Steps After Applying to College

Written by: Wilson Kong

Your child just submitted the last college application! All the hard work earning good grades, scoring well on the SAT/ACT exams, and writing strong college essays will soon pay off. Before you both take a sigh of relief and relax, the work is not yet done. There are still many important activities both you and your child can do after the application process is over. Here are some important tips to keep in mind the rest of the school year.

1. Watch for correspondence

After applying to each of your schools, you’ll likely receive additional emails regarding the next steps. Some schools may encourage your child to open a student portal. Here, you can check the status of the application as well as follow up with other campus notifications. Just make sure to keep those usernames and passwords in a safe place. Remind students to check their email (and snail mail) for important communications from schools. It just might be that acceptance letter!

2. Applying for financial aid       

If you haven’t already, now is the time to start (or continue) applying for financial aid. Seek out merit-based and/or need-based scholarships. If applicable, be sure to fill out your FAFSA. Colleges often use the FAFSA information to determine if you qualify for other types of aid on their campuses. Add all the schools you applied for on the application and review their Student Aid report. The deadline for FAFSA is June 30th, so make sure to mark your calendars!

3. Maintaining good grades

It goes without saying that your child should maintain good grades for the rest of the school year. While colleges may not have the most up-to-date grades transcripts originally submitted with the application, poor final-term grades can potentially hurt students’ chances of gaining or maintaining admission. Keeping a strong academic profile may even open new opportunities leading up to freshman year. So don’t let that dreaded senioritis take over! 

4. Schedule school visits

The winter and spring months are a great time for scheduling in-person campus visits to the schools your child is interested in attending. Even if a school looks perfect on paper, it may feel different spending time on campus and talking to other students. You will also be able to see the facilities, living spaces, and even schedule a campus tour with a group. The campus environment, city life, and cost of living may influence both you and your child’s final decision. Also, admissions offices often track touch points with students because they demonstrate ongoing interest in the school.

5. Staying on top of deadlines

There are so many things to remember when it comes to applying for college. Deadlines are one thing you certainly do not want to forget. Whether they are deadlines for submitting transcripts, dorm applications, or financial aid, make sure to keep track of due dates for each school. Remember that even formal acceptances to a school have deadlines. This would be a great use of those time management and executive functioning skills!

Illuminos understands and supports the importance of helping you take the proper steps after applying to college. Illuminos ensures that each and every student we support academically has the necessary skill set and knowledge to further their education into college and beyond. Be sure to check out our Top Tips for a Less Stressful College Application Process as well for more information. 

Reach out to Illuminos today to see how we can help prepare you or your student for college! 

Learning Differences Awareness Month

Written by: Tatum Bloch

October was Learning Differences (LD) Awareness Month, and as a business that works primarily with students with learning differences, this holds near to our core values, and we are honored to bring awareness this month. This is a special time to be aware of the challenges children and adults with learning differences face every day. In addition, it is a special time to provide various tools, strategies, and initiatives for educators to cultivate a safe environment for different types of learners in the classroom. 

The National Center for Learning Disabilities states that 1 in 5 American students have learning or attention issues, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Whether you or someone you know is affected by a learning difference, it is important to be aware of the barriers and challenges these students and adults face every day. 

We hope to continue to highlight the strengths of all children and adults with learning differences and encourage parents of children with learning differences to continue to nurture and celebrate the accomplishments of these children every day. 

Let’s talk about the different ways we can highlight students with learning differences this month all while bringing awareness to them! 

Get Involved This Month  

There are a variety of ways that you can get involved this month to spread awareness and shine a spotlight on learning and attention disorders. Getting involved with your child’s school or community is a great way to spread awareness. Be sure to have an open line of communication with your child's teacher as well as the school to ensure that your child is receiving the proper accommodations and support that they need. 

Taking action within your community and spreading awareness will help to create a safe space for children who may feel on the outskirts, loved, and accepted. There are many ways that you can get involved such as going to events in your area that support students with learning differences or volunteering at your child's school.  

Focus on Effort, Not Results 

This month it is especially important to remember that children with learning differences may not always receive the highest grade or score the highest score on a test. Focusing on the effort that these students put into their work and not the results is especially important to improving their confidence and giving them the strength they need to grow. 

The key to success is not always all A’s on the report card, but the effort that they put into that project, or the skills and knowledge obtained from the assignment. Focusing on the effort, and not the results is a growth mindset. Focusing on results can lead to comparison of self to others rather than implementing self-evaluation. 

Continue to Support the Children's Intellectual Curiosity

Continuing to support children with learning differences, a love of learning, and curiosity about new material is essential to giving them the support that they need. Encourage them to ask questions, dig deeper into subjects that interest them, and explore different elements of learning to expand their knowledge. 

What Can You Do? 

Taking action together as a community will bring us all one step closer to bringing more awareness to learning differences and breaking those negative stigmas. During Learning Differences Awareness Month, we invite you to be more aware of your surroundings, word choice, and how you interact with those who may be different from you. As a community, we can make a change together. Illuminos is here to support students and parents with all different types of learning differences. 

Final Thoughts

Illuminos is dedicated to teaching students with all different types of learning capabilities to thrive the best that they can. Whether you are affected directly or indirectly by a learning difference, be sure to be aware of the community around you. Learning differences are not a barrier to education and this month is all about increasing awareness of the need for learning access for all. Be sure to check out the outstanding services Illuminos offers to give your student the extra push they need to excel in school. 

The Connection of Fidget Toys and ADHD

As a business that supports students with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), we value the importance of raising awareness and educating our readers on new studies, tools, and resources that aid in the success of students with ADHD.  In honor of October being ADHD Awareness month, we’d like to share the impact of fidget toys on students, and how to properly use them to help students improve executive functioning skills and academic studies.

Fidget Toys are great tools for students with ADHD. The impact on the brain’s executive function process is impeccable. Executive Functioning skills are important for everyone, especially for students with learning differences such as ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Processing Challenges, etc. Fidget toys can be a great outlet for students with learning differences to excel academically and improve their executive function when used the proper way. 

Fidget Toys are a great way to create a well-rounded homework schedule and a customized organizational system tailored to your child. This allows him or her to locate homework quickly and use allocated study time more productively. Additionally, learning to effectively communicate and manage impressions left on teachers, peers, counselors, and others are key for your child to succeed. Instead of looking at Fidget Toys as a nuisance, look at them as a valuable tool to your children's success in learning imperative Executive Functioning skills that they will take with them throughout their future into adulthood and beyond.

The Science

Studies show that fidgeting with a toy while working helps ADHD students focus longer and think with more clarity. Fidget toys help the blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, where the brain’s executive function processes sit. Fidgeting stimulates neurotransmitters in the brain, giving the nervous system the stimulation it needs to stay focused. In other words, fidgeting is a way to power up the brain, an adaptive part of the problem-solving process. Every student responds differently to fidgeting, and the amount of improvement versus becoming a distraction also varies.

Potential Risks 

Although fidget toys are popular with students, and can be lots of fun, there are a few risks to consider when using fidget spinners during academic studies or play. 

Adverse effects of fidget devices include:

Electronic Fidget Toys

Always use the cable that comes with the toy. There have been cases of fidget toys catching fire or overheating due to improper charging or use.

Choking Hazard for Children under 3.

Kids ages 3 and under can be at risk of choking on the small removable pieces found on spinners, toys, or push buttons. It is imperative to ensure that your child or student is at the proper age and maturity level to use these fidget devices as learning tools, instead of toys for pure enjoyment when in the classroom for academic purposes. These pieces are often caps, bearings, or washers. Be sure to keep spinners away from children under 3 and supervise them when in play for toddlers.

Spinning Fidget Toys

Studies have shown that spinning fidget toys are ineffective and distracting in classrooms. Using a fidget spinner was associated with increased reports of attentional lapses, diminished judgments of learning, and impaired performance on a memory test. In addition, there have been multiple cases in various cities of students being hospitalized from throwing fidget spinners.

