you find yourself up at midnight knee deep in papers ask yourself this, should I sleep or should I study? By Sofia Weddle
An eight-year old child’s last thought is about the future of their education. This is not the case in Howard County, where G/T classes are introduced in the third grade. Even though children this young should not be forced to stress about academics, more and more children are becoming overwhelmed with homework and are embarrassed about the level of class they are taking. Mr. Spivey, an AP and G/T political sciences teacher at Glenelg High School, understands differentiated education (especially with math) in elementary school, but thinks that “third grade might be too early” for GT classes to be introduced as it kills the fun of school. Even in the beginning of middle school, when an orientation is held to help students get comfortable with the school, these information sessions usually consist of speeches about the positive outcome of leadership activities, honor societies, and upper-level classes on the student’s future. Students, like Senior Caitlyn Oates, believe that sixth grade is a good starting point for the introduction of G/T classes if the student is prepared to work hard and be surrounded by others who will do the same. These upper-level classes feel somewhat like high school, where GT and AP courses are abundant. However, high school and its upper-level classes end up giving students many mixed feelings. One anonymous Junior thinks that AP, G/T, and Honors classes will prepare students for college and their future by challenging their abilities. Despite the benefits of taking an upper level class, some students worry that they can cause excessive stress. Gloria McComas, a Glenelg Junior, wants students to realize that “AP is not the end all, be all.” Junior Grace Shrestha reminds students that taking G/T and AP classes shouldn’t be “a label” because upper-level classes really “depend on hard work and scores”. Many high schoolers believe that when a student is deciding on courses, they should ensure that their courses are not only challenging, but also that they are sincerely interested in them. Even with the challenge of AP classes, most Glenelg students generally believe upper-level courses to be worthwhile. Mr. Spivey takes a similar stance on advanced classes, believing that “every student at Glenelg should take at least one AP course in high school” to ease the transition to college or jobs. From his lack of experience with upper-level classes during his high school career, he believes that he “would have been better prepared if [he] took them”. Through all of this input on high-level classes the consensus seems to be that G/T and AP classes are worth it if you are going in with the right mindset, but require an initiative to work hard in order to to succeed. By Olivia Kavidias
Homework: The eight letter word that rules students’ lives daily, forcing them to unwillingly complete extra work from all of their classes, taking them from one to seven hours of their own free time. You could think of it this way, or you could think of homework as the concept that helps students review and study the material they learned in their classes, helping them become responsible and successful in school. The truth is students at Glenelg High School see it both ways. Homework is a guarantee at any school you go to. School and homework are a package, and whether students like it or not, it’s here to stay. But when does the educational system cross the line? Sierra Suarez, a Glenelg Sophomore, shares her opinion on homework, saying she doesn’t necessarily enjoy doing it, but finds that it helps her in the long run, “especially when studying for tests.” Even though she spends about three hours on it everyday, her feelings toward homework are neutral, and she believes it helps her in more ways than academically. The Department of Education released a statement about homework, stating spending time on homework not only increases students’ enjoyment of subjects, but is also behavioral related, making the environment of school and attitude towards hard work more positive. Although some say homework is beneficial to learning despite the countless hours spent on it, others disagree, including the Professor of Education and Psychology at Duke University, Harris Cooper. He shares that middle school students should spend no more than 90 minutes on homework, and that high schools should limit the time to two hours at the maximum, since the brain loses attentiveness and precision after seven hours at school, and two hours after. In fact, research shows that homework has nearly no impact on a student’s performance, because there is no interaction with teachers, and is repeating the material learned in class. Homework is stressful nonetheless, and students are becoming more and more stressed to the breaking point, as many of these students have shown. The point of homework is to help students understand and practice material the teacher has taught, to prepare the student for the future, and to teach responsibility. But when it cuts deep into your own time, leaving little time for family, extracurriculars, and a social life…how much is too much? Paige Sheldrake & Abbey Soltis
