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I have a D in Science :(
I'm In middle school and I just got my progress report and I have a D in that class. The end of the marking period is in 3 days. I barely understand the class and my friends are really distracting even when I try to listen. I want to talk to my teacher about it but he isn't the nicest of teachers. He'll probably just ignore me. I have kno idea what to do or how to do it in only 3 days :(
Btw I only have one missing paper the rest are bad quiz and class work grades
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Maybe give some free advice about: School?
Adviceman spelled it out perfectly. All those steps are what you must do at this point in the game.
Before hand, early on at beginning of the quarter after a week or two of class and you followed Soph0900's advice and studied hard and all, and you still dont get it, you must ask for help early on from the teacher. If he refuses, then follow the steps adviceman told you.
I am writing because I know at your age, I viewed some teachers as intimidating or scary or mean, (i had really nice ones too) but the ones who seemed mean or the ones with an unfriendly look to them, ended up not usually bad at all. I was also very shy and just plain afraid to ask for help so often it was my shyness or feeling dumb or insecure that caused me to not seek help.
More often than not, the problem with not seeking help in school when needed is all in your head rather than based in reality. Don't let your negative thoughts about possible outcome hold you back from seeking help. Also, its never too late to seek help and turn around the end outcome of passing a class.
A personal story regarding middle school and my kids:
I remember middle school parent -teacher conferences with all my children. I had put them in a middle school smaller than the main large one and known for purposely being a bit harder on the students to prepare them for high school. So in reality, though each of them got lots of C's and D's intially, pretty much 75 % of the kids did, not cus they were dumb or unable to learn, but for other reasons, like not asking for help, not having good study habits, not turning in assignments on time or totally failing to. Once they came to understand the importance of good work habits in school and regarding homework, and being willing to ask for help, their grades went up to A's and B's by the end of the year. As long as kids finally 'got it' and were ready for high school by the end of 8th grade year, that was all that mattered even if the majority of the time the grades were poor and only up at end of year.
What I'd like for you to think of is the grading system at school as nothing more than a combo of indicator lights on dashboard or the car and a measuring system. It can be compared to: using a ruler to measure if lengths of wood are all the same to make a perfect, not lopsided picture frame, or using measuring cups and spoons to ensure a recipe for dinner or dessert turns out right. As an indicator light, it is a warning that something isn't working right and needs to be looked at to be working right, like oil running low, gas low, car overheating. These indicators if heeded will save a person from more costly car repair bills in the future. Same with school. If you pay attention to what is causing you to have a poor grade and learn to take care of what is causing it in the first place, you'll have no harder to fix problems later.
And then, sometimes there just may be a subject that no matter how hard you try and how often you ask for help, you just dont get. In freshman year, I did so badly in math that when it came time to sign up for the next math class, i was automatically put in an Algebra class for slow learners, those having difficulty. I wasnt the only one, a whole class full who struggled. I went up to the teachers desk as often as I needed help to understand a problem and he patiently explained.He was very patient and tried several different ways to explain and asked if I understood. I never lied but told him I didnt understand. In the end after him doing all he could to teach me and I tried my hardest, I still got a D but I was passed anyways as in the scheme of things, as long as I took the class and did pass on other math basics, I still met requirements for highschool at the time. So no matter what happens for you with this class or any other class, remember the important part is to get the help you need to be able to do your best to understand, and if your best is still not good enough, don't be hard on yourself or think of yourself as a failure. We can't all be pros at the same thing, if that were possible, we'd all be brain surgeons, or scientists, or artists etc...
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Sit at the front, away from your friends. If they give you that "NEEERD" shit, stick up a finger.
Secondly, write notes, do ALL the work. Prioritize Science as your worst subject over all others.
Thirdly, every weekend, set aside an hour or so to REVISE! REVISE! STUDY!
The only way to get yourself up some grades is to put in the extra work and effort. Work hard over 3 days studying the things that you don't understand first. Don't be kind to yourself and look over things you already know. Head straight to the deep end- complicated stuff first! Once you get it, you'll feel like you achieved so much more!
Trust me, do this, you'll get your A by the end of the year and can break out the champagne. Even if you are in middle school :S
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You have three choices as to what you can do. You may not be able to bring your grade up in the short time left but you can try.
1. Meet with your teacher and explain to him what you do not understand. Ask for extra help and if there is anything in the way of an extra credit report you can do to bring up your grade. It is possible that in the remaining days of the marking period and extra credit assignment may not be possible. Your request for extra help to understand the class assignments is something that should not be refused. If it is then...
2. Tell your parents the teacher has refused your request for extra help. That you would like their help in having a meeting with the teacher or the Science department chairperson.
If your parents are refused this meeting or you come away from the meeting without the extra help that you need then...
3) Your parents can request a meeting with your school principal or the superintendent of Education for your school district.
The school system works for you and your parents. There job is to provide you with an education not just deliver the material. Some teachers suffer from burn out and just deliver the material and forget to teach. This is when you need to go over their heads and this takes parental assistance.
The process starts with you asking for help. Even if he turns you down you have to be able to say that on this date at this time in this classroom # I spoke to Mr. ____ and asked for help. He refused.
Now it is up to your parents and Mr. ______ has to defend his reason for refusing to help you. So ask for his help if he refuses, thank him for his time and say no more. Then go home and talk with your parents.
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