Student TIP OF THE MONTH: BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN YOUR CLASS
Active Listening leads to active learning. If a student sits passively while a teacher
is instructing the class, he/ she will most likely not gain as much from the lesson
as an ACTIVE LISTENER. Listening is a very important skill for school success.
Here are some important tips to help develop your listening skills:
1. Look at the instructor when he/ she is talking. This will help to focus your
attention on what the teacher is saying.
2. Try to keep your attention focused on the speaker and do not pay attention
to other distractions (i.e. students moving about the room, a pen dropping)
3. Take notes while the teacher is talking. Taking notes will help you to focus
your mind and your body on what is going on in class. Note taking helps
students with varying learning styles. Visual learners benefit from reading
over the notes following the lesson, kinesthetic learners also benefit from
note-taking as it helps to focus attention on the lesson.
4. Keep positive about school and about your daily lessons. Instead of
allowing your mind to wander or thinking that you are not interested, keep
yourself motivated with positive self-talk i.e. If I pay attention, I’ll be better
prepared for the next test or quiz.
5. Try to LINK NEW KNOWLEDGE with something that you already know. This
is an excellent way to connect new learning to prior knowledge which is a
key step in understanding and acquiring new knowledge.
6. Ask Questions- If you don’t understand something that the teacher is
presenting, ask a question to get clarification. Your teacher won’t mind and
it may be a question that other students were also wondering.
Parents/ Guardians: Other Important Items for October
Check in on Student Progress to Date
October is a good month to check in on your son/daughter’s progress in school.
Check their binders and reinforce the use of the student agenda book to record
due dates and daily homework. By the end of the month, students will likely have
at least one assignment that has been graded by the teacher. Please review your
son/daughter’s progress with them and encourage them to seek extra assistance
if necessary. Students will also be bringing home a progress update from each
of their teachers the first week in October. Please ask your son/daughter to see
these progress reports. The report will indicate if there are any concerns about
progress to date.
Parent-Teachers Conferences take place on October 23rd from 5:30-8:00.
Parents may request a conference with any of your son/daughter’s teachers.
Please reply early to have the best chance of getting your choice of time.
Students will be bringing home a form to complete if you wish to request a
parent-teacher conference.
Access Available Supports
Room 226- Academic Resource Room
Open to students who have an IEP or who are ELL. This room has assistive
technology programs that students who have an IEP will find helpful in
completing their class work, assignments and tests/ quizzes.
Math- our math department offers help after school from Monday through
Thursday. Students can drop in at the end of the day to receive assistance from a
math teacher. This is an excellent resource for any student who needs additional
support in math. Please encourage your son/daughter to take advantage of this
very valuable resource.
Room 207-A- Lunch-Time Credit Rescue
This is a program that is open to Student Success Students. Students who are
part of this group can come to room 207-A on their lunch to receive help from the
student Success Teacher or to use the computers or the work space. This
program is intended to assist students in catching up with missed coursework or
getting assistance with learning skills or academic issues.
Attendance
Regular school attendance is one of the most important indicators of student
success. Encourage your son/daughter to attend school every day. Be sure to
follow proper attendance procedures should your son/daughter miss school for
any reason.