Tag: goal setting

Self-advocacy is an essential skill. Unfortunately, many teens struggle to advocate for what they want/need and many teachers do not teach advocacy strategies for students.

During my years as an educator, I have seen many bright students struggle because they did not learn how to self-advocate. 

Instead of asking questions to clarify an assignment or ask for help, these students would stay silent. By the time a parent or teacher discovered that they were struggling with an assignment, it was often too late.

Over time, this created terrible habits, and I saw many students lose their confidence because they started to struggle academically. 

The good news is that you can teach self-advocacy to your teen and avoid this potential pitfall. I’ve outlined x strategies that you can implement to help your teen develop the ability to self-advocate. These strategies can help your teen build confidence and reach their academic potential. 

What Is Self-advocacy, and Why Are Self-advocacy Strategies for Students Important?

Before diving into the methods you can use to improve your child’s self-advocacy, I want to define the term and outline why it is an essential skill for students to learn.

Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for oneself. In other words, it is the ability to communicate what you need to succeed.

Self-advocacy strategies for students are essential because they help teenagers stay confident in the classroom and reach their academic potential. A student knows their needs better than anyone else. Without self-advocacy, parents, teachers, and peers are left guessing.

When students know how to self-advocate, they are more likely to ask questions when they don’t understand something.

A student is also more likely to ask for help when needed. The ability to ask for help is crucial because it allows students to get the assistance they need to succeed. Additionally, self-advocacy gives students a voice.

It allows them to share their thoughts and ideas with their teachers and classmates. Students who feel they can contribute to the classroom discussion are more likely to engage with the material and it can improve their motivation.

Lastly, self-advocacy is crucial because it teaches students how to advocate for themselves outside the classroom. Self-advocacy is a skill that your child will use professionally and within their platonic and romantic relationships. The benefits of learning self-advocacy strategies extend far beyond the classroom.

Six Methods To Help Develop Advocacy Strategies For Students

Improving your child’s advocacy strategies won’t happen overnight. It is a difficult skill to teach. Creating an environment that encourages self-reflection, communication, and encouragement is the best way to instill self-advocacy. Creating the right environment is particularly important because students may not see good examples of self-advocacy in school.

1. Teach Advocacy Strategies for Students Through Question Asking  

One of the best ways to help your child develop the ability to advocate is by asking them questions. Questions are a great way to prompt a child to reflect upon their experience and share what they need to succeed.

Some questions I would encourage you to ask your child include:

• What do you need to be successful in this class?
• Do you understand the expectations for this assignment?
• What can I do to help you be successful?
• What went well on this assignment?
• What could you have improved?

The answer to questions like these has benefits for both you and your child. Asking these questions demonstrates an interest in your child’s educational experience and gives insight into how you can support them.

Additionally, answering the questions helps your child identify their needs and what would be helpful in various situations.

In addition to asking questions that prompt self-reflection, it is also valuable to ask your teen to elaborate on their answers. Encourage your child to give answers beyond “good” or “bad.”

The more a child can elaborate on their problems/challenges, the better they understand them. Elaborating on their perspective helps identify areas of need and potential solutions.

2. Develop Self Advocacy Strategies Through Validation 

Many students struggle to advocate for themselves because they do not trust their thoughts and opinions. As a result, even if they think they need help, students who lack self-confidence may not speak up because they don’t believe their ideas.

You can encourage your child to trust themselves by validating their perspective and opinion. Now I am not suggesting that you agree with everything that your child says but the support of (some) of their ideas will go a long way in helping them develop the ability to advocate for themselves.

Don’t immediately move to the solution when your child expresses frustration with a problem or shares that they are struggling with something. Instead, express understanding by saying something like:

• I can understand why that frustrates you.
• That is a big challenge. 
• I am sorry that this is frustrating you. 

Validating your child’s feelings teaches them to trust their judgment and emotions. Trust in one’s self is an essential self in self-advocacy. 

3. Empower Your Child to Advocate for Themselves

In addition to encouraging self-reflection, another vital aspect of teaching advocacy is encouraging critical thinking. One of the best ways to develop critical thinking skills is by encouraging your child to provide solutions to problems.

