Mrs. Law's Lexington Junior High Blog

Final Grading Period! Can you believe that today kicked off the start of the 6th six weeks?  It doesn't seem possible that we would be heading into the final grading period of the year, but we are, and the reality is that for many students the 4th and 5th six weeks have been a struggle.  This means that as we head into the LAST ONE it is imperative that you finish the 2nd semester and the year off strong. One critical component that many students seem to struggle with is studying.  Recently I have been hearing lots of people saying that they are doing all of their homework, but are still not doing well on tests or quizzes.  If that sounds familiar to you, then chances are you are struggling to study effectively. Reviewing content and reading through your notes is not the same thing as studying.  It is essential that you DO something with the content and knowledge you have gained in your classes.  It is that process of actively interacting with the inf...

Procrastination is one of the more common problem areas that students battle. Every year I meet some students who are "master procrastinators." The reality is that some people don't mind putting everything off until the last possible second and then working like crazy to get everything accomplished before the deadline, but this can result in a lot of unnecessary stress. Procrastination certainly doesn’t mean that you are lazy or incapable, but it is often a sign that something is getting in your way of completing your tasks and responsibilities. If you are interested in learning strategies for gaining control over your tendencies to procrastinate, it is important to remember that there are no quick fixes. As with most things in life, what works for one person will not necessarily work for someone else so it is important to find a strategy that will work effectively for you. I doubt that any of these suggestions will be ideas that you have never heard of before, but it c...

Testing Tips!  We had a wonderful speaker a couple of weeks ago. His name is Bruce Boguski and he taught us all kinds of weird and fun tips on how to perform better! I would love to share some of his wonderful advice! Scent! Some scents are shown to help us perform better in specific areas. You can use this while studying, during class, and during exams! English/Language - LEMON! Burn a lemon scented candle while studying and eat lemon candy during class or the exam. Math/Science - PEPPERMINT! Not only is peppermint helpful during math/science, it also makes us alert and gives us energy. Feeling a little sluggish? Eat a peppermint! Before the test! It is important to get yourself in the right state of mind before taking a test or entering a stressful situation. Here are some things you can do that might help. Take a deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Your stomach should expand! Stretch. You can discreetly stretch calf muscles before and during...

SLEEP The first day of school is almost half finished! Anyone have a difficult time getting up this morning? I know I am still working on getting to bed earlier. Switching back to school mode can be a difficult transition. Sleep is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT! Here is a great article discussing the HUGE impact sleep has on school!   Know! Sleep Impacts School Success For students everywhere, saying goodbye to summer break meansalso saying goodbye to their summer sleep schedule of staying up late and snoozing until lunchtime. For tweens and teens, this transition is especially challenging. Their body clocks are programmed to stay up later and sleep in later. And while it may be a struggle, sleep is an essential element for school success. How much is enough? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the updated recommended range for school-age children (ages 6 – 13) is 9-11 hours of sleep; and teens (ages 14-17) are said to need 8-10 hours of sleep.  For ma...

How to Study   Studying for tests can be daunting - especially because sometimes you don't know *how* to study. It is important to figure out what study strategies work best for you. And there are many! One lesson I have learned (from both experience and from the other students) is that just reading your notes is NOT studying.You really need to be doing something in order to effectively study for exams. And yes, I am aware that for some of you and for some classes reading through your notes may be enough. However, as you sit there reading your notes it is common for your mind to wander. Then, as you are taking the test, you realize that all of the information you thought you knew was actually just familiar .   So, perhaps in addition to reading through your notes, you could try some other ideas. Her are some examples, but again, it is about finding a strategy that will work for you . Remember, this will be different for each student. Typically, it is also be d...

Homework Hangups Homework, homework, and more homework! Let me tell you a story. A student is sitting in class. They are paying attention, actively listening, participating, and asking questions. They are the model student and everything is clicking. That same student goes home, opens up their agenda, creates a plan for completing that night’s homework, and gets to work. The most unusual thing happens – the student has completely forgotten how to do it! Earlier in the day it made perfect sense, now it is a mystery. How did this happen? What do I do now? My teacher is not here to help? This is a common problem that causes moments of panic and frustration in homes all over Lexington! Here are some tips to get past that moment of panic and get that homework done. Connect ED                 THE BEST PLACE FOR MATH HELP! Your math textbook has an online version. This website is the perfect place to ref...