Parents of Hardworking Teens

We use the word 'potential' a lot when it comes to students and their performance. But how do we bridge that gap between your teen's current ability and their potential? Here's how I see it: Ability is what your teen IS achieving right now. ​​​​​​​ Capacity is what they could be achieving right now , with their existing subject knowledge, IF they had the tweaks, insights and sk...

Ep. 80 What could your teen consider doing less of next year in their study to create success, rather than always thinking about doing more? This is definitely something I need to consider too - as I’m naturally a 'more is more' person, so if your teen also has the tendency to think they need to do more and more in their study in order to get more marks, but is already working really har...

Ep. 79 Who wants to waste time or effort treating the symptoms of a a problem when we could eradicate the cause?  Understanding the issues (symptoms) and figuring out the root problems (causes) of your teen's study struggles - and then solving those root causes - is how we create lasting change and BIG improvements. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!...

Ep. 78 - Here's how my response has changed over the years when a student says “I’m just no good at this.” (Whatever ‘THIS’ is.) Or “I hate _____”   -  a subject, a type of task, like an essay or a speech, or maybe a text they’re reading. The thing is, it's not realistic to think that they're going to love or be good at everything. So, I no longer try to convince them that it's...

Ep. 77 -  I’ve reverse-engineered almost everything I share and teach so that instead of ‘guessing forwards’... - I’ve taken what I KNOW is required,  - worked back to figure out what students need to do  and then  - figured out steps and systems so they can do it for themselves.   In this episode, I’m sharing what I do to reverse-engineer tasks and skills, how I do it and why, so that you know wh...

Ep. 76 - Who of us doesn’t want to spend more time on things we enjoy, find fulfilling or that contribute positively to things we want for our lives? It's not a problem spending time on something that may not bring us a 'productive' outcome if we're using that time for pure enjoyment. But, if we're using it doing something we don't want to be doing,  thinking that it...

Ep. 75 - Uncertainty in the exam hall sounds like your teen's brain either screaming out or just quietly muttering things like:   - What does the question really mean? - What is it actually asking? - What do they want in the response? - How much detail should I go into? - What will get marks and what WON’T get marks? So, let’s talk about how to turn that uncertainty into confidence - and resu...

Ep. 74 - One common cause of exam stress is the 'fear of the unknown'. Not knowing what topics will come up. Not knowing what questions will be asked. Having to prepare for something unseen. Although a moderate level of stress is healthy - and even beneficial... see the previous episode! - if you're looking to reduce your teen's stress level, addressing the root causes of this...

Ep. 73 - Stress often comes from uncertainty, a lack of control or feeling like we can’t get done what needs to be done. These issues are all in play when it comes to exams. However, it's important to remember: Stress is normal and has its benefits. Stress hormones are released to help us cope. In the 'right' amounts, these actually increase our focus, our energy, our alertness.  Th...

Ep. 72 - Students often think that if they 'could just see an A-grade exemplar' they'd be able to emulate and produce at that level themselves. I agree that the land of top marks can sometimes feel kinda mysterious (which is what I strive to uncover and simplify for students!) and so seeing a real life example can help. But seeing a model answer or example only gives half the story...

Ep. 71 - "If nothing changes, nothing changes." If your teen would like something about their study to change - maybe it's their results, maybe its how long assignments are taking, maybe it's something else - then this might be a good time to ask “What Are You Doing Differently?”. Listen in for an example of how one student made changes that had them go from results in the 40s...

Ep. 70 - Special episode! Audio reading of the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. Get the PDF copy for FREE at: www.gradetransformation.com FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 1: The Study Success Formula Episode 63: 'The Game' - Playing The Game of A...

Ep. 69 - I often see students aiming for perfection when perfection is not needed, and moreover, is actually hindering them and their performance. On the other hand, I also see students (sometimes the exact same student!) not paying enough attention to getting as close to perfect as possible, when actually that’s what they do need to be doing. This is the battle between perfection vs productivity....

Ep. 68 - It's almost inevitable that at some point your teen will get a result that is, to them, disappointing. Maybe they put in lots of time and effort... Maybe they thought they'd given correct, or good, answers... But the result isn't what they expected or hoped for. After hundreds of conversations over the years, helping students come to terms with and create positive outcomes...

Ep. 67 - I sometimes see students 'hedging their bets' in exams and assessments because they aren't: -  certain what the question is really asking; -  sure how the marks are going to be allocated or what’s really required for the top criteria; -  confident in the subject content. So they give more than is asked for in their answer, in the hope that at least some of it will get them...

Ep. 66 - In this episode I share an example of exam prep decisions that I recommend students make AHEAD of the exam, rather than in the exam hall. Plus, I'll explain how this ties into being efficient as well as effective during exam prep, practice and revision. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 60: How to Choose a GREAT Topic in Open Tasks The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program Next Lev...

Ep. 65 - Has your teen ever received the feedback or red-pen comment of 'add more detail' ? I'm sharing: what ‘add more detail’ really means (and what it DOESN'T mean!) what teachers are actually after when they say it. Plus, I give you: the two-letter word that will help your teen quickly and easily 'add more detail' in their writing > whether it’s an essay, assig...

Ep. 64 - If you were like me as a student and thought that writing a short story, was all about the storyline, then listen in. This week, I explain why the story itself is actually one of the least important factors when it comes to the marking of the task. Plus, I’ll share with you 4 shortcuts you can use to help your teen write a stunning short story, creative writing piece or narrative. FEATURE...

Ep. 63 - Your teen is playing a game right now in their study and exams, whether they signed up for it or not. The game is all about responding to demands. - How well can they do it, with the knowledge they have. I want your teen to enjoy playing the game and ideally, WIN at the game - if they want to. Therefore the game I'm playing is to give you, your teen and their teachers the 'how t...

Ep. 62 Help your teen identify and prioritise the best thing for them to work on, at a particular time, and then to do it in the optimal way. This week, I'll help you in supporting your teen to become more strategic in their study, so they get more bang for their buck, with higher results and less hours slaving over their assignments, homework and revision. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:  Episode 1: T...

Ep. 61 So, your teen’s picked a topic for their latest research assignment, investigation or inquiry task, now they have to come up with a Research Question. Today we’re going to talk about what makes a great Research Question. How should they word it? And how should they craft it so that their response ticks as many of the top criteria as possible? FEATURED ON THE SHOW:  Episode 1: The Study Succ...

Ep. 60 When your teen has some free choice on what to study for their next investigation project, inquiry task or presentation, it's not just about picking a topic that they love or that sounds interesting. There are three key considerations that will help them select a topic that means they can meet the requirements of the task and the demands of the marking criteria at the grade they'r...

Ep. 59 Just setting a goal doesn't give the HOW to achieve it. And just saying 'I'll study harder'   isn't strategic enough to ensure your teen hits the goal, or does it in the most efficient or effective way. The 3 steps of setting a 'HOW Goal' mean your teen not only knows exactly what outcome they're setting out to achieve, but they also: - have the exact...

Ep. 58. Have you ever heard a celebrity, or even your teen's school, proclaim that their 'results don't matter'? Maybe you've said it to your teen. Maybe they've said it to you. I'd love for this statement, which honestly feels pretty extreme, to stop being banded around every year. And I'd love for students, parents and anyone else who wants to care about r...

Ep. 57 - Here's a way that your teen can INCREASE their marks by writing LESS: By shortening the quotes that they reference in essays and assignments, in order to show that they can be discerning in their selection of evidence. Listen in to discover how this shows up in marking criteria and how you can help your teen do this in their own assessments. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 56: 'Cl...