Get Back to School on the Right Foot!

Is heading back to school as scary as watching The Hills Have Eyes in a dark basement.. while aliens take over? Well, it doesn’t have to be. Here are eight ways to make this your best year ever.

1. If you can, pick the right seat: Where you sit says a lot about your attitude toward school. Park in the back row, and the teacher thinks you’re a slacker. Head to the middle of the class, says Dr. Monroe Helfgott, executive director of the Learning Abilities Center for Gifted Education in New York. Believe it or not, teachers don’t focus on the very front and very back rows — you’ll stand out more in the middle.

2. Get to know your teachers: Teachers aren’t out to fail you. They can be pretty subjective when it comes to grading, says Helfgott. If you’ve made a good impression, the teacher is more likely to swing the vote in your favor if your grade is riding between a B+ and an A-. So, start the school year off right by taking notes in class, asking questions, and handing in assignments on time. You’ll see the reward when your report card lands.