Nominate Your School for a $50,000 Grant

Would you like to win a $50,000 grant for your school? The Clorox Company is hosting the Power A Bright Future program, which will enable students to do just that.

Students are invited to nominate a school and explain how it could use $50,000 for improvement. You have a few more weeks to nominate before voting begins in October.

This is a great opportunity for you and your school!

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Supplies for Middle School Students

I know it might sound a little funny, but writing utensils (pens and pencils) become really important when you get to middle school. What's so different about pencils in middle school?

It's simple, really. Students will find themselves writing a lot more when they get into the sixth grade. Book report requirements might be two pages instead of two paragraphs, journal entries will be much more involved, and tests will invlove long essay answers. If you've ever tried to write a long passage with a cheap pencil and a bad eraser, you can image how frustrating middle school could be with a bad set of pencils!

Middle school students face new challenges. It's so important to find the right set of tools for middle school students. After all, you want to give yourself every possible advantage at this special time of your academic career!

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High School Supplies

One of the best ways to be successful in high school is to be prepared for any assignment that comes your way.

It's a good idea to keep an inventory of supplies on hand, so you'll be ready when it really counts. Avoid those last-minute trips to the store! This list contains recommended supplies for high school.

General Supplies for Every High School Student

Some supplies are necessary year after year, no matter what grade you're in. When you're planning for a new school year, it's pretty safe to invest in these.

• Flash drive
• 3-ring binder
• Backpack
• Colored pencils
• Colored pens
• Eraser
• Glue stick
• Graph paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Highlighters
• Markers
• Organizer/planner
• Paper clips
• Pens/pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Pocket dictionary
• Pocket folders
• Poster paper
• Public Library card
• Ream of computer paper
• Scissors
• Spiral notebook
• Stapler
• Thesaurus
• Tissues

Some extra supplies will be necessary each year, but the specific requirements will differ from school to school and grade to grade. This list is a guideline. Check with your teachers for specifics!

Supplies for Tenth Grade

Algebra II

• Scientific calculator with fraction key

Geometry

• Scientific calculator with fraction key
• Circular protractor
• Ruler marked with in and cm
• Compass

Foreign Language

• Index cards
• Foreign Language Dictionary

Supplies for Eleventh Grade

Biology II

• Science/Biology dictionary

Calculus

• Graphing calculator, such as TI -83 or 86
• Graphing paper

Accounting

• Four-function calculator with percent key

Foreign Language

• 3x5 Index cards
• Foreign language dictionary
• Translator

Supplies for Twelfth Grade

Marketing

• Four-function calculator with percent key

Statistics

• Scientific calculator with fraction key

ChemistryPhysicsForeign Language

• 3x5 Index cards
• Foreign language dictionary
• Electronic translator

Pricey But Worth It

• Smartpen by Livescribe: This is a favorite tool for math class. Students always seem to "get it" when a math teacher lectures and works out problems, but then they "lose it" when they sit down to do math problems on their own. The Smartpen enables students to record a lecture while taking notes. The pen will enable the student to place the pen tip on any word or drawing and listen to the part of the lecture that was taking place when those notes were recorded.
• Post-It? Easel Pads: This item is useful for brainstorming, but it's a little pricey. It's basically a pad of giant sticky notes that you can put on a wall or any other surface and cover with a mind-dump of notes, list items, ideas, or anything else. This tool is great for study group brainstorming sessions.
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• Laptop Computer: You will have access to computer labs on campus, but a laptop computer will free you up to do your work anywhere.
• Printer/Scanner: If you can afford to have a own printer in your room, be sure to get a printer with scanning capabilities. Scanners can be used to create study guides from your books.

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School Year's Resolution

Every year on the first of January we make our New Year's resolutions and promise to do (or not do) something special. There is a problem with this method. It happens halfway through the school year! It doesn't do us a lot of good to establish good working habits after we've muddled through an entire semester with bad working habits!

This year, let's all make a School Year's Resolution instead. Take a moment to reflect on some troublesome behavior that may have held you back a little in the past. Do you put things off until the last moment? Are you always late? These things can certainly take a toll on your grade point average.

Here are some suggestions for your School Year's Resolution:

• Be on time every day
• Never forget an assignment
• Use a student planner
• Stop procrastination
• Get organized
• Develop a strategy for success and stick to it!

Feel free to comment and let me know what resolution you will choose for this school year!

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