Upon entering high school, many students fail to realize the value of AP and honors classes and the impact they can have on their future college careers. For those who do see the benefit, AP English is a popular choice, as it seems far less intimidating than AP Physics or an advanced placement foreign language. However, AP English can be just as challenging as any accelerated course and any student who wishes to take it on must make sure he or she is fully prepared. The reading assignments will be heavy and the expectations of writing ability will be even heavier. Combined with the intense work load of a full schedule, any student would be completely justified in feeling overwhelmed and lost. It is for these reasons that students must take the appropriate steps to stay on top of the assignments. Particularly mid-year, the work can become daunting and tedious and it is easy to lose focus. To stay ahead with AP English, students should commit to completing all of the reading. Missing even one assignment can have a huge negative impact on future work and exams. Secondly, students should make sure that they begin essays at least a week before their due date. This is because a full week allows for several rounds of editing. The more a paper is edited, the better it will be, with few exceptions. Also, whenever possible, students should ask others to take a look at their work and give outside suggestions. Last, students must stay organized to succeed. A neat binder and notebook are always a must!
While AP English will most likely prove a challenge no matter what, students who take the steps to ensure their preparedness will undoubtedly have a much easier time tackling the class.

Hey Rob,

My son didn’t cancel two sessions before the final, only one. The second was canceled because his final was the same day as tutoring would have been, in other words, too late. Like the other two ladies you mentioned, he also felt like he aced the final and apparently the average score for everyone who took it was a 75%. Now, that being said, his teacher chose to grade the final on a curve and does round the percentage of each kid’s score so his 79.5% rounded him up to an 80% which got him the B-!!!!

He’s going to finish with an A in Trig, and an A in English (and wrestling) and the rest B’s.

I’m really proud of him and glad we started tutoring from the very start this year, it definitely shows.

Thank you for addressing my previous concerns and for your continued support.

Best regards,

It’s a happy time of year, that time of year where you can finally relax and say to yourself, “At least I’m done with finals.” Hopefully you all did well, and if not, take solace in the fact that you made the effort to do well- by coming in to tutoring and studying hard. So give yourself a pat on the back.

This time of year also presents itself with a fresh start. Everybody inevitably finds themselves playing catch-up during the semester, but you can minimize the level of catch-up by making an effort to plan your studies more and doing a little everyday, rather than procrastinate and cram. So take this opportunity to start fresh with your tutor as well. Keep your planner updated and make a thorough game-plan as to how you’re going to study for your various tests. Hold yourself accountable to get what you need to get done before going out or playing video games. We all know the pleasure from those little things is no where close to the stress you feel when you have a chemistry test and you’ve forgotten what a nucleus is.

The message is this: whether you’re in middle school, high school, or college, the method to doing well in your classes is the same. It all comes down to a daily balance. Yes, a balance, between work, school, and personal time. To succeed in the school part, you have to balance it, not cram it, and make sure you save time for yourself in the process, because no one can ONLY work or study.

So grab this opportunity by the reigns, follow your planner, and use your tutor as a resource and guide to both success, and having a good time.