How to use fidget toys properly?

The presence of fidget toys in classrooms can be distracting to those who do not need them to focus. It’s  important to teach your children how to productively use fidget toys and how to choose the best fidget toys for their environment. It’s vital to communicate with your students that fidgeting is a productive step in completing their work instead of something to hide when the teacher looks their way; be sure to communicate with your child’s school about the use of fidget toys within the classrooms.

How do I get the school to let my child use fidgets?

Communicate with your child's teacher about specific fidget toys that are allowed in the class, and the benefits of fidgets for your child. IEPs and 504 plans commonly outline fidgets as accommodations. If your child does not have an IEP or 504 plan, it might be wise to reach out to your child’s counselor or learning specialist. Here is a list of “good” fidget toys features for the classroom:

• Silent: Your child won’t get shushed for disturbing the class.

• Unobtrusive: Children with ADHD don’t want to draw attention to themselves; fidgets should fit in a fist.

• Tactile (not visual): Fidgets shouldn’t draw restless eyes away from the teacher.

• Safe: Kids can choke on small items; some stretchy fidgets sting when they snap.

• Tools (not toys): Balls shouldn’t bounce, for instance — too distracting.

• Inexpensive: They’re likely to be lost (like their lunch bags).

• Teacher-approved: Consult the teacher before sending in new items.     (Source: ADDitude)

At Illuminos, we teach students Executive Functioning skills while supporting their homework and subject matter needs. Our experienced academic coaches personalize our curriculum, report progress, and collaborate with teachers and others in the child’s “circle of support.” Our science-based and research-tested, flagship Executive Function curriculum can help your child succeed through our emphasis on emotional intelligence. We help empower students with Executive Functioning tools so they can be more responsible, invested, and rewarded for their own success. Check out the outstanding services Illuminos offers to give your student the extra push they need to excel in school.

The Importance of an Academic Coach for your Child with Learning Differences

Written by: Kennedy Simpson

Let’s face it, the modern world is a stressful, confusing place. Your children have sports and clubs to attend, work hours are long, and finding methods to sort out the madness is the only way to keep yourself sane. This goes double for our youth juggling school, extracurriculars, and social-life navigation. 

Many of the tips and tricks for managing one’s life are just not built into the school curriculum, so it falls to parents and mentors to ensure their children can learn valuable life skills that will allow them to thrive in school and beyond. This can become tricky when the established methodology is geared toward a population of students who learn in a singular way with a narrow scope of memory methods. 

But do not fear! An academic coach will be able to help you wrangle an effective plan that can work with your child’s learning style and promote their confidence in an uncertain world.

Here are some of the benefits of having an academic coach available to work with you. 

Academic Coaches are Trained in research-supported routines to help your child succeed

Academic coaches are trained in reflective practices as well as multiple tactics to reframe students’ routines and thought processes. Sometimes the stresses of daily life are due to obligations and tasks feeling overwhelming, or impossible to overcome. Studies have shown that coaching in executive function can allow students to see their problems more clearly for what they are and how they can be managed. Executive function coaching focuses not on academics specifically but promoting self-talk, encouraging experimentation, and building emotional resilience. These skills can allow children to work with their learning differences, and not against them.

Lesson plans are customized for your child, not for a group

Unlike a school setting, academic coaching can tailor to an individual student. That means a tutor can focus on a student’s specific difficulties and find solutions that work for them. Often the tactics useful for neurotypical students are stressful or even useless for their non-neurotypical classmates. Furthermore, tutors can tailor their lessons to the individual in a way to keep them relevant and engaging, using the student’s intrinsic motives to work for them instead of against them.

Lessons are flexible to unique & changing needs

The needs of students are ever-changing. As they grow up and take on more obligations, new stressors will arise, and skills will be mastered. As such, their lessons can grow with them, introducing new skills and techniques as troubles arise. Tutors will also grow, going through trainings and learning new approaches to benefit your child. This will allow the students and tutors to adapt to their situations that much easier and provide dynamic lesson plans. 