Asking your child to identify solutions is a great way to follow up on the questions you asked in the first method. Once your child has identified a challenge or an area of growth, you can ask them:

• What do you think is the solution?
• How are you going to overcome that challenge? 
• What do you think the next step is?

Asking this type of question demonstrates to your child that they have the solutions to their challenges and that they are a source of knowledge that can be trusted.

I know it can be tempting to solve problems for your child as soon as they arise or tell them what they need to do to solve a problem. However, this does not teach critical thinking.

To effectively advocate, your child needs to understand what they need to solve the problem. Your child will only learn to do this through practice.

4. Give Positive Feedback To Encourage Self-advocacy Strategies

One of the best ways to encourage your child to advocate for themselves is by praising them when they exhibit the desired behavior. The simple act of saying “good job” or “you should be proud of yourself for asking for what you needed” will not only encourage your child to continue the behavior, but it will also help them develop a sense of pride in their ability to ask for what they need.

Positive feedback and praise is perhaps the most effective method for encouraging your child. So be sure to use it often!

Giving your child positive feedback when they advocate for themselves will empower them to continue doing so in the future. 

Conversely, it is essential to limit negative feedback. It can be tempting to tell your child what they could have done better after advocating for themselves, but this will only discourage them.

Studies have shown that praise and negative feedback should be given at a ratio of 5:1. Try to stick to this ratio as much as possible.

5. Practice Advocacy Strategies With Your Child

If your child knows the support they need but struggles to ask for help from teachers and other adults, practicing is a great way to build confidence.

Role-playing can be a fun way to help your child build confidence and practice self-advocacy. Ask your child to explain a situation (i.e., asking a teacher for help). You take on the role of the teacher and provide a variety of responses. Role-playing will help your child anticipate different reactions and learn how to respond effectively.

Alternatively, your child can take on the role of the teacher, and you can play the student. This role reversal is a great way to teach your child how to ask for what they need. Plus, your child will likely have a fun time being in charge.

6. Work With an Academic Coach

Working with an academic coach is a great way to give your child a head start on learning self-advocacy.

An academic coach can help your child understand their learning style, set goals, and develop specific strategies tailored to their needs.

Additionally, academic coaches can provide support and guidance to parents. Working with an academic coach is especially useful for parents who want to be more involved in their child’s education but don’t know where to start.

Let’s chat if you’re interested in working with an academic coach. I have worked with hundreds of students and their families to help them reach their academic potential. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation.

Building advocacy skills in your child will help them stay confident and empowered in the classroom and beyond. The strategies outlined above are just a few of the many ways that you can help your child develop advocacy skills.

So get started today and watch your child blossom into a confident young adult!

I was an excellent student in high school. I was valedictorian of my graduating class. However, things quickly went off the rails when I got to college, and by the end of my first year, I had one of the five lowest GPAs. 

My parents were not pleased. Instead of being encouraging or understanding, they were upset. There wasn’t much love when we saw each other over Thanksgiving break. Instead, there was tension, frustration, and anger. 

My parents threatened to pull me out of school. 

My grades went up and down for a few semesters, and eventually, I pulled myself together. I was on the Dean’s list in my junior and senior years. 

When a teenager is struggling academically, many parents quickly consider punishment for bad grades. In my case, my parent’s punishment was the threat to pull me out of school if I did not improve my grades. 

Although my grades did improve in the long run, my parent’s punishment made my challenge more difficult. I was constantly stressed about leaving school and my friends. I was worried about living at home again and being around their anger and frustration. This stress made my grades worse in the short run. 

A punishment for bad grades did not motivate me to improve. 

My experience aligns with research data that points to punishment for bad grades as an ineffective intervention. In fact, it can even be counterproductive. 

Instead of punishment, I highly encourage you to look at alternatives if you want to motivate your teen. Studies have proven that a combination of negative and positive reinforcement is the most effective way of encouraging teenagers. 

I’ve created a step-by-step guide that you can use to implement negative and positive reinforcement to help your teenager meet their academic potential and improve their grades. This method can also improve the relationship you have with your teenager. 

Isn’t Negative Reinforcement the same as A Punishment for Bad Grades? 

