Dear Loved Ones,
We may not be able to reduce the challenges, but we sure can predict and plan for them. But first, we must expect the expected.
Allow me to introduce my secret trick to implementing the right strategies at the right time for the biggest benefit: The Semester Lifecycle. I use it to inform my expectations and then plan for the inevitable challenges BEFORE they surface.
Years of observation, trial, and error went into this simple little gem. I use it now to predict and plan strategies within my sessions with clients.Â
Enjoy!
Imagine the struggling students voyage through an academic semester, as something similar to embarking on an ocean voyage. Struggling students thrive within adventure, the new and the novel of discovering answers to their many (many) curiosities. “What will it be like? Who will be with me? What will we do? I am going to be so awesome at it this time.“
They can’t see where they are going. They don’t really feel how challenging it will be, but that’s okay because others know the way. Our students are happily energized, full of sincere promises, and focused. They are activated. The activation, stimulates their frontal cortex, causing their, executive functions to buzz along, at the highest level of function that it will be the entire semester.Â
At some point newness becomes routine. New people are not new anymore. Curiosities are satisfied and replaced with academic information that is not quite as interesting.
Supporting Struggling Students Within The Strong Start Phase
Now, is a great time to begin establishing some routines and after school boundaries. Returning to the Semester Lifecycle, we will expect the expected again and strategize to establish our foundation for ongoing "catch and track" strategies.
We know that routine and rituals are powerful executive function builders, as long as they are flexing the right brain functions. Learn how to not say, "do you have homework?" and what to ask instead. We will proactively establish this support for future working memory challenges, with the quick and easy Daily Check In strategy.
Homework will be flowing soon. Knowing that our struggling student's ability to focus is. so very environmentally influenced, we need to get strategic with the workspace. Using the Workplace Setup Checklist, we will explore the top five parts of a helpful homework zone.
Naturally following the increase in assignments, so is the increase in gradebook activity. Let's begin talking about grades before they become a hot button. The Grade Report Meeting strategy provides a step by step guide for positive and productive discussion. Imaging that! Talking about grades, without waging war. Ha!
