New Year, New Goals

Making resolutions for the new year is a time-worn tradition -- but for as long as people have been setting goals, they’ve frequently fallen short of reaching them. It’s easy enough to write down a list of wishes, but it takes a little more consideration and effort to craft goals you can actually achieve. We like to use the SMART goal framework outlined below -- see how your resolutions stack up, and what changes you could make to them to give you a higher chance of success!

Specific

Make sure your goals are focused and identify a tangible outcome. Without the specifics, your goal runs the risk of being too vague to attain. Being more specific helps you identify what exactly you want to achieve. 

Measurable

You should build a clear definition of success into each new goal. This will help you to evaluate achievement as you track your progress. This component should answer the questions “how much” or “how many” and highlight how you will know you have achieved your goal. 

Attainable

Your goal should be challenging, but still reasonable to achieve. Reflecting on this component can also reveal any potential barriers that you may need to overcome to realize success. You should be able to outline the steps you’re planning to take to achieve your goal, addressing these barriers and charting a realistic path to success. 

Relevant

This is about getting real with yourself and ensuring what you’re trying to achieve is worthwhile to you. Determining if this is aligned to your values and if it is a priority focus for you. This helps you pinpoint why this goal is important to you. 

Time-Bound 

Every goal needs a target date, something that motivates you to really apply the focus and discipline necessary to achieve it. You need to identify when you’re aiming to complete your goal. It’s important to set a realistic time frame to achieve your goal to ensure you don’t get discouraged along the way. 

The Benefits of Online Learning

By Grace Richardson

Nowadays, quality education isn’t limited to the four walls of a classroom. Modern technology allows us to connect and interact in real-time through the internet, and this has made it possible for kids of all ages to learn from the comfort of our homes. In fact, millions of students — from elementary to graduate school — have been forced to enroll in online classes, due to the health crisis making face-to-face classes unsafe. However, there remains the misconception that the online learning experience can never match up to the good old classroom and whiteboard.

While it's true that there are certain experiences that cannot be exactly replicated virtually (such as the social perks of being around classmates), there are still unique benefits to online learning. And here are some of them:

Online Learning Provides More Convenience and Flexibility

Online learning is divided into two main types: synchronous and asynchronous. "Synchronous" refers to live learning classes that happen at a set time online. It is a convenient option as students don't have to spend time commuting to school, and they can collaborate with classmates and teachers in real time. On the other hand, "asynchronous" online classes provide more flexibility, allowing students to control their own schedules and learning pace. Instructors simply upload all materials, tests, lectures, and assignments for anyone to access anytime. Unlike traditional learning where your child might experience immense pressure trying to keep up with their classmates, online learning allows them to study without being too constrained by time. 

Both approaches are being used by students of all levels, but there is no hard evidence that either option is objectively more effective for students. It all boils down to preference and your child's own learning style. However, online learning hones children's executive function skills, which is what trains our brains to be responsible, creative, solve problems, and achieve goals.

Getting students used to online learning while they're young will definitely benefit them as they get older — especially with virtual colleges and universities growing increasingly popular. In fact, online bachelors degrees have become incredibly diverse, offering courses on Digital Media, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Organizational Leadership, and more. Plus, many schools even offer round-the-clock technical support and the option to enroll during any season with no application fees. On top of this, online students have the chance to connect with industry leaders and faculty experts from far and wide — and all according to students' schedules. With these benefits, we can expect the online learning trend to continue well beyond the pandemic.

Online Learning Hones Your Child’s Communication and Collaboration Skills

Being able to communicate effectively online is an essential skill in the digital age, especially as so many statements can easily get lost in translation. Online classes can give your child a head start in honing their virtual communication skills — training them to relay their thoughts in a clear, coherent, and succinct manner.

Additionally, online schools also require students to participate in discussions with their classmates and professors via various communication platforms. Here, they’ll learn how to get better at pitching their ideas and making strong arguments through discussions or video calls. Further exposure to this communication medium also pushes your child to collaborate and build a rapport with their peers.

Online Learning Broadens Your Child’s World View

The internet truly is the best source of information in the digital age. Besides making it possible for schools to facilitate online learning classes, the internet allows people from all walks of life to be heard via personal blogs, videos, podcasts, and other content that can be uploaded online. Indeed, online learning makes information easier to access for your child, and this can broaden their perspectives on important global issues, improve their cross-cultural understanding, and have the opportunity to connect with people from all over the globe — and it only takes a few clicks.

