As a person preaching a study routine of less than 15 minutes a night, you could imagine this is a problem that I’ve run into personally with my teachers. Oddly enough, I actually have had almost no problem with it. Here’s the problem:
Aaron,
I think my teachers think I’m lazy. I started reading your old site a while ago and started to implement some of the strategies into my routine. Since then my grades have come a lot easier but I’m starting to get the impression a couple of my teachers are raising their standards. When I first started boosting my grades up I was producing work that, too me, seems worse than my newer work but it seems to have brought me better grades than I get now. I had one teacher come up to me and say that he doesn’t think I’m “applying” myself and that he lowered my grade for that. I wanted to say, “I am applying myself. I’m just not applying myself like an idiot anymore.” I’m wondering if this has to do with my more relaxed approach when it comes to school. Have you had this problem?
-Gerry
One time I felt like I had this problem. I have definitely noticed teachers with lower expectations of a student tend to grade good work higher than it deserved. (I observed that writing essays for students that tended to get lower grades. An B+ for me would be the equivalent of an A+ for a C student.)
It makes sense that teachers would make these kinds of judgments you’re worrying about. Teachers grade “smart” (for lack of better word) students worse than “dumb” (again, lack of better word) students. Students that work hard get graded better than students that don’t give a crap about class.
Naturally, teachers try to reward good behavior. If you do what the teacher wants you to do, they’ll improve your grade. It’s not about intelligence it’s about grades. Grades are partially, a representation of how well you’re pleasing the teacher personally.
I have never had a major issue with this because I’ve constantly encouraged the facade of being a hard worker. Every time I’ve been in a class small enough for my teacher to recognize me, I’ve accepted that part of my grade comes from my ability to stare politely at my teacher while they’re lecturing (even if I’m just thinking about lunch.)
I do not act particularly relaxed about my grades. If I score low (even if I intentionally wasn’t putting in an effort because it was a low priority assignment) I act a little irked. As long as this is a factor that makes a difference in my grade (my estimate is 5 to 10%) then I’m going to continue to milk it for everything it’s worth.
If it’s obvious that you’re not putting in much effort then you’re asking for people to take points away from you for stupid and unfair reasons. I don’t like it either but it could just as easily be working in your favor if you choose to let it be.
Do you want to know how to study in less than 15 minutes a night? That’s what this blog is all about. Be sure to check out the archives and follow along for all the details. The ebooks in the sidebar can help you boost your grades while working less. Check them out if you’re interested.
How You Will Get Straight-A’s – Impress Teachers – And Having People Beg You To Tutor Them (And It Will Be Easier Than What You’re Doing Now)
Ever met a dope that still scored higher than you?
I know I did. And, believe it or not, it’s more common than you think.
Despite what you have been told, hard-work and intelligence are not the keys to good grades. In a study by Karpicke of Purdue University and Roediger, III of Washington University showed the right strategy can get you remembering 2.35 things for every minute of focused studying you’re doing now.
If you study wrong, you could be plummeting your grade by 67% (or more if you’re using a worse than normal strategy.) And many of the wrong strategies are one’s you’ve been taught to do your whole life!
Once I discovered this for myself, my whole world changed. I got C’s and D’s in highschool. In college, I was near the top of my class for my Engineering degree. Freshman year in college, I knew I had to spread the word.
I worked with one student (D.L, I’ll call him for soon-to-be obvious reasons.) He was going back to college after getting out of prison on a drug charge. He was retaking his English class – with the same teacher. A couple weeks into the semester, the professor pulled him aside and asked him, “how the hell some prison teacher could make him that much better – that fast?”
It wasn’t the teacher.
It makes sense the teacher wondered that. The changes that can take place when you change strategies are astounding.
Every minute you study ineffectively is wasted. Your grades may go up a little but it’s a losing battle. Effective studying skyrockets your scores faster – giving you more time to:
- Learn more than you ever imagined
- Improve your health, well-being, and non-academic life
- Enjoy your time the way you want to
My book How To Study Happier teaches this strategy that let students memorize 2.35 things for every one they would normally memorize. Plus, it gives you dozens of other strategies and stories that can put you on the path to academic enjoyment – instead of just surviving. (And remember, no matter where you are in your journey, it just gets harder from here. Be prepared!)
All my books come with a 100% money-back guarantee – just send an email and my people will refund it – no questions asked.
I want to help you. Put it on me to prove it. Please give me that chance.
Last thing, inflation is making it hard for me to keep prices where they are. Server costs are going up and prices on my books may go up as soon as next week (as of the day of writing this.) So please act now. When these prices go up, there will be no exceptions made.
Right now, click the link, buy now, fill in the boxes, and get an instant download for you to have when you’re ready- while the price is holding.
Get your copy of my book about How To Get Happier Straight A’s.
It only costs $4.99 (and if these strategies don’t work like magic like it has for thousands of other students then you can get a full refund.)
I know the issue quite well… It really sucks when teachers are prejudiced, especially when you FINALLY start putting an effort! I guess all you can do is do your best and keep hoping that the teacher will change their mind regarding you.
Chris social piobha might work in your advantage (if done right). Approaching a teacher, I’m usually a very shy student. I’ve even skipped classes because I was afraid to be called on but I have was hoping you could help me out? Currently, there’s a lot not working in the school system (normal test procedures included). I’m doing what I can to through it. You can read more about it in this .