BEHAVIOR PACKET #3: UNPREPARED
INTRODUCTION
You miss learning when you come to class unprepared. It is hard to do your
work when you forget your book, pencil or paper. When you don’t do your
homework, you are also left unprepared. When the class goes over the
assignment, you can’t take part. It is also hard to do well on tests when you
have not done your homework.
Coming prepared to class means that you thought ahead. You had asked
yourself before coming to class what you needed. You made it a point to bring
your books, papers, pencils and pens. You also made sure you were prepared
mentally. This mental preparation might mean reading the assigned chapter the
night before or reviewing notes you took in class yesterday.
This packet gives you a chance to discover the importance of coming to class
prepared. Perhaps by reading about other students who have problems being
prepared for class you will realize the need to be ready to learn.
SCENES FROM A CLASSROOM
“John fouls out”
The minute the last bell rings to end the school day, John dashes off to the
gym. He has many important things on his mind. Unfortunately, his school
work is not one of them. John never takes any of his school books home so he
rarely completes a homework assignment. He always uses the excuse “I
forgot,” but really, John only thinks about sports.
John loves basketball. He practices every day. His favorite professional team is
the Chicago Bulls. He never misses a game on television. John has pictures of
all his favorite Bull’s players inside his locker at school. This year John’s
school has a good team and John is a starter. While in class John works out
plays on a piece of notebook paper instead of listening to the teacher.
Unfortunately, John has let too many things go. He comes to class unprepared.
He starts assignments but rarely finishes them. John is also beginning to forget
to bring his books, pens and pencils to class. His teachers are getting
concerned.They have asked for a conference with John’s parents. If John’s
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
grades continue to slip, he can’t play on the team. He may have to take some
classes in summer school.
"Copy cat Kathy"
Kathy only hands in homework assignments when she can copy someone’s
paper. Her book reports are old ones her older sister did for other teachers.
Kathy is always looking for an easy way out.
The problem with Kathy's way of doing homework is that when her friends are
sick, Kathy can't do the assignments. Lately, Kathy has not handed in any
homework because her friends are getting tired of always helping her. Kathy is
quickly losing friends. They think she can’t do anything on her own.
It seems Kathy can only do her school work when she copies from someone
else. Now Kathy comes to class unprepared because she is afraid her own work
won’t be as good as the work she has been copying.
All of Kathy's teachers have asked her why she hasn't done anything lately.
Kathy doesn’t have a good answer to her teacher's questions. Her grades are
beginning to go downhill fast.
REASONS FOR BEING UNPREPARED
There are many reasons why students come to class unprepared. Some students
simply put things off. They mean well but never get around to doing what they
should.
Other students don’t think school is very important. They just go through the
motions. They get some things done but most things are left unfinished. Work
is done in a sloppy way, just to get it done. They bring their book to class one
day but forget them the next day. These students are inconsistent and have
some bad habits.
Then there is the lazy student. This person just doesn’t want to be bothered
doing the work. He has better things to do--like watching television. Students
who aren’t motivated are seldom successful.
Still other students come unprepared because they didn’t understand
something. They started their homework but got stuck. Instead of trying to
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
figure it out or asking for help, they just gave up. They wouldn’t consider
going to their teacher before school to get help.
No matter what your reason is for being unprepared, it can get you in trouble.
The worst part of coming to class unprepared is that you miss out on learning.
RESULTS OF BEING UNPREPARED
If you come to class unprepared you come at a disadvantage. You won’t learn
as much as the other students. If your class is discussing a story that everyone
was supposed to have read, you will not learn as much as the students who did
read the story.
When you put yourself at a disadvantage, you hurt your chances for being
successful. School is hard enough without making it more difficult.
If you come unprepared, your teachers will begin to think that you don’t care
about doing well. As a result, you may earn a reputation for being lazy. It is
better to be known as a student who follows through and cares about his work.
Not being prepared can become a bad habit. This type of bad habit can be a
problem for you later in life. When you get a job and you don’t come prepared
to work you may find yourself out of a job quickly.
HOW TO AVOID BEING UNPREPARED
People who work have to think through what will be needed to get a job done.
A painter, for example, goes through a series of steps before putting paint on a
surface.
The first thing a painter does is to prepare the surface for paint. This may
include scraping off paint that has peeled and wiping the surface free of dirt or
dust. After the surface is prepared, a primer is applied to provide a good base
for the new paint. The primer must then be allowed to dry. The last thing a
painter does is apply the new paint. Sometimes the painter may apply more
than one coat.
Like a good painter, you can't go to class and do well on a test without
preparing for it. Your lack of preparation may result in you failing the test. You
can’t expect to understand a discussion about a book if you didn’t read it.
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to learn anything without doing the work.