Balancing school and a job can be difficult in high school, especially if you are in advanced classes that require more homework. As hard working students, you shouldn’t have to choose between work and school. It’s important to prioritize both, and to do so, you have to plan your school and work schedules ahead of time. Start out by limiting the amount of hours you can work on school days. You might be working late, long shifts, and homework is not what you want to do when you get home. This makes it essential to make sure you have completed your homework when you have free time. Caitlyn Oates, a senior, says she manages to balance school and work by “doing [her] homework right when [she] gets home from school.” Once a student manages to finish up their homework, they won’t have to worry about it when they come home after a shift. Anna Hall, another Senior, states that her job as a receptionist at a hair salon allows her to complete homework there when she has down time at work. If you have that option, you should definitely take advantage of it. Senior Katie Grimm says she does the most important homework when she gets home, and if she has time before work, she will study for her tests and such. Grimm says that using her agenda book helps her a lot because she can plan her school schedule and her job schedule. Many students have to balance work and school but there are others who add sports to this list. Seniors Leanne Duncan and Grace Olson say that are they able to remind themselves of the tasks they need to complete each day through their agendas. It is also extremely important to get the proper amount of sleep every night even if you have to work. Setting a bedtime will ensure you get enough sleep to be fully functional the next day. Getting the proper amount of sleep will improve your focus, and make you far more attentive. Sometimes, quick naps between school and work can be enough to allow the necessary energy, especially if all of your homework is done. Without the right amount of sleep, it becomes very difficult to get everything done for school and manage a job. Consistent, healthy meals are another important contributor to balancing school and work. Starting the day with breakfast is a good way to wake up and get the energy needed to make it through the day. Little snacks between meals can help make sure that you are energized through your school and work days. Staying well rested, eating energizing foods with protein and managing your time are essential to staying organized and balancing schoolwork with a job. By Hannah Butera & Bethany Stewart
Nothing is worse than wearing your favorite outfit to school, only to be told by a teacher to cover yourself up. It is embarrassing and aggravating, but it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. Dress code violations have always been a prevalent issue at Glenelg. Last year there was a push for change, but several students still failed to meet the requirements. As a result, more students are being reprimanded for their inappropriate, provocative dress, and are told to change. According to Officer Willingham, “Administration made announcements and spoke with students about the importance of dressing appropriate for school. ” This year, the administration is approaching the dress code in a different, more serious manner. Each class had a separate assembly regarding the expectations for the year to raise awareness as to what is, and is not, acceptable. One of the main topics discussed was our school’s dress code. A PowerPoint was presented that set forth its guidelines, and contained pictures of certain violations. Students were asked to distinguish between the inappropriate and appropriate examples. Although many view the dress code as unfair and overly stringent, it is important that the code be enforced because “the school is trying to replicate an environment that is not offensive or not appropriate.Sometimes people’s clothes can bother others,” stated Officer Willingham. He says that “Students should understand the dress code because at some point they will be working for someone who can tell them what they can and cannot wear. In my job I am told what I have to wear and how to wear it. Not only clothes, but also jewelry, tattoos, hair, and facial hair.” Having to follow a dress code is something that students can learn from and apply to their futures. When shopping this fall season, be sure that your purchases are school appropriate! Here are some trends for fall 2016 that are fashionable and school acceptable! Believe it or not, turtlenecks are making a huge comeback. Pair one with some jeans and boots, and you’re set. Another trend that has regained popularity is the jean skirt. Wear with some boots, a solid colored shirt, and a sweater… and of course, make sure the skirt is an appropriate length! In addition, oversized sweaters are a common fall trend. They double as cute and comfortable which is always a plus! Flannels and jeans are also a great fall time outfit idea for guys or girls. And let’s not forget… sweatpants are always a good option too! This fall and winter season, don’t forget to make sure you’re making appropriate clothing decisions! |
Archives
November 2024
|