In This Issue
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Registration Now Open!

Reading/Writing/Math

Help your child gain confidence in core reading skills. In this one-on-one, week-long program, your child will participate in multi-sensory activities, computer games, and phonological-based programs to strengthen their foundational reading skills. 

Help your child to build comprehension skills. During this one-on-one week-long program, students will learn to build comprehension skills through character analysis, chapter summaries, theme exploration, and annotation. 

An individualized approach to improving a student's writing. In this week-long, one-on-one series, students will learn strategies to assist them in every step of the writing process, including pre-writing, researching, drafting, revising, and editing. 

Provide one-on-one support, helping your child build confidence in math skills including: basic math (grades 3-8), pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, calculus and SAT/ACT level math. 

During this one-on-one or small group, week-long program, students will actively engage in reading through Thinking Organized strategies and activities. 

Executive Functioning - INTENSIVES

An individualized approach to improving key elements of a student's executive functioning skills that will assist with a smooth transition to the new school year. 

An intensive program designed to introduce students to a variety of memory and studying strategies.

College

A seminar series for students preparing to apply to college and their parents. 

A summer series that will focus on the key areas that tend to get overlooked while preparing to head off to college.

Group-Based Programs

In this program, children will work together to develop problem-solving and executive functioning skills through engaging, hands-on challenges. 

A group-based program where your child will work with peers to plan a trip to a DC landmark, sporting event, or museum. After their trip, they will produce a scrapbook summarizing the planning process and documenting their adventure.
MARCH 2019
MONTHLY TIP
Succeeding in the Second Half of the School Year

 
It's no surprise that as the school year progresses, students start to lose motivation. With the lure of spring break and summer break so close, many students struggle to focus on their academics during the second half of the school year. For those with executive dysfunction, this disparity between their performance in the two halves of the year can be even more apparent. It's important to help your children regain momentum so that they can finish the year on a strong note, and there are several actions you can take to help them find success.  

FINDING MOTIVATION

Schoolwork can sometimes feel tedious, which can lead to procrastination and resentment. Your children need to identify a strong source of motivation that will compel them to attend to their assignments and understand their value.
  • Incentive Program. An incentive program, where your children receive an external reward for completing specific tasks, can be a good starting point for helping your children focus on their work. By beginning with a tangible reward, your children's attitudes toward school can become more positive.
     
  • The Future. Ask your children to think about the future and what they want to accomplish, such as becoming a published author or traveling to a dozen countries. The skills they utilize to tackle their school work -- written language, planning, material organization -- will be needed for their entire lives, so the sooner they start honing these skills, the better! When students have a personal goal they are working towards, they understand the purpose behind regular academic assignments. 
     
  • Visualize Success. Invest in a cork-board and encourage your children to identify goals that can be either extrinsic or intrinsic. Then, have your children find images to represent these goals. For example, they can choose photos of graduation or their chosen college to motivate them to do well and focus on something they look forward to.

SET GOALS

The second half of the school year is the perfect time to reset. It's important that your children have goals that they are working towards, as having a purpose will aid them in remaining focused and determined.
  • Reflect. If your children set goals for the first half of the school year, ask them to reflect and evaluate whether they achieved them. If they did not set goals, have them think about what went well and what did not go so well. Then, have them create new goals. These should be concrete goals with clear deliverables, such as raising a grade from a C to a B by joining study groups or meeting weekly with a teacher. 
     
  • Check-in. Set progress check-ins with your children. They can use a large desk calendar that breaks down the work they should accomplish by specific dates in order to help them achieve their goals. By breaking down their goals into smaller tasks, your children will have a clear idea of your expectations.
     
  • Adjust. Things sometimes do not go the way we plan, and that is okay! If your children realize that their original source of motivation is not as compelling as they initially thought it would be, or if their plan of action is not realistic, encourage them to change it. Part of growing is learning how to revise and make adjustments.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the second half of the school year may get off to a rocky start, it can be reined in by helping your children locate sources of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Goals that align with what inspires them will enable them to find success and realize that they are more than capable of doing well. 

So as your children prepare for these last months of the school year, remind them to Think Organized and stay motivated!