Grades aren't everything, but if you or your parents are worried about your report cards, try some of these simple tips.

·         Create a study plan. Figure out how much time you need to spend on each subject every week, and then make a weekly schedule. Find out from your teachers when major projects are due, and put them on a calendar. Once you determine how much time you'll need for these projects, you can use your calendar to figure out when you need to start working on them.

·         Do your homework. Most teachers’ base grades on homework, and it's easier to keep up with your assignments than it is to dig yourself out of a hole.

·         Talk to your teachers. Your teachers may have suggestions about what you can do to learn more and improve in weak areas. But you have to ask!

·         Learn from your mistakes. When you get a bad grade, you probably get angry and frustrated. That's normal, but you should also use the experience to try to figure out what went wrong so you can avoid the same mistake in the future. Did you misunderstand the assignment? Did you wait until the last minute to study for a test? Was there some other problem? Once you determine what went wrong, you can work on doing better the next time.

·         Get a tutor. If you are having problems in a particular subject, a tutor may be able to help you get caught up. Do you know a student in a class ahead of you who might be willing to help? If not, your school may be able to help you find someone. Or perhaps you want a professional tutor. Don't expect overnight improvement, but personalized help can really help some students.

·         Study with friends. Sometimes it's hard to get started on homework, but if you agree to meet with one or two friends to do your work you'll have a built-in schedule. Warning: This won't work if you and your friends decide to watch TV or play video games instead of doing your homework!