One of our favorite coaches, Kyla King, sent us this report regarding one of her clients. We hope you’ll get some ideas that will help you with your students:
Anna and I have worked together since November of 2015. In that time, we have been able to work on her ability to independently initiate homework and to complete tasks more thoroughly. We have worked mostly on Physics but been able to address all subjects at different points.
Fortunately, her parents Bob and Deb, both already had a very good handle on the struggles Anna was having and on some tools that were effective in helping. They were able to pass some of their knowledge onto me, so that they could enjoy more quality time with Anna and have less time fighting about homework. Anna has been invested in improving her grades and was excited for the help. Between her parents knowledge, Anna’s enthusiasm and my consistent visits, Anna’s grade have improved dramatically. In our time working together her gpa has gone from a 2.4 to a 3.1!
We have used a variety of tools to make Anna’s goal, of improved grades, possible. The regular newsletters from Homework Coach have proved to be a solid foundation and a helpful reminder of typical struggles for students with executive functioning disorders. The consistent communication with Deb and Bob about Anna’s progress and motivators has been a tremendous help. Most importantly, the feedback that I get from Anna about her learning needs, accomplishments and struggles drives our work together.
One specific tools that we have recently started using is a system of positive reinforcement where Anna can earn 2 stars a day through: 1) starting her homework within 30 minutes of being reminded and 2) completing her homework tasks for the day. The positive reinforcement comes in when she sits down with her parents and discusses what short term goal/reward she is working toward. First, there is a discussion about how many stars she will need to earn and then they can talk about what she is working towards. Most recently, a trip to see Captain America with her family. The use of a visual aid, paired with short term goals has been a helpful prompt thus far and will hopefully continue to improve Anna’s engagement with her homework.
Through Anna’s hard work, and our work together, she has been able to improve her grades a full letter grade this year and we are working through the summer to see that this pattern continues!
One of the most important elements of our work together has been consistancy. For Anna and I this means being present. That I, as a coach, am there as planned and that Anna, even on her hardest days, “powers through”. She playfully rolls her eyes at this expression now, but knows what it means and acts on it diligently. Powering through means buckling down and doing the hard stuff first, it means accepting help even though it can be difficult at times, and most of all it means completing the goals she set for herself. Afterall, not every assignment will be perfect, not every physics problem enthralling, but if you complete them, they will get you closer to your goals in school and the grades you deserve for your hard work!
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