Accountability provided from an outside source 

Obligations to parents and teachers can keep a student accountable for their homework (and executive functioning homework!), but at the end of the day, parents and teachers are authority figures that students answer to daily. Having someone specifically there to hold them accountable for their habits, provide encouragement, and act as a mentor, is important to have meaningful progress in executive functioning skills. 

In short, academic coaches can provide accountability, flexibility, personalization, and professionalism for your student as they learn techniques to improve executive function. Students with learning differences won’t always get the support they need at school, an academic coach can give them the attention they need. Having someone on their side to help with day-to-day habits and skills will make their stress less, and their learning more! 

At Illuminos, we take great care to pair your family with the right academic coach. We complete the student’s “circle of support” by also working with their teachers, school administrators, therapists, psychiatrists, and others, so each student can improve their academics, emotional wellbeing, independence, and social skills.

Our 360-degree approach includes monitoring school portals and reinforcing concepts taught in the classroom. We teach students, including those managing learning differences, Executive Functioning skills while supporting their subject matter needs. We integrate our proprietary program into your child’s everyday life.

Calm your nerves and receive the right support today!

HOW TO SEAMLESSLY TRANSITION CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL

By Marissa Poggio

Heading back to school can be a very stressful time for students. They have a lot on their plate with shopping for new school supplies, meeting a new teacher, mingling with new classmates, and adapting to a new schedule.

Home life can become tough if students don’t have the coping skills they need to handle challenging situations. Believe it or not, transitioning back to school doesn’t have to be a stressful time.

Using the following techniques can boost your child’s confidence about returning to school and even leave them excited about what’s to come!

Establish a Summer Routine

Research shows that individuals who grow up with predictable, daily routines are less likely to have time management or attention problems as adults. This means that routines help students excel in life. A daily schedule helps develop executive functioning skills so that they don’t feel overwhelmed. Here are two ways to help your child adapt to their new school schedule:

• Start by waking up at the same time each day or eating breakfast at the same hour every morning.

• Create a visual calendar with your child - Your child needs to be able to physically see what’s on the calendar for the day, as a result, your student will be a pro at managing their planner on the first day of school!

Discuss Academic Goals Together

Get your child excited for the new school year by helping them create academic goals. This will give them something to look forward to as challenges arise. Ask your child what they would like to accomplish this year academically. Make sure their goals are realistic and reachable. Some examples of tangible goals are participating more in class, handing in assignments on time, and prioritizing assignments based on due dates.

Furthermore, to help make these goals reachable, you can lay them out in a clear concise manner to set your student up for success. Keep a notebook for smart goals and track their progress. Have fun with goal setting, and reward your child whenever they get closer to reaching a goal.

Be a Good Role Model

It’s normal for students to feel anxious about going back to school. Parents and teachers are a great support system for students in these instances. Children tend to copy their parent’s way of handling challenging situations. Be a good role model by teaching your student how to cope when they are distressed. Some healthy ways of coping during a stressful time include speaking truthfully about your feelings, seeking support from a loved one, and coming up with a plan to help overcome the situation.

Your child will observe that these are healthy mechanisms and seek your help when needed. Consequently, these skills will aid in stressful moments during the school year.

Communicate With Your Child

It’s important to remember that whatever your child is feeling, it’s real and should be validated. If they come to you to talk about their feelings, they’re already on the road to success. Being an outlet for them helps ease some anxiety about going back to school.

Simply asking your child what they are nervous about or just having a conversation about the change in routine will make the transition seamless. Once you are aware of their concerns you can work together on how to overcome those anxieties.

Extra Tools and Resources

Following these tips along with using some executive functioning skills will help transition your child back to school this year. Even though you may be doing everything right at home, some children need a little extra help developing executive functioning skills.

Illuminos is dedicated to teaching capable students how to improve their executive functioning skills. Check out the outstanding services Illuminos offers to give your student the extra push they need to excel in school.

Planning, Backed by Science

By Matt Strickland

For most high school and college students, planning is either something new, something we heard about from a teacher, or something our Illuminos Coach is nagging us to do. The most common statements I hear from students when we breach the subject of planning are:

• Why do I have to do this? I know my schedule in my head.