Online learning can be just as effective as face-to-face classes as long as your child has the drive and dedication to succeed. But of course, your support as a parent is always welcome. In order for them to reap the full benefits of online learning, you have to guide your child through positive reinforcement and motivate them to be consistent with their schedule and goals.

Maintaining Structure in a Time of Chaos

Now that the holidays are in full swing, we have officially entered what is usually the most hectic time of year. But the typical chaos of the holiday season looks somewhat different this year. Some students are learning from home. Those who are learning in person face the constant possibility of going remote any day. The usual chaos of the holidays has been exacerbated by all of the unknowns. Because kids (and humans in general) thrive on routine, it will be important to bring as much structure, predictability, and normalcy as possible to our lives during the holiday break. Here are some strategies you might consider for yourself or your child(ren):

1. Try a consistent wake-up time

Research shows that setting the alarm for the same time every morning is better for our physical and mental health. This can be especially hard on the weekends, when all we want to do is sleep in, but the benefits outweigh the desire to hit snooze. Of course, if you had a late night, catching up on sleep is more important. But if you can, try to aim for an earlier bedtime to make sure you get in all the hours you need. Start your day with something you can look forward to, whether that’s a cup of tea, a yoga routine, or your favorite breakfast. Once you settle into the new routine, you may notice that your exhaustion and stress levels have decreased.

2. Make a to-do list first thing in the morning.

When our days vary as much as they do around the holidays, put everything that’s stressful down on paper. Whether it’s to-do items, decisions to be made, or just circumstances your mind is lingering on, write it down. It won’t make your worries go away entirely, but it can be a powerful way to help you work or think through tasks you’re not excited about.

3. Create a midday break routine.

Break up the daily unpredictability with a new midday routine. Choose a time that you are usually free around the middle of the day. It could be right after lunch, or when you usually get home from school. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes to do something you find comforting, relaxing, and familiar. Maybe it’s sitting in your favorite chair with a magazine, or mindlessly scrolling through your phone while you have a snack. Try to carve out those few minutes to unwind and reset each day, no matter how busy your day is.

4. Take some control. 

During a time when so much is out of our control, it’s important that we feel that we are in control of something. Whether it’s internal (our thoughts, behaviors, and habits) or external (our environment and surroundings), everyone needs to be in control of something. Make sure the control is productive. If you have the time for it, start that reorganizing project you’ve been thinking about for months. If you need a less time-consuming outlet for control, try to gain some control over your emotions by journaling. 

5. End your day with a family routine, a personal care routine, or both.

Bring some closure to your hectic days by establishing a nighttime routine. If everyone's schedule allows, involve your whole family. It could be a quick round of a card game or a short TV show that you all watch together. If you aren’t able to unwind as a family, then begin your own individual self-care routine. Whether it’s journaling to gain that mental control, or doing a quick stretch to loosen up your tense muscles, think about what you need most to wrap up your day and be able to wake up the next morning (hopefully at the same time as today!) ready to do it all again.

Using Tools Effectively: Calculators

The debate over calculator use (and overuse) hinges on the notion that an over-reliance on the calculator will prevent students from mastering math for themselves. But why agonize over long division when we can solve problems with the touch of a button nearly wherever we are? The calculator is a valuable tool, and one that can be especially helpful for students who struggle with math sense. However, it can’t become a replacement for showing work or understanding the logic behind each problem. 

Just yesterday, I was reviewing a diagnostic SAT result with a bright student who has a tendency to leap for his calculator on every problem, but seldom writes anything on the page. What we discovered, revealingly, was that while he had missed several questions on the calculator section, he had aced the section of the test where no calculators were allowed. We reasoned that he should be more cautious about giving up his thought process to the machine. On the other hand, I have another student who is so frustrated by frequent errors in adding up when she works by hand that every assignment is anxiety-inducing—and using a calculator once she’s set everything up on paper helps her to balance accurate calculations with an accurate understanding of what she’s actually calculating. 

Being able to master procedures and concepts in math is crucial, but showing that mastery is just as important. Lots of people (especially students!) misunderstand why teachers ask students to show their work. Students are asked to show their work because it helps them think. With their thought process on paper, kids are able to review and check their work. They can see their calculations and the steps they took to find an answer. They can identify simple mistakes if their final answer seems off. And even if the student doesn't catch them, the teacher will. With work on paper, instructors can understand a child's thinking and provide more targeted support. Plus, with calculations on paper, there is the chance to earn partial credit in most classes! Mastering this skill is crucial for students who struggle with executive function skills. And working on graph paper can make a world of difference for students. If kids learn to put just one number in a box, they can effortlessly organize problems and place value.

