How to be a successful science student

							  How to be a
   Successful
Science Student
Who doesn’t want to be a good student?
Really, how many off you wake up in the
morning, telling yourself, I hope I fall asleep
in class today and fail my biology test?




                                      F
Whether you admit it or not, deep down you
want to succeed (but who would want to let
our friends and parents know that?). But
how can you succeed in your science class
while managing your school life,
extracurricular life, social life, love life, family
life?
Let’s be honest with ourselves, we would
love to put school on the bottom of our list,
BUT by knowing how to be a successful
science student you could actually still keep
your life while getting good grades!
     How to be Successful in Science

1.   Take Good Notes
2.   Be Organized
3.   Study
4.   Eat Well
 Take Good Notes with C-notes
• Aka Cornell Notes, after Cornell University
  – So in other words, it was developed by people who
    know what they’re talking about
  – Put to the test, students who take notes using C-notes
    or a similar set of notes comprehend material and
    perform better on tests than students who do not take
    good notes
• Why are they good?
  – Yes it may be a bit of writing, but note taking actually
    helps you remember and comprehend the material
    better
  – C-notes are organized and always located in a binder;
    don’t have to worry about biology notes being in your
    history book or crumbled in the bottom of your
    backpack.
What does the format look like?
                • A - Topic, date page #
                • B – Review Questions or
                  Concept Questions that
                  can be answered by
                  section “C”
                • C – Notes from the
                  lecture; short and sweet
                • D – Brief summary of
                  info covered on the page
9/16/07                 Parts of a Cell                   1
• Organelle              • A part of a cell that has a specific
                           function
• What is the role of    • Nucleus- the “brain” of the cell;
  the nucleus?             contains genetic material; controls
                           cellular functions
• What does the          • Mitochondria- the “powerhouse” of
  mitochondria do?         the cell; makes E for the cell’s rxns


 Summary: Each Organelle in a cell has a specific function.
 If a cell is missing one of these organelles, it would not
 function properly. The nucleus contains genetic material and
 the mitochondria makes energy for the cell.
 Remember these Note-taking tips:
• Record- record the lecture using short and
  concise notes. Use abbreviations, symbols, or
  shorthand whenever possible. Don’t write
  everything down word-for-word…your hand will
  fall off!
• Questions- either during class or shortly after
  formulate and write down the review questions
  and concept words that go in the left column
• Recite- Cover the notes column with paper.
  Looking at the questions column, answer the
  questions in your own words
                More tips!
• Reflect- reflect on the material by asking
  yourself:
  – What’s the significance of these facts?
  – How can I apply them?
  – How do they fit in with what I already know?
  – What’s beyond them?
• Review- spend at least 15 minutes every
  week reviewing all of your notes for a
  section
 Be an Organized Science Student
• Science papers go in a Science binder,
  not your history book or at the bottom of
  your backpack!
  – Have a binder specifically for Science, in
    class, everyday!
  – Organize your binder in a way that works for
    you! (Otherwise it will be more difficult to
    keep up with)
  – Keep materials in order…makes
    it much easier to find something
  – Keep up with it
• Being organized with your time is
  important too!
  – Record your assignments in a assignment
    book daily
     • Write down the due date so you can prioritize your
       homework
– Make a written checklist of things to do:
  Biology homework; read for English; call
  Stacy; work at Chick-fil-A; etc, etc,
   • Decide what must be done immediately,
     within the next few days, etc.
   • Approximate how much time you can
     spend on each task
      –Let’s say you have a Biology worksheet
        and Spanish vocab sheet both due
        tomorrow, a History test tomorrow, and
        an English paper due in three days. You
        would also like to text your friends and
        watch Gray’s Anatomy. YIKES! That’s
        A LOT!
• Biology worksheet- Due tomorrow
  – 20 minutes
• Spanish Vocab- Due tomorrow
  – 30 minutes
• History Test- Tomorrow
  – 1 hour (you should have also studied a few days prior
    to this)
• English Paper- Due in three days
  – Type one page or up to 1 hour
• Gray’s Anatomy- NOT A TOP PRIORITY!
  – 1 hour
• Text Friends- NOT A TOP PRIORITY!
  – While watching Gray’s or in between study breaks
   Ms. Renner’s Top 10 Time
Management Tips for a Successful
        Science Student
1. Make a "To Do" List Every Day.
2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely.
3. It's Okay to Say "No."
4. Find the Right Time.
5. Review Your Notes Every Day.
6. Get a Good Night's Sleep.
7. Communicate Your Schedule to Others.
8. Become a Taskmaster.
9. Don't Waste Time Agonizing.
10. Keep Things in Perspective.
             Studying Science
• A science textbook has more new words in
  it than a foreign language text book
• Studying science can be very difficult due
  to new, unfamiliar words and hard-to-
  grasp concepts.
  – We tend to have difficulty
    understanding things that
    we can’t see for ourselves…
    like cell division, photosynthesis,
    and cellular respiration
• If you know how to use good study and
  homework skills, you will complete your
  homework and test studying quicker,
  retain the information better, and give
  yourself more free time
           So what can you do?
Set the Mood
• No, I’m not talking about setting the mood for a romantic
  evening with your latest crush
• Create a good study area with all the stuff you need (for
  example, your science book and binder).
• If you don't have a quiet place at home, try the school or
  local library.
• Some people need background noise to help them
  study. Try classical music. (When you listen to music
  you know and can sing along to, you tend to do more
  singing and less studying)
Know Where to Begin
• Make a prioritized list of everything you
  need to do, so you can't use "I don't know
  where to start" as an excuse.
  – Start with what is due the next day
  – Remember that you study
    certain subjects better during
    certain times of the day
• Just don't over-schedule
  yourself. Without some
  flexibility, you'll set
  yourself up to fail.
Study at the Same Time Every Day
• Even if you don't have homework, use the
  time to review notes. If homework is
  something you accept as part of your day,
  you'll approach it with less dread. Plus,
  you'll become a pro at using time
  productively.
  – This doesn’t mean you have to spend as
    much time studying/reviewing
    as if you had a lot of homework.
Keep Things in Perspective
• Know how much weight each assignment
  or test carries, and use your time
  accordingly.
• If your biology, English, and German
  homework are likely to be daily homework
  grades, but your history
  project due tomorrow is
  worth 100 pts, how should
  you spend your time?
Get More Involved
• Ever feel like you can't stay awake to read
  something, let alone process it? Keep your mind
  from wandering by taking notes, underlining
  sections, discussing topics with others, or
  relating your homework to something you're
  studying in another class.
• Trying to read late at night when you’re tired will
  also cause you to fall asleep and not process
  info
Organize the Information
• People process information in different
  ways.
• Draw pictures or charts to digest
  information
• Read out loud or make detailed outlines..
Take Advantage of Any Free Time
• If you have a study hall, a long bus ride, or
  you’re waiting after school for your ride to
  come, use the time to review notes, prepare
  for an upcoming class, or start your
  homework.

