(Monthly Tip) A Time to Look Back and Plan Ahead

Monthly Tip

June 2022

A Time to Look Back and Plan Ahead

Summer break is days away, and many students are ready to close their laptops, toss their backpacks into the closet, and not think about school for eight weeks. While we certainly advocate for breaks and vacation, it is also important for students to engage in self-reflection so that they can make adjustments for a successful return to school. This exercise can help your children identify strengths and weaknesses while also helping them think through the best approaches to tackle both easy and difficult tasks.

Self-Reflection Questions

As you help your children reflect on the school year, provide them with a list of about three-five questions. Set aside some time for your children to respond to them, and meet with them individually to go over their answers. Be sure to include open-ended questions in your list that your children cannot answer with a simple “yes” or “no,” as this will lead to more fruitful discussion. Here are some sample questions you can use:

What goals did I set for myself this year, and did I meet them? This question can help your children realize whether they had in fact set any goals for the school year. Additionally, it is a good segue into the importance of setting goals so that your children have something they are actively working towards. If your children met their goals, ask them to explain how they did so; if your children did not meet their goals, discuss what setbacks they faced and how they handled them.
What was the most challenging task I encountered this year? If I had to handle it again, what could I do differently to make it less overwhelming? Emphasize to your children that an overwhelming task does not necessarily mean a task they did poorly with; it could also refer to something that required a great deal of effort and planning. As your children ponder past assignments, ask them to think about which specific elements of the task made it challenging, as recognizing these roadblocks can help them plan better for future assignments.
What was my favorite assignment this year? Everyone learns differently, and it is important for students to learn about what it is they enjoy doing academically. If your children preferred assignments that allowed them to be creative, that centered on a beloved topic, or that were the culmination of months of work, then this self-reflection can help them recognize the types of assignments that motivate them. Perhaps most importantly, they can then use this knowledge to make less enjoyable assignments more bearable, as they can now put their own unique spin on them.
What do I want to do differently next year? Even if your children achieved straight-A’s, there is always room for improvement. Whether that means beginning the studying process earlier, meeting with teachers more regularly, or taking more notes in class, it is important for your children to identify elements they feel they can improve upon and set goals for.

Summer Activities

Part of reflecting is planning, and summer is the perfect time to begin some activities that will prepare your children for the next school year.

Set summer goals that target weak skills. Based on your children’s observations about their successes and struggles over the past year, have your children then set goals for both the next school year and the summer. For example, if your children want to improve their conversational Spanish skills, then over the summer they can plan to complete several lessons of Duolingo per day and watch a Spanish-language program.
Find internal motivation. While extrinsic sources of motivation, such as money or video games, work to an extent, they do not inspire children to fully engage with material and recognize its importance to their life. Ask your children to think forward -- what do they envision themselves doing in the future? What are they most proud of? Locating internal sources of motivation that compel your children to complete their work and put forth their best efforts for the sheer sake of learning, will enable your children to find high levels of success.
Prep for next year’s classes. Summer homework gives your children a good indication of the type of work they will encounter in the new school year, but there is much more they can do. Whether they complete extra lessons on Khan Academy, read books at a higher grade level, or watch a documentary on historical events, there are numerous ways your children can engage with material outside of their prescribed summer work.
Strengthen executive functioning skills. Proper time management, studying strategies, and material organization are all part of a fundamental list of skills that students need to be successful in school. Thinking Organized offers several summer programs that target a variety of executive functioning skills that will assist your children in a more seamless transition when the new school year begins.

TO BLOG

Limiting Screen Time

By Madeline Albertine

I recently – and not by choice – spent some time without a phone. My phone was stolen, and due to traveling, work schedules, and other obligations, it took about three days for me to replace my phone. THE HORROR!

Prior to losing my phone, it was easy to forget how reliant I’ve become on constantly checking it. This reliance became glaringly obvious to me within minutes of not having a phone. It was a weird sensation; I found myself constantly reaching for a phone that wasn’t there, if for no other reason than to check the time. Don’t get me wrong – some of it was refreshing. I took a much-needed break from social media and had a wakeup call on just how much of my day I spend staring at my phone. There are so many wonderful uses of a phone, but there are also negative impacts to being so dependent on these devices. Here are some personal positives that I noticed about not having a phone...

Summer 2022 Programs - There's Still Time to Register!

Summer is a time of relaxation, but it is also a time of preparation. By reviewing past academic material, students can keep their skills sharp while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming school year. Thinking Organized is offering several exciting programs for students in different age ranges this summer, and we cordially invite you to sign your children up for them!

Please refer to our programs for elementary school, middle school, high school, and college on our website.