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School Is Setting Your Child Up For Failure

School is setting your child up for failure

Schools don’t care about students and are setting your child up for failure.

You are probably thinking, WOAH, that is absolutely not true. Teachers pour their hearts into their students, and counselors work with students to find solutions to their mental health challenges. So how can it be that schools don’t care about students? 

I completely agree with you. Teachers, counselors, and other educational support staff care about students, but the school system does not. 

As a former classroom teacher, I know how much the teachers, counselors, and school staff care about their students. However, the system they are a part of does not value students as they do. 

The school system is too dependent on end-of-year exams to evaluate student performance and the performance of administrators and teachers.

The impersonal nature of end-of-year exams turns your son or daughter into a number rather than an individual, which can have severe consequences for their academic growth and future.

Keep reading to learn how schools’ testing priorities shift the classroom dynamic, how it impacts your child, and what you can do about it.

End-Of-Year Exams are Setting Your Child Up For Failure

The care and compassion that teachers have for their students have not changed. However, their ability to do their jobs had changed dramatically. I want to be clear that I am not calling teachers negligent or incapable and have tremendous respect, and I know their struggle intimately. I see teachers as victims of this system that has turned them into cogs in a machine.

Schools have undergone a dramatic shift in the last several decades. Before the widespread introduction of end-of-year exams, teachers could implement the lessons they thought were the most effective for teaching content standards.

Schools trusted teachers to use their experience and expertise to teach the content. They also had the flexibility to change their teaching approach to meet the specific needs of students. If a teacher found students were lacking a skill like organization or goal setting, a teacher could dedicate classroom time to working on this skill.

Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Schools are increasingly reliant on end-of-year exams as a measure of student performance as well as teacher performance.

Standardized testing is setting your child up for failure

Focusing On Content Is Setting Your Child Up For Failure

The emphasis and value placed on end-of-year exams trickle down and influence how content is taught. With the focus on exams, teachers must prioritize subject-specific content over teaching to the student’s needs.

Due to the sheer amount of content teachers are expected to cover, there is no time to teach the skills necessary for success. Teachers have to deal with content standards that leave no time to teach anything other than the standards. Sometimes, there isn’t enough time to cover the standards, let alone essential soft skills that won’t be on the exam.

Beyond the classroom, the use of end-of-year exams highly impacts school administration and its approach to creating an effective learning environment. School administrators have to prove that their school is meeting standards. The pressure to meet standards means teachers must spend more time and energy preparing students for the exams rather than focusing on what students need to be successful adults.

The reality is that schools are not necessarily interested in the individual student’s success. They are more concerned with their overall performance as a school and how they measure up to other schools in the district.

This approach leaves no room for meeting the individual needs of the student. I would argue that it punishes attempts to spend time working on essential skills and other non-testable characteristics.

So even though teachers and school staff care deeply about the students and want to do what is best for them, the system prevents them from doing this. Instead, teachers are forced to treat your children like a number.

The Effect of Impersonal Teaching and the Modern Classroom on Your Child

Focusing on teaching to the test and end-of-year exams sets your child up for failure. Instead of learning essential skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, your child must memorize facts they can quickly look up on a smartphone. These types of tests can reinforce bad study habits.

Additionally, teachers don’t have the time to address the student’s individual needs. The rapidly increasing size of classrooms means that teachers do not have the time to meet with their child one-on-one and give them the attention that they need.

As a result, your child is learning information that may have little relevance to them, which can cause them to check out of school. Additionally, students who have difficulty understanding or retaining the content will likely fall further behind their peers.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that your child will not learn the foundational academic skills needed to succeed. Without these skills, they may have difficulty achieving in college or the workplace.

Learning skills like goal setting, routine, organization, and foundational skills will give your child the grounding to learn skills in the future. They will be at a disadvantage in college or the workplace without the time to practice them. School is setting your child up for failure.

Academic coaching can help prevent this problem

What You Can Do About It

Providing individualized attention outside of school is the best way to ensure your child learns the necessary skills. Investing your time and energy into helping them with their academics can go a long way in teaching them the skills they need. However, this can be time-consuming and cause conflict between you and your child.

Tutoring is also not a great option because tutors focus on content rather than skills. A tutor will teach your child the same information that they are learning in school for their end-of-year exams.

The best way to get your child the individualized attention they need is to hire an academic coach. An academic coach specializes in helping students develop their foundational skills and will treat your child as an individual instead of a number. They will work to tailor a plan specifically for your child and help them become a well-rounded student.

If you think an academic coach is a right solution for your child, let’s chat. I have helped many students develop their skills and increase their confidence. I would love to help your child too.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

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10 Bad Study Habits You Need to Break Immediately

you should break bad study habits as soon as possible

In my experience as a classroom teacher and an academic coach, one of the most common problems students face is bad study habits. Unfortunately, many students receive little instruction on proper study habits in elementary and middle school. Then, teachers suddenly expect students to know how to study in high school.

This approach sets up many students for failure and encourages the development of bad study habits. Developing bad study habits can have terrible consequences for students. Not only are they hard to break, but many students perceive that school isn’t for them simply because no one has taught them the skills they need to succeed.

Some students succeed despite their lousy study habits, but this requires a tremendous amount of effort, often leading to burnout in high school or college.

If you are ready to demonstrate your academic potential, and learn to work smarter instead of harder, keep reading. This article will outline ten bad study habits, their consequences, and how to break them. By the end of the article, you will be well on your way to better grades while spending less time studying.

10 Bad Study Habits

This list of bad study habits includes some obvious ones like multitasking and cramming, but it also consists of more subtle poor study habits that can set you up for failure.

1. Cramming

Cramming is one of the most common bad study habits. It is hazardous because it seems like you are doing something right. You have a test tomorrow and spend four hours studying for it. The problem is that this will only help you remember the material briefly instead of learning it.

Not only is cramming bad for your test grades, but it also encourages lousy study habits and does not equip you with the skills necessary to do well in college or beyond.

Instead of cramming, starting your studying in advance is far better. If you spread out your studying over three or four days, not only will you retain information better, but you will also reduce your stress levels.

You will find that by studying in advance, you can spend less time studying and get better results. Plan ahead, keep a schedule, and start studying four to five days before the test to study SMARTER, not harder.

multitasking is one of the worst study habits

2. Multitasking Is A Terrible Study Habit

Multitasking is another bad study habit that many students fall into. This bad habit can take many forms, from talking on the phone while studying to jumping back and forth between multiple projects.

Not only is multitasking bad for your grades, but it can also be bad for your health. Studies have shown that multitasking can cause significant stress and impair your ability to focus.

The solution? You need to focus on getting the most out of your study time. Set aside a specific amount of time each day for studying and turn off all distractions, such as your phone and television.

Focusing on one task is also more efficient. It is far better to focus on one thing for 30 minutes than try to do something while multitasking for an hour.

The one exception to this rule is listening to music. Listening to music can help you focus, but you should avoid listening to music with lyrics. Stick to instrumental music like classical, jazz, or deep house music.

3. Poor Note Taking 

One of the most common misconceptions high school students have is that studying starts when you get home. Studying starts in the classroom. In fact, using your class time well is one of the best ways to save time and learn more efficiently.

You have to be in class. You can’t watch tv, hang out with friends, or play sports, so you might as well take advantage of that time to spend as little time outside of class studying.

An essential skill to master for in-class studying is note-taking. Poor notes can be a bad study habit that sets you up for failure. Taking poor notes prevents you from studying effectively at home and makes it challenging to learn the material.

To ensure you take good notes, write down key concepts, keep your notes organized, and summarize the main points from each lesson. It can also be helpful to write down questions in the margins. There are many different methods for taking good notes; find one that works for you and stick with it.

bad study habits include pulling all nighters

4. Pulling All-Nighters: A Popular Bad Study Habit

Of all the bad study habits, pulling all-nighters is probably the very worst. It is an ineffective way to study, but studies have shown that you will probably do worse on your test the following day.

The appeal of pulling all-nighters is similar to cramming. You are putting a lot of effort into your studying, which gives you a false sense of confidence and is incredibly inefficient.

The solution is to plan ahead and never wait until the last minute. Ensure you are studying in advance, breaking up your work into manageable chunks.

It is also essential to make sure you get enough rest. Studies have shown that sleep can be just as crucial for learning as studying. Sleep enough and plan your studying a week in advance to get the most out of your studies.

5. Studying without a Plan 

Another bad habit I see many students make is studying without a plan. Many students feel so busy that they sit down and immediately get to work without coming up with a plan. This approach gives the illusion of efficacy, but you will often be pulled in several directions and won’t spend the necessary time on any specific topic.

While this approach may seem like it saves you time, spend 10-15 minutes planning your week and identifying what will help you study more efficiently.

A great way to break this bad study habit is to establish a daily schedule and create deadlines for yourself. Set specific goals to complete and start with the biggest, most important tasks first.

It can also be helpful to plan how you will break down each subject and ensure you have enough time for studying.

not taking breaks is a bad study habit

6. Not Taking Breaks 

Not taking breaks is another bad study habit that many students fall into. Students often avoid taking a break because they don’t feel they have enough time to complete their work. On the surface, it seems to make the most sense to study until you finish something. Like many bad study habits on this list, the most common approach is ineffective.

Your brain peaks in efficiency after working on something for about 20 minutes. Your brain stays in this state for about another 25 minutes. After 45 minutes of working on something, your effectiveness crashes, and you must take a break.

When your brain enters this state of fatigue, getting up and moving around, getting some fresh air, or doing something unrelated to studying is essential. Make sure you don’t stay in the same spot for too long, and try to balance socializing with studying.

By taking breaks, you’ll be able to focus more effectively when you sit down and study. An excellent way to break this habit is to set a timer for 45 minutes. When the timer rings, take a five-minute break and return to work.

7. Passive Studying: One of the Hidden Bad Study Habits

Passive studying is something that few people talk about, but it is a widespread reason why many students can put hours into studying but still do poorly on tests.

Passive studying is when you read something or review your notes without engaging in the material. This bad study habit often happens because students are so focused on speed-reading or rapid note-taking. Passive studying can also lead to bad note-taking habits.

The solution is to practice active studying. When you review your notes or a textbook, ensure you engage with the material. Ask yourself questions, draw connections between topics, and practice writing summaries to test your understanding.

An excellent way to avoid passive studying is to think about what you don’t know. Spend time thinking about what confuses you and what you are uncertain about. It would be best to focus on these topics rather than the ones you are most confident in. Spending more time on your weak areas is more efficient and can save you time while boosting your performance.

getting organized is a great way to improve academic performance

8. Being Disorganized

Being unorganized is not only a bad study habit but can affect other aspects of your life. Being disorganized makes studying more complicated and can cause stress and anxiety. If you are unorganized, you will be surprised by how much time you spend looking for papers or doing missing assignments.

To avoid this bad study habit, you must take the time to organize your space and figure out what works best for you. Start by organizing your notes, textbooks, and other materials. Once these are organized, creating an efficient filing system to store the material is essential.

If you use digital materials and online resources, create folders for each class or subject to store the material and access it quickly when needed. Use digital calendar systems or a planner to create reminders for yourself and ensure you are on track with your work.

Spending time to ensure your papers and study materials are in order will pay huge dividends in the long run.

9. Not Asking for Help: One of the Hidden Bad Study Habits

There is a common misconception that good students don’t need help and don’t need to ask questions. This bad study habit is incredibly harmful and can prevent you from understanding the material fully or even getting a bad grade on an assignment or test.

It is essential to ask for help, especially when stuck on a problem or concept. Don’t hesitate to contact your teacher or professor and ask for help, or even contact a peer interested in the material.

A good way to break this bad study habit is to create a support network. Find friends or classmates interested in the material who can help you when needed. Having someone to turn to in times of need is invaluable and can help you better understand the material.

Additionally, if you don’t feel comfortable asking the teacher a question in front of the class, write down your question and ask them at the end of class. It’s better to ask questions and get your doubts cleared than to spend hours figuring out the answer.

10. Always Studying Alone Is A Bad habit 

Far too many students only study alone. This bad study habit can become problematic because it pressures you to understand everything. Plus, when you study independently, you are only coming at the information from one perspective, which is limiting.

Studying with other people can be incredibly beneficial. While there are advantages to studying alone, such as being able to focus more intently on the task at hand, it is essential to take advantage of the various perspectives other people can bring. Additionally, studies have shown that one of the best ways to retain information is to teach it to someone else.

It’s a good idea to form study groups with friends or classmates, allowing you to discuss topics, ask questions and help each other understand the material better. It’s also an excellent way to stay motivated and review the material meaningfully.

Take the Next Step and Break Your Bad Study Habits

It’s vital to recognize bad study habits and the consequences they can have. Understanding why bad study habits are ineffective and what better alternatives exist is essential.

The name of the game is studying smarter, not harder. Don’t fall into the trap of waiting until the last minute to study or wasting time in class. If you use your class time effectively and plan, you can study less and get better results.

If you want some help implementing these steps, let’s chat. I’m an academic coach and I’ve helped hundreds of teenagers break their bad study habits .

You can schedule a FREE evaluation call, and we can review your study habits and identify ways to help you maximize your time and get better results. Let’s make bad study habits a thing of the past!

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

woman leaning on table

Positive Work Ethic: The Real Reason Why Teens Lack It

The real reason why students lack a positive work ethic

A positive work ethic is one of the skills that is needed to succeed in both school and life. Yet so many teenagers don’t have it. 

Parents with teenagers who lack a positive worth ethic are rightfully concerned. Unfortunately, many parents miss the boat entirely when it comes to identifying why their teen lacks motivation and a go-getter attitude. 

It can be incredibly disheartening to see your teen get overwhelmed and shut down or procrastinate and try to finish everything at the last minute. It can be even more frustrating when you know your teen doesn’t know how to approach a problem, but they reject your ideas and suggestions.

Over time, this dynamic, paired with the consequences of poor academic performance, can lead to parents micromanaging, nagging, and constantly reminding their teens to get “back on track.” 

The Illusion of Sucess

This approach gives parents the “illusion of a win.” A teenager may turn in an assignment, complete a task, or study for a test, but in reality, the parent has done much of the work, and the teenager is not learning the skills they need to succeed in the long run. Nagging and reminding give you short-term gains but set the stage for long-term failure and a lack of positive work ethic. 

I understand that time is pressing, and each day, your teenager is getting one step closer to leaving the house. However, this approach fails to develop a positive work ethic in teenagers and can also be a source of conflict between parents and their children.

The conflict between developing a positive work ethic and the appeal of short-term wins begs the question, what is the end goal? 

Is it to get an A on the homework assignment today? 

Or 

Is it to raise a well-adjusted adult with a positive work ethic that can take care of their academic and professional responsibilities?

If your goal is the latter, keep reading to learn how to create an environment that will encourage your child to develop a positive work ethic and maximize their potential. 

young girl lying on bed holding a cellphone

Independence and Developing a Positive Work Ethic 

Teenagers are developmentally at a stage where they want to express and demonstrate independence. However, this conflicts with the reality that they lack many skills to handle their responsibilities independently. 

This circumstance puts parents in a challenging situation. Do you give your teen independence and risk the mistakes and failures that will occur? Or do you support them and help them avoid their mistakes? 

In my experience, many parents fall into the trap that the latter option presents. 

The overbearing support that some parents provide can lead to various consequences. Your teen may feel the following:

  • An inability to make choices for themselves 
  • There isn’t a point in trying because no matter what they do, it isn’t right 
  • A lack of confidence in their own decisions 
  • Apathy and a lack of ownership over school and their other responsibilities

These feelings can lead to a lack of work ethic and poor academic performance. It also contributes to teenagers’ focus on “unimportant” things like video games. They feel they have control in these areas and can express their independence. No one critiques them when they make mistakes, and they can make decisions and live with the consequences. 