Before I share my step-by-step process, it is essential to define punishment, negative reinforcement, and positive reinforcement. These three terms are often confused with one another. 

A punishment is enforcing a penalty or consequence on an individual because of their actions. A punishment can either be implementing a negative outcome or removing something desirable. 

Negative reinforcement removes something harmful or unpleasant as a reward for changing their behavior or accomplishing something. 

Positive reinforcement gives a reward or positive stimulus after achieving the desired behavior. 

Punishment and negative reinforcement are often used interchangeably, which is incorrect. A punishment requires an authority figure to impose something, while negative reinforcement involves something to be removed. 

The example I gave earlier with my parents was a punishment. The threatened discipline for bad grades was removal from university. An example of an alternative negative reinforcement could have been a requirement that I call my parents each week and tell them my study plans until I achieve a certain GPA. An example of positive reinforcement could be a new computer if I earned the desired GPA. 

Now that I’ve clarified the differences between punishment, negative reinforcement, and positive reinforcement, let’s jump into my step-by-step process of using positive and negative reinforcement to help improve your teenager’s grades.

1. Stop Bad Grades In High School By Having a Discussion With Your Teen

The first step in helping your teen improve their grades is having a conversation. Give your teen a heads up and let them know what you want to discuss during this conversation.

This conversation should be open and honest conversation. Although you may be frustrated, you must come in cool, calm, collected, and without assumptions.

This discussion aims to get you and your teen on the same page and to hear why they are struggling. Hearing your teen’s perspective is essential in getting them back on track.

With an open mind, I recommend you ask the following questions:

• How do you feel like you are doing in school?
• What is going well?
• What is difficult? 
• Do you have trouble focusing? 
• How can I/we support you? 
• What does success look like?
• What kind of grades do you want to get?
• Why do they want to be successful?

Some of their answers might not be what you want to hear, but let them speak and get their perspective.

After asking these questions, please share your perspective with your teen and tell them why you are concerned about their academic performance in a calm and collected manner. Focus on yourself, your feelings, and your concerns.

Wrap up this conversation with compassion and love, and most importantly, validate your teen’s perspective and struggles. The action steps will take place during the next step.

2. Make a Plan To Empower Your Teen and Avoid Punishment for Bad Grades

It may be tempting to jump immediately from the discussion into making a plan. I recommend that you and your teen have a break of at least a day between these conversations.

The first conversation will likely be tense and draining. Getting some time and space from this conversation will help you approach step two with an open mind. Additionally, the time between these conversations will allow you and your teen to reflect.

Like the previous step, identify a time and place for this conversation. This step will not be productive if it is a surprise.

During this second conversation, the objective is to develop a game plan for success with your teen. Working together, you and your teen should identify the following:

• What are your teen’s goals? They should be measurable (i.e., study for one hour each day, study without distractions, avoid missing assignments)
• What are your teen’s struggles in school? What is preventing them from reaching their goals? (be specific – i.e., note-taking, study skills, organization, etc.)
• What steps need to be taken to overcome these struggles/challenges?
• What is your teen’s routine going to be? What behaviors do they need to be successful? (i.e., when are they going to study, when are they going to wake up, how are they going to organize their materials from school)

When answering these questions, let your teen lead the conversation. 

Let them speak early and often, and keep your input to a minimum. It is essential that your teen feels like they are in control and are leading the charge to improve their grades.

3. Establish Consequences and Rewards and Avoid Punishments

Now that you and your teen have created a game plan, the next step is to identify the negative and positive reinforcements that will help motivate your teenager.

Just like the previous three steps, it is vital that your teenager feel like they have some ownership and control over this situation. Immediately following the conversation in step three, you and your teen need to answer the following questions:

• What are the consequences if the agreed-upon behaviors are not completed?
• What are the rewards for reaching their goals?
• What are your conditions as a parent?

Let your teen lead this conversation. The more input they have, the more likely they will buy in and reach their objectives. However, that doesn’t mean that you should have zero input.

You can choose to reject your teen’s desired consequence(s). However, I recommend adding or amending it rather than altogether abandoning it. The same goes for the reward selected by your child.