        I should’ve
        brought my Bio
        homework!
What are some ways you study for
            a test?
• Make flash cards of vocab words
• Use C-notes and cover up the notes
  column. Read the Review questions and
  see if you can answer them without
  looking at the information.
                     Process of plants
 Photosynthesis      using CO2 and
                     sunlight to make
                     glucose and
                     oxygen
• Make a concept map to connect the
  material
Study with a Friend or Study Group
• Have you ever noticed that when you explain
  something you've learned in class to a friend,
  you begin to understand it better yourself? This
  happens because when you explain, or teach,
  an idea, you need to actively think it through.
  And by thinking more deeply about what you've
  learned and then explaining
  it to someone else, you
  begin to understand it
  better.
     Benefits of a Study Group
• Two heads are better than one: Think out loud,
  share ideas, learn from one another
• Quiz each other, and predict test questions.
• Good for understanding complicated ideas
• Note-taking reinforcement, compare notes
• Sharing talents
• Support system
• Socializing
      Study Group Guidelines
• How Many? 4-6 people
• Who? People who have an interest in doing
  well. People who stay alert in class, take notes,
  asks questions and answers questions in class.
  Someone who understands the material better
  than you, someone who understands less than
  you.
• How long? 2-3 hours, with 10 minute breaks
  once an hour.
• When? Set a regular schedule; at least two
  days before a test.
     Get the Most out of Studying
•   Know your objectives
•   Be prepared
•   Take turns teaching
•   Stay on task
    Celebrate your achievements!
• Reward yourself for studying hard or doing
  well on a test or project.
  – do something you like to do for fun
• Better yet work out a deal with the ‘rents.
  – For example for every “A” you get on a test or
    progress report, maybe you get some $$.
  – Or if they see you working hard,
    maybe they’ll buy you that
    Tony Hawk video game
    you’ve been wanting.
        You are what you Eat!
Studies show that:
• Nutrition is related to physical well-being, growth and
  development, readiness to learn, and risk of disease.
• Young persons who have unhealthy eating habits tend to
  maintain these habits as they age.
• Diet-related diseases include heart disease, some types
  of cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,
  obesity, and osteoporosis.
• Even moderate undernutrition can have lasting effects
  on your growth, development, and school performance.
• Some students have problems with overnutrition. The
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that
  5.3 million young people aged 6-17 years are overweight
  or obese.
• Regular physical activity promotes psychological well-
  being and long-term health benefits.
• Hungry, malnourished students have a
  harder time focusing on basic core
  subjects. Poor nutrition, combined with a
  lack of physical activity, can affect one’s
  intellectual performance.
        What’s the big deal about
               breakfast?
Studies show that students who eat breakfast:
• Have higher test scores
• Concentrate better
• Are more creative
• Have fewer absences
• Get in fewer fights
• Cooperate better with classmates
• Get done with work faster, with fewer errors
   Good Eating Habits + Physical
   Activity = Academic Success
• What are some healthy and nutritious
  breakfast choices?
  – What if you’re on the go? How can you still
    eat breakfast?
• What are some healthy and nutritious
  lunch choices?
• What are some good snacks to eat
  after school?
                   Remember…
• Healthy eating optimizes growth
• Healthy eating prevents chronic disease
  – 15% of adolescents are overweight
     • Rate has tripled over past 20 years!!
• Healthy eating habits directly relate to high
  academic achievement