by David Quinney | Feb 27, 2024 | News
In the whirlwind of secondary school life, maintaining a balance between school, extra-curricular activities, and personal life can sometimes feel like navigating a maze without a map. With the right routine in place, students can not only survive but thrive in this dynamic environment. At team Academic Coach we understand the importance of establishing an effective routine early on to set the stage for academic success. As a parent, you will naturally want to do everything possible to support your child in secondary school. Take a look at our 10-step comprehensive guide to help you to support your child with a routine that maximises productivity, fosters well-being, and lays the foundation for achievement and an effective learning experience.
- Set Goals: Before diving into crafting a routine, it is essential to define clear academic goals. Whether it’s achieving specific grades or mastering certain subjects, having a clear vision will guide the creation of your routine.
- Prioritise Tasks: Identify the most important tasks each day and prioritise them accordingly. Focus on completing high-priority tasks first to make the best use of your time.
- Create a Structured Schedule: Design a schedule that includes dedicated time slots for studying, attending classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and lots. Be realistic about the time needed for each task and allocate breaks to avoid burnout.
- Adopt Effective Study Techniques: Incorporate proven study techniques such as active recall, spaced repetition, and the Pomodoro Technique into your routine to enhance learning and retention. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you.
- Get Organised: Keep track of assignments, deadlines, and important dates using your school planner, a calendar app, or a digital organiser. Regularly review your schedule to stay on top of upcoming tasks and avoid last-minute cramming and unnecessary pressure.
- Maintain a Healthy Balance: Balance academic commitments with leisure activities, exercise, and socialising to prevent burnout and maintain overall well-being. Remember to prioritise self-care, including adequate sleep and healthy meals.
- Seek Support: Take advantage of all the support mechanisms available to you as this will make school life more manageable. Do not hesitate to reach out for help if you’re struggling with a particular subject or aspect of your routine. Whether it’s seeking assistance from teachers, peers, parents, and relatives, or online coaches like those offered by our academic coaching service, asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Reflect and Adapt: Regularly evaluate your routine to identify what’s working well and what needs adjustment. Be flexible and willing to adapt your schedule as circumstances change or new challenges arise.
- Stay Motivated: Find inspiration and motivation by setting short-term milestones and celebrating achievements along the way. Be around people who bring out the best in you, supportive peers, and mentors who encourage your academic growth and success.
- Stay Consistent: Consistency is key to the success of any routine. Stick to the schedule as much as possible, even on days when motivation is low, to build habits that lead to long-term success.
By following this 10-step guide, your child can establish an effective routine that enhances productivity, fosters well-being, and sets the stage for academic success. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so be patient with yourself as you navigate the journey toward your academic goals. With dedication, composure, and the right support system in place, your child can enjoy school life and thrive academically.
by David Quinney | Aug 3, 2023 | News
Bullying is a serious issue that can have long-lasting effects on children’s mental and emotional well-being.
As a parent, there are several proactive steps you can take to address bullying and support your child, take a look at our parent guide to working with your child if you discover he or she is being bullied.
1 Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication with your child. Create a safe and non-judgmental environment where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences and emotions with you.
2 Be Observant: Pay attention to any changes in your child’s behaviour, mood, or academic performance, as these could be signs of bullying. If you notice anything concerning, gently inquire about their experiences at school or with peers.
3 Teach Coping Skills: Help your child develop coping strategies to deal with bullying. This might include teaching them how to assertively respond to bullies, seeking help from teachers or school staff, and knowing when to walk away from potentially harmful situations.
4 Encourage Empathy: Teach your child the importance of empathy and kindness towards others. Instilling empathy can help them understand the impact of their actions and make them less likely to engage in bullying behaviours.
5 Build Self-esteem: Help your child build self-esteem and self-confidence. Children with higher self-esteem are better equipped to handle bullying situations and are less likely to be targeted.
6 Work with Schools: If your child is experiencing bullying at school, collaborate with teachers, counsellors, and administrators to address the issue. Be proactive in discussing the problem and seeking solutions to ensure a safe learning environment.
7 Monitor Online Activities: Keep an eye on your child’s online activities and social media interactions. Cyberbullying is prevalent, and it’s crucial to be aware of any potentially harmful online behaviour.
8 Involve Other Parents: If your child is involved in extracurricular activities or has friends outside of school, communicate with other parents to ensure that any bullying behaviour is addressed consistently across different settings.
9 Seek Professional Help: If you notice significant changes in your child’s behaviour or if they are struggling to cope with bullying, consider seeking professional help from a counsellor or therapist.
10 Lead by Example: Be a positive role model for your child. Demonstrate kindness, empathy, and respect in your interactions with others, and show them how to handle conflicts in a constructive manner.
Remember that every child’s situation is unique, and addressing bullying requires sensitivity and understanding. By actively supporting your child and working with schools and other parents, you can help create a safer and more nurturing environment for your child to thrive.
by David Quinney | Aug 1, 2023 | News
Finding some sneaky “Me Time” can be essential for a parent to relax and recharge. Here are nine creative ways to carve out that precious alone time:
- Early Morning Bliss: Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual, before the children are up, to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or tea, meditate, read a book, or simply have some peaceful moments to yourself.
