Transcript I’m failing… help! Straight facts to help you try to rebound! Copyright 2003, Christine L.

I’m failing… help!
Straight facts to help you try to rebound!
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Students often fail a class because they did
not seek help or did not know help was
available.
The GOOD news is that help IS available
if you look in the right places.
But before we explore what some of these
options are, we will briefly look at
common reasons why students fail…
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Identify The Problem
Students begin failing classes for different
reasons. Pinpointing the underlying problem
and working from the vantage point of the
problem may help you increase your grade in
the long run. On the next slide are some
common reasons why students fail classes.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Reasons why students fail
 Lack of preparation for exams
 Do not know what or how to study
 Poor time-management (not enough time studying)
 Course material is more extensive (or harder) than
the student thought it would be
 Do not have the prerequisites for the class
 Been away from school for many years & have not
seen/worked with the material in a long time
 Learning disability
 Verbal or other communication problems
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Talk to your professor
The #1 thing you should always do is talk
to your professor. He is the most capable
person to tell you whether you even have
a chance of passing the course and what
specifically you can do.
The fact that you took the initiative to
seek his assistance may work in your
favor.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
When talking to your professor:
Always be respectful and never let
differences in personality or belief
systems cloud your judgment.
Remember, while you are in your
professor’s class, you MUST play by his
rules.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Questions to ask your professor:
 “Can you look at my notes and tell me if
I am getting all the important points?”
 “Can you guide me in what I should
study for the next exam(s)?”
 “Based on my past performance on
exams, can you give me specific study
advice?”
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
What NOT to do when you talk
to your professor:
Automatically ask for extra credit (this is
college, not high school)
Ask your professor to give you “a break” (if
you want “a break”, go to McDonald’s).
Complain about how hard or unfair the class
assignments or exams are (unless everyone is
failing, you have no ground to stand on).
Downplay the importance of class or
homework.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
What NOT to do… continued:
Dump all your personal problems (professors
have their own, they don’t need yours)
Make excuses for YOUR lack of timemanagement and/or study problems.
Immediately ask if there will be a grading
curve.
Beg for your grade to be bumped up (do you
honestly think that an employer will respond
when you beg for your salary to be bumped up?
No? Then why should your professor bump
your grade? Salaries and grades are both
earned – NOT GIVEN!).
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Form study groups
Talk to other students in the class who might be
willing to form study groups and plan definite
times to meet.
If you are already failing or in danger of
failing, this is NOT the time to form study
groups with your buddies who are also not
doing well in the class.
Now is the time to meet and study with the ‘A’
students in the front row IF they will work with
you.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Find someone who has taken &
passed the class who can help
Find an upperclassman who can help.
You need to be resourceful and ask
friends, professors, and maybe the staff in
the departmental office if they know
anyone they can recommend.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Ask staff in the department if they
have graduate assistants who can help
Some departments have graduate assistants
employed who may have a degree in the subject
you are failing and who may willing to help
you.
Your professor may have a graduate worker
assisting him with teaching or research that he
can recommend.
But note: getting help from a graduate
assistant may not be free
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Find academic resources on campus
Find out if there are free academic
resources on campus that you haven’t
learned about yet.
Such resources may include:
Writing Centers or the Math Lab
The Center for Student Excellence in
Southeastern Hall
Different kinds of tutoring labs
Computer labs with assistants
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Ways to find existing academic
services on your campus include:
Searching the university’s website
Visiting the Office of Student Academic
Affairs
Visiting the Student Government Office
Asking other students
Asking professors
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Talk to other professors in the
department who you know
If you have had other classes in the subject
matter and have built a rapport with another
professor, you may try visiting him during his
office hours and asking for assistance.
Some professors are more than willing to
extend extra help.
However, you may find others who will refer
you back to your professor. This is one reason
why you should always seek assistance from
your professor first.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Hire a private tutor
If you have the financial means, hire a
tutor as soon as possible. Also, be aware
that if you are failing or in danger of
failing a course, one study session will
NOT be enough.
Most likely you will require tutoring at
least 4-5 times a week for the duration of
the semester.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Facts about tutors
Tutors (whether you pay them or receive
their services for free) are NEVER
responsible for your failure in a class if
you still fail.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Students’ myths about tutors
Oftentimes students who seek the assistance of
tutors believe the tutors can “magically” help
them raise their grade and they rely on the
tutors to do all the work.
It is important to remember that if you have a
tutor, you must still work very hard to bring up
your grade.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
How to work with a tutor
You should already have questions prepared
that are specific & directed toward your
problems.
Good questions include:
“Can you explain this concept or paragraph to
me?”
“Is this how you do it?”
Is my method of solving this problem or answering
this question good?”
“What do you think about…” (and propose a
solution)
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
Be cognizant of what you feel
and how you act
Bringing up a failing grade takes a GREAT
DEAL OF HARD WORK. It is expected that
you may become tired and frustrated. Also, it
may not be easy for you to admit when you are
not doing as well as you like and admitting
when you need help.
When you seek someone’s help, make sure you
do not immediately give them all your work,
mentally shut down, and then expect the tutor to
propose all the solutions.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
What NOT to say to a tutor:
“Explain everything to me”
“I don’t understand anything”
“ Just teach me…”
These comments are too vague and do not give
anyone enough information to know where to
begin, focus, or end the process of helping you.
You will only waste valuable time and when you
are failing a course, you don’t have time and
energy to waste on learning irrelevant material.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
What NOT to say… continued
“There is no solution”
“You’re wrong”
“I don’t believe you”
“Prove it”
It does not help to argue with someone who is
trying to help you or disregard their advice when
the solution is not what you want to hear. Most
likely their solutions involve work on your part
and you must continue even when you are tired.
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.
These are the straight facts
Good Luck & Work Hard
Copyright 2003, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed.