• Be sure you can SEE and FOCUS on the letters. If you can't, ask to move closer 
• Read "CHUNKS" of information not word by word or letter by letter 
• Be sure you can read whatever you are to copy 
• Read the information quietly to yourself. This will help it "stick in your mind."
• If everybody else is copying and finishing faster than you are, ASK the teacher for a copy to use at your desk - especially if it about to be erased for the next lesson.

•  Look at the speaker, sit still, sit up and have eye contact
•  THINK about what is being said - what are you supposed to learn?
•  Nod your head once in a while to show you are paying attention
•  Ask a question to find out more.

• Count to five
• THINK about what to do next
• Say to yourself - "I can ignore it. I will keep working!"
• Do it - keep working --- write, read, think
• Say to yourself "Good for me, I did it!"

•   Think - "Can I do this alone?"  If not, raise your hand
•   WAIT. Say to yourself - "I know I can wait quietly."
•   While you wait = THINK
•  What will you ask?
•  Is this a good time to ask?
•  When help arrives, ask in a friendly way, smile, be patient, say "thank you".

•  Know the reason for taking notes =
•  Our memories fade quickly - if you write it, you can refresh your memory by reading your  notes.
• Taking notes will help you understand the information and get better grades.

•  Use lined paper
•  Leave a wide margin on the left side to add ideas, vocabulary, and notes later
•  Skip lines - spread out your notes for easy reading
•  Figure out the Main Ideas
•  What is the topic? What am I supposed to learn?
•  Later go back and highlight the important stuff
• If the teacher writes ANYTHING on the board or overhead, you can bet it is important COPY IT!!
•  Write new vocabulary words in the left margin to look up later.
•  Develop a code for yourself to indicate stuff you think will be on the test.  example = R2 (read again)   *** (important)   TT (probably a test item) 
• Also make up your own shorthand for word used frequently i.e. w/ ft etc.

 Successful students use STRATEGIES to be successful. Learn some of these strategies to be more successful yourself!

•  How can I expect the my kids to have regular bedtimes when I don't?
• Why do I expect them to be here for dinner when half the time I don't know what's FOR dinner? 
• Why do I expect them to pick up their belongings when I don't?
• How can I expect them to clean their rooms when my bedroom is THE messiest room in the house? 

And, more sobering, why do I expect them to honor their commitments when I don't honor mine? 

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BJ Madewell 
Wichita, KS area 
316-733-9532 
FAX 316-733-9855 
Email ADDchoices@aol.com or ADDchoices@yahoo.com

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