Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HOW TO BE A GOOD
STUDENT
A practical guide to assist you in
maximizing your learning opportunities.
Compiled by Mr. G. Dunn
Good students have certain key traits that make them what they are. Chief among
them are academic resilience, attending classes, time management, exam
preparation, thinks critically, behaves and participates in class.
1
1. A good student is well rounded and tries to make time studying and
social activities. They set up a study schedule so that there studying
does not get interrupted by other things. They make time for
socializing in order to counter the stress that comes from all their
classes.
2. A good student also makes time for their interests because I believe if
a student does things that they like it will be easier for them to be
successful because they wont feel so stressed all the time.
3. A good student is not necessarily a student that studies hard and gets
the best grades. A good student should be a student that can balance
school with a social life. At the same time the student should know
when to buckle down and focus on work.
4. A good student wants to learn is excited about what they are doing.
They work hard but still are involved in extra activities like dance
sports volunteer work.
5. A good student is responsible for their own learning as well as keeping
time management skills. A student should also apply themselves to the
homework and the activities shown in class to daily life.
6. A good student wants to learn. They want to go to class to learn what
the teacher provides for them. They want to develop into a better
writer or get better at math.
The characteristics of a good student include the drive to achieve their
goals in life academically. The student is willing to study independently
and ask for assistance when necessary. He/She is also willing to
participate in class and be involved in things that will help propel their
learning outside of the classroom.
7. A good student is self-motivated independent and focused. A good
student is always willing and ready to learn. They take the information
learned in class and apply it to the the real world. Self-motivation and
enthusiasm are key because with these characteristics they can focus
on their own educational goals.
8. Good students listen in class and don't talk to others when they're not
supposed to. They do their homework on time and don't cheat. Also
they go to class everyday on time prepared to learn.
A. attends class is #1
B. attentive and trying to learn.
C. does all the homework on time
assists other students
D. does extra research to learn more about the topic
beyond what is assigned.
E. behaves and follows rules in class.
F. uses critical thinking and reflection to get well-honed answers.
G. does not just parrot what the teacher says.
H. participates in class.
ACADEMIC RESILIENCE
What characteristics separate a good student from a mediocre student? To best answer this question,
we need to look at the students' personality more than at their in-born abilities.
Characteristics of a Good Student
A good student usually demonstrates a number of characteristics. In-born characteristics like
intelligence and cognitive skills do play a role; a child must be able to learn in order to achieve
academic achievement. But most students in any given classroom have average - and similar abilities. Still, some students stand out more than others, getting better grades and grasping material
more deeply. Why? Exposure to material, parental involvement, and contextual factors like the child's
school and teachers are important. But psychologists and teachers are increasingly realizing how
central a child's personality is to academic success. In particular, an aspect of personality called
academic resilience may be key to your tween's success in school.
What is Academic Resilience?
Academic resilience is a more specific version of the larger concept of resilience. Academic resilience
refers to a student's willingness to persevere at academic tasks even when they are frustrated. In
other words, academically resilient children do not give up, no matter what faces them.
Source:
McTigue, Erin M., Washburn, Erin K., & Liew, Jeffrey. Academic Resilience and Reading: Building Successful Readers. The Reading Teacher. 2009. 62: 422-432.
The idea is to provide you with guidelines you can follow which will help you get down to the
business of becoming a serious, successful student.
1. Successful students attend classes regularly. They are on time. They listen and train
themselves to pay attention. If they miss a session, they feel obligated to let the
instructor know why before class begins, if possible, and their excuses are legitimate and
reasonable. They make sure they get all missed assignments (by contacting the
instructor or another student), and understand specifically what was covered in class.
Successful students take responsibility for themselves and their actions.
2. Successful students take advantage of extra credit opportunities when offered. They
demonstrate that they care about their grades and are willing to work to improve them.
They often do the optional (and frequently challenging) assignments that many students
avoid.
3. Successful students are attentive in class. They don't talk, read, or stare out windows. In
other words, they are polite and respectful, even if they get a little bored. They also
participate in class even if their attempts are a bit clumsy and difficult. They ask
questions that the instructor knows many other students may also have.
4. Successful students see their instructors before or after class or during office hours about
grades, comments on their papers, and upcoming tests. Successful students end up at
their instructor's office door at least once during the semester. They'll go out of their way
to find the instructor and engage in meaningful conversation. These students
demonstrate to the instructor that they are active participants in the learning process and
that they take the job of being a student seriously.
5. Successful students turn in assignments that look neat and sharp. They take the time to
produce a final product that looks good, and reflects of a care and pride in their work.
Successful students seem driven to complete their assignments. All work and
assignments are turned in, even if some of their responses are not brilliant.