January 2024 newsletter

January 2024 newsletter

Happy New Year from all of us at SAOTG! January brings a unique blend of hope and determination, an ideal period for setting new goals and aspirations. At SAOTG, we're excited to harness this energy to help our students not just set goals but achieve them using the powerful tools of Executive Function.?

However, as the month progresses, the initial excitement can wane. The reality of everyday challenges often erodes the bright-eyed optimism of the new year. It's a familiar cycle: high hope followed by the daunting nature of long-term goals. Remember, it's completely natural for students (and even adults!) to stumble on the path to growth. The key is not in setting flawless goals, but rather in designing a practical approach to achieving them. This is where Executive Function comes into play. Students can use our four pillars of Executive Function to set up habits, routines, and environments that make growth the path of least resistance. But occasional failure is part of the bargain.?As we move through January, let's remind ourselves and our students that every day is an opportunity to grow. Here's to another year of learning, growing, and thriving! ?

For parents and support professionals ready to help students hit the ground running this semester, follow these expert tips:

Take Aim?-Well-defined goals are the foundation for a successful semester. Encourage students to set specific, achievable targets. For instance, rather than aiming for "better grades," set goals like completing all assignments in January on time or meeting with a teacher at least three days before any exam. Precise goals are not only easier to track, but they are also more motivating as students can see their progress more clearly.?

Celebrate Small Victories?- Building on this idea of choosing clear targets, we also want to have clear, early wins in 2024. Recognizing andcelebrating mini-victories is an essential component of student motivation. It's a long semester. Winning the week (or the day) is much more attainable than winning the semester. So, help your students recognize bite-sized wins each day like acing the first vocabulary quiz of the semester or resetting their binder(s). These small wins provide a sense of accomplishment that fuels the rest of the semester.?

Design The Environment for Success?- Success in school, like success anywhere else, is often a product of the right environment and the right tools. Help students understand the importance of an organized study area, a bulletproof planner, and a dependable accountability system. By controlling these manageable aspects of academic life, students can create a solid foundation for the new semester.?

Executive Function for All?- We?are thrilled to announce the return of our notable community outreach?LAUNCH Program. In partnership with?Families Empowered?and the?Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, SAOTG will provide much-needed academic coaching services this coming summer to students from underserved communities around Houston who struggle with learning differences and lack the necessary resources for robust, targeted support. These one-week, intensive courses invite?ten deserving students at a time to dive into the foundational aspects of our?award-winning curriculum. Your support will significantly impact these students' lives, helping them overcome challenges in school now and build a foundation for future success. Families Empowered is our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor and all donations to Families Empowered earmarked for the SAOTG Launch Program are tax-deductible. Learn more and lend your support by visiting?https://saotg.com/donate!

Connecting with Counselors?- We are always looking for ways to connect with the Greater Houston educational community. Next week, SAOTG President & CEO Evan Weinberger will present to the Houston Area Independent School Counselors (HAISC). Evan will offer actionable and specific strategies that counselors can share with both teachers at their schools for their classrooms and parents in their school communities for the home environment.?Evan will cover topics such as helping children form better school habits and routines, as well as maintain focus, a growth mindset, cognitive flexibility, and more. Evan will also address core skills like physical and digital organization, as well as using school planners and portals effectively. We are super excited about this presentation!

SAOTG + The Menninger Clinic?- ?Earlier this month, Evan visited with The Menninger Clinic's outpatient services team in Bellaire.?It was lovely connecting with the many new faces at Menninger's Bellaire location. Known worldwide, first and foremost, for their top-notch inpatient services, The Menninger Clinic has many fantastic outpatient programs for those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.?We love our ongoing partnership with The Menninger Clinic. Learn more about The?Menninger Clinic here.

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Evan Weinberger

National Speaker I Entrepreneur I Ed Consultant

10 个月

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