| When I was a student and teachers would say, | | | | correct your homework in class,circle all problems you |
| "Study for yourmath test!" I would think, "How do I | | | | did wrong and take notes about how todo them |
| 'study' for a math test?" | | | | correctly. |
| I now realize that 'study' is the wrong verb. You | | | | Step 3: Three nights before your test, study your |
| really needto 'practice' for a math test. | | | | mathvocabulary and do 10-15 practice problems using |
| Math tests not only require you to KNOW material, | | | | "wrong"answers from your homework. Repeat the |
| theyrequire you to know HOW TO DO something | | | | next night withdifferent homework problems. |
| with that material. | | | | Step 4: The night before the test, review those |
| This shift requires a shift in your preparation. Unlike | | | | lovelyvocabulary words and do one problem from |
| othertests, there is no way to prepare for a math | | | | each night'shomework. |
| test the nightbefore. At that point, you either know | | | | Step 5: When you first receive the test, write down |
| the material or youdon't, but there is no faking. | | | | anyformulas or definitions you are afraid you might |
| First, it is important to understand common | | | | forget. |
| reasonsstudents loose points on math tests. They | | | | Step 6: Read the directions! Twice. |
| include: | | | | Step 7: Write neatly. Keep your numbers in the |
| 1) Not reading the directions! (This is a big one!) | | | | correctplace-value. |
| 2) Not writing neatly. (i.e. Mistaking a digit in thetens | | | | Step 8: When you are stuck, do as much as you can |
| place for one that should be in the hundredsplace.) | | | | (you mayget partial credit), then skip the problem |
| 3) Not understanding the math vocabulary. | | | | and move on. |
| 4) Not doing their homework regularly to get | | | | Come back to it if you have time. |
| appropriatepractice. | | | | Step 9: After your test is graded, make sure you |
| 5) Not knowing their basic addition, | | | | understandany mistakes and how to correct them. If |
| subtraction,multiplication, and/or division facts fluently. | | | | you do notunderstand the material now, you will |
| Simply being aware that each of these factors can | | | | continue to haveproblems in following chapters. |
| impactyour grade is half of your battle, but as you | | | | ** In Conclusion ** |
| probablyguessed, there is more you can do. | | | | Math can be challenging because everything you learn |
| ** Action Plan ** | | | | buildson knowledge you should have learned before. |
| Step 1: Know your basic math facts! There are | | | | If you misssomething, it will catch up with you. |
| hundreds ofmath games on the internet to help you | | | | However, if you: |
| practice your facts. | | | | - Learn your math facts, |
| They are the foundation of math and will continue to | | | | - Treat your homework like it is test practice and |
| holdyou back if you cannot answer each of them | | | | learnfrom your mistakes, |
| (0-10) in asplit-second. | | | | - Take time to learn math vocabulary, |
| Step 2: As you do your homework, remind yourself | | | | -and- |
| that youare actually 'studying' for your next math | | | | - Read the directions... |
| test. Circle allproblems that you do not know how to | | | | ...it will not be long before your math test scores will |
| do and ask for help inclass the next day. As you | | | | soar! |