Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics, I assure you that mine are greater.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Check yourself and your calculator:

On two occasions I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. Charles Babbage (1792-1871)

A. Stay organized:

1. Get a good three ring binder with index dividers. Keep every paper on the rings in the section where it belongs. This will go a long way in helping you study and locate important information.

2. Write a date on every paper. When you coordinate the sections in your notebook with an assignment book, it makes it easier to find a needed labsheet, activity, or assignment to review for a quiz or test. It also helps on those occasions when you may have been absent.

3. Use an assignment notebook. Write down each classroom activity and homework assignment; even write down when you don't have homework. This is a great tool to help you remember what you did each day. It can also be a way to create communication between your parents and teachers if you'll let them use it.

4. Write neatly and clearly. Make sure you can read your notes when you go back later to review. Keep information and examples in order on the page. Undereline or highlight important vocabulary words to make them easier to locate when you study.

B. Manage Your Time:

1. Know the school schedule. Make sure you get up each morning with plenty of time to get ready and get to school on time. Practice never being tardy to any class. You miss vital information, announcements, and lesson objectives by walking in late.

2. Use your assignment book or a calendar to keep up with important dates like events, activities, tests, and project due dates. Never wait until the night before to complete a project or study for a test. Pace yourself to do a little each day.

3. Make it a habit to spend time every day, including on weekends, going over what you did in each class, even if you don't have homework. You will remember more information for longer periods of time if you reveiw daily, and difficult concepts may finally "click" for you if you continue to go over the information. Studying and reviewing daily will make preparing for a quiz or test much easier.