Teens want to live with the consequences of their actions. They want to feel like they have agency and control over their life. If you want to help your teenager build a positive work ethic, there are a couple of critical steps you can take. 

Give Teens Agency To Build A Positive Work Ethic

The first thing you can do for your teen is to allow them to make their own decisions and, more importantly, live with the consequences. Let your teenager take charge of their school work, enabling them to take in the positive and negative feedback they receive.

Give your teenager the independence to decide when, how, and what to study. Most importantly, allow them to make mistakes. Even if you see your teenager doing something you don’t think is the right decision, let them take ownership of their choices and learn from the consequences. 

Now, this is not to say that you should wash your hands completely of the matter. It is vital to give your teen independence and boundaries, and expectations. Let them know what you expect of them but let them figure out how to get there. 

If your teenager fails to meet those expectations, establish consequences, but don’t try to save them from the mistake, and don’t take away their independence.

mistakes are a part of building a strong work ethic

Be Prepared for them to Make Mistakes When Developing a Positive Work Ethic

Take a minute to think back to when you were a teenager. What was your relationship with your parents like? 

Did you do everything they told you to do? 

What were some of the mistakes that you made? 

Was everything your parents said correct? 

Your teenager is going through a similar experience with you right now. Even if you provide them with positive guidance, they will make mistakes. They need to make these mistakes and learn from them to become a responsible adult.

Be there for your teenager, but be prepared to let them make their own mistakes. When they stumble and fall, be the one they can come to for support.

Allow your teenager to make decisions, even if they result in mistakes. Once they start making mistakes and learning from them, they will develop a positive work ethic.

Give Encouragement 

Although you are giving them independence, teenagers still crave parental approval. When you see them exhibiting a positive worth ethic – praise them! When they make positive decisions, encourage them. Let them know you appreciate their positive work ethic so that it becomes a habit for them. 

It is also important to remember that positive reinforcement works better than negative reinforcement in creating positive habits. Instead of punishing your teen for not meeting expectations, reward them for positive behavior and work ethic. 

Emphasizing the positive rather than the negative will help them identify the behaviors they need to return to continuously. 

Asking questions helps teens build a positive work ethic

Ask Questions 

Reflection is one of the most critical skills that lead to a positive work ethic—learning to think back and evaluate what went well and what didn’t allow us to learn from our mistakes and understand our strengths. Reflection gives you a sense of agency and control over your life which is essential for building a positive work ethic.

Unfortunately, many teenagers do not learn how to reflect because the school system focuses on rote memorization and external evaluation rather than self-reflection. You can help your teenager learn from their mistakes by asking questions. 

Some questions you can ask are:

  • What did you learn from this situation?
  • What do you think you did well?
  • Would you like some advice?
  • What would you do differently in the future?

Open-ended questions that focus on their option will give your teenager a sense of empowerment and ownership over their lives and decisions, which will lead to a positive work ethic.

It is important to note while asking these questions, don’t fish for a specific answer. It can be tempting to want your son or daughter to come to a specific conclusion, but your teen will sniff this out immediately. Instead, ask broad questions and let them think and come to conclusions. 

Keep the End Goal in Mind 

It can be easy to get caught up daily or week-to-week. This focus on the short run can lead to the “illusion of a win” that I referenced earlier in the article. Instead, focus on the big picture and remember the end of your teen’s journey is not an A on a test or even an A at the end of the year. 

The end goal is to provide your teenager with the skills they need to succeed and thrive in the future. A positive work ethic is one of these skills and one of the most important.

Each day, your teen has the opportunity to build the skills they will need to leave the house and successfully take on the world. 

Keeping this end goal in mind can make it easier to accept the mistakes that they make along the way. 

working with an academic coach is a great way to build positive work ethic

Give them Academic Support 

Helping your teenager develop a positive work ethic can be a tall task, especially when you don’t have the same academic expertise that teachers and tutors possess. However, there are still ways for you to provide academic support to your teenager.

Working with an academic coach is a great way to give your teenager the support they need to develop a positive work ethic. An academic coach can provide personalized support and help your teen develop positive study habits.

An academic coach can provide the consistent feedback, support, and accountability your teen needs to learn from their mistakes. Meanwhile, you will have the peace of mind that your teenager isn’t on this journey alone.

Hiring an academic coach can allow you to focus on the fun aspects of being a parent without worrying about your teenager’s academic performance.

If you think an academic coach is the support your family needs, let’s talk. I’ve helped hundreds of teenagers develop a positive work ethic while allowing their parents to take a step back and enjoy positive relationships with their sons or daughters.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an academic coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


Secret School Tips For Parents 
As parents, you want your children to excel in school and achieve …
Online Success Coach: Unlocking Your Teen’s Potential
As a parent, you want your teen to succeed academically and in …
School Is Setting Your Child Up For Failure
Schools don't care about students and are setting your child up for …
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In my experience as a classroom teacher and an academic coach, one …

Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

exhausted woman with head on keyboard

Failing School Because of Laziness? Three Solutions

There are solutions for teens who are failing school because of laziness

If your teenager struggles in school, it can be easy to think they are failing school because of laziness. You may even wonder if your teenager cares about their long-term success and have serious concerns about how their lack of success impacts your family.

These are all reasonable perspectives and concerns, and you are doing your due diligence as a parent to try and find solutions. I’ve provided solutions to the three root causes of your teen’s laziness.

But first, I want to tell you a story about my experience with laziness and how I escaped it. 

I was the Valedictorian of my graduating high school class, and I had never known anything but success until I got to college. During my first semester at Duke University, I hit a wall.

I didn’t know why I was there. I was completely unmotivated and lacked the foundational academic skills to succeed in college. By the end of my first year, I was in the bottom 5% of my class.

Needless to say, my parents were not pleased. They accused me of being lazy, they yelled, and we argued. The truth was that I was overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do. 

I was able to right the ship and get back on track, and I was on the Dean’s list each semester during my last two years at Duke.

To be honest, my parents were little to no help. The way they approached my academic struggles was counterproductive.

I can understand and empathize with your concern as a parent. You want the best for your teenager, and you see their potential. 

Hope is not lost, and you can help your teen turn things around.

However, it may require a different approach that addresses the sources of your teenager’s laziness.

why is your teen failing school because of laziness?

Failing School Because of Laziness or Something Else?

Laziness is easy to blame for a teenager’s lack of academic success. You probably don’t see your teen working hard or doing their homework. They may even lie about doing their work or procrastinate until the last minute.

It can be frustrating as a parent to see this behavior and not know how to help. You may have even tried different tactics to get your teen to succeed, but nothing seems to work.

Have you considered why your teenager is being lazy? 

To get your teenager back on track, addressing the source of their laziness is an essential first step.

Teenagers want to be successful. The feeling of success is one of the best feelings in the world. In my experience as a classroom teacher and academic coach, I’ve identified three primary sources of laziness in teenagers:

  • Poor Foundational Academic Skills
  • Fear of Academic Failure
  • Poor Motivation

The good news is that these obstacles are correctable. The bad news is that schools do little to address them. Schools fall into what I call the “lesson plan problem.” Teachers are so focused on teaching specific lessons and the content for the end-of-year exam that little to no time is spent teaching students the soft skills they need to succeed in the classroom.

As a result, many students are lazy and don’t care much for school. 

If appropriately addressed, you can help your teen turn things around and help them “academic agency.” You can help them develop the skills they need to take control of their academics and be self-sufficient.

The Actual Reason Your Teenager is Failing School

There are three primary reasons a teenager may struggle in school: lack of academic skills, fear of academic failure, and low motivation. 

Lack of Academic Skills: A Common Cause of Laziness

Teenagers who lack foundational academic skills will struggle in one or many subjects. The lack of study, note-taking, organization, test-taking and other skills makes classroom engagement difficult.

