how do I get high school students to study their textbooks?

Question

I'm a teacher of high school chemistry and I find it difficult to ask students to read their book.

Answer 1

From someone who has gone through high school with college level chemistry classes.....the only way to get them to study their text books is to make it interesting. Maybe a slide show using power point. We also did labs once or twice a week just so we were constantly buried in a book. It made things so much more fun. Chemistry isn't the most interesting class in the world, but there are so many ways to make it interesting. Either that or maybe have them read the chapter out loud in class. And better yet, make them take notes on what they're reading and have them turn them in once a week for you to look over and grade. That way they will at least be reading over the important parts of the book in order to take the notes and get the grades.

Answer 2

There are a couple of strategies that I have used very successfully in the past. 1. Teach 60% of the material in class only but tell the students that in a test 40% will be from the material not taught in class, which will be their responsibility. Of course, if there is something they don't understand they can ask you during short question periods reserved for this purpose. 2. I divide the class into groups (you decide based on how many Ss you have and the size of the book/chapter) and give each group 1 section of the book/chapter and ask them to make up x-number of questions for the test. Let's say each group constructs 15 questions, and if you have 4 groups = 60 questions. Then you tell them that 20-30 will be on the exam and you will decide which ones. The beauty of this method is that each group will become expert on their section and will "know" x-number of their questions in an exam. So, potentially they are guaranteed a 25% success rate. However, they will HAVE TO study the other sections to succeed in the test. This is not only a good way to get them to study but it's an excellent way to review. You could if you choose, use all the questions in an oral review, but they will still not know which ones will be chosen for the exam. Another great review game is this: If my class was at the end of the day, I would tell the students that I will start in the furthest corner of the classroom from the door. I will be asking questions. With each correct answer, I will progress 1 step toward the door. With each wrong answer I will step back 1 or 2 steps (depending on classroom size)I will ask the questions randomly. The goal is to get me out the door earlier than their dismissal. So choose 1/2 hr - 3/4 hr. Students love to leave earlier so they will really try to get you out the door. Try it, it really works, it's fun and everyone is responsible to the collective to give right answers. Good Luck

Answer 3

Instead of relying on them to study their textbooks, why not make your lessons interesting? Be creative. Your main job as a teacher is for you to teach your students. You already know what they need to learn, and you already know they don't like studying their textbooks, so you've to adjust.
But of course, you can't baby them too much. After all, they're high school students. So a few pop quizzes wouldn't kill them either!

Answer 4

Well, this depends on if you are a teacher that your students have a great deal of respect for. This is not to say that your students don't respect you, but some teachers just have a quality, that if they look at you a certain way, you can tell instantly that they are dissappointed in you. One of my highschool teachers was like this, and I was a student who hated to read textbooks, but, every day at the beginning of class, he would ask specific questions out of the book that you would not know the answer to, unless you read it. Then call out a student. Don't let them raise their hands, choose yourself. If they don't know, give them that look.. man I hated that look, but it got me to read. Also, on some days, If you gave a correct answer, or an especially good one, where you had to interperet, not just a yes/no, he would toss out some tootsie rolls, lifesavers, etc.

I loved that class.

Answer 5

If the students know that some test questions (maybe half) are going to be directly from the textbook it should motivate them to read it.
In college I took chemistry for the first time and what helped me was a workshop class separate from the lecture class. I was the only one who went every time though; I wanted to be there.

Answer 6

Just tell them to have read x number of pages each night.

Better yet, have those page numbers and chapters printed out on that syllabus at the beginning of each semester.

That way the student will know the course expectations.

Answer 7

Honestly, I just graduated high school last year. Your students are not going to read unless they fear that there will be a pop quiz or something of the nature.

Answer 8

have you every tried open book tests/quizzes? I give my students time limited open book tests. These test 20% from the final grade and my students know that they can answer 10 questions in 5 min correctly only if they know where to find the answer in the book.

Answer 9

Give them loads of homework that will require them to read their text books. Tell them that the answers to their homework can be found in their text book. All they have to do is read their textbooks.

Answer 10

chemistry is a difficult subject. perhaps to make this subject more enjoyable, relate your lessons to what you see in your surroundings daily. demonstrate in front of the class. try to stir their imagination.

then tell them to hit the textbooks and be prepared for an exam.

good luck.