When selecting consequences, it is essential to remember to avoid punishment. As I outlined earlier, punishment is not an effective motivator.

Instead, use negative reinforcement. Some examples of negative reinforcement are requiring your teen to show you their agenda every day after school until their grades reach a certain level or staying home on Friday nights as long as they have missing assignments.

Additionally, I highly recommend that the consequences be based on a measure of effort rather than the outcome. Your teen should be rewarded (or face the consequences) for working on their homework daily for an hour rather than achieving a certain GPA. I’ll discuss this in-depth in a later step.

Once your teen has achieved the required level, you should remove or adjust the negative reinforcement.

4. Schedule Weekly Check-ins To Maintain Growth and Avoid Falling Into the Punishment Trap

The hard work begins when you and your teen have created a game plan and established consequences and rewards.

It will be up to you to establish and maintain this consistency. Building a habit takes at least three weeks, so be prepared to follow through on these weekly check-ins for at least a month.

Many teens struggle to reach their academic potential because of a lack of consistency. Your teen will likely need support as they strive to establish the routines and behaviors that will empower them.

You will have to model this behavior for your teen to learn consistency. I recommend establishing a regular schedule to check in with your teen. During this weekly check-in, you and your teen should discuss the following:

• What went well during the past week?
• What could be improved moving forward?
• Review the goals established during your planning meeting and present rewards/consequences.
• Give feedback – if your teen is open to it.

When evaluating your teen’s behavior, you must focus on their actions rather than their words. Many teens are experts at telling adults what they want to hear. Concentrating on your teen’s words rather than their actions can lead to bad habits and allow your teen to avoid the consequences of their actions.

If your teen fails to meet the expectations laid out during your earlier conversations, it is essential to follow through with the agreed-upon consequences. When communicating the consequences, it is necessary to frame them in relation to what they agreed to earlier.

It is vital to avoid anger and raised voices as much as possible. These actions will only serve to harm your teen’s motivation.

5. Praising Effort Over Outcome Will Help Your Teen Overcome Bad Grades 

I mentioned earlier the importance of establishing rewards and consequences based on measures of effort rather than a specific outcome. Focusing on effort over income is a subtle change that many parents miss and one of the biggest problems with a punishment for bad grades.

Although the desired outcome (i.e., no missing assignments, a high GPA, getting into college) is easier to see, it is also harder to control. Your teen might change their behavior, work hard, and turn in all their assignments, but still not get the desired GPA.

Did your teen fail? I certainly don’t think so.

Over time, putting in effort and learning the necessary habits will lead to a positive outcome, but that might not happen overnight. By praising effort over the outcome, you can help your teen continue to work towards their goals, even if they don’t see immediate results.

Here are a couple of additional reminders that can help you provide positive encouragement for your teen:

• Aim for a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative praise.
• Focus on the behavior, not the person.
• Remember where your teen started from and praise the progress they have made.

6. Model The Desired Behavior and Offer Support Instead of A punishment for Bad Grades

As I mentioned earlier in the article, just because you give your teen more independence does not mean you are walking away from the issue entirely. The support that you give your teen will be essential in helping them achieve their academic potential.

However, you may need to take on a less active role than you might have done in the past. Like with many of the steps on this list, I encourage you to start by asking questions. You can ask them:

• What do you need to be successful?
• What do you think you need help with?
• How can I help you?
• What support do you need from me?

Regardless of their answer or how much you think you can help them, respect their response and give them space. The more empowered your teen feels, the more motivated they will be.

Additionally, it is essential to respect your teen’s boundaries. If they do not want your help or advice, do not force it upon them. 

Giving your teen the space to find their path is essential. You will also be surprised how much their attitudes change as they experience this independence.

The final step to avoiding punishment for bad grades is modeling the desired behavior. Teenagers often struggle with meeting the expectations around them because the adults they see are polished final products. Your teen does not see all the mistakes you made when you were younger or the obstacle you had to overcome.

To help your teen get a more realistic picture, model the behavior you want them to embody and speak honestly about your growth and improvement with them.

For example, if you want your teen to work at the dining table, bring your work and work there. Instead of only talking about positive things at dinner, share something you have been struggling with or a mistake you made.