The morale of the story is that no one should be shamed for using a calculator, so long as it’s not turning into a means of avoiding the work of understanding how things fit together. Math often involves some level of fruitful struggle as we grow, absorbing new ideas that challenge what we knew before. Calculators can help in that struggle, but the goal should not be to erase the struggle entirely: it’s how we learn!

Parent Behavioral Training

Parenting is hard. There are endless books to tell us how to do it. However, they aren’t always very useful. That’s because every child is different. Some are more flexible and adaptable, while others are more stubborn and defiant; sometimes these behaviors are related to personality, and other times they stem from ADHD or other disabilities. And even the easiest of kids can sometimes get out of control. Parent behavioral training is a powerful tool for parents who feel overwhelmed by conflict and stuck as to how to help their family. These evidence-based programs don’t have strict rules to follow. Instead, parent behavioral training programs teach parents a set of strategies to establish better communication with their child. Listen to Braintrust CEO and Co-Founder, Mara Koffmann, in conversation with psychologist, Dr. Melanie Fernandez, to learn more about parent behavioral training.

Key Takeaways

• Positive reinforcement is always the best policy because kids want the approval of their parents. Don’t concentrate on what the child is doing wrong. Instead, celebrate what a child does well. This will lead to more positive interactions.

• Rewarding good behavior can be effective. Of course it can be frustrating to reward your child for doing what is expected of them. However, it is an investment in more good behavior. Plus, the rewards don’t last forever! They do need to be consistent and frequent in the beginning. However, the rewards should taper off as a new behavior becomes routine.

• Consistency is key! Parents must be very clear and consistent in order for these interventions to work. Often times reward charts and visual checklists can help to create the structure to make these interventions most effective.

• These are short-term treatments. Working with a specialist for just a handful of sessions can lead to big results! There are lots of parent behavioral training programs out there, so talk to a psychologist about the best fit for your family.

Controlling the Controllable: Organization

With so much uncertainty in school these days, it’s all the more important to take control of what we can—and this means mastering simple organizational strategies to manage students’ physical space and materials, first of all.

One of the most common challenges associated with executive function issues is organization. Students who struggle with executive functioning (and even many who don't) have a hard time organizing information and materials. Depending on the severity of these organizational challenges, students’ academic performance can be moderately impacted at best, and stopped in its tracks at worst. But even for the least organized student, there is always the potential to grow. With the right tools and strategies, students can go from having zero organizational skills to independently creating systems to help them succeed with academics and beyond.

Organizing Materials and Physical Space

You've already asked your kids to clean their rooms three times. Each time, they've said they will in a minute. Every time you return to find that they haven't started yet, your blood pressure rises. Your tone changes, and so does theirs. Sometimes, they make a show of "cleaning," without real effort, and you just don't have the energy to push them. Other times, they flat-out refuse, and this escalates into a full-blown fight.

Does this scenario sound familiar? This dance is all too familiar to many parents and can happen with kids of any age. What many parents don't know is that the child's resistance to cleaning their room may be a sign that they just don't know how. When a child resorts to shoving their pile of toys under the bed, it's not always out of laziness. It may be that they genuinely didn't know what else to do with their things. This is especially true for any student who struggles with executive functioning. Instead of repeating the cycle, here's how you can help your child develop these skills: 

• Make sure everything has a specific place. Once your child is old enough, involve them in the process of organizing their room. A kindergartener might not be able to perfectly fold all of their shirts and pants. However, they can decide which drawer will be designated for which items, or which bins are for blocks and which for art supplies.

• Use labels. The extent of your labeling is up to you, but keep in mind that the more difficulty your child has with organization, the more labeling can help. You can use pictures, words, or colors. They key is creating a simple system that your child will understand and be able to follow.

• Use the “KonMari” method. Marie Kondo has famously been helping people of all ages stay clutter-free through her method of organization. She suggests going through items one category at a time, deciding if each individual item "sparks" joy or not. If it doesn’t, throw it out or recycle it. For students who have an especially hard time getting rid of things, start with three categories: "keep," "toss," and "undecided." Once they’ve gone through items once, they can revisit their undecided pile and ask themselves once more if these items bring joy.

• Clean up with them, but don’t do it for them! Think of yourself as your child's cheerleader while they tackle the mess. You can offer encouragement and guidance if they run into obstacles (like where should I put this giant stuffed bear? Or what should I do with the dirty clothes that won’t fit in my overfilled hamper? Maybe you’ll tackle a lesson on doing laundry next time...)

