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From the Fox's Den - SAOTG June Newsletter

Staying Ahead of the Game LLC

Award-winning academic coaching & tutoring service based in Texas for students in 3rd grade through college.

发布日期: 2024年6月27日

June is always a tricky month for parents and students. The initial thrill of summer vacation wanes, and the challenge of establishing a new routine begins. It’s the time when the excitement of lazy days starts to fade, and the need for a bit of structure becomes apparent. But Executive Function (EF) skills shouldn’t take a break just because school is out. Planning, prioritizing, and time management, are just as important during the summer months as they are during the school year. Summer presents a fantastic opportunity for parents and support professionals to help students enhance them in a more relaxed, enjoyable setting.

While students should absolutely enjoy the liberty that summer brings, integrating some form of routine can help them stay sharp and prepared for the upcoming school year. As we dive into this month’s tips, we’ll show you how to make the most of these sunny months by seamlessly blending fun and learning.?

For parents and support professionals ready to help students thrive this summer, here are our expert tips:?

Pair Incremental Progress with Habitual Tasks?- June is an ideal time to tackle review packets and summer reading. The secret to success is consistency—doing a little bit each day to avoid the summer slide and prevent the stress of first-week quizzes. Pairing incremental progress (like reading a chapter or solving ten math problems) with an existing habit, such as walking the dog, makes this manageable. This technique leverages synaptic pruning, helping students retain academic skills and prevent knowledge loss. By incorporating small daily tasks, students can maintain nearly all the knowledge they gained during the school year. Additionally, consider personalized approaches like standardized test prep to further reinforce academic concepts and boost confidence.

Balance Unstructured and Structured Time?- Throughout the school year, younger students follow a continuous routine for about nine months. However, as they grow older, they face the non-academic challenge of managing unstructured time. To help students prepare for this inevitable waning of structure as they matriculate, it’s important to practice balancing structured and unstructured time during the summer. Allow your student some unstructured time to manage on their own after offering some gentle suggestions for healthy self-management, fostering the independence and adaptability they will need for future success. This balance helps them learn to prioritize tasks, make decisions, and adapt to new situations, which are critical skills for thriving in college and beyond.

Practice Through Personal Projects?- June is a great time for students to set large goals and practice visualizing each step along the way. It could be something like running a half marathon, learning a language, starting and maintaining a blog, or re-decorating a room. By setting a long-term goal that requires several steps, students practice sequential planning. They must work backward to figure out what actions need to be taken at each step. This goal does not have to be academic! For example, planning a party for a parent or a friend is a great way to practice long-term planning skills. Students need to visualize and log every step, identify what is required to execute it, and allocate the necessary time to complete it. This process can be applied to large-scale projects and assignments during the school year.

Launch:?Executive Functioning Skills?in Full Swing?-?This month, through a collaborative effort with Families Empowered and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, SAOTG instructors taught the Launch: Executive Functioning Skills course at three underserved schools. We worked with students at St. Ambrose Catholic School, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School to bring this transformative program to kids who need it most. Underserved students often face significant challenges in their academic pursuits.?Our course seeks to break this cycle by providing essential Executive Functioning skills that are frequently overlooked in traditional education settings. We love this partnership!

Thank You Christ The Redeemer Catholic School?- A few weeks ago, SAOTG President & CEO, Evan Weinberger, visited Christ the Redeemer Catholic School in Cypress. He?presented to rising 8th grade parents?about the Upper Level ISEE exam, a crucial piece of the high school admissions puzzle. Parents really appreciated the information, and we look forward to working with their students on ISEE prep in the months ahead. If you would like to discuss possibilities at your school, we would love to hear from you!

SAOTG Group Courses Are Almost Full?-?SAOTG group courses are back this summer! Our popular 5-day Quest: Executive Function course covers our four pillars of EF: organization, time management, learning skills, and impression management. This is the perfect way for middle school and high school students to hit the ground running next semester. Students will engage in hands-on activities and practical exercises designed to build and strengthen these essential skills. We still have a few spots open. Register your child today to secure a place in this transformative program!