• I don’t have time to sit down and plan; I would rather just do the work.

• Oh yeah… I was given an agenda book by my [insert institution, parent, mentor, teacher].

Let’s start with some basic science. Students don’t have a plan in their heads. This reality dates back many decades and has robust empirical support behind it. Based on an article published by George A. Miller back in 1956, he described the human brain as having an information bottleneck, which he called channel capacity. The channel capacity is the upper limit on the extent to which the observer can match their responses to the stimuli we give them (Miller 1956).

The stimuli our students have, especially today, are enormous. I have trouble learning about a student’s schedule from mom or dad because they sometimes don’t know what’s on their student’s schedule. School portals are often inaccurate because teachers vary widely in how often they update the portals. Miller’s data revealed that, on average, people can only handle a certain amount of input that produces the desired output. Our capacity to handle pieces of information flatlines at about seven, plus or minus two (Miller 1956). This channel capacity is what directly affects our ability to make decisions, especially well-educated decisions. 

How does this relate to planning? Our ability to make a well-educated decision is directly correlated to the result(s) we obtain. The more information we have, the more likely we’ll make the right choice.  At Illuminos, we want our students to start to know not only the material that’s on the chemistry test this Thursday but also know how to talk to their math teacher about receiving some special attention after class that may offer a leg-up on the next quiz. Just these two pieces of school-related information alone can overload a developing mind. Imagine adding a learning disadvantage on top of that. How easy is it to really have a full understanding of what needs to get done during the week at school and balance practices, performances, and hanging out with friends? This is where planning comes into play.

I use the phrase, “clear your mind so you can use your brain” when I start to work with students on planning. The first step is to reduce the traffic at the brain’s information bottleneck. By dumping the information out of our heads and onto the planner, we make room for the other items and tasks that were buried under traffic. Once the traffic is cleared, we can look at all the information on the page and start making well-educated decisions. We can start to plan our day. When do I like to study? When do I want to hang out with my friends? What time do I need to be at practice after school? What do I need to do once I’m done with practice? If the answer is “I don’t know” to any of these questions, we can look at our planner page where we wrote everything down. Then we can insert our obligations for the day, the extra tasks we need to do, and the fun we want to have.

The fundamental science of planning is not new, but planning is new to some of our students. Learning to work with each student’s unique schedule is our specialty. Teaching students to plan is simple; getting students to sit down and plan on their own time is the difficult part. It’s not until then that the desired results start to show up. That’s when our students start picking up on the value of planning. Let your students grow and encourage them to clear their minds so they can use their brains.

At Illuminos, we provide the customized scaffolding your child needs while he or she learns to master organization, time management, note-taking, study and test-taking skills, self-advocacy, verbal and non-verbal communication, and social skills. To learn more about executive function and how it can help your child, please read our other resources or schedule time to talk with us.

Work Cited:

Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 63(2), 81.

The State of Student Mental Health

According to a new report by the CDC, poor mental health among children continues to be a substantial public health concern. The WHO recently released a scientific brief stating there was a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide during the first year of the pandemic, with children representing an alarming portion of the affected population. What can we do as parents to help our school-aged children with their ongoing mental health challenges? How can we help them succeed both emotionally and academically?

Connection

Help your child feel connected to family, school, and community. According to the CDC, school connectedness is “the belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about them as individuals.” Students who feel this way show improvement in their overall academic achievement, including higher grades and test scores, better school attendance, and remaining in school longer.

Here are a few examples of how to connect with your child and help your child feel school connectedness: 

• Spend time with your child watching a favorite movie, playing a board game, or just having more in-depth conversations about the day, the week, and life. 

• Do something together that you both enjoy. 

• Volunteer at your child’s school to demonstrate that you are invested in and supportive of their day-to-day life and experience at school. This is where our one-on-one coach support is vital for many students. Our goal is for your child’s coach to become a trusted confidant, advisor, and personal cheerleader. 