You can't learn math or science by sitting in front of a TV or by walking
around a mall. The information you need to be successful only comes from the
work you do in and out of class. This means you have to put in the time and be
responsible for your learning.
To get the most out of school, you have to have specific goals. For example, if
learning as much as you can is one of your goals, then you will make time to
have all your school work completed for the next day. Overcoming a lack of
interest, creating better study habits, or learning how to budget your time may
be other goal areas for you.
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
STUDENT RESPONSE FORM #3.1
Unprepared
Name
Teacher
Date
The questions below were written to help you think about how you behave.
Please answer them honestly. Also be neat, spell correctly and write in
complete sentences. You are expected to answer all the questions. Your
teacher, a counselor, the principal or your parents may read your answers.
l.
Why were you not prepared for class?
2.
Why is it important to be prepared for class? Give three reasons.
3.
Why is it a bad idea to get into a habit of not being prepared? What
happens when you get a job and you are not prepared to do the work?
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
4.
What three things can you gain from preparing for class?
5.
Explain how warming up before a sporting event, like running, is similar
to preparing for class.
6.
Why is John not prepared for his classes?
7.
What do you think might happen to John if he does not take care of his
problem immediately?
8.
Write a goal that will help you be more prepared for class.
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
STUDENT RESPONSE FORM #3.2
Unprepared
Name
Teacher
Date
The questions below were written to help you think about how you behave.
Please answer them honestly. Also be neat, spell correctly and write in
complete sentences. You are expected to answer all the questions. Your
teacher, a counselor, the principal or your parents may read your answers.
l.
What reason did you give your teacher for coming to class unprepared?
2.
If you were a teacher why would you want students to come to class
prepared?
3.
Explain why doing homework is not a waste of time.
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
4.
Do you think students who don't come prepared to class should be made
to serve detentions? What punishment would you recommend to help
students who come to class unprepared?
5.
List three ways that you could improve your grades in school.
6.
Explain how coming to class unprepared can be avoided. What are some
of the things you could do to never come unprepared again?
7.
Write one goal for each student you read about in “Scenes from a
Classroom.”
8.
Write two goals that will help you be better prepared for class.
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
FILL IN THE BLANKS #3
Name
Fill in the blanks with the correct word. You may look back to the reading section
for help.
1.
You miss
when you come to class unprepared.
2.
Coming
to class means that you thought ahead.
3.
If John’s
4.
Kathy only hands in homework assignments when she can
someone’s paper.
5.
Lately, Kathy has not handed in any
getting tired of always helping her.
6.
Other students don’t think
7.
Students who aren’t
are seldom successful.
8.
No matter what your
trouble.
is for being unprepared, it can get you in
9.
If you come to class unprepared you come at a
10.
School is
11.
If you come unprepared, your
don’t care about doing well.
12.
Not being prepared can become a bad
13.
When you get a
and you don’t come prepared to work you may
find yourself out of a job quickly.
14.
The information you need to be
do in and out of class.
15.
To get the most out of school, you have to have specific
continue to slip, he can’t play on the team.
because her friends are
is very important.
.
enough without making it more difficult.
will begin to think that you
.
only comes from the work you
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
.
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS #3
Name
Unscramble the words below. You may look back to the reading section for help
1.
darereppun
2.
retfog
3.
morkwohe
4.
dinsussico
5.
naltem
6.
pocy
7.
defnirs
8.
loosch
9.
pantromit
10.
stibah
11.
tidevatom
12.
mocpledet
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
Answers Packet #3: Unprepared
1.
You miss learning when you come to class unprepared.
2.
Coming prepared to class means that you thought ahead.
3.
If John’s grades continue to slip, he can’t play on the team.
4.
Kathy only hands in homework assignments when she can copy someone’s paper.
5.
Lately, Kathy has not handed in any homework because her friends are getting tired of
always helping her.
6.
Other students don’t think school is very important.
7.
Students who aren’t motivated are seldom successful.
8.
No matter what your reason is for being unprepared, it can get you in trouble.
9.
If you come to class unprepared you come at a disadvantage.
10.
School is hard enough without making it more difficult.
11.
If you come unprepared, your teachers will begin to think that you don’t care about doing
well.
12.
Not being prepared can become a bad habit.
13.
When you get a job and you don’t come prepared to work you may find yourself out of a
job quickly.
14.
The information you need to be successful only comes from the work you do in and out
of class.
15.
To get the most out of school, you have to have specific goals.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Unprepared - darereppun
Forget - retfog
Homework - morkwohe
Discussion - dinsussico
Mental - naltem
Copy - pocy
Friends - defnirs
School - loosch
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
9.
10.
11.
12.
Important - pantromi
Habits - stibah
Motivated - tidevatom
Completed - mocpledet
Minor Behavior Packet #3: Unprepared ©2000 Advantage Press, Inc