School is all about learning. Learning about yourself. Learning about your peers. And, of course, learning the content in various subjects. Although these are all important, learning all of the content in several different classes can become extremely stressful and overwhelming. This may be due to the pressure to do well and strive for good marks in every subject, since this can lead to better post-secondary opportunities. This article explores useful tips to conquer some difficult classes and strive for a healthier, less stressful lifestyle.

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Math

Math is known to be universal; a universal misconception about math, however, is that being good at math requires one to be a specific type of person with a specific type of brain⸺so, no, most people don’t think it to be so universal after all.

When learning a new concept, our best advice for people learning math is to identify, understand, and practice it. Note that depending on the person, this process will take longer for some than others. Math is a cumulative subject. If you haven’t properly understood a certain idea, chances are you will face difficulties as other complexities to the topic are introduced in later grades. And the least efficient way to learn a math concept is probably to memorize. Take prime factorization for example: how could you possibly be expected to understand it if you face difficulties doing multiplication? When learning a new concept, if possible, try to make connections to previous knowledge that is connected to the subject⸺remember there is no shame in restudying or revisiting older topics, if need be go back and memorize your multiplication tables. Understanding of concepts will come as you make connections to the world of math, perhaps not discovering full proofs⸺unless you are interested in higher math, in which case maybe consider joining Club Euclid with Ms Townsend⸺but more importantly understanding logic and reasoning. True understanding of the subject can help especially when you blank on a test or exam (which has happened to me more times than I can count). The best way to consolidate knowledge is to practice. If you have time to study, practice until you can identify where you will make mistakes or when you understand the types of questions. Sometimes working with the solution in mind or working backwards can also help. 

English

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English is used in our everyday lives. We use it to order food, talk to each other, help one another, and much more. However, we are not perfect at it. Although we use it extremely often, there are so many terms and concepts that we could improve on or learn. It could even be challenging to do this, which is why there are many tips that could help.

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Firstly, when researching or reading and there is a confusing or difficult word, you should look up words you don’t understand to build your vocabulary. As well, reading can help with enhancing your vocabulary or creative writing skills as you are introduced to the many different ways each author writes, who, as you will notice, will have many different techniques that you can add to your writing. Try to find people or authors that you want to aspire to write like. Connections to yourself and coming up with original thoughts are also key components to succeeding in English so that your piece can express the type of writer you are. Furthermore, along with original thought, finding credible sources for research papers makes your writing more influential since credible sources will prevent any false or very biased views or points from circulating; some examples include pubMed, the TDSB Virtual Library, and CanLii. Ensuring that you have a clear point in your writing and being concise can also make your piece stronger and more entertaining for the reader. It is also very beneficial to find multiple ways to edit and proofread your work. This can include doing peer review, reading aloud, and asking for feedback from teachers. Overall, English may be very difficult or easy for you, but no matter what, there are still ways for you to improve your writing or grammar. 

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Sciences

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As you advance in science while you reap the benefits of knowledge and opportunities, courses become more dense than the mere subjects you glossed over in the earlier grades; science becomes more of a balancing act and learning experience than anything else, especially for tri-sci (biology, chemistry, anf physics) students. For this reason, building strong study habits and learning about yourself as a student can help build a strong foundation to precede the learning curve others will face.

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In science-based subjects, where entirely novel concepts are introduced, the very first thing to understand is that teaching styles vary, and they may not completely align with your learning style. The faster you accept this reality, the better you will do. Our advice is to take initiative or responsibility over your learning by watching as many videos as it takes, doing practice problems if time permits, and asking questions until concepts are solidified. If your semester looks anything like ours, for biology, the Amoeba sisters on YouTube will become your best friends, for physics, the Gizmos you might have hated will help you more than anything, and for chemistry, the Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube will explain it all. Also, solidify your understanding of the basic principles of math, be familiar with them, because yes, they will eventually show up in science. As you study for tests, study from the concepts of the unit and subheadings in the textbook, not just from the review. Even though the textbook may seem daunting, learn to embrace reading it, this will become your best asset. And if you make a mistake, learn how to fix it because more often than not, it will come back to haunt you on the exam. 

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Social Studies

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Social studies may not be a class that you need to heavily study for. However, it is always a good habit to be on top of things and understand all of the concepts and events taught in class. This could be beneficial not only for a test you may have but also for assignments to enrich their meanings as well as critical and creative thinking.

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To stay caught up with this class, listening in class and taking good notes are very important habits. If you do this, you are allowing yourself to have less stress of not knowing the material. Also, in your writing pieces, you should always think of more than one perspective and thoroughly research a topic before forming your opinions too quickly. With the extra research and multiple perspectives, you could formulate points in your writing that are more thought-provoking and intriguing. For research, although Google could be a very useful source, try to always incorporate resources that are shared by your teachers in class, such as those found on the TDSB Virtual Library, as they are more credible and have useful information to complete an assignment. Source variety is also needed to come up with a diverse and inclusive piece. Furthermore, ensure that your writing doesn’t include terminology that may come off as offensive or stereotypical; your writing should show a sense of respect for whatever topic you are exploring. Therefore, social studies is a subject that may be extremely stressful when it comes to the number of assignments you are given, but these tips can help build your skills to stay on top of everything while also getting good grades. 

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Ultimately, everyone has their own individual needs and study methods, and we can only hope our advice was valuable for you. And as you strive for the best, share your resources because we are all in this together. Make your slideshows pretty because you can, use a thesaurus to make things interesting, and bond with your classmates over the tedious work of one course; you might as well own the struggle. Remember that high school only happens once, and academics are important but they do not determine your worth.