The lack of these skills can cause things to spiral out of control, particularly in high school. Without these skills, it doesn’t matter how motivated a teenager is; they lack the skills needed to engage with the content.

Teenagers who lack these skills may appear lazy and uninterested in their work. In reality, they don’t know how to and cannot do so.

fear of failure can be the real reason your teen is failing school because of laziness

Fear of Failure Can Look like Failing School Because of Laziness

Fear of academic failure is another source of laziness in teenagers. It may seem counterintuitive, but it is a real problem for many teens. The fear of failing is so great that it leads to a feeling of powerlessness and apathy.

Failure may seem inevitable, so some teenagers don’t try in the first place. Other teens fear failure so much that laziness gives them an escape. If they are lazy, there is a reason why they fail, and this is easier to handle than trying hard and coming up short.

A Lack of Motivation Can Look Like Laziness

Teenagers who struggle with motivation have trouble sustaining focus and energy over long periods. The work may be interesting, but they can’t get themselves to do it.

A lack of motivation often results from not having a “why.” Many teenagers don’t know why they are going to school. They are expected to but don’t have a meaningful connection to it; without a “why,” teenagers will struggle to stay motivated in the classroom.

In my experience, most teenagers who appear lazy struggle with one or more of these sources.

Does your teen’s behavior match up with one of these three sources? It may be one or a combination of the three.

solutions to failing school because of laziness

Solutions to Failing School Because of Laziness

To help your teenager get back on track, addressing why they are lazy is the first step.

The goal is for your teenager to be self-sufficient and independently take care of their academics. 

These solutions are not short-term fixes. It will take time for your teenager to build up the skills, attitude, and perspective they need to succeed academically. However, these are long-term and lasting solutions that can help teenagers succeed academically and in life.

Stop Failing School by Building Academic Skills

I recommend starting by asking your teenager questions. Ask them what areas they struggle in and what types of assignments/projects they struggle with the most.

I highly recommend getting additional help from an academic coach. Academic coaches approach the needs of students holistically and can help your teenager develop a well-rounded plan to improve their academic skills.

You can also work with your teenager to build these skills. You can show them how you organize your day, take notes, stay organized, and study. You can check out my guide for more information on working with your teenager.

stop failing school because of laziness

Defeat Laziness by Overcoming The Fear of Academic Failure

In my experience, teenagers often develop this fear because of their parents’ anxieties and how they talk to them. It may also arise from their experiences in the classroom.

If this is your teenager’s obstacle, the objective is to get your teenager comfortable with the concept of failure and learn that mistakes are part of the learning process. 

To accomplish this, I encourage you to reflect on how you feel about your teenager’s success or lack thereof. Do you feel anxious and nervous? Are you stressed?

If the answer is yes, you will likely pass on these negative emotions to your teenager.

It would help if you also had an open and honest conversation with your teenager. Ask them how they feel about academics and how they think. You can also ask them if you are contributing to it.

To overcome a fear of failure, your teenager needs a lot of positive feedback and optimism. It would be best if you aimed for a ratio of 5:1 for positive to negative praise. Additionally, sharing your failures and how you have overcome them can help your teenager see failure as a part of life.

If your teenager’s fear of failure is deep-seated, you might consider working with a therapist.

Stop Failing School and Start Succeeding By Building Motivation

If your teenager is not motivated and lacks the drive to succeed in school, they must develop a “why.” A “why” will give them a reason to be at school and work on their homework.

The best way to do this is by talking to them about their future. Ask them what they want after high school and what job they want. Most importantly, ask them what they need to do to get there.

The act of asking questions can completely change your teenager’s perspective. Many teenagers will acknowledge that they want to work hard in school to achieve their goals. 

The difference lies in being asked vs. being told.

Help your teenager figure out what they are passionate about in school and how it can help them move towards the future they desire. Help them find out their “why” for being at school, and the motivation will take care of itself.

The right support can prevent failing school because of laziness

Get the Right Support to Help your Teenager Overcome Their Laziness and Stop Failing School

You can help your teenager overcome the root cause of their laziness and the challenges caused by the “lesson-plan problem.” Over time, this can help your teenager develop educational agency and take responsibility for their academic duties.

Unfortunately, this can be particularly challenging because teenagers are at a stage where they thirst for independence and autonomy. Working with them to overcome these hurdles can cause conflict and increase tensions in the home.

A great alternative is working with an academic coach. 

An academic coach can help you customize a plan for your teenager to help them overcome their laziness and the lesson-plan problem and develop agency.

A coach will also support you as a parent, guide you on how to have conversations with your teenager, and provide resources to support your teenager’s development.

An academic coach will also work with your teenager to build their academic skills, overcome their fear of failure, and find their intrinsic motivation while providing accountability.

As a third party, an academic coach can be a go-between and keep everyone in the loop while minimizing the amount of conflict between teenagers and parents.

Let’s talk if you want assistance helping your teen overcome their laziness. I have worked with hundreds of students and helped them build the skills and habits they need to succeed in school and life. 

Every student has specific needs and challenges; let’s talk about how we can help your teen overcome the source of their laziness and develop their academic agency – book your free discovery call here

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

people inside room

Is a Study skills Coach the Solution to Your Teen’s Academic Struggles?

A study skills coach can help your teen maximize their performance in the classroom

Watching your teen’s academic performance slip is frustrating. Watching them start to lose motivation when their grades don’t match their expectations can also be scary. 

It can also be easy to blame yourself and wonder if you are responsible for your teen’s struggles.

I understand you might be quick to take on that burden of responsibility, but it could not be further from the truth. 

Most school systems do not teach students the skills necessary to succeed academically. Some students pick them up naturally. Others are lucky and have a teacher or mentor who emphasizes these skills despite not being included in the curriculum.

Bottom line, it isn’t your fault. 

However, you can find the support your teen needs to get back on track and meet their academic potential.

A study or academic coach can help your teen gain the skills they need to flourish in the classroom. A coach can help your teen learn foundational academic skills and build the confidence needed to excel in school.

Keep reading to find out if a study coach is the correct type of support for your teen.

A study skills coach focuses on the big picture

Focus on the Big Picture with a Study Coach

Most academic assistance (i.e., a tutor) focuses on specific assignments, tests, or projects that are helpful in the short run but fail to provide lasting solutions to your teen’s academic challenges.

Rather than focusing on the short run, a study skills coach emphasizes the big picture. Instead of putting a band-aid on the problem, a coach will identify your teen’s strengths and areas of growth.

Your teen and the coach will work together to create a plan to play to your teen’s strengths while also improving their areas of growth. A plan will help your teen feel empowered and in control of their academics.

Improve Foundational Academic Skills with a Coach

One of the main goals of a coach is to help your teen improve their academic skills. Developing academic skills includes teaching your teen how to study more effectively, take better notes, and manage their time.

These essential skills will help your teen succeed not just in school but also in college and their future career.

Some of the foundational skills a study skills coach can help improve are:

  • Critical thinking 
  • Active learning
  • Writing 
  • Motivation and Focus
  • Time management 

These skills are essential to the long-term success of your teen, and by developing them, your teen will be able to take on more responsibility and ownership over their education. 

At the end of the day, they are responsible for their academics, and these skills will give them the ability to take on that responsibility.

Foundational Academic skills are essential for teens to succeed

Improve Study and Executive Functioning Skills

In addition to academic skills, a coach can help your teen develop the executive functioning skills needed to succeed. These skills are closely related to your teen’s daily challenges in school.

Executive functioning Skills

An academic coach can help your teen unlock the power of these skills and help them learn the secrets that other successful students know. For example, many students believe that studying occurs when reviewing notes or the study guide for the test.

Successful students know that studying for a test is much more than reviewing notes. Studying for a test begins the moment you walk into the classroom. The entire academic experience is part of the study process, from the time you walk into school to the time you spend doing homework or reviewing for an exam. 

A coach can help your teen learn these skills and shift their perspective to maximize their time in the classroom and at home.

