Study with a partner.

Ask guidance to find you a peer tutor.

Talk with your teachers outside of class, to find out how they offer extra help.

Guidance and your teachers will help you find out what all your extra help options are.

It sounds like you are very perfectionistic; so is my son. We’ve been working a lot on that the past few years. He would also have severe anxiety and outright refuse to do something when he didn’t get it, he would even decide that he was stupid and couldn’t learn whatever it was. (He’s younger than you, but I understand the anxiety.) He’s far from stupid – he’s actually incredibly bright – but had to learn, in a safe way, how to deal with that anxiety.

If you are a perfectionist, the first thing you need to do is to give yourself permission to fail. I teach at some of our local co ops, everywhere from elementary to high school classes, and I would honestly rather see a wrong answer from a student who’s trying to “get it” than a blank answer because they were afraid to try. This gives me an idea of where my student is and how I can help them.

You may experience some anxiety the first month or so of school – talk with your parents before hand and allow them to help you. When they give you advice on what to do, even if it seems out of character or difficult, do it. Feel free to ask your teachers for help, and be honest with them when you don’t understand something.

One thing that’s important to remember is that your teachers don’t expect you to be perfect; they expect you to try. If you “got” everything from the word go, they wouldn’t have a reason to teach you. It’s ok to be part of the learning curve – and you’ll actually learn some really great things once you allow yourself to let go.

For the first month or so, just focus on learning from your teachers, on figuring out what they expect and doing your best. I promise, your best is good enough – that’s all they can ask for. If you notice yourself having anxiety issues, tell your parents immediately and talk with a teacher you trust or with your guidance counselor. There is a chance that you may get some teachers who are not interested in giving out extra help when it’s needed – sadly, they do exist – but I think you’ll find that most of your teachers are willing to help you in reasonable ways. They won’t be able to hold your hand, but they will be able to explain things in different ways in order to help you understand.

I think you’ll also find that you’re better equipped to handle this situation than you think. I know that transitioning back into school can be scary, especially after such a bad experience, but chances are you’ve grown a lot in the past couple years, and are better able to deal with things.

I hope this helps – and good luck!

You could try the colleges and universities – sometimes undergraduates give tutoring sessions for a fee. You could hire a tutor. You could ask a friend or someone in your grade for help. Speak to your guide advisor and see what options are available to you.

As far as learning the material goes, talk to your teachers. They will probably be available for some extra help after school. They cannot be there to help you with every single assignment. You can check into peer tutoring, or other tutoring options.

Also there is nothing wrong with asking for help, people do it all the time and it is the secret to doing well. You probaly just don’t see them ask because it is after class. It is completely normal.. teachers want to help students thats why they teach..

: ) good luck

If you’re not “get[ting] anything,” you probably need a tutor in study skills, reading/lecture strategies, and maybe with content area stuff (math, English, etc).