By modeling the behavior you want your teenager to embrace, you are providing a model for them to follow and normalizing the behavior.

7. Get the Right Support To Avoid Bad Grades in High School

You have made it to the seventh and final step. As you can see, the process of helping your teen reach their academic potential is a challenging one. It requires patience, thoughtfulness, commitment, and hard work from you and your teen.

Your teen’s growth will have its ups and downs and can be stressful. Supporting your teen, modeling the desired behavior, and enforcing consequences can strain the parent-child relationship. Therefore, I highly recommend you seek the proper support for yourself and your teen during this journey.

I highly recommend hiring an academic coach to help you and your teen during this process. 

An academic coach can serve as a bridge between you and your teen. A coach will provide accountability and support for your teen while keeping you in the loop.

Additionally, teens seeking independence often respond well to adults who are not their parents. An academic coach offers a fresh start for your teen, one that does not carry all the previous experience of a parent or teacher.

Finally, an academic coach can help teach your teen the foundational academic skills like note-taking, organization, and writing they need to succeed in the classroom.

Let’s chat if you think your teen would benefit from an academic coach. I am an experienced academic coach and have helped hundreds of teens reach their academic potential.

You Can Avoid Punishment For Bad Grades and Empower Your Teen

If you implement these seven steps, your teen will be well on their way to achieving their academic potential. While implementing these seven steps, I want to remind you to be patient and positive.

Your teen’s journey will be filled with trials and tribulations. Still, as long as they continue to work consistently and provide a positive environment to make mistakes and learn from them, they will improve and reach their potential.

Schedule a free consultation if you would like to discuss how you can best implement these seven steps. I can give you feedback on how to engage your teen best and help you identify the correct type of support for your family.

A recent National Centre of Youth Mental Health study found that 66% of high school students self-reported feeling stressed about school. The same study found that 55% of students felt anxious about taking tests and studying.

Given students’ high-stress levels, it is unsurprising that many teenagers struggle to meet their academic potential. Stress can cause students to become avoidant or burn out. It can also negatively affect their sleep and physical health, leading to compromised cognitive function.

So, how can we help teens decrease and manage their stress? Keep reading to learn about teens’ most common sources of stress and ten tips that can help reduce stress levels and improve academic performance.

10 Tips On How to Stop Being Stressed From School

These ten tips can help your teen manage stress and stay on top of academics. I recommend identifying the one or two tips that resonate the most with your teen and helping them incorporate the tip into their life.  

1. Stop Being Stressed By Getting High-quality Sleep

Sleep is essential for cognitive function and managing stress levels. Your teen should prioritize getting enough sleep each night, even if it means cutting back on extracurricular activities.

Screen time can also hurt sleep quality. Encourage your teen to stop using their phone 30-45 minutes before bed to help improve the quality of their sleep.

Implementing these two easy fixes can make a huge difference and help your teen stop being stressed from school.

2. Exercise to Stop Feeling Stressed

Studies have demonstrated that exercise is one of the most effective methods for managing and reducing stress levels.

Incorporating exercise into your teen’s routine can help them manage stress and improve their physical health. It can be as simple as a daily walk or an extracurricular activity. 

3. Create a Positive Environment Around School

Many teens feel academics are a negative topic and feel pressure to succeed. Unfortunately, families are often the source of this pressure and this contributes to being stressed from school.

Encourage your teen to focus on personal growth and learning instead of grades. Celebrating the effort, they put into academics rather than focusing on the outcome can help create a positive environment for learning.

Additionally, I highly encourage you to reflect and consider how you perceive your teen’s academics. You can pass on any stress or negative emotions to them.

4. Help Your Teen Work Smarter, Not Harder

This tip can take a while to pay off, but the benefits can be massive. Many teens resort to brute force methods when studying. This style may have worked in middle school, but as the content becomes more complex and their responsibilities increase, it becomes less effective. Show your teen how to prioritize their work and tasks, starting with the most important or pressing ones.

You can also help them study more efficiently by teaching them helpful study techniques, such as creating flashcards or making personalized study guides. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, academic coaches are an excellent resource for teaching your teen practical study skills.

