You can do it: Finishing the school year strong

If only every school day could be like the first day of the new school year. Expectations are high, attitudes are positive, and the sky seems to be the limit. Your mind felt as sharp as the No. 2 pencil in your hand. 

But now it’s March, the end of the school year is in sight, and motivation and excitement are no longer even part of your vocabulary. Frankly, school seems about as exciting as getting a tooth filled, with similar amounts of dull pain and sometimes even numbness. It’s time to take stock, make some simple changes, and finish this year strong. The late bell is about to ring, so time is most definitely of the essence.

I’ll be upfront and honest here; I’m writing from a teacher’s perspective. I’m going to let you know ideas and strategies that teachers really appreciate. These will be labeled STL (no, not St. Louis!) but rather “Stuff Teachers Like.” Ready? Let’s go!

Get some new stuff.
Now is a great time to restock on school supplies. You think that task can only be done once a year? Wrong! It’s amazing what some fresh notebook paper, a pack of sharp pencils, and maybe even a snazzy new binder or notebook can do for your confidence. (STL)
Plus, a new notebook will have rings that actually work, so your papers don’t fall out and leave a literal paper trail of where you’ve been.

Getting organized is a huge key to success. 
Clean out that binder and throw away or recycle old assignments and tests. Collect a stack of your old papers and ask the teacher: “Do I need these, or is it OK to get rid of them?” Make sure that he or she notices you recycling the papers, thereby helping protect planet earth. (STL)

Get enthusiastic. 
The Bible—it’s just so full of wisdom, like in Colossians 3:23, which says “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.” Let’sgive a big STL to those words of Paul right now!

If you haven’t figured out by now, teachers care a lot about effort. They recognize it, and they like it. Even if you don’t totally understand y=mx+b, work at it with all the enthusiasm you can muster. Attack that slope-intercept form like you are attacking it for the Lord, not just for Mrs. Jones, who’s been around so long that she possibly taught algebra to Paul back in his school days.

Move around. 
If you’re struggling to pay attention—or to just stay awake for that matter, ask if you can be moved to the front of the room so that you will be closer to the core of instruction (STL).
This demonstrates to the teacher that you care more about your grade than daydreaming while gazing out the window or grabbing a few extra winks of sleep. And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to ask for some extra help before or after class (STL). This shows that you are concerned about your grade and want to see it improve.

Accountability—it’s biblical. 
Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Now is the time to form a study group to help you get through these last few months of school (STL). Be sure to invite someone who is doing well in the class, along with some friends who might need a little boost. Stay focused on the schoolwork, but have some fun as well.
Pay attention to where you study. Every student needs an area at home that is clearly set aside for homework and studying. Put your study area to the test with our handy quiz:
1. Is there plenty of light?
❑ YES ❑ NO

2. Do you have a comfortable chair?
❑ YES ❑ NO

3. Is your study area away from TV, phone, and other distractions?
❑ YES ❑ NO

4. Do you have lots of pens, pencils, papers, books, and other supplies you’ll need to study?
❑ YES ❑ NO

5. Is your study spot fairly quiet?
❑ YES ❑ NO

6. When you study, do you use the Internet only for study-related activities?
❑ YES ❑ NO

7. Are your homework assignments written down?
❑ YES ❑ NO

If you answered “No” to more than two of those questions, you might want to rethink your study space.


Think ahead.
The last few months of the school year are BUSY! Take some time now to see what’s headed your way in the next few weeks and put it in your planner or write it on your family calendar. Record any band concerts, banquets, team meetings, or special events. Write down the due dates for big projects and list the dates for AP exams and finals. (STL) By taking some time to look ahead now, you can better plan how you’re going to get everything done—without losing your mind!

Take it one thing at a time. 
Don’t freak out that you’ve got a million things to do and a seemingly short amount of time to finish them. Make a list of all you need to accomplish each week and break down big tasks into small steps. If you have a big exam to study for, your steps might include reviewing your notes for two of the chapters covered on the test on one night, then reviewing the remaining chapters the next night. The following night, you may review the study guide or practice test your teacher gave you.

With a little extra effort, some new supplies, and a few creative strategies, you should be set to finish this school year strong.

This article written by Will Snipes appears in the March 2011 issue of ec magazine. You can subscribe to ec by clicking here.

5 Tips for starting the school year off R.I.G.H.T

With many students heading back to class this week, we thought a few ideas of how to focus this year might be a good idea. So if you want to get the year off to a good start, we've got this advice:

R: Rest and recreation
Get enough of both. Many teens simply don't get enough sleep—or anywhere close to the 8-9 hours doctors say you should. Set a bed time and stick to it (as much as possible, we know there will be some exceptions). Move your phone off your bedside table or turn it off or on silent before you go to bed. It may be tempting to text all night, but you'll feel it the morning. Make it a point to exercise, too. But don't be so concerned with your schedule that you never take time to have some fun. Enjoy your friends, family, and have some fun! Life shouldn't be all about work and homework and expectations!

