It is also quite important that you actually be "present" in class. It's sometimes almost funny to watch students sleeping with their eyes open in class. (If I didn't know how important it is for you to be alert and fully participating I'd find it funnier) I've had students fall off their stools, drool on my desk, weave back and forth--all while they claim to be wide awake.
Even if you are awake, that doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting the maximum benefit out of being in the classroom. Pay very close attention to what is being said. When another student asks a question, don't tune out, assuming it has nothing to do with you. Some of the most valuable information given in class is a response to another student's question.
Take notes on whatever you hear. If there's something you don't understand as you are listening, mark a big question mark next to it to remind yourself to ask for help with it later. Even better; stop me by raising your hand and ask me your question as soon as you have one.
SHE NEVER GIVES EXTRA CREDIT!!
Some of my students rely on extra credit to carry them through. This is a really bad idea. In Chemistry, it is vitally important to stay current with all the topics that we cover. Each topic serves to create the foundation for later topics. It is not possible to do a poor job early on then expect to excel later without a solid foundation in the core information.
On the very rare occasion that I give bonus point opportunities, they are not generally simple or easy. If I give them, they will have educational value. Unfortunately, some students do a poor job on their bonus point assignments, as well. This defeats the purpose of the assignment and will be graded accordingly.
Sometimes I give bonus points for a student who does an exceptional job working out a problem on the board for class. I may also give bonus points for a great question that is asked in class. There is a degree of subjectivity--I do this on random days--but I try to be as objective as possible.
I DON'T DO MATH!!
You're going to have a pretty tough life if you will not do any math. How will you balance your checkbook, figure out how many more miles you can go before running out of gas, put together a budget for yourself...? There is a lot in life that math is important for and no matter what you choose to do, you will need to know how to do math.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar put off retiring from the NBA in part because the people he hired to manage his money cheated him out of a lot of it. After all the millions of dollars he earned, he couldn't afford to stop playing basketball. I imagine if you were to ask him he might tell you that he wished he had been a little more careful with his math. Be very wary of thinking that you will just pay someone else to do math for you.
If your math skills are poor, practice them. You didn't know your ABCs the first time you heard Ernie and Bert singing them; it took practice, practice, practice. Do the work. (I know that's everyone's favorite four-letter word)
BUT I LOVE YOU, MISS DICKENS!!!
Here's a lesson in life. If you love someone that means you care about them and their feelings. That means that you treat them the way they like to be treated; you show respect, admiration and concern for them.
"I love you" is not supposed to be a Get Out of Jail Free card to excuse your poor behavior.
If you indeed love me, the way to show it is by being on time, participating appropriately in classroom activities, following the rules I have set forth for my classroom, etc. Please don't buy me presents or tell me that you love me because you think I will then do you favors. It doesn't work. Check around.
Please understand that the way I show you that I care about you is by expecting the most from you, holding you to high standards and believing that you can accomplish anything if you work for it. If you think I dislike you, you might check your own attitude and see if you've done anything to cause me to feel that way.
I really hate to yell. It's one of my least favorite things in life to do. If I've had to raise my voice at you it is because (1) you've trained me that you don't listen to me talking to you in a normal tone or (2) I've said the same thing to you more than once already and you didn't listen or (3) you're doing something less-than-intelligent that is endangering you, me and/or other people around you or (4) you keep talking when I am trying to do so and I cannot be heard over you speaking.
If you do what you're supposed to do, you will find that I will not have any need to raise my voice. It is all completely within your control. Please don't respond to me yelling at you because of your poor behavior by telling me, "But I love you, Miss Dickens". Yuck.
There are a lot of my current and former students of whom I am quite fond. I even acknowledge that they are special to me. Still, if you ask any one of them, they will tell you that they NEVER trade on how much I admire and respect them. They each earned the grades that they got. (and, surprising to some people, some of my favorite students earned Ds or even Fs; heartbreaking to me, but I am proud of how maturely they conduct themselves and take ownership of the grades they earned)
THIS CLASS IS SO HARD!!!
Yep. It is.
As I've said before, Chemistry can be a really tough subject for some people. That's one of the reasons why colleges want to see it on your transcript. The college admissions people want to see what you do when you hit a potentially difficult subject. You're likely to see one or two tough classes when you get to college, as well.
If it's tough for you, the bad news is that you will have to work harder. Perhaps harder than you ever have before. On the other hand, you could look at this as really good news; aren't you going to be even better prepared for tough subjects ahead? Aren't you going to be even stronger and more able to take on the even bigger challenges that you will encounter in college and in your life? (woo-hoo!)