Make the Grade

June 1, 2013
Help is on the way for teens wanting to do better in school. Following her Where's My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide (2010), Martin offers help for the too-busy, overscheduled teenager. Assuming such teens are organized enough and motivated enough to seek out this kind of help, there is much here for them. Advice on setting goals, managing time, getting organized and being more efficient in the classroom will help teens be more aware of themselves as learners and, thus, be able to better take charge of their academic lives. Teens who look up long enough from the iPhones, iPads and video games will even find a section discouraging studying in bed with the television on and the iPhone within reach. Though the design is dense, a variety of charts, worksheets, case studies, sidebars and checklists offers visual relief and plenty of additional information. Though not likely a book high school students will pick up on their own, this can be a valuable guide for tutors, academic coaches and teachers of study-skills courses looking for a systematic and informative handbook. An earnest, comprehensive and "everything-you-need" compendium. (index, author's note) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

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September 1, 2013

Gr 6 Up-In this volume, students learn time management skills, how to construct an essay, memorization tricks, and how to study effectively. Martin attests that poor study habits and bad grades can be overcome with practice and developing strong learning strategies. The text takes readers step-by-step through the basics for achieving success. From the beginning, the author urges students to set reachable goals and priorities that focus on creating adequate time for study and test preparation. Sample weekly schedules and different note-taking tips are nicely outlined in examples and diagrams. Students are shown how to create individualized study guides from their notes or from teacher-supplied guides. Though getting enough sleep is mentioned several times, the sample schedules fall short of the National Sleep Foundation's recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours per night for adolescents. Useful hints for dealing with challenging teachers and school assignments are also covered. Struggling students who are determined to make improvements will also find the book helpful.-Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 7-12 How many times do students realize they have misplaced, forgotten, or simply ignored an important assignment? Or blow off preparing for a big test? Using her background as a high-school social-studies teacher, Martin offers solutions for the ever more demanding job of balancing high school and extracurricular activities. From setting goals to learning about expectations, and from getting organized to acing the test, her ideas are practical, straightforward, and easily implementedif a student is motivated to follow them. Of particular interest are the chapters Working the Classroom and What to Learn and How to Learn It. Individual students with natural initiative might pick up this book, read it, and take the suggestions to heart. Less motivated students, however, might need to be persuaded to give it a chance. Used as part of a study skills course, the book could reach a broad audience of students, many of whom could benefit from Martin's suggestions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)