Remember, taking these steps to ensure your child is learning organizational skills may feel tedious and time-consuming, but it's worth it. But not only are you setting them up to take better care of their belongings and the space in which they live, you are making your own life easier in the long-run by helping them build this independence!

Reading Levels, Explained

Teachers give assessments in order to get a picture of students’ progress and mastery toward skills. Similarly, teachers in lower grades assess students’ reading to find their “just right” level. This is crucial information to have in identifying any gaps in decoding, fluency, or comprehension. You may want to know your child’s reading level so that you can be in the loop about their reading progress, and know what steps, if any, to take at home to help your child grow in reading.

How do teachers find students’ reading level?

Reading levels are determined through running records. When administering a running record, the teacher sits with one student at a time. The teacher has a book chosen, and will usually give the student a sentence or two of background, show them the cover, and read the title to them. Then they ask the student to read the book (or only the first few pages) out loud as the teacher marks accuracy, misread words, fluency, expression, etc. Some teachers time students on their reading, some don’t. 

When the student has finished reading the book, the teacher will ask the student comprehension questions to determine the level of meaning the child was able to take from the book. These questions often belong to one of three categories: within the text, beyond the text, and about the text. Within the text questions deal with information that the student only needs to recall. If they were paying attention to what they read, they should be able to answer these questions. Beyond the text assesses how well students can think more critically about the text by making inferences about characters, drawing connections to their own lives, etc. About the text questions deal with text structure, text features, and author’s purpose. If the student scores within a certain range, then that is their “just right” level. If they score below the range, the teacher retests on a lower level, and if they score above the range, they retest on a higher level.

How important is my child’s reading level?

As far as your teacher is concerned, knowing your child’s reading level is very important so they can properly instruct and guide your child toward the right reading level to promote progress. It is important for you to be informed about whether your child is reading on, above, or below grade level, and that information may be best relayed by telling you your child’s exact level. However, it is not always necessary for the student to know their level themselves. There may be cases where it is helpful to tell the child their level. For example, if the student is frequently drawn to books that are far too easy, knowing their level and giving them access to books that are labeled accordingly, will ensure that they are choosing books appropriately. In other cases, telling students their levels can often be counterproductive. Some students get so caught up in levels that knowing actually causes more anxiety than it’s worth.

The Bottom Line

Teachers need to know students’ reading levels in order to instruct appropriately. Parents may want to know levels, but shouldn’t be too concerned unless the child is reading well below grade level, in which case the teacher will probably discuss options. Even then, it’s never a good idea to make a big deal out of reading levels, especially in front of a child. Becoming a reader is about finding joy in reading, not reaching a higher level. Students should be choosing books based on what interests them. As long as the books they choose are appropriately challenging (not too easy and not too many words they don’t know), then they are on the right track.

When “Just Do It” Doesn’t Work

Along with skills like time management, prioritizing, impulse control, and organization,  initiation—the simple act of getting going—is an important piece of the Executive Function puzzle. We’ve all fallen prey to procrastination at some point, when a task is unappealing, overwhelming, or opaque. Often the dragging of feet diminishes once we take a first step, and with the right push momentum takes over. These tips are designed to help students overcome the initial friction of initiation and get to work.  

Avoid the blank page blues

The cliché of writer’s block, in which a frustrated artist hunches over before an empty page, is rooted in reality. In French, this frustration is called l’angoisse de la page blanche, or anxiety of the blank page. There are many reasons why that white space is intimidating—because it represents a heap of work still left to do, because it doesn’t offer any structure for making forward progress, because anything that appears on it is immediately subject to perfectionistic self-critique. To say goodbye to the blank page blues, never write from nothing. Start with notes, a graphic organizer, an outline. Dive into one quote or idea halfway through the paper that you feel particularly comfortable about. As soon as you can, and with as little reflection as possible, get words down on the page—it’s important to demystify the process of writing so that we can avoid falling into the temptation of French angst and instead go about our writing one step at a time. 

Work in chunks

On that note, always set yourself interim goals and shorter tasks, breaking down large assignments into their component pieces. Work step by step, sentence by sentence, and you’ll find yourself making quicker progress with less anxiety about the larger assignment. 

Break bad habits

We all develop patterns of procrastination that emerge when we’re feeling anxious, unmotivated, or unsure how to proceed. This could mean checking social media, reading the news, falling into a cycle of youtube videos—even ‘productive’ procrastination like cleaning our space or checking email. Recognize these habits and do what you need to in order to short circuit them, as outrageous as it may seem. Put your phone in another room, download a site-blocker to restrict your internet access to the sites you need for a limited time, and find a space with minimal distractions. 

