And just like that, we’re in Term 2!
Last term was the time to set the pace of your child’s academic year. If they did well in Term 1 and achieved their ideal results, then what a good start! If they fell short on their performance, that’s okay too. It’s just the first quarter, and they have Term 2 to come back better and more prepared.
Now that your child has assessed what they could have done better and recharged to bounce back another term, it’s time to ensure that they’re equipped and ready with a plan for the next biggest ten weeks of their academic life.
Maybe you’ve already got your game plan lined up since the beginning of the school year or considering tweaks to your child’s study strategy this term. Regardless of where you are in planning their learning this Term 2, there’s one important question to ask right now:
“Does the game plan fit my child?”
Like shoes, their game plan and education should not be taken as a one-size-fits-all strategy.
In this article, we explore how personalised strategy can make a difference and how parents can make sure their school game plan fits their child perfectly.
Sam’s Successful Game Plan
When we met Sam, she was a neurodivergent student who was overwhelmed by information and had trouble staying focused on studying.
Sam didn’t know what study strategy worked best for her, so she ended up following a ‘borrowed’ game plan all her life: follow class discussions, take down notes and absorb as much information as she could. It was the same strategy her teachers taught and most of her cohort followed.
When we met Sam, she was a neurodivergent student who was overwhelmed by information and had trouble staying focused on studying.
Sam didn’t know what study strategy worked best for her, so she ended up following a ‘borrowed’ game plan all her life: follow class discussions, take notes and absorb as much information as she could. It was the same strategy her teachers taught, and most of her cohort followed.
So, our education coaches helped Sam tap into her unique learning profile, create a personalised strategy that fit her strengths and address her focus-related problems. We helped Sam design visual tools that aligned with her kinaesthetic learning style so she could avoid distractions and be more proactive.
Sam improved her deadline management and understanding of assessments and criteria, so she could work on her projects without feeling overwhelmed. When learning new information became tough, Sam learned to adapt and focus despite the challenges.
Most importantly, Sam stopped forcing a learning method that didn’t fit her and changed nothing about who she was. She became more confident about her skills, more motivated to learn new things and eventually improved her school results.
Personalise Your Child’s Game Plan in 3 Ways
Based on a recent report from the Victorian Department of Education, personalised learning strategies were found to improve student achievement by 10%. Sam’s story is just one of many that support how much impact personalised study strategies can have on student outcomes.
As a parent, you’re at the forefront of making sure your child’s game plan suits them and their strengths perfectly. Here are three ways to ensure this for your child:
#1. Talk and listen to your child.
Teenagers find starting conversations about their school life hard, especially with their parents. That’s why it’s important for you to take the first step and bridge that gap to help your teen express their thoughts.
What are their goals? What activities or subjects do they find hard to do or learn?
Listening to your child is one of the simplest and best things you can do. Make sure you give them a chance to share and express their thoughts, without any judgement.
#2. Identify their Unique Learning Profile.
What are their learning strengths? What motivates them to study and improve their academic performance? What are the possible ‘blockers’ at school or at home that keep them from giving their 100% effort and getting their best results?
These are just some of the things you can pinpoint to identify their unique learning profile (ULP), their distinct learning blueprint of strengths and weaknesses.
#3. Understand the best ways to support your child.
Because your child has a distinct ULP, there are also going to be specific ways and strategies that can give them the best kind of support. Make sure you know and understand these techniques to help your child follow through and make the most of their ULP.
It’s important to remember that they cannot do this alone, even if they insist they can. Your child would need all the guidance and help they could get to improve their academic performance and school results.
At the end of the day, we all want the same outcomes for your child. Whatever your child’s game plan is to succeed, it should be ‘snug and fit’ to their strengths.
Our education strategists at Kalibrate-Ed can help you identify your child’s ULP and how to make the most of their learning strengths to achieve higher marks and healthier well-being. If you need some guidance or ideas for your child’s game plan or simply where to begin, you can always schedule a time with our team to brainstorm.
Click below to schedule a time.
