Back to school season is here! High school students often start the year excited to reinvent themselves. Learn how to harness this positive energy to start the semester on the right foot.

Today, we’re talking with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities. As a high school special education teacher for over 40 years, Lisa helps students master their strengths, organize their time and improve their grades.

Here’s Lisa’s top 4 tips to help your neurodivergent student hit the ground running this year!

1. Encourage your student to send an email introducing themselves to their teachers. This is a great way for students to share their learning disability, accommodations and why they need those accommodations. Thank the teacher for reading the email.

2. Find an organization system that your students want to engage in. Don’t impose your own organization style on your student (and don’t write their name in marker all over every folder!)

3. Create a plan for grade checks. Once a week seems to be the right cadence. Choose a set time such as Wednesday afternoons or Thursday evenings to check grades together.

4. Every student has to maintain some type of a calendar. How they do it needs to be up to them. The student should maintain their own calendar and consult with the parent, rather than vice versa.

   
   

Academic coaching can help your student become a better learner, a more efficient student and generally happier kid.

Studying now is different than it was for parents. Google classroom, technology tools and AI have all dramatically changed the skills you need to study effectively.

Reach out to get started with academic coaching? Email us at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com.

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Tip of the Day: Take a walk around a college campus this fall — no matter what age your kid is. Just drive to the closest campus, grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll.

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College Spotlight: California Polytechnic University

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Key points in this episode

2:12 Meet Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with disabilities

4:18 Four strategies to help your student succeed this semester

14:57 Why every student needs to maintain their calendar

18:00 College changes

22:21 How the right schedule can make all the difference

24:15 All about academic coaching

31:52 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day

33:00 College Spotlight

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Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast

Learn more about academic coaching with Lisa Delfino for high school students:

https://thecollegespy.com/academic-coaching-package-high-school

Learn more about academic coaching with Lisa Delfino for college students:

https://thecollegespy.com/academic-coaching-package-college

Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle, Lisa and the College Spy team -- Go to The College Spy Website

Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com