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Sit away from friends. Try to sit in front. Participate in discussion. Take notes. Keep your eyes on the teacher. Sit up straight.
If you have friends in your class, you may be tempted to sit next to them. However, friends can easily prove distracting. You want to resist the temptation to pass notes or whisper during class lectures and discussions. If you don't want to hurt your friend's feelings, politely let them know ahead of time you'll be sitting away from them in class. Say something like, "Hey, I know we like to all sit together, but I keep distracting myself lately. I think I'm going to try to sit on my own and see if that helps me focus." In addition to sitting away from your friends, pick a seat towards the front of the classroom. It's easier to get distracted in the back when you're struggling to see the board. Sit towards the front of the class so you will be able to focus. In addition to helping you focus, many classes grade you on in-class discussion. Whenever an opportunity comes up for discussion, always participate at least once. If you're actively engaging in a conversation, you will have to pay attention to what's happening in your classroom.  You may be nervous about participating. However, keep in mind many of your classmates are nervous as well. Chances are, what you have to say is beneficial to the classroom. Ask questions if you have them. While you may feel embarrassed asking questions, many students may have the same questions you do and are simply too shy to raise them. Throughout class, take well-organized notes. Do not just copy down what the instructor says. Make sure to write it in your own words. Phrasing lectures in a way that makes sense to you will help you better retain the information.  Make sure to date and label your notes. You should write down a header explaining what's being discussed. Use shorthand when possible so you can keep up. For example, use abbreviations and acronyms when possible. Do not write down everything. Instead, focus on information you may easily forget, such as names, dates, equations, and other hard to remember facts. Maintaining some level of eye contact with the teacher can be helpful for several reasons. You will prevent your mind from wandering, and your teacher will also see you are attentive. This can reflect highly on you when the time comes for grading. During lectures, if you're not taking notes, look to the front of the classroom. It's a small change, but can make a big difference in your level of focus. Maintain good posture throughout a lecture. Good postures helps you regulate breath better, preventing you from becoming drowsy during class.