MMS Resources

I’m Failing a Class!  What Should I do?

First, tell your parents, teachers, and counselors.  They can’t help you improve if they don’t know you’re having trouble.  And, if you don’t ask for help, sometimes people assume it’s because you just don’t care.

Don’t blindly ask for extra credit.  Think of a specific assignment you could make up or improve, and ask your teacher about it.  For example, if you got a 0 on your Science Project for not handing it in, ask if you can turn it in late for partial credit.

Look for small opportunities.  Many teachers will allow you to earn extra points by correcting a graded test or worksheet.  Also, most teachers require some type of bell ringer at the beginning of every class; these are often used to boost grades.  Don’t let these little point-builders pass you by!

Never get another 0 again.  Zeros drag your grade down tremendously.  Look at an example:  If you had a 95, a 90, and a 0 on your homework grades you would think you’d have at least a B average, right? WRONG.

Get organized.  Start carrying your MMS daily planner  so that you always know about upcoming due dates. If you need help setting up a calendar or organization system, let your parent help you or come see a counselor.  Also, clean out your locker once a week.  (Before homeroom is a good time because you won’t have to rush between classes.)

There’s no way around it. Stress and anxiety are now a part of our lives in ways we could never have predicted. What’s going on with the Corona Virus and trying to have school at home is REAL!! And there’s a ton of uncertainty about how this will all play out.

We’re all at home, with family members, trying to figure out what to do and how we’re feeling. In the simplest terms…stress is our immediate reaction to a situation, event, or threat. Anxiety is the feeling and the thoughts that come after the stressful situation. Anxiety can come in waves and it can stick with us for a while.

When we first found out about how serious the Corona Virus could be… this was stressful. And what most of us have been feeling since, in our bodies and in our thoughts, is the anxiety. So,what do we do? How can we manage the stress and anxiety?
 

• Talk about your thoughts and feelings to people who care about you
• Email your school counselors.  We want to talk to you. 
• Be creative… write, draw, paint, make music, write lyrics
• Meditate… learn to slow your thoughts and focus on your breath
• Get physical… exercise releases “feel good” chemicals in your brain
• Research… when we’re anxious because we don’t understand something, research can inform us, and may help put us at ease
• Google.... how to make Thinking Putty or DIY stress ball from balloons
• Google ... virtual bubble wrap popping
• Research .... Calming Apps (Smiling Minds, Fluid)
• Set routines… getting into healthy habits can reduce stress and anxiety
• Do for others… being generous, caring and supportive to others can take our minds off of our own stress and anxiety
• Fix something that’s broken
• Do chores to music
• Throw yourself into your education and prepare for your future