5. Create a Schedule or Routine to Reduce Academic Stress

Consistency will set you free. Unfortunately, creating a schedule or doing anything regularly is a big challenge for most teens. Helping your teen complete a daily/weekly schedule or routine can help them stay organized and on top of their tasks and reduce their stress levels.

An excellent way to start is to help your teen create a list of daily tasks they need to complete (i.e., check their agenda, do homework, study, etc.). As they get more comfortable with this, they can transition to planning their weeks and scheduling things like homework, studying practice, and time with friends. Getting organized can make all the difference in the world.

6. Healthy Food and Hydration Can Reduce Stress Levels

Diet and hydration significantly affect cognitive function, mood, and energy levels. A shocking study by the Cornell Medical Center found that around 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

Encourage your teen to drink plenty of water throughout the day and make healthy food choices. Staying hydrated can help them stay focused and improve their overall well-being. 

7. Ask for Help and Learn how to Deal with School Stress and Anxiety

Stress leads many teens to go inward instead of asking for help. In the long run, this only makes their problems worse.

Remind your teen that they are not alone and that many other teens struggle with academics. Provide a space for them to talk about their concerns or go with them to seek help from a trusted adult. Encourage your teen to ask questions, seek clarification on assignments, and seek support from a teacher or academic coach.

8. Engage with Your Emotions

Teens often push away their negative emotions about school. Pushing away their feelings is ineffective and can lead to a build-up of stress. Encourage your teen to acknowledge and manage their emotions healthily, such as journaling or talking to you or a counselor.

You can model this behavior by talking to your teen openly and honestly about what stresses you out and how you process your emotions. Demonstrating your vulnerability will create a space that encourages your teen to do the same.

9. Save Some Time For Yourself

Encourage your teen to set aside time for themselves each day to relax and do something they enjoy. A small amount of “me time” can go a long way in helping your teen regulate their stress levels and stay on top of their academics. 

10. Work with An Academic Coach to Stop being Stressed From School

If your teenager struggles with stress and academic performance, consider working with an academic coach. An academic coach can help your teen create a personalized plan to manage stress, improve their academic performance, and implement the tips on this list. 

They can also provide support and guidance in navigating high school’s academic and social pressures. Let’s chat if this is the support your teen needs. I’m an academic coach with over ten years of experience helping students reach their academic potential. I can help your teen manage their stress and develop a more positive association with school.

Wrap Up

Stress is a normal part of school and life, but it shouldn’t be debilitating. Finding healthy ways to manage it is crucial, so it doesn’t negatively impact your teenager’s well-being and academic performance. Try implementing these tips to help your teen relieve stress and reach their academic potential.

Learn more about AE Academy!

If you liked this post, please share and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Also, check our academic coaching service here aeacoaching.org

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.

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.

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:

• Organization and tracking of assignments
• Self-advocacy and asking for help
• How to build positive relationships with teachers
• Note-taking and studying

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.

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.

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.

Learn more about AE Academy!

If you liked this post, please share and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Also, check our academic coaching service here aeacoaching.org

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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Learn more about AE Academy!

“Motivation is the single most important factor in any sort of success.”

• Edmund Hillary

Edmund Hillary was the first man to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest, so he clearly knew a thing or two about motivation. Unfortunately, many teens struggle to motivate themselves to complete their responsibilities at school and at home. Teenagers are often more interested in video games, social media, and hanging out with their friends. 

A lack of motivation can be particularly frustrating when you can see how much potential your teen has, but they seem uninterested in maximizing it. 

If this sounds like your teen, you are not alone. Many parents struggle with their teen’s apathy and lack of motivation. 

It may seem like an impossible task, but with the right support, you help your teen find their intrinsic motivation. 

Mentorship can be the key to unlocking your teen’s motivation and propelling them towards their potential. Keep reading to find out what academic mentorship is and how it can help your teen unlock their potential. 

Why Your Teen Needs an Academic Mentor

Teens often struggle with motivation because they feel like they do not have control of their circumstances. Developmentally, they are at an age where they are seeking more autonomy and independence. Unfortunately, this is often hard to come by because school provides them with few opportunities for autonomy. 