Build healthy habits
As you resist old patterns, create new ones. Start every work period with a certain song, or in a specific environment when you can—develop a habit that your body will recognize and snap into work mode. As part of these habits, use a timer, whichcan be invaluable for tracking smaller goals, keeping yourself on task, and delineating work and break times.

Teaching Kids How to Self-Monitor

Self-monitoring refers to our ability to track what we are doing and how or why we are doing it. We self-monitor (or at least we should) in every setting and activity. From how we read and write, to how we engage with friends and family, self-monitoring greatly improves our academic performance, social interactions, and daily life. The more aware we are of what we are doing and why we are doing it, the better we are able to perform any given task. And while self-monitoring is important for all of us, it is especially essential for students. The earlier they can learn to self-monitor, the better.

Strategies for Teaching Students How to Self-Monitor

Build metacognition.

The first step in improving a student’s self-monitoring skills is to improve their awareness of their own strengths and challenges, which is to say their metacognition. Otherwise, kids won't be able to plan for challenges, identify successes, and learn from mistakes. One way to help students get to know themselves is by giving them a metacognitive survey. Surveys like this one can help them become aware of their strengths, values, learning styles, and study habits. As a result, they'll be able to self-evaluate more effectively.

Create checklists.

A simple but impactful strategy to help students learn to self-monitor is to create checklists with their most common mistakes. This will not only help students learn to identify the errors they make most frequently, it will also help them actively check their work to avoid those same mistakes. This strategy can be applied to a series of math problems, a piece of writing, a recording of them reading a text – you name it! The key is to reinforce that mistakes are just information for learning, but students must learn from them so they don't make the same ones again.

Question often.

As students are working, they should periodically stop and ask themselves what they are doing and how or why they are doing it. Questions like “does that sentence look right?” or “did I show my work in a way that makes sense?” can help students self-evaluate and learn from experience. The best way to get students comfortable with asking themselves these questions is for them to see it modeled often and in different contexts.

Identify their purpose.

As students are going through their day, they should stop and reflect on their purpose. Why am I reading this book? What is this emotional reaction helping me accomplish? Am I communicating what I want to get across in this paragraph? Once they have identified their purpose in any given task, they can evaluate whether they are on the right course.

Stop, Review, Reflect.

A big part of self-monitoring is self-evaluation. As important as it is, many students are resistant to checking their work. But self-evaluation is about much more than double-checking answers. It’s about reflecting on not just the end-result, but the process, and how the student felt in that process. It’s about identifying gaps in skills, strategies, or knowledge that may have caused any errors or frustrations, and coming up with a plan for how to do better next time. Once again, there is nothing wrong with making mistakes; they are a part of the learning process. Identifying those mistakes through self-monitoring and learning from those experiences is the key to growth and improvement!

Learning to Communicate (with Adults)

School is much more than a place to learn your times tables. In addition to straightforward content like algebra, Egyptian history, and the products of photosynthesis, students must learn a set of soft skills associated with self-advocacy and communication. This extra curriculum is often not directly taught—and some parental guidance early on will help establish a dynamic in which parents can step back and let their students develop independently. 

Students should be reminded, gently but persistently, of the importance of good relationships with their teachers and how to earn them. If students can demonstrate a willingness to work diligently, ask interesting questions, and support their classmates’ learning, they’ll earn a relationship that can pay off when they need a bit of extra help or flexibility with a deadline. For high school students—or middle schoolers applying for selective high schools—these relationships are also key for applications as recommendation letter season rolls around. 

As part of building a positive relationship with their teachers, students should establish a channel of communication that is respectful and direct, without intruding unnecessarily on the teacher’s time. It can be very useful for students to be in touch with teachers over email when they need to ask a clarifying question about a major assignment or upcoming test, but given the informality of most digital communications, students will often need some coaching to understand the requirements of a more ‘professional’ email, with correct grammar and punctuation. As a young classroom teacher, I regularly received emails with no capitalization or punctuation from students—and while I was more forgiving than many of my older colleagues, in the worst case these emails risk being perceived as rude or lazy. Parents can help guide these emails with younger students, while supporting a movement toward self-advocacy that will serve them in high school and college.

It’s worth discussing these communication skills with your child early on, so that they can develop the right habits to advocate for themselves throughout their school careers! And really, they’re likely to learn better if they feel connected to their teachers—so this is a skill well worth strengthening.