Following Directions: A skill worth learning

No names on papers? No titles on compositions? No answers rounded to the nearest tenth? Many teachers find themseleves confronting such problems while grading papers, because our students may not be paying attention to directions. In order to be a successful student you have to recognize the importance of reading instructions thoroughly and following them.

Unfortunately, in the rush to complete assignments, students often race past directions to get to the "meat" of their work but some teachers have hidden the answer to a simple question, or a hint to a tougher one, within the directions of an exam, just to encourage students to read the directions!

Teachers of some students may craft a page of instructions that students must read in their entirety before beginning to work and include as the last one, "Ignore all of the directions above and turn in your paper." See if you can understand and follow the instructions for the following exercise.

On a lined sheet of paper perform the following tasks

1. Write your name first name on the last line of the paper at the left-hand margin.
2. On the first line on the paper write the numbers 1 through 9. Start at the left and print the numbers. Leave a space between each number.
3. Circle the number 6.
4. Draw a star in the upper left-hand corner of the page.
5. Fold your paper in half the long way.
6. Open up your paper, then fold it the opposite way.
7. Use the tip of your pencil to poke a hole in the center of the paper (the place where the two folds meet).
8. Draw a heart around the hole you made in your paper.
9. Write the first initial of your last name in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
10. On the last line on the page, write the word done near the right margin.

Do you understand what you were asked to do and did you do it in the correct order? In the exams you will take starting next week, make sure you read and understand the instructions carefully BEFORE you begin answering the questions. If you have any questions make sure to ask the invigilators in your exam room. They are there to help you for those times when you don't understand instructions. Good luck!