A Study Coach provides a Fresh Start

One of the most significant benefits a coach can provide for your teen is a resource that is not a parent or a teacher. Developmentally, teens are at a stage where they are trying to find their way in the world and thirst for independence.

This desire often brings them into conflict with parents and teachers because they have been traditional sources of authority. A coach offers a teen a blank slate and an opportunity to build a relationship with a mentor without previous associations. The mentorship provided by a coach can be the difference between success and failure.

A coach may say the same things that you have said to your teen many times, but the fact that it’s coming from a new/different source can make all the difference in the world.

An academic coach can help boost your teen's confidence

Boost Your Teen’s Confidence and Motivation

Another benefit of working with an academic coach is that it can boost your teen’s confidence and motivation. When your teen sees that they are making progress and achieving their goals, it can give them much-needed confidence.

Working with a coach can also help your teen stay motivated because they will have someone to hold them accountable. It’s easy for teens to get bogged down and give up when they feel like they’re struggling, but having someone help them stay on track can make all the difference.

Wrap Up

If your teen is struggling in school, a study skills coach may be the solution you’re looking for. A coach can help your teen improve their academic and executive functioning skills, give them a fresh start, and boost their confidence and motivation.

If you think this type of support is what your teen needs, let’s talk. I am an academic and study coach that has helped hundreds of students get on track and meet their academic potential.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

ethnic girl having video chat with teacher online on laptop

Academic Coaching for Teens and 10 Ways It Can Help Your Teen

Coaching for teens can help your teen meet their potential.

Academic coaching is the hottest thing in education. You might be wondering what academic coaching for teens is and how can it help your teen?  

I get it. 

You have heard and used dozens of different kinds of support for your teen.

Some of them worked to varying degrees, and others were complete flops. 

I’ve put together an article that outlines exactly what academic coaching is and how it can benefit your child. 

But first, I want to tell you a story about a student. 

Helene was like so many students in high school. She was caught in a cycle of starting quarters off well, drowning under the amount of school work expected of her, and then pulling things together in the last weeks of term. Her family had tried everything. Helene had subject tutors, an individualized education plan (IEP), and various accommodations at school. 

Her parents were at their wits’ end. They saw what a talented young woman Helene was but had no idea how to motivate Helene to demonstrate her academic ability in school. They had tried everything. 

After working with an academic coach for one quarter, Helene took ownership of her school work, studied independently, and no longer had a mountain of missing assignments. She increased her grades from a C average to an A/B level in one quarter. 

Keep reading to find out how academic coaching for teens provides a different type of support that generates real, sustainable, and lasting academic success in teenagers.

What is Academic Coaching for Teens?

Academic coaching for teens is different than virtually every type of academic support currently available. The school system tends to focus on subject-related specifics (i.e., arithmetic, writing, reading, etc.). Each of these topics is taught in a manner that focuses on the specifics of that topic. Students are given practice that focuses on that specific topic. The focus is squarely on the content without considering the student.

Academic coaches are not focused on content specifics. Instead, they teach students the strategies they need to succeed in school. Rather than focusing on the nitty-gritty of a specific class, academic coaches teach students strategies like organization, flashcards, and assignment prioritization that the student can then apply in the classroom and at home. 

An academic coach will also discuss the student’s emotions and help them find the motivation they need to do the expected work. In short, academic coaches teach students how to learn and give them the skills a teen will need in the long run.  

There are teenage coaching courses that offer similar support. However, they lack the personal touch that an academic coach provides. 

Is coaching for teens the right solution for your family?

Is coaching right for your teen?

If you have tried other forms of academic intervention like tutors, IEPs, and conversations about motivation and hard work at home, then academic coaching might be exactly what the doctor ordered. 

In the words of Bill Gates, “Everyone needs a coach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast, or a bridge player. We all need people who give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” 

An academic coach for teens can give your child the tools and support that he/she needs to be successful in school. Coaching is a great alternative to teenage coaching courses.  

Some common indications that your teen would benefit from an academic coach include the following:

  • Lack of motivation
  • Grades and potential don’t match
  • Many missing assignments 
  • Does well on homework but poorly on tests
  • School induces stress/anxiety 
  • Lack of consistent performance 

How can Coaching For Teens Help your Family

Now that you know exactly what academic coaching is, you are probably wondering how a coach can help your teen succeed.

1. Coaching for your Teen Provides a Fresh Start 

One of the biggest benefits of academic coaches is that they give your teen a fresh start. A coach is not associated with school and is not a parent, so often, teens are more comfortable receiving instruction and feedback from a coach. Like an athletic coach, good coaches also build relationships with the student. 

Motivation is an important step for helping teens.

2. Boost Motivation with Teen Coaching

One of the biggest challenges facing parents is motivating their teen. Academic coaches can help students find their “why” and empower them to find ways to sustain their hard work. Cultivating motivation is one of the most important things academic coaches do because, without motivation, a student’s success will falter in the long run. 

3. Coaching to Foster a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is essential for sustaining success in school and life. An academic coach can help your teen identify goals, obstacles, and solutions. Academic coaches focus on empowering students to find solutions to their own problems. This is particularly important as teenagers begin to desire more independence. The prescriptive instruction many teens receive conflicts with their desire to be independent. An academic coach can help guide a teen to positively use this desire for independence. 

Teenage coaching courses can help your teen become an active learner.

4. Help your Teen Become an Active Learner

Many teens struggle academically because they don’t know how to be good students. Many often become passive learners. Passive learners expect the teacher to fill them with knowledge and not actively attempt to learn the material. An academic coach can help your teen become active learners by giving them the framework and behavioral guidelines they need to become more active in the classroom. 

5. Overcome Boundaries and Boost Confidence 

Many teens struggle with test anxiety, negative self-talk, and limiting beliefs. Whatever their root cause, these emotional boundaries can significantly hinder a teen’s ability and desire to succeed in school. An academic coach can work with teens to improve their internal dialogue and boost their self-confidence.  

6. Build Foundational Academic Skills

In addition to the soft skills teens need to succeed, academic coaches can help their students develop the hard skills necessary to succeed in school. An academic coach can work with your teen to improve their organization, note-taking, and study skills. Students are expected to use these skills in school but are often not given direct instruction on how to use them. Without these skills, students will likely struggle academically. 

Managing your time is an important skill for teens to learn.

7. Improve Time Management and Scheduling

Many teens struggle with time management, scheduling and organization. This can result in assignments taking longer than expected, late assignments, and “unexpected” tests. Academic coaches can help teens create an academic schedule that considers all their assignments, assessments, and other responsibilities. Additionally, academic coaches work with students to be more mindful and realistic about their responsibilities and how long they will take.

8. Improve Communication

One of the biggest challenges many teens face is communication. Many struggles to communicate their needs and boundaries with their teachers, peers, and parents. This can negatively impact their academics and compound the challenges they are already facing in school. An academic coach can work with your teen to improve their communication and help them advocate for the support and help they need. 

Academic coaching can help improve relationships.

9. Improve Relationships at Home

Even under the best circumstances, academics are a source of strain between parents and students. An academic coach can mediate between parents and teens and alleviate tension between them. A coach can have difficult conversations and provide the necessary accountability the teen needs without involving the parents. 

Additionally, a coach can keep the parent in the loop with regular email summaries of their teen’s coaching sessions. Finally, the academic coaches can work with the parents and the student to create a more positive environment for discussing academics.  

10. Provide Content-Related Assistance

Although academic coaches focus on non-content-related needs, they can provide tutoring support when needed. Academic coaches focus on finding systemic solutions rather than providing quick content fixes like tutors. However, academic coaches recognize the importance of specific tests and assessments and can provide the support your child needs in the short run while focusing on long-term solutions. 

If you think an academic coach is the kind of support your teen needs, let’s talk. I have worked with hundreds of students to achieve success similar to Helene’s, and your child could be one of them. 