- Conscious Breathing: We all have in queues or on hold sometimes. Instead of getting antsy, impatient, or relentlessly checking your phone over and over, use that time as me time. Wherever you are, consciously inhale, and exhale, correctly, through your diaphragm, you may not have time for a 20-minute meditation, but you can take a deep breath sitting in your chair at work, or waiting for the bus, you name it. Deep breathing calms you down, gives you energy, and helps you shift into a peaceful state of mind.
- Bath time Retreat: Turn bath time into a mini spa session. Dim the lights, add some scented candles, play calming music, and soak in a warm bath with your favourite bath salts or oils.
- Screen Time Swap: Instead of using your free time to scroll through social media or watch TV, opt for an activity that genuinely relaxes you, like journaling, drawing, knitting, or doing a puzzle.
- Outdoor Nature Break: Take a short walk outside, sit in the garden, or head to a nearby park. The fresh air and change of scenery can do wonders for your mood.
- Snack & Savour: Treat yourself to a special snack or drink once a day. Create a little ritual around it to make it feel like a celebration of your personal time.
- Delegate Chores: Share household responsibilities with your children. Use the time saved to do something for yourself, even if it’s just sitting down with a good book.
- Virtual Hangouts: Connect with friends or other parents through video calls or virtual meetups. It’s a great way to socialize and share experiences without leaving home.
- Bedtime Routine: Establish a consistent bedtime routine for your children, so they go to bed at a reasonable hour. This will give you some uninterrupted time and space in the evening to relax and unwind.
Remember, it’s essential to prioritize self-care and make time for yourself regularly. Even small moments of “Me-Time” can make a significant difference in maintaining your well-being as a parent.
by David Quinney | May 23, 2023 | News
This year’s National Conversation Week takes place from the 23rd – 29th May. We would like to encourage all parents to spend the next 4 days trying a little bit harder to engage with your children about how what kind of conversations they are having with their teacher, we simply want you to talk more. A great topic to focus on is the inquisitive side of conversation, the one that helps us gain an understanding of the world around us – asking questions. Your child should feel liberated to ask whatever questions they want to their teacher. Asking questions is incredibly important, as questions help us to develop deeper knowledge and boost confidence, the exchange of ideas, fuels innovation as well expanding the human connection. It can give your child a whole new perspective! However, whether it’s concerns over wasting the teacher’s time, admitting they don’t understand, worries about make a fool of themselves or a general lack of self-assurance – for some children, or in some situations asking questions is a total no-go. Instead, it is often easier to keep up the appearance that we know the answer, by smiling nodding and bluffing. The downside to this is that we can end up missing the opportunity to find out something new or walk away without the understanding we need, and where education is concerned this could restrict academic progress and affect the child in later life. When it comes to the relationship with the child and teacher there’s no such thing as “A silly question”, after all, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know where it might take you.
by David Quinney | Apr 24, 2023 | News
Since energy drinks gained popularity in the UK in the mid-90s, the level of consumption has increased substantially. Red Bull is a great example of the prolific rise of energy drinks, as it has grown to become the bestselling provider in the world with 7.9 billion cans being sold in 2020 alone.
Ingredients
A brief overview of the contents of energy drinks reveals that caffeine, glucuronolactone (i.e. glucose), pantheon, niacin, taurine, B-complex vitamins, inositol, panthenol and inositol are the most common ingredients of the drinks. Other drinks include a concoction of powerful herbal ingredients added to the existing components to make the drinks more powerful and give stronger, longer-lasting effects. Nutritionists state that the stimulants used in making these energy drinks are often well above what is recommended for the daily intake for the average person. Consequently, some of the ingredients are not regulated to guarantee the safety of the users.
Misuse
The greatest danger of consuming energy drinks starts with unregulated levels of caffeine. The caffeine content in energy drinks is often so high it can often result in adverse health effects on consumers, especially when multiple drinks are consumed in short periods.
Other negative impacts that have been recorded can include:
- Caffeine sensitivity tolerance can cause skin irritation, raised blood pressure, heart palpitations, an increase in heart rate, and uncontrolled panic.
- When not used for sports performance, energy drinks can actually cause a lack of concentration and hyperactivity when studying due to the excessive amounts of caffeine contained within each drink.
- The main disadvantage of most sports drinks is their high caloric content. These calories come from sugars, which usually make up 4 to 9 percent of the drink.
- High levels of consumption have also been linked to headaches, sleep problems, alcohol use, smoking, irritability and in some cases exclusion from educational facilities.
Summary
In summary, it is recommended that energy drinks should not be used as a study aid or as part of exam preparation. They are designed to aid the performance of professional athletes and can have many positive impacts when consumed properly, such as:
- Provides a high amount of energy for sports performance.
- Low in calories.
- Increase focus on sports performance.
- Increased blood flow allows more oxygenated blood cells to muscles enhancing performance when lifting and running.
