GRADES - need some MAJOR advice, please help!!

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>okay for some reason I can NEVER get the grades I want in school. and I really need to change this. I'm a sophomore in high school and right now my gpa is so bad I can't even say it. It's time to bucke down...... It's not that I don't work hard, I work EXTREMELY hard - extremely hard catching up last minute that is and stressing out all the time.... =/</p>

<p>in class - my bad habit is zoning out because when I TRY to understand the teacher I feel hopeless and the easy way out is to not listen and cram at home from the textbook/worksheets given so that's my habit in classes. (BUT in <em>some</em> classes I really do have bad teachers so even when I try to pay attention, they just confuse me more - and asking questions really is the worst I get so behind so fast my question would seem retarded!) =/</p>

<p>organization - very little. i could try to organize myself one day (folders etc.) but then the next few days or so later...it'll be back to the same way.</p>

<p>study area - i don't have one! i study wherever (couch, table, sofa, etc), which can be a problem, but not that big of a deal i guess..</p>

<p>time management - SUCKS. </p>

<p>'Grasping concepts' for me is what takes too much time, doing homework and stuff is okay but I'll spend forever trying to figure out a certain concept or lesson. </p>

<p>So I get intimidated about knowing that it will take me forever to do my homework....therefore I'll unknowingly push it till the last minute. I'll try to do it early but it never happens. And studying for tests ALWAYS are the day-before for me. </p>

<p>and I can <em>NEVER</em> focus during homework. I'll always find something to distract myself.</p>

<p>So as you can see, I've got quite a problem. I'm so jealous of the kids who can get concepts in class SO FAST, I just feel dumb, go home and cram, and then still do bad on the test. And I know I've addressed the problems but I can't CHANGE them, they're like extremely bad habits. Does anyone have any advice on how they do things or tips/advice for me? I would really appreciate it. Thanks soo much.</p>

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<p>I've been doing the same thing this year (also a sophomore).</p>

<p>My grades in Precalc and Chemistry are C's and I haven't gotten C's since 8th grade in Algebra 1 honors and Spanish 2. I still have 9 weeks before the semester ends, so hopefully I can bring those C's up.</p>

<p>The biggest problem I have is time management. For example, I could finish all of my homework for precalculus and AP US History during the weekend, but do I do homework during the weekend?...no</p>

<p>I don't study either. Last year I never studied and still got A's in every class...mainly because I just paid attention during class and learned concepts quick. I'm finding that harder to do this year.</p>

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<p>I am too! It's strange...I'm not doing well in the so-called "easy" classes. My Hebrew language grade is somewhere in the high 70s/low 80s. I got an 80 on my last Jewish History test. And while I usually get high 90s in Italian, I got a 60 on a quiz. I didn't used to study. Last year I managed to have a 4.0 GPA second semester without opening a book. This year though, I just can't do it.</p>