Good Sleep Habits

Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. We say this often, but the positive effects of consistent and quality sleep need repeating. Studies have shown getting 8 hours of sleep can have a substantial impact on academic success. Getting enough sleep is also crucial to giving the mind time to rest, recharge, and process the information from the day. Research has shown as many as two-thirds of high school students don’t get enough sleep. Most students are chronically exhausted physically, intellectually, and emotionally. The physical, mental, and behavioral problems that occur when a teen goes without sleep are huge, so it is important to focus on getting teens the amount of sleep they need.

Encourage Physical Activity

Limiting sedentary activities and being physically active can also have a positive impact on mental health, grades, and academic achievement. Studies have found that sedentary behavior throughout adolescence is associated with a greater risk of depressive symptoms in teens. Increasing any type of physical activity through sports, dance, or play is an important step in mitigating the risk of depression in later teenage years. Have a dance party, play an active indoor game, go for a walk/run together, or make a family fitness challenge. Physical activity helps the body produce the hormones to keep your child in a positive mood and full of energy. Even walking or biking around the neighborhood with friends counts as being active, so make sure to encourage your child to get outside.

At Illuminos, we provide structure, motivation, and accountability. Our 360-degree support includes monitoring school portals, reinforcing concepts taught in the classroom, and working with everyone in the student’s circle of support. Your Illuminos Coach will work with your family, teachers, school administrators, therapists, psychiatrists, and others, so your child can improve his or her academics, emotional wellbeing, independence, and social skills. Your child’s Illuminos Coach will become a trusted confidant, advisor, and personal cheerleader while raising expectations for success

Click here to learn more about Iluminos or sign up for a FREE consultation call.

The Developmental Side Effects of Too Much Sugar

Written by Isabelle Saunders & Liz Small

Ask any child what they look forward to in February and you will inevitably hear about getting candy for Valentine’s Day. Americans purchase roughly 58 million pounds of chocolate each year to celebrate their loved ones on Valentine’s Day. Of course, we hear it time and time again: “Sugar is not good for you.” 

Scientifically, children 10 and older should consume no more than a maximum of 30 grams of sugar per day, and 7 to 10-year-old children should only consume a maximum of 24 grams of sugar per day. The average American consumes nearly three times the recommended volume of sugar.

But, why is sugar unhealthy, and what are the developmental side effects of overconsumption, specifically in adolescents?

1. Mood & Behavior. Research suggests that there is a strong connection between high sugar consumption, altered behaviors, and poor emotional regulation. Although sugar intake may boost mood in the short-term, excessive sugar consumption has been linked with an increased risk of mental health problems. Your child may think a lot of sugar will make them happy, but it really just sends their mood into a deep plunge.

2. Manipulation of the Brain. Sugar is addictive. Glucose triggers endorphins, which create pleasure, which leads to wanting more sugar. Glucose is also the brain’s main source of energy, and too much of it consistently can lead to hyperactivity and mood swings. Studies show that this hyperactivity can damage cognitive ability later in life. It can also create overexertion of the amygdala, which can cause excessive fear or anxiety.

3. Memory & Performance. New research shows excessive sugar consumption in adolescence can impair learning and memory performance later in life. Daily intake of sugar-sweetened beverages during teenage years is associated with worsening of performance on a learning and memory task during adulthood. Excessive consumption of sugar during childhood negatively impacts memory function via the gut microbiome. Changes in the bacteria in the gut may be the key to sugar-induced memory impairment.

Of course, it’s never too late to change your child’s eating habits and minimize the amount of sugar they eat. Plus, research has shown that memory damage from chronic sugar consumption during adolescence is reversible. Good nutrition is so much more important than we think!

At Illuminos, we provide the customized scaffolding your child needs while he or she learns to master organization, time management, note-taking, study and test-taking skills, self-advocacy, verbal and non-verbal communication, and social skills. 

To learn more about executive function and how it can help your child, please read our other resources or schedule time to talk with us.