I: Intake
What you choose to put into your mind will come out in your life. That's the truth. So consider carefully the things you're allowing into your mind, whether it's music, books, images, gossip, or people. Learn to evaluate the things you allow into your mind based on God's standards. Ask questions. Was authority respected or not? What's the view of sex? Did that magazine, book, movie, or music make you feel inferior? When you have answers, see how they line up with the standards and truths presented in the Bible.

G: Goals
Now is the time to set some goals—both spiritually and personally—for this year. Think about what you want to happen in your life socially this year. Is there someone you want to be a better friend to? Do you want to run for class office or join a club? Spiritually, what would you like to see happen in your life? Who in your circle do you want to see trust Christ? Do you need to get involved in a small group Bible study or ask an older Christian to mentor or disciple you? Think about it, then write some goals down. Sometimes, that small act encourages us to make choices that will help us accomplish our goals.

H: Healthy Self Image
Here's the deal: you aren't perfect. But you are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Creator who cares for you deeply. And most of the time, we don't remember that truth. It's true you may not always like the person you see in the mirror and, yes, on really important days, a zit might just appear. But that's just life. Learn to take the good with the bad and ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you: loved and valued. You're not ugly, someone no one wants to know, or too far gone for God to reach you and/or care about you. Stop worrying about weight, looks, and hating the qualities that make you special. Focus on seeing yourself the way God does and read the Bible to reinforce what you know is true.

T: Time Management
Yes, we talk about time management EVERY year. But only because it's important and you're always telling us you have too much to do and too little time. We can't tell you what not to do, but we can give you a few ideas on how to better manage the time you have. First, figure out how you spend your time. If you need to, take a few days and evaluate. You can even make a chart of how you spend your time if that helps you visualize. All we want you to recognize is where you may be wasting time. Are there areas in which you could make better choices? Is the reason you don't have enough time to do you homework because you're talking on the phone or Internet or playing video games? While we're all behind building friendships and having fun, don't do all of that at the expense of your homework or duties. Do your homework first, then have fun. You have to figure out what your priorities are then give them priority in your life. Get a planner and write big assignments and test dates in it—or use the calendar on your computer or other device. Keep your books, homework, and other school stuff in a certain location so you're not trying to find your assignment minutes before you have to leave for school. Make some effort, some plans, and be a little more organized this year. It might just save you some time!


Adapted from "Start the School Year off RIGHT" by Rachel Lovingood in ec magazine, August 2008, p. 54-55.

August is over.

So here it is. The last day of the longest month of the year (at least it seems the longest month to me). You’re most likely two weeks into school. How’s it going? Are you staying true to those goals you set for yourself this school year? (If you haven’t set any, you may want to flip to pages 24-25 of the August issue of ec.) True, the school year is still new and you may not have had much of a chance to meet some of your goals yet, but the key to meeting goals is to re-examine them often and see how you’re doing.

Case in point: I set a goal back in January to go to bed on time. Turns out, not getting enough sleep was making the mornings extremely tough (especially the getting out of bed part). On top of that, my energy level was low, my face was breaking out, and I was pretty grouchy at times. Because I started preparing for an April half marathon in January, I knew that sleep would be vital to my training.

While there were lots of reasons for me to go to bed early, I still wanted to stay up late. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Some rerun is on, a friend keeps texting you, or you’re not ready to put down that book just yet. Whatever the distraction is, it seems much more appealing than sleep. But when morning comes, you’re regretting your decision to not go to bed, right?

It’s easy to see why getting enough sleep is an important goal to set. If you don’t get enough, you don’t function well. (I hope it’s one of your goals this year to get enough sleep; most teens don’t.) But what about some other goals that you might have set with less tangible or immediate results? Like being a better friend, respecting your teachers, or getting closer to God this school year? All goals take time and commitment. And most are easier to achieve with a little accountability. For me and my sleep goal, my boyfriend took it upon himself to make sure that he took me home or called before my bedtime so that I would be able to get enough sleep. Having him hold me accountable about getting to bed on time has been a bigger help than he even knows.

Maybe getting enough sleep is a silly example. But it’s a good goal. I hope you’ve set some good goals for yourself this year. If you have, revisit them now to see how you’re doing. If you haven’t, take some time to set some. And know that ec is here for you if you need any help with those goals. Just check out pages 24-26 and 51 of the August issue for more on this topic.

See you in September! :)