“Soft skills.” This term burst onto the corporate lingo scene in the late 1990s and has not lost its prominence. Everyone is vaguely aware that soft skills matter. They might not know exactly what the term means, but they know its importance. Students are not immune from the soft skills phenomenon. Their counselors, teachers, parents, […]
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Certain classes require a delicate touch. Whether caused by complex subject matter or an eclectic teacher, students must learn how to adjust their approach on occasion. What’s the alternative? A student plugs away with the same approach that worked for other classes. Grinding away in futility for several months, the student only realizes the error
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Negotiation is a fact of life. It’s a skill that everyone uses daily. Not all of us use it well, but all of us use it. Negotiation is also a key element of Impression Management. This post discusses principles for good negotiation skills, how negotiation and impression management intersect, and how to encourage your child
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In the last two decades, neurological research on mindfulness training has made headlines. People who meditate or practice reflection on a daily basis report better concentration, confidence, and satisfaction. Likewise, mindfulness practices can help students reach their potential and improve their executive functioning skills, which is what we are all about here at SAOTG. As
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Building strong relationships with teachers and advisors is an essential aspect of academic and personal success. These relationships can provide mentorship, support, and guidance, assisting students in navigating the challenges of school and life. Moreover, developing robust relationships with teachers and advisors can help students build social capital, which can provide access to opportunities, resources,
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Parents always ask about what their child should do over the summer to improve their executive functioning skills. While SAT tutoring and academic enrichment will help, one of the best ways to improve EF skills over the summer is volunteer work. Volunteer work is about more than graduation requirements and college admissions resumes. It is
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As May draws to a close, students and their parents are switching roles as the school year oscillates between periods of humdrum routine and intensive work. Currently, students are wrapping up final exams, marking the last period of intensive work. However, there is one problem – what’s next? For most students, the school year comes
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Every year, we get questions about AP Exams. These enigmatic, four-hour academic marathons decide the fate of a student’s college credit, which is, after all, the main reason for taking AP exams. However, it’s not the only purpose. Yes, AP classes allow high school students to earn college credit, but they also help students acclimate
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Many students cringe when I suggest flashcards as a study tool, eschewing this seemingly anachronistic practice for more stimulating study methods. However, I quickly remind them that sometimes study techniques survive for several decades because they actually work. Moreover, flashcards flex many of the muscles integral to a student’s executive function skills, such as prioritization,
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It’s almost May, which means final exams are right around the corner. True to form, we wanted to provide students with proactive support for exam preparation. Cumulative exams challenge students beyond raw intellectual ability. Exam week offers a microcosm of the Executive Function curriculum, which teaches four pillars of EF to help students thrive in
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