Building Student Skills

(Time management, organization, resiliency)

Limit Screen Time

Limiting screen time can help students get enough sleep and exercise. Screen time includes cell phones, computers, and television

Activity To Try At Home

Make screen time a privilege.

Completed chores = 1 hour

Complete homework = 30 minutes

Be a role model

Limit your own screen time at home

Establish areas in your house that are No Screen Zones

Bedroom

Dining Room/Kitchen

Encourage physical activity

Play in the backyard

Nightly walks

Leverage Technology

Apps can help students stay organized, create routines, and remind them of deadlines

Activity To Try At Home

Create a Google Calendar with your son or daughter

Students can use their school email or personal email

Share calendars with each other

Create a “Note” (iOS users) that you can share with your child. List all tasks and obligations for the week and check them off as you complete them.

Try the “Pomodoro” technique by setting a digital timer for a block of time and focusing solely on one task

Create Routines

Routines can help students develop healthy habits and feel in control

Activity To Try At Home

Discuss with your student an example of a routine they likely already have throughout the course of their day

Morning or Night Routine

Challenge them to work with you to implement another manageable routine to help create good habit

Clean Room

Make your bed every morning

Place all clothes into drawers or hamper

Put all unused shoes/sneakers for the day in the closet

Prioritize Tasks

Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance can help you identify what needs the most attention

Activity To Try At Home

Make a list of the weekly tasks you complete as a parent/guardian in your household or at your job

Examples – groceries, laundry, mow the grass, wash the car, pay bills

Ask your student to give you some feedback on how they would prioritize those tasks

Students should be challenged to provide justification for their order.

Break Down Tasks

Breaking larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks can help you stay focused

Activity To Try At Home

Collaborate on a large project that needs to get done around the house.

Examples – Painting a room, cleaning the garage, etc.

Work together with your student to create a list of smaller tasks that can be done over a period of time to accomplish the larger goal.

Example – Painting a room

Move all the furniture to center

Sand walls

Put down tape to edge

Paint

Set Goals

Planning and setting goals with deadlines is a fundamental part of time management

Activity To Try At Home

Decide on a personal goal you want to set for yourself

Think small and attainable at first

The goal needs to be measurable

Suggestions – Exercise 3x per week, decrease monthly screen time by 4 hours, etc.

Write down the personal goal and timeline on a sticky note and place in a visible location

Create accountability for yourself

Example – 4 hours less screen time in a month

Check in halfway through and revise

Might need to make it easier or more challenging

Reflective Conversation

Taking time to reflect can be a great way to build confidence and create more resiliency in your student.

Activity To Try At Home

2 minute conversations

Frequent and consistent 2 minute conversations can help break down the barriers

This can eventually lead to meaningful conversation about school

Resilience is not skills students naturally have

It is difficult to self reflect and provide self directed constructive criticism