Seems as though all classes and most students in them are off to a good start.  From past experience, I know that it doesn't stay that way for everyone.  You've got a lot of classes, with a lot of work, plus there's more to your life than just school!  Here's a few tips and reminders for success in my class:

The biggest problem seems to be when kids stop doing their homework, or they do it in a real half-hearted way.  Every year lots of kids stop doing the reading, and then they're lost in class and on tests.  And they just copy the homework from a friend or just cut and paste work from the Internet - with the same result: lost in class and on tests.  Put some real effort into the assignments, and I guarantee it'll show up on your grade in my class!

Remember to do your work in pen, not pencil, and to use the kind of paper that doesn't have "those little frilly things on the edges".  Even if you take the edge off in class before turning your work in, if I see that, I'll give you a zero on the assignment - because too often the paper you tear off ends up on my floor.

Email me any time you have a question or need help; I'm real good about answering those quickly.  But do NOT write something like this:  "hey mr streb im having trouble with the work", because I won't answer you.  Pretend you're writing to a teacher, and that you know proper punctuation and capitalization rules - and then follow them.  Use your texting-style writing for your texting, not for writing your teacher.

Do these things and you'll come out of my class a stronger, better student, better prepared to succeed in college and in life.  And that's what our school's all about, isn't it?

Start of a new year; check out our first week's plans here. Hope you're ready!