In an effort to find a sense of independence and autonomy, many teens rebel and refuse to do what they are told. Rebellion gives them a sense of control, although not necessarily a sense of happiness or achievement. 

This can commonly lead to academic struggles and tension between teens and their parents. 

The longer this pattern continues, the harder it will be for a teen to find intrinsic motivation. The key to motivating a teen is often stepping back and giving them space to dictate their own path. Mentors can facilitate a teen’s exploration and provide guidance as a teen begins to express their independence and seek their own solutions. 

What does an Academic Mentor Do?

Academic mentors, also called academic coaches, act as role models for students. The mentor/coach provides academic advice, resources, and a forum to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions. In this article, I will use mentor and coach interchangeably. 

Unlike other types of academic support (i.e. tutoring), mentorship meets the full needs of a mentee. A mentor will discuss subject-specific as well as social-emotional challenges related to a student’s academics. 

The goal of mentor-mentee pairing is to help a student find their intrinsic motivation and create a diverse toolbox of skills they can use to achieve success now and in the future. 

In order to accomplish this goal, mentors and coaches prioritize question asking and the goals of their mentees. This gives their mentors a sense of agency and independence, which is essential for the success of a mentor-mentee pairing. Over time, this builds trust and helps the mentee develop intrinsic motivation and problem-solving skills. 

As mentee continues to grow, a coach can support them on this journey by teaching them the skills they need to accomplish their goals. These skills include organization, note-taking, writing, and other academic fundamentals. 

Finally, mentorship is a two-way street. A good mentor and mentee pairing will include shared interests and open discussion beyond just academics. Having a connection beyond school-related subjects helps build a healthy relationship and trust between the mentor and the mentee. This relationship is necessary for the mentee to listen to and accept the advice provided by the mentor.

How can Mentorship Benefit your Teen? 

An academic mentor can be the secret to unlocking your teen’s motivation. Due to the emphasis mentors place on whole-child learning, teens are often more receptive to mentors than traditional forms of academic support. 

By connecting with and empathizing with your teen, an academic coach can help your teen identify what motivates them by putting the power in the hands of the teen. This includes their goals, desires, and solutions. 

Instead of going down a predetermined path, mentors focus on asking questions and understanding your teen’s circumstances. The emphasis that academic coaches place on question-asking is one of the primary advantages that they have over other forms of academic support. The simple act of asking instead of telling can make all the difference in the world. 

Additionally, mentorship offers an opportunity for a start fresh. Many of the adults in a teen’s life are associated with family or school. These connections may make a teen unwilling to open up and receive advice, especially if the teen has had negative experiences with academics in the past. Since a mentor does not have these connections, a teen and a mentor are starting with a blank slate, without any prior negative associations. 

The fresh start that a coach provides allows for more open and honest discussions and helps create an environment where your teen is more likely to listen and accept feedback. 

Furthermore, a mentor can model and troubleshoot habits like time management, note-taking, reading, active listening, and writing that your teen needs to succeed now and in the future. An academic coach can also empower your teen to be an independent learner by encouraging ownership and self-advocacy.

By fostering your teen’s ownership over their academics, a mentor can prepare your teen for sustained success well into the future. 

How Academic Mentorship can Benefit Parents

Mentorship has benefits for parents as well as teens. Teens that struggle with their academics and lack motivation often have strained relationships with their parents. This is often the result of the parents’ well-intentioned efforts to motivate their children.

Over time, this can strain the relationship between parents and child, and make the home a battleground. 

A mentor gives parents the opportunity to take a step back. Instead of focusing on their child’s academics, they can focus on building a positive relationship with their teen instead. The mentor can take on the role of monitoring the teen’s academics and providing accountability, while keeping the parents in the loop. 

Additionally, an academic coach can work with parents to create an environment at home that will help facilitate academic growth and foster a teen’s motivation. 

The Next Step 

If you think a mentor might be the support your teen needs to unlock their motivation and potential, let’s talk. 

I am an academic coach and mentor that has worked with hundreds of students to help them build positive habits and achieve academic success. 

Every student has their specific challenges. Let’s have a discussion about how we can unleash your teen’s intrinsic motivation – book your free discovery call here.

Learn more about AE Academy!

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