I have curated a program to end the late-work cycle in one quarter. But it is not one-size-fits-all. Book a free discovery call to find out how I can best meet your teen’s specific needs.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

gray steel file cabinet

The Top 5 Organizational Skills For Teens

The Top organizational skills for teens

You are probably here because you want to know the organizational skills for teens that your child is missing.

By the end of this article, you will have everything you need to divest responsibility and let your teenager take the reins.

But first, I want to tell you a story demonstrating the importance of these skills.

Several years ago, I met with a family that claimed to have a son that was incredibly gifted but lazy and unorganized. I thought we would be a great match; I would teach the family the same skills and methods outlined in this article. 

After working with the son for about 10 minutes, he exclaimed, “Mom. I’m hungry.” 

The mom appeared, gave the son a snack, and disappeared. The son promptly ate the snack and threw the wrapper on the floor. 

I was aghast. The son was fifteen years old and in high school. I feared the mother would return and start yelling at the son in front of me. Instead, she came and picked the wrapper off the floor and put it in the trash. 

I asked to see the son’s backpack and folders, which were an absolute mess. I asked him if he had ever cleaned out his backpack. He said, “No, but my mom sometimes does.”

At the end of the session, I spoke with the mom and dad and told them there would be no improvement until they expected their son to be responsible for himself and organize his belongings. 

The parents stone-walled me and said I should focus on helping their son, not the two. That was the first and only session we had.

You can avoid this outcome with the skills and methods I outline in this article. It is not too late to empower your teen to be responsible and shift the responsibility from your shoulders to theirs. 

The Key to Academic Success: 5 Essential Organizational Skills for Teens

Let’s dive into the organizational skills your teen needs to succeed. Each of these skills is essential for the success of any teen, both in the classroom and in life.

Due Dates are one of the most impmortant organizational skills for teens

1. The Most Important Organizational Skill For Teens: Keeping Track of Due Dates

This organizational skill is critical for success in school. Few things are more stressful than realizing a project is due tomorrow and you haven’t started it. Keeping track of due dates is a foundational organizational skill because it facilitates many more complex organizational tasks like planning study time and time management.

Your teen needs to learn to track when assignments are due and plan accordingly. This organizational skill will help your teen succeed in school and avoid last-minute scrambling.

There are many ways to keep track of due dates, but I recommend using a planner. Many school districts provide students with free planners; if your teen’s school does not, consider purchasing one.

Alternatively, if your teen feels like a planner is old school, they can use an app or their phone’s calendar. What matters is that they write down the due dates, not how they do it.

How to Teach This Organizational Skill to Teens:

The best way to teach this skill is to model it yourself. Show your teen how you keep track of your meetings and responsibilities. As your teen sees you using this system, they will be more likely to use it themselves.

You can also sit down with your teen and help them get started using a planner or organizational system. Show them how to write down upcoming due dates, and help them get in the habit of checking them regularly.

Many teens try to remember due dates or write them down at the end of the day. I encourage you to challenge your teen to write down due dates as soon as the teacher shares them.

It can also be helpful to check their planner weekly to ensure they write down their assignments and due dates.

2. Notebooks and Folders Maximize Organizational Skills For Teens

Another organizational skill your teen needs is to have a separate notebook and folder for each class. Notebooks and folders will help them organize their materials and make it easier to find what they need.

Ideally, your teen should have a three-ring binder for each class. They can use the binder to store their syllabus, handouts, and other materials. The three-ring binder will also make it easy to add and remove papers as needed.

If your teen prefers not to use a three-ring binder, they can use a folder for each class. The folder can hold their syllabus, handouts, and other materials.

How to Teach This Organizational Skill to Teens:

The best way to teach this skill is to model it yourself. Show your teen how you organize your materials for work or school. Explain why having a separate notebook and folder for each class is helpful.

You can also help your teen start by purchasing the needed materials and sitting down with them to organize their notebooks and folders. Show them how to store their syllabus, handouts, and other materials.

If your teen needs help staying organized, you may want to check their notebooks and folders weekly. A weekly check-in will help ensure they keep up with their organizational system.

You can't forget digital organizational skills for teens

3. Digital Organizational Skills

Digital organization is one of the essential organizational skills for teens. Schools are moving more and more of their materials online, and Google Drive is rapidly replacing physical folders and notebooks.

Unfortunately, many parents don’t show their teens how to do this because it is not a part of their educational experience.

Digital organization is crucial because it will help your teen keep track of their materials, access them from anywhere, and share them with classmates and teachers.

How to Teach This Organizational Skill to Teens:

The best way to teach this skill is to model it yourself. Show your teen how you use Google Drive or another online organizational system.

You can also help your teen get started by creating a Google Drive or online account. Then, sit down with them and show them how to upload, download, and share files.

Ideally, your teen should have a folder for each class. Each class folder should be a folder for homework, notes, and projects. It would also be wise to show your teen how to label google docs so they can be found later appropriately.

A weekly check-in is a good idea if your teen struggles with digital organization.

4. Utilize Organizational Skills With Study Time and a Workspace

Another organizational skill your teen needs is study time and workspace. Many teens chronically underestimate the time they have to do their assignments. This habit can lead to getting stuck in the late work cycle and constantly trying to catch up.

I recommend that teens block out a portion each day to do their assignments. Their study time can range anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on their amount of homework.

In addition to having scheduled study time, a designated study time will help your teen focus on their work and avoid distractions.

A workspace is also crucial because it will help your teen stay organized. A designated workspace will give them a place to store their materials and tidy their work area.

How to Teach This Organizational Skill to Teens:

The best way to teach this skill is to use a calendar. I recommend using a whiteboard calendar because it is easy to edit and change and is a physical reminder. Your teen can keep the whiteboard calendar above their workspace.

Your teen should write down daily responsibilities like sports practice or other extracurricular activities. Additionally, your teen should fit study time into each day.

I recommend teaching this by creating the schedule together. As much responsibility should be put into your teen’s hands as possible. They need to know the times of their practices and any other practices they are involved with. If you keep track, your teen will not learn how to keep a schedule.

In regards to the study space, let your teen create this space. Please provide them with the material they need (i.e., a desk, chair, etc.) and let them make the space their own. Giving your teen control over their study space will help them feel more comfortable and invested.

Teens must learn how to manage their time as an organizational skill for teens

5. Time Management Is One of the Most Important Organizational Skills For Teens

Time management is perhaps the most critical organizational skill for teens. It is also one of the most difficult to teach. To be successful at time management, your teen must be comfortable with all the other skills on this list.

Time management will ensure that your teen dedicates enough time to different assignments and planning. Good time management will prevent sloppy mistakes and late assignments.

How to Teach This Organizational Skill to Teens:

The best way to teach this skill is to converse with your teen about time management. Talk about the importance of time management and how it can help them succeed. I recommend asking as many questions as possible. Some helpful questions include:

  • Does rushing stress you out?
  • Did you have enough time to do all your homework this week?
  • Did you have to rush to get anything done?
  • What could you do better in the future, if anything?
  • How much time do you think it will take to complete your assignments?
  • What other responsibilities do you have this week?

Then, create a plan together. This plan should involve creating a schedule and priorities.

Your teen’s first step is outlining all their responsibilities for the week. These responsibilities can include homework, extracurricular activities, and any other plans.

Then, have your teen estimate how much time each activity will take. Once they have an estimate, they can start to schedule their week.

I recommend using the same whiteboard calendar your teen uses to schedule their study time each day.

Tips for teaching organizational skills for teens

Tips for Teaching Organizational Skills For Teens

Now that you know the essential organizational skills for teens, I want to include some general guidelines on how to teach these skills.

Be Patient with Your Teen

When teaching organizational skills to your teen, patience is critical. It will take time for your teen to implement the skills and for you to see results. Do not get discouraged if you do not see results immediately.

Additionally, each teen will learn differently. Some organizational skills will come more naturally to your teen than others. It is essential to be patient and tailor the approach to organizational skills based on your teen’s needs.

