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Better study habits are a matter of personal growth for students, and growth takes time. Psychologists know that the initial phase of forming a good new habit takes a minimum of 28 days. To make sure a good new habit becomes so deeply entrenched that it's second nature, people of all ages need at least six months. Our experience and research suggests the following timeline.
First 4 - 6 Weeks
Students make new friends and develop a positive relationship with their academic mentors. They learn to keep daily planners up to date, share complete and accurate information about their assignments with the academic mentors, keep their binders and backpacks neat and organized, and complete two or more homework assignments per session. Not all students will achieve these initial goals within the first 4-6 weeks, but all should show some progress.
Academic mentors will check your student's work for completeness and provide guidance on how to correct mistakes. Academic mentors will NOT do the homework for the students, sit next to them every minute, or correct every single mistake on every assignment. Instead, academic mentors will begin to empower your student to take charge of homework and to learn the art of successful study.
On days when your student completes homework assignments early the student will be instructed to study ahead for tests, read ahead in textbooks, or work on upcoming projects. The goal is to help them become resourceful and proactive learners. We will also have a Life Skills mentor on site to help students learn about themselves and direct small group discussion when appropriate.
By the End of the First Trimester
If all goes well, you and your student should notice a flow of better grades on homework assignments. Your student should become less tense about homework and should show some improvement in organizational skills. Many students find that their test grades begin to improve.
By the End of the School Year
Daily homework assignments should no longer be an issue at home, and your student should be able to work more independently. Many students feel proud of their improved test scores and higher GPAs. All students should notice improvement and feel more at home in their school community.
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