A Guide to Self-Evaluation

Measuring progress is one of the essential steps in building academic momentum. Although we often assess students’ progress via report cards and exam grades, there is usually more to the story. School success should be measured through quantitative and qualitative measures, similar to annual job performance assessments. Proficiency in test-taking and homework accuracy should be evaluated alongside the more nuanced soft skills like organization and time management. A clear picture of progress and potential comes into view only when we combine the dual natures of student performance.

Of course, measuring student progress comes with other challenges beyond the essence of scope. Another factor is perspective. Our perspective of our own progress is skewed one way or another. Some students are too hard on themselves, while others need to be more critical. Parents and teachers can also be biased. Parents sometimes have strict standards that either don’t fit their child or are missing other elements of students’ success. Teachers carry biases, too. Some measure student performance exclusively on empirical data compared to the class average, ignoring the better approach of measuring a student compared to that student’s past performance.

Even with our perspective biases, there are three dimensions to consider in a progress checking practice: timing, balance, and implementation. Even the slightest step in the right direction is progress. Any amount of improvement should be celebrated.

In assessing a student’s progress, timing is critical. We recommend self-assessments weekly, monthly, and quarterly. These assessments can be written or verbal, formal or informal. The goal is to check progress and course correct consistently enough to get to the intended destination. Parents, teachers, or coaches can facilitate initially, but the ultimate goal is for students to evaluate their progress independently.

Self-evaluations should be balanced and consist of a brief check of the following skills: organization, time management, learning skills, and impression management. Students need to self-assess for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

To evaluate a student’s progress, walk through each skill and apply the tools. For example, students can assess the strengths and weaknesses of their current study habits, as well as opportunities for growth and roadblocks that might inhibit these new habits. The same can be done for organization and time management. For impression management, students should consider how well or how poorly they control the impressions they leave on teachers, parents, and peers. Then, apply the four tools to complete a thorough analysis and course-correct as needed.

The steps laid out above focus on implementation rather than fruitless data collection. When students properly assess all four skill-sets/tools, action and implementation follow naturally. The evaluation produces the correction in one fluid motion, whether it be a minor tweak from week to week or a major overhaul to begin a new semester.

At Illuminos, we provide the customized scaffolding your child needs while he or she learns to master organization, time management, note-taking, study and test-taking skills, self-advocacy, verbal and non-verbal communication, and social skills. To learn more about executive function and how it can help your child, please read our other resources or schedule time to talk with us.

Mastering the End (Goal)

For most students, the second marking period concludes only a few weeks after returning to school from winter break in early January. Students often struggle with motivation and concentration during this final push, especially coming off a long winter break. How do we help students get over the line this marking period and set them up for continued success? Follow these goal-setting tips to help students polish off the marking period on a high note.

1) Create SMART Goals: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. This goal framework creates a path and a system for success. SMART goals are strong and purposeful plans to help your student stay on track. Here are a few examples:

• SMART GOAL: I will stay organized this semester by filing papers in the correct section of my binder as soon as I receive them. On Sunday nights, I will make sure that there are no loose papers in my backpack, room, or car.

• SMART GOAL: This semester, I will write something for each class every day in my binder. “NONE is an option, but only after I have confirmed that there is absolutely nothing I could do to get ahead in this class.

• SMART GOAL: During class times this semester, I will have only a notebook and a pen on my desk, so the teacher can see that I am on task and care about my success in his or her course.

2) Track your progress: SMART goals are measurable, meaning students can track their goals to turn them into habits. We know the importance of habit-tracking. Encourage your child to track goals daily and build a streak. Help them create a series of simple checklists that are short and achievable.

3) Celebrate your accomplishments: Each week as you and your child reflect on his or her progress, be proud of the small wins. Celebrate these moments because when habits are rewarded, they are continued. Create some kind of weekly ritual with your student to analyze progress and celebrate success. Recognition goes a long way.

Goals are the bedrock of success. Without a plan, it can be difficult for students to stay motivated. No matter how the last few months of the marking period have gone, these final weeks carry the seed of opportunity. Now is the time to have this conversation with your children to help them finish the marking period strong and crush their New Year’s goals!