Being prepared is the most important element to becoming a successful student. The easiest way to set up for a successful year at high school is to purchase school supplies that are going to aid your revision and study as the year progresses.
Why start early
As parents are well aware, prior to the start of the academic year, many companies hold "back to school" sales. During these essential supplies will be at the cheapest price of the year. Stockpile to save money later on.
Most high schools will issue a supply list at the end of the previous academic year. This means that during the sale period you can be super organised and pick up everything you will need. While courses, teachers and requirements can change over time, there are some staples that you should always have to be prepared to learn.
Essential school supplies
On the first day of your academic year, teachers will be going over course outlines, beginning to teach lessons, setting homework and outlining what it takes to pass the year. Assuming that the first day is just to see other students and meet the teachers is an understatement at best. Be prepared on the first day back. Make sure you have a pen, lined paper and a highlighter. Highlighting key assignments, dates or tasks can help when arranging your year later on.
A terrific idea is to get a few pens that have multiple coloured inks. Remembering colours is far easier than remembering facts, so one trick for study is to use different shades during your notes. While the content itself could be written in blue or black, using red, green, pink or purple can draw your attention to key elements in the notes themselves. Try to keep your notes neat, as you will need to be able to read these again at a later date.
Using the Cornell Notes system is an easy way of making sure you are prepared to revise before assessments. This system involves sectioning off your notes, so that there are areas for soft, hard and revision notes. Prepare your booklets and notes pages by ruling the lines before classes start. Then you have no excuse not to revise.
Keeping a diary is essential for managing your assessments and assignments. This can be digital or on paper. Make sure what ever method you choose, it something you enjoy. Purchase a diary with at least a week per page so that you can write in assessment dates. Also, mark a week prior to your deadlines as a warning of what is upcoming. This way no tasks "sneak up" on you. Find a diary that works for you. Some like spiral bound ones that sit flat, others prefer a hard cover which will remain intact for the full year. Others may choose a diary or planner with an attractive cover.
A lunchbox is also an essential school purchase. While school cafeterias offer food, packing a lunch can mean that you have a healthier lunch, and waste no time in queues. A strong lunchbox that seals tightly will be invaluable. A sturdy water bottle is also essential, as too many students face the school day dehydrated from air conditioning or sports.
Being prepared to study at home
Successful students will not be relying on gaining knowledge in the classroom alone. Revising the key content on a daily basis becomes essential as you move towards university. Have an area set up for study at home. Find a quiet space to set up a study desk. You may need to buy a reading lamp, as it is essential to have adequate lighting. Have a selection of pens, pencils and highlighters set up on your study desk just for homework. This way when you get home from school, everything is ready to go. Keep lined and unlined paper on hand for making notes from your classwork.
Having a set (or several sets) of flashcards is a good idea. Mass produced sets with a connecting ring can be easily purchased. With coloured card on hand, you can easily make your own.
In your pencil case
Items that you should not be without in your pencil case include:
- blue and black pens for making notes in class
- red, green, purple or pink pens for making extra notes that will stand out
- a range of highlighters
- coloured pencils and a pencil sharpener for those presentation assignments or diagrams
- scissors (unless your school has a ban on them)
- a glue stick or glue pen
- paper clips
- pencil and eraser for making sketches or diagrams
- calculator, ruler, compass and protractor
While not all students take mathematics, mathematical implements are useful for creating graphs or diagrams. The neater your work is from the start of the year, the more likely it is that you will still have it at the end.
Summer Reading Lists
Some courses will assign summer reading lists, or assignments. Get on to these early. Head to the library or online to garner additional information around the set texts. Owning your own copy can be a good idea, as then you can highlight, underline and annotate without worry. Cliffnotes or Sparknotes are handy tools for helping to understand themes, characters and motifs.
Expensive purchases
While not essential, the following supplies can be great purchases, if not investments, in your schooling. With the internet being the lifeline of knowledge in today's society, having access is essential for learning. A home computer is great, but a laptop would be ideal. Netbooks are cheaply available, as are refurbished laptops, for a few hundred dollars. High spec laptops can set you back many thousands.
Having wireless broadband at home would be a good idea. More and more telecommunications companies are offering cheap internet access for home use. Going wireless, with a secure system, can be a brilliant addition to the list of school supplies to purchase prior to the academic year.
If laptop computers are out of the financial reach, an iPod Touch can be a brilliant asset, or the iPad if finances can manage it. Easily portable, the device can connect to wireless networks, work as the diary, planner, note taker and a research tool, with a bonus of being able to listen to music. Simple recording devices can be attached to most iPods which mean you can record all of an important lesson or lecture.
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