Make the GrAde - November 1997 - Newsletter

For many of my students the first quarter of the year is just about history.
25% of the school year has already come and gone. At the same time, you have
The Snowball Effect

For many of my students the first quarter of the year is just about history.
25% of the school year has already come and gone. At the same time, you have already
been exposed to 25% of the information that you will get this year in your classes.

There are basically 2 types of classes:
1. modular
2. cumulative

The modular class teaches information in modules, or small units. These units may or may
not be related to each other. Examples of modular courses are Biology and English.
Generally speaking, Biology will cover cells and then move onto simple life forms.
Your success in the life forms unit is independent, or not directly linked to your mastery
of the knowledge of the cells unit.
The same holds true for a literature course. Your success with The Great Gatsby, is not
dependent on your knowledge of The Iliad. In a modular class, you get a new start each unit.
These types of classes are easier to make up work and get back on course if you fall behind.
The cumulative course is like a rolling snowball. The core of the ball is covered by the new,
more recent information. Success on the most recent information is dependent on a mastery of
the prior information. Examples of modular courses are Chemistry, Foreign Languages and all
Mathematics courses.
If you have not mastered factoring in Algebra, you will have many challenges as the year
progresses. Simply put, the stuff just doesn't go away. You need to master the concepts of
the periodic table, not just for the current information, but also because it will be used the
rest of the year.

The key to avoiding the Snowball Effect is to not get behind to begin with.
It's much easier to throw and small snowball than to try to throw a big one...

To be more productive, save time, and get all your assignments done:

1. Be organized. Know what you have to do and when its due.

2. Do work in blocks of time. Do one assignment, finish it and them move on to the next.
Fragmented work is less time effective.

3. Plan Ahead. Plan for the longer term assignments like tests, lab reports, etc.
10 or 15 minutes a day over 2 weeks is much more effective than 4 hours in a night.

4. Call Make the GrAde. We are here to help with both subject matter, and organization.

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Click to see 1997-98 SAT Dates
Click to find out about Free seminars
Click for Study Tips
Click here for Make the GrAde home page

To View past newsletter issues:
Click to see the newsletter #1 - summer 1997
Click to see the newsletter #2 - september 1997
Click to see the newsletter #3 - october 1997
Click to see the newsletter #4 - november 1997
Click to see the newsletter #5 - december 1997

For information please call the Make the GrAde office at: 215 663 8336

To send mail to Make the GrAde & Steven Greene M.S.

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