Select a Specific Organizational Skill 

It may be tempting to try and teach your teen all the organizational skills at once. However, this is overwhelming and counterproductive. I recommend teaching organizational skills in the order that I listed above. Introducing them in order is particularly important because the skills build on each other.

Identify where your teen is at and what organizational skills they currently have. Then, focus on one managerial skill and help your teen improve. Once they have mastered that skill, you can move on to the next.

Approaching organizational skills in this way will keep the process manageable. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm your teenager.

encouragement is essential for teaching your teen organizational skills

Give Teens Praise For Their Use of Organizational Skills

Praise is one of the most important ways to support your teen as they improve these skills. Positive affirmations will encourage your teen to keep going hard and improve their self-esteem.

It can be easy to focus on the negatives and what your teen is doing wrong, but this is not motivating and will have the opposite effect. It would be best if you aimed for a ratio of 5:1 positive to negative praise.

Your support is also essential. If organizational skills are causing your teen stress, have a conversation about it. Provide reassurance and support as your teen goes through this process.

Use an Organizational Skills Checklist for Students 

All the new information your teen is getting may be overwhelming. It might prove difficult for them to stay on track and use the skills they have developed. A great way to help them apply their organizational skills is to use a checklist. 

If your teen has a checklist, they will know precisely what to do each day/week. 

You can create your own or download the one I’ve designed specifically for this article. 

Ask your teen questions

Ask Questions About Your Teen’s Organizational Skills

Asking questions is another great way to facilitate your teen’s growth and improvement. It can be easy to become prescriptive and tell your teen what they are doing wrong or how to improve, but this is not helpful.

Instead, ask your teen questions about their organizational skills. Here are some examples:

  • How do you feel when you are rushing to get things done?
  • What is one organizational skill you would like to improve?
  • How can I help you as you work on improving your organizational skills?
  • What do you think is the biggest obstacle to being organized?

Remember, the goal is to help your teen develop organizational skills, not to do it for them. Asking questions will help you understand your teen’s perspective and how you can best support them. It also puts them in the driver’s seat, giving them the answers and solutions to their challenges.

Wrap Up

Organizational skills are not easy to learn. However, with time and effort, your teen can develop the skills they need to be successful.

Remember to be patient, focus on one skill at a time, give praise and support, and ask questions. If you follow these guidelines, you will be well on your way to helping your teen develop essential organizational skills.

If you want assistance teaching your teen these organizational skills, let’s talk. I have worked with hundreds of students and helped them build the skills they need to succeed in school and life. 

Every student has specific needs and challenges; let’s talk about how we can help your teen become a master of organization and help them take responsibility for their academics – book your free discovery call here. 

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an academic coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After I graduated from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, I’ve helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here


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Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

strict female teacher with book pointing at scribbled blackboard

Is After School Tutoring the Solution for Your Teen?

After school tutoring

After school tutoring is one of the most common forms of academic support. Since it is so popular, it must be effective. 

Unfortunately, after school tutoring is not a cure-all for academic struggles. 

In some situations, tutoring can reinforce bad habits and create long-term challenges for the student. 

At the end of the day, parents want a solution that helps their teen improve their grades while building confidence and the right academic skills to succeed in the long run. 

Let’s break down tutoring and see if it’s the right solution for your teen. 

Will After School Tutoring Solve your teen’s academic challenges?

Before diving into the benefits and shortcomings of tutoring, it is vital to categorize the two most common types of academic challenges students have. The first type of academic challenge is content-focused.  

This type of challenge is directly related to the content taught in class. For example, your teen may have trouble understanding a specific mathematical formula. This is the most common type of academic challenge. 

The second type of academic challenge involves a lack of foundational academic skills. Foundational academic skills include note-taking, study skills, staying focused in class, self-advocacy, and writing. This type of academic challenge will impact all aspects of a student’s academics. 

Students who lack foundational academic skills almost always have content-related challenges. Or if they are achieving good marks, they are spending far too long studying to get the results they want. Both outcomes have negative long-term consequences.   

If a student’s foundational academic skills are improved, many content-related struggles will be alleviated. Furthermore, strong academic fundamentals will allow students to succeed in the long run, not just in their current classes.

the benefits of after school tutoring

After School Tutoring Benefits  

Now that you are aware of the two kinds of academic challenges that your teen faces, let’s look at the benefits of after school tutoring. 

Tutoring can improve comprehension of core content

After school tutoring, also known as content tutoring, excels at helping students overcome content-related academic challenges. Additional review with an after school tutor can clean up any blind spots that your teen may have. Tutoring is particularly effective if a student has specific questions about a topic. 

After school Tutoring can boost grades (in the short run) 

Tutoring can also boost student grades. However, this improvement can be limited to the assignments that the tutor assists your student with and may not extend to in-class assignments or assessments.

After school tutoring benefits are limited to specific content-related academic challenges. However, this type of challenge is often a result of poor academic fundamentals. Subject-specific tutoring will do little to address these systemic issues.  

the short comings of after school tutoring

The Shortcomings of Tutoring

Tutoring Does not address the systemic issue(s)

Most tutors focus on a specific subject or content area: Algebra I, AP English, Biology, etc. They can help your teen with content-specific questions. 

Unfortunately, little attention is paid to academic fundamentals by after school tutors. A subject-specific tutor can help your teen learn a concept, but that assistance does nothing to solve the problem of why your teen didn’t learn the concept in the first place. 

Hiring a tutor to work with a student who lacks foundational academic skills is like putting a patch on a leaky tire. 

It’s a quick fix, but it doesn’t solve the problem. 

After School Tutoring can Build dependence

Using the band-aid approach of content tutoring can create a pattern of dependence. Using the tire analogy again, if you keep patching the tire instead of repairing it, it will slowly leak and continue to be a problem. The problem is never truly solved. 

Similarly, teens can become dependent on tutoring to keep up with the pace of their classes. Instead of learning the material, your teen can come to rely on the additional assistance that a tutor provides.

A tutor is a band-aid in this situation, not a lasting solution to your teen’s academic challenges. 

after school tutoring is expensive

Hiring a Tutor(s) is Expensive 

Since tutors often focus on one subject, a struggling student may need multiple tutors. The price of this kind of support can rapidly increase and become unsustainable.

The average cost of hiring a tutor is around $80 per hour and rapidly increasing. If your teen needs a tutor in multiple subjects, this can put the price of tutoring in the hundreds of dollars per week.

This is a steep price to pay, especially for a short-term solution.

Tutoring does not empower the student 

A passive learning style is one of the most common student behaviors that lead to academic struggles. 

Students with a passive attitude view themselves as an empty vessel to be filled with the knowledge of a teacher, tutor, or another adult. This type of behavior can lead to poor grades and work ethic in high school and turn into a full-blown disaster at higher levels of education.

Tutoring can reinforce this learning style. When a content tutor helps a struggling student, the student becomes an empty vessel to be filled with the tutor’s knowledge.

Empowerment is the solution for many students. Passive students should be encouraged to find their solutions and identify the steps needed to achieve success.

In summary, tutoring has its benefits, and it can undoubtedly help your teen in the short run. However, it is more of a band aid than a long-term fix.

Alternatives to After School Tutoring

If your son or daughter is struggling in school and you recognize that their content-related struggles result from poor academic fundamentals, you may be at a loss.

Don’t worry. You are not alone. 

Many parents struggle to find the right type of support for their teens.

Fortunately, there is a solution that can help empower your teenager and give them the academic fundamentals that they need to succeed.

academic coaching is an alternative to after school tutoring

Academic Coaches

An academic coach is the perfect type of after school assistance for students who are struggling due to their poor academic fundamentals. Rather than focusing on subject-related specifics, an academic coach works with students to improve their foundational skills and empower them to take charge of their academic experience.

An academic coach can help your teen develop long-term and lasting solutions to their academic challenges by addressing the foundational academic issues they face. An academic coach will also empower your student to identify their problems and potential solutions and help them become an active rather than a passive learner. 

