The school year has already begun for some, for others, it is about to begin.  With a new school year comes a fresh start.  It doesn't matter what kind of school you go to or what grade you are in.  It doesn't matter if you are already a good student or if you are struggling.  There is always room for improvement.  Here are 10 steps you can take to make this year better than the last. 

1.  Change your sleep habits.  Elementary school students need 10 hours of sleep to be truly refreshed and to stay healthy.  High school students should aim for as many hours of sleep.  While you can survive on less hours of sleep, you can not do it day in and day out without it affecting your school day in a negative way.

2.  Eat breakfast in the morning, and carry snacks if you need them.  You have to eat to fuel your brain.  In addition to getting more sleep, you also need to get up early enough to eat a balanced breakfast.  Your breakfast should have protien in it and not be all breakfast cereal.  In many middle and high schools lunches and be at ridiculous times.  If your lunch is too late or too early and does not line up with when you get hungry, you need to carry a snack to carry you over to your next meal.  Speak to your teachers to find out who will allow you to eat a little snack in class so you can keep your energy up.

3.  Cut back on some activities.  If you are putting your education first, you should cut back on some extra curriculars.  As you reach the middle and high school years, you should have a good idea about what you are doing for fun and what you are truly interested in.  Try to keep your extra curriculars to one or two things that are very important to you each year.

4. Prepare for school the night before.  Rushing in the morning will start your day off poorly.  Laying your your clothes at night and making sure everything is in your bookbag will save you time the next morning.

5. Have a conversation with your new teacher (s).  The sooner your teachers know you, the better your relationship will be with them. Don't be shy about introducing yourself and getting to know them.

6.  Accept help.  Many teachers offer time to help student who need extra help.  If you need help, please take advantage of this time.

7. Ask questions.  Ask questions during classroom time.  If you don't understand something, raise your hand.  If the teacher does not want to be interrupted, write your question down in your notebook and ask your teacher as soon as you can.  If you have to, look up the answer when you get home.

8.  Create a study schedule so you don't end up cramming for tests.  Don't wait until the night before to study for tests.  Instead, set aside a few hours each week just for study.  You will find that your test grades will go up.

9. Read for pleasure.  Reading for pleasure improves your spelling and vocabulary skills and will make reading comprehension tests easier.  It doesn't matter what you read as long as you enjoy it.  Try to read for an hour every day.

10. Learn how to take tests.  Spend some time taking practice tests to improve your test taking skills.  Always read the directions twice and when you are done, go back and check your questions. 

(This was written primarily for students in grade 7-12, parents if you stumble upon this guide and like what you see, please share it with your teens and preteens)

*Creative Commons image by House Of Sims/flickr