December 17, 2010 First Semester Final Exams: Information and pointers

 General exam information  Exam schedule  Study skills  Review Sheets  Stress and Time Management

 Students will have finals in most of their core classes.  Finals count for 25% of the student’s semester grade.  They do have to prepare for them. ◦ Review sheets are distributed in all classes. ◦ They will also be posted on Edline.

 Periods 1 and 2 – Friday, January 14  MLK Day, No School – Monday, January 17  Periods 3 and 4 – Tuesday, January 18  Periods 5/6 and 7 – Wednesday, January 19  Periods 8 and 9 – Thursday, January 20  Make–up exam day–Friday, January 21 Students must have administrative approval and also need to schedule the test with the teacher.  If there is a snow day, school will resume with the next scheduled exam period.

 7:25 – 9:35 – Final exam/Culminating activity  9:35 – 9:50 – Break  9:50 – 12:00 – Final Exam/Culminating activity  12:00 – 12:30 – Lunch  If a student does not have exam during the first exam period, he or she does not have to come to school until the second exam period. If a student does not have a second exam, he or she may leave after the first exam period is over.

The bus schedule is not changed during exam week. So, if the only way your child can get to school is on the bus, he or she must report to the SAC when not testing.

Does your child know how?

 Many students think re-reading the textbook or notes is studying.  Again, the students need to have more active strategies: ◦ Going over quizzes and other work to make sure they understand what they previously got wrong. ◦ Attending academic support sessions with the teacher if there is any confusion. ◦ Making study guides  Often, students have to try many different techniques to learn which style is the best for them.

 History ◦ CAP US History review after the 1 and 2 exams -164 ◦ Individual teachers will offer review sessions prior to exams  English  World languages – all review sheets are available online. ◦ offered.aspx offered.aspx  Math – review sheets are available. A lot of practice is recommended. ◦ Magnet math help –every lunch in 317 ◦  Review sheets will be available on Edline. We have gathered many and we will put them on the List Serve as well.

Exams and the end of the semester can be a stressful time.  43% of year olds feel stressed every day  59% of year olds feel stressed every day

 Recognizing when your teen is stressed out ◦ Chronic moodiness, irritability, anxiety  Positive Coping Strategies ◦ Discussing pressures, exercising, writing in a journal  Helping your child reduce stress ◦ Provide support, brainstorm solutions, be organized, exercise, sleep, and eat regularly

 Backward Planning: start with the end in mind, how will you get there?  Prioritizing your activities ◦ Important and urgent vs. Important but not urgent  Balance and moderation  Calendars

 SLEEP  Consider when the assignment is DUE rather than when the assignment is assigned.  Get concrete tasks done first – math, science – so you can cross them off the list  Limit time wasted on the internet  Don’t procrastinate in the block schedule. If possible, do the assignment the day it is assigned so you can ask questions if you have any.

 When reading for school, it is very important that students do not read in bed. They are less likely to retain information if they are lying down or too comfortable.

 We want the students to interact with the text.  When reading for school, they should be sitting at a table or desk, in a well-lit area, free of distractions.  Most brain research says that music, even soft music, is distracting.

 For best results, students should be taking notes while they read. ◦ Defining key terms ◦ Tracing characters ◦ Asking questions ◦ Predicting outcomes ◦ Outlining major events

 For writing and grammar concerns: ◦ Purdue Online Writing Lab This site has a wealth of information including: MLA/APA citation instructions, explanation of grammar rules, and style guides.