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Check out all the ways Better Sessions is educating the community and stay tuned for more articles, workshops, and presentations near you!
Three Essential Tools for Homeschooling During COVID-19
By Jessica Swiger | April 22, 2020 | Categories: Resources
With countless homeschooling resources and articles circulating online, you may be feeling overwhelmed and pressured to cultivate the “perfect” learning environment for your child.
Before we get into strategies, let’s take a moment to acknowledge how wonderful of a job you are doing. You did not sign up for this scenario, but here you are not only getting it done but also doing research and seeking techniques to improve, and that is something to admire.
Here are three common roadblocks as well as three simple and essential tools to help you manage this temporary journey through homeschooling.
Road Block #1: My child is disorganized and procrastinating on assignments.
Tool Needed: A Planning System
Whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly having a consistent system will allow your child to mentally and physically organize their obligations and manage their time.
Bullet Journal: a method for an all-in-one planner, with freedom for personalization.
Weekly Planner: to be filled out in the beginning of the week and adjusted as tasks and events come up.
Tip: Have your child pick one consistent location for the planner (Google calendars, notepad in phone, physical journal).
Road Block #2: My child is struggling with downtime and is complaining of boredom.
Tool Needed: A Flexible Routine
If we know what to expect, we feel safe and able to adapt to chaotic situations. Routines can be loose or strict depending on your family dynamics during this unique time.
Block Scheduling: focused blocks of time pieced together to create an ideal balance of work time and free time. This is a great editable template to try.
Loop Scheduling: geared towards homeschool setting, allows for flexibility among tasks and freedom of choice in activity or subject.
Task Cards: used to create a visual schedule; boosts a child’s independence and allows them to plan and prioritize.
Tip: If something about your current routine is not working then try a different resource, flexibility is key.
Road Block #3: My child lacks the motivation to sit down and do school work.
Tool Needed: Positive Reinforcement
Children who are struggling to stay motivated may respond well to incentives.
Incentive Tracker: motivates children by rewarding them for completing actions that align with their goals.
Ways to Encourage: give specific praise for your child’s actions and efforts rather than their grades or ability.
Tip: If your child is feeling stuck, encourage them to take a short, 10-15 minute “brain break” to stretch, eat a snack, or call a friend to reset.
These three quintessential tools will set a foundation of skills that will carry over into the rest of your child’s life and will prepare them for any roadblock that comes their way because this too shall pass!
Better Sessions at The Rankin Institute
By Lisa Podell | January 23, 2020 | Categories: Workshops
Lisa Podell, owner of Better Sessions spoke to 60+ parents and educators on the topic of How to Model Executive Functioning Skills for your Child. Over the course of the evening, parents learned how to expand their toolkit with new ways to successfully communicate with their child, integrate executive functioning skills into their daily tasks and create customized goals to experience immediate, positive changes.
Parents and Teachers Participate in Better Sessions Workshop at The Rankin Institute.
Lisa Podell, Owner of Better Sessions
Sustain Family Goals
By Lisa Podell | January 10, 2020 | Categories: Interviews
January is the perfect time to start fresh and introduce goal setting to help set your child up for a successful winter season.
Healthy Ways to Communicate with your Child
By Jessica Swiger | November 18, 2019 | Categories: Resources
Practice healthy thinking patterns when talking to your child.
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Increase your Child’s Independence
By Lisa Podell | November 5, 2019 | Categories: Interviews
Including your child on a shopping trip for school supplies may take additional patience and time but practicing this independence now is worth the investment so that your child knows how to partake in these crucial skills in the future.
Motivate your Child to Read
By Maryanne Hogan | October 21, 2019 | Categories: Resources
5 ways to encourage your child to read and enjoy it.
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Effective Homework Support Strategies
By Lisa Podell | September 30, 2019 | Categories: Interviews
There are many long-term benefits to creating an independent approach to homework.
Balance Extracurricular Activities
By Chad Beveridge | September 17, 2019 | Categories: Resources
Three simple, mindful steps to avoid tipping the scale
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Better Sessions Teaches Time Management Workshop at GenOne
By Lisa Podell | August 16, 2019 | Categories: Workshops
Our Learn Better Coaches, Stacy Long and Chad Beveridge facilitated a Time Management Workshop for high school students who participate with GenOne, a nonprofit organization that partners with talented, first-generation students from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them successfully navigate to and through college. The workshop focused on executive functioning skills, communication, and growth mindset.
Learn Better Coach, Chad Beveridge facilitates Time Management Workshop
Improve your Child’s Critical Thinking Skills
By Chad Beveridge | July 22, 2019 | Categories: Resources
A 5-step guide to problem-based learning.
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