By addressing the student’s foundational challenges and empowering them to take on a more active role in their education, academic coaches can give your teen lasting solutions to their content-related challenges and confidence moving forward. 

If you are ready to help your teen solve their systemic challenges and build strong academic fundamentals, let’s talk. I have helped hundreds of students reach their academic potential, and your teen can be next. 

I have curated a program designed to end the late-work cycle in one quarter. But it is not one-size-fits-all. Book a free discovery call to find out how I can best meet your teen’s specific needs.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students’ academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by assisting them in building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here

Academic Coaching vs Tutoring: What Is the Best Solution?

Trying to decide between academic coach vs tutor.

Finding the right academic support for your teen is a challenge. One of the most difficult choices is between academic coaching vs tutoring. Both are effective in the right circumstances.

However, which is the right one for your teen? 

I created this guide to help you make the right choice for your teen. The correct academic support can help your teen reach their academic potential and making that choice doesn’t have to be stressful.

What is Tutoring?

Tutors are a time-tested method of academic support and can positively impact many students.

A tutor is “a person who gives private instruction in academic subjects.” Most tutors help with a specific academic subject or topic. For example, if your child struggles with Algebra, you will likely seek a math tutor.

Tutors will often meet with students one-on-one to help them understand academic concepts they are struggling with. The tutor will work with students on a specific assignment or task to provide a solution to an immediate problem.

While tutors can be very effective at helping a student overcome a specific knowledge gap. However, there are some shortcomings to this style of academic support. 

Tutors don’t focus on the bigger picture and don’t address the foundational issues that may be causing a student to struggle academically. Furthermore, many tutors work on an “as needed” basis and, as a result, do not build close relationships with their students.

Tutors are an excellent option for overcoming a specific knowledge gap or improving grades on an assignment or assessment.

Working with an academic coach
Working with an academic coach.

What is Academic Coaching?

Academic coaching is a newer form of academic support that has seen tremendous success in recent years. This is largely because academic coaches target the areas where tutor’s come up short.

An academic coach is “a professional who meets with students to provide guidance and support in planning, goal setting, academic skills development, and time management.”

Academic coaching is a more holistic form of educational support. 

Academic coaches help students with specific academic concepts but also help them develop academic skills and strategies, set goals, and learn time management strategies.

Additionally, this type of academic support is much more comprehensive than tutoring because it addresses the immediate educational needs of students and the underlying issues causing academic difficulties.

Furthermore, academic coaches typically work with students regularly, allowing them to build close relationships with their students. Regular meetings build trust between the teen and the coach which allows them to have difficult conversations and address the root causes of the student’s academic struggles.

Beyond improving foundational academic and executive functioning skills, working with an academic coach can help students build their confidence, develop a sense of empowerment, and take responsibility for their academics.

Academic coaches focus on providing long-term and lasting solutions for their students. The focus is not on a specific knowledge gap but on the foundational academic and executive functioning skills students need to succeed in all their classes and in the long run.

Academic Coaching vs Tutoring 5 Key Differences

Now that you know the fundamental differences between academic coaching vs tutoring. Let’s look at how each form of academic support impacts students in critical areas of educational development.

A student working on homework with the assistance of an academic coach.
Tutors and Academic Coaches help with homework.

Working on Homework

One of the biggest challenges that students face is completing homework and turning it in on time. Tutors and academic coaches approach this problem in completely different ways.

Tutors help students understand the academic concepts they are struggling with, so they can complete a specific homework assignment.

Academic coaches take a different approach, teaching students organizational and studies skills they can use to stay organized, use their time wisely, and complete their homework assignments independently. 

Academic coaches empower their students with the skills they need to learn how to get straight A’s.

Test Prep and Studying for Assessments

Tutors and academic coaches also approach helping students prepare for tests and assessments differently.

Tutors will often review academic concepts with their students and help them understand the material they are being tested on. A tutor may also help a student study for a specific test.

Academic coaches teach students skills like note-taking and effective study methods. Additionally, a coach helps students develop a personalized study plan that can be used on any test. 

A tutor will help a student study for a test; an academic coach will teach a student how to study. 

Moreover, academic coaches often meet with students before important tests or assessments to help them develop a confidence-boosting mindset and build their test-taking skills.

Time management academic coach vs tutor
Time management is an essential skill.

Executive Functioning Skills 

Time management, organization, and assignment prioritization are essential for students trying to sustain their academic success. Unfortunately, these skills are rarely taught in schools, and students are expected to pick them up independently.

Tutors often do not focus on executive functioning skills because they are not academic concepts. 

Academic coaches specialize in teaching executive functioning skills. Academic coaches often meet with students regularly to help them develop and implement customized educational plans. These academic plans include concrete strategies for improving executive functioning skills.

Focusing on the bigger picture allows academic coaches to teach foundational skills. Foundational skills help students create a system where they thrive academically rather than just surviving.

Critical Thinking Skills and a Growth Mindset

Critical thinking skills are academic skills that students use to analyze, interpret, and question information. These skills are essential for academic success because they help students understand academic concepts and retain information. 

These skills are essential for success in both the classroom and in life. Critical thinking also allows students to identify challenges, overcome them, and develop a growth mindset.  

Tutors do not directly teach critical thinking, and the nature of the relationship between student and tutor does not foster critical thinking. Tutors often come in and provide the answers and solutions. 

A tutor providing answers and solutions is the opposite of critical thinking, and this type of relationship can make a student dependent on a tutor in the long run.

Academic coaches focus on teaching critical thinking by constantly asking students what they think is the solution and encouraging them to trust their judgment and ideas. Over time, this encourages critical thinking and helps students take control of their academics and responsibilities. An academic coach can help students develop a growth mindset that unlocks their potential. 

Make it possible with academic coach vs tutor
Confidence can make anything possible.

Empowerment and Confidence 

At the end of the day, you want a student to feel empowered and confident. It is challenging to help a student reach these feelings when you are focused on a specific subject and not addressing a student’s holistic needs. 

An academic coach’s end goal is student empowerment and confidence. 

By building positive habits, study skills, organizational and executive function skills, and fostering critical thinking, academic coaches are uniquely positioned to help students achieve empowerment and self-confidence.

By achieving these emotional states, academic success is accomplished along the way. Furthermore, these emotional states are the secret to motivating teens and success in the long run, not just in school. 

Academic Coaching vs Tutoring: What is the solution?

If you are looking for someone to help your student with a specific academic subject, then a tutor is likely the best solution.

If you want someone who will focus on the bigger picture and help your teen build academic skills and strategies they can use now and in the future, then an academic coach is the best solution.

Let’s talk if you think your family would benefit from working with an academic coach. I am a former classroom teacher and educational coach that has helped hundreds of students get on track and reach their academic potential. I offer complimentary discovery calls to help you determine your teen’s next steps and identify the support they need to succeed.

About the Author: John Hyde

I am an educational coach specializing in teaching students academic fundamentals and a growth mindset. 

After graduating from Duke University in 2015, I taught at a public middle school from 2016 to 2019. Although I loved working with students in the classroom, the public education system was not teaching students the skills essential to academic success. 

I left the classroom in 2019 to start Academic Empowerment Academy. Since then, my coaching program has helped hundreds of students realize their academic potential by building confidence and empowering them with the skills and mindset to meet their goals in school and life. 

If you’d like to discuss how I can help your teen be more motivated, foster good habits, and improve academic organization/performance, Book a Complimentary Discovery Call Here.


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As parents, you want your children to excel in school and achieve …
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As a parent, you want your teen to succeed academically and in …
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Schools don't care about students and are setting your child up for …
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In my experience as a classroom teacher and an academic coach, one …

Author Spotlight

Hi I’m John, author of this blog, academic coach, and founder of AE Academy.

I help teens reach their academic potential by empowering them with academic fundamentals, a growth mindset, and critical thinking. 

If your teen is struggling to reach their academic potential, or isn’t learning the skills they need to succeed in school, we should connect.

It’s on me – Book Your Free Call Here