01 Mar 4 Ways for Students to Design an Environment for Success
Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old -
Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
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Excellent services, caring therapists.
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
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I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
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Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
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Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
Thanks to both for a job well done... -
Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
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As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
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Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
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We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
4 WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO DESIGN AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCCESS
Designing an Environment for Success
Where you sit down to study and do your homework can affect you profoundly. You must design your environment in a manner that helps you achieve your academic pursuits with ease.
Identifying your goals is the first step toward environment design that works for you. For example, you might have math as your major subject and find yourself doing calculations more often than anything else. So connecting your psychological needs, personality, and academic pursuits is key to a productive environment. Let’s look at some tips on how you can start.
1. Set up cues to trigger your habits.
What surrounds you influences you.
Establishing cues can help students focus at home. Having a proper work desk set with everything in reach is crucial and helpful. For instance, you might find some important points while reading your textbook but need to see the highlighter in sight.
A task becomes more difficult if you can’t see something you need immediately. So setting up visual, audio, or verbal cues in your environment can trigger your desired habits. Below are some ideas to inspire you.
- Choose a specific action for your cue to help you remember the habit you want to create. For example, if you’re going to start meditating more often, hanging a poster with an inspirational quote in the area of your home where you plan on meditating could serve as an effective reminder.
- Tag a task with a visual trigger and watch for it. For example, it is easier to study in the ambiance of warm light. So you can get a lamp that sets the environment temperature as a trigger for you to start working.
- Audio cues like listening to music might help you focus more (remember that it is different for everyone).
Another classic example is that of putting up reminders. Student life can get overwhelming. You have plenty of homework, assignments to turn in, and even exam preparation. Remembering what you must do will help you in school or college.
Notes on your fridge door or working space can be visual and verbal cues. They can also help keep track of everything you need to do, whether in school or college.
2. Remove distractions
Less is more.
Learning what you don’t need has its perks. For one, it can help you concentrate and focus on important tasks. A simple yet powerful environment can also help kids with ADHD do homework, minus the frustration. Visual clutter needs to go away. And there’s more to it than the aesthetic perspective.
- First, make sure your workspace is clutter-free. Clutter can be a major distraction that takes away from focus and reduces productivity. It’s important to note that this doesn’t just mean physical clutter – digital files like emails or notifications should also be decluttered regularly.
- Cables and cords running around the workspace are organized and tucked away as much as possible. This will give you more space while allowing you to easily access any technology or equipment needed for your studies.
- Clear out any piles of books or papers accumulating over time—these can be overwhelming when trying to focus!
- Make the environment comfortable by adding plants or anything that you find soothing.
Your space should be tied to your goals and personality. It should reflect a surrounding in which everything is within reach. So you save time finding the calculator or dictionary when needed!
3. Stay organized
Have a stress-free environment for a more successful academic life.
Organizing your environment is important to leading a productive and stress-free life. It can be challenging to stay organized when life gets busy, but you can take many simple steps to maintain order in the areas around you:
- Start small by tackling one place at a time.
- Dedicate a room or section of your home to studying.
- Keep important papers and notes in individual files or dividers.
- Create zones for different activities using storage containers and baskets.
Staying organized for school is essential to success. Oh, and remember to organize your backpack, as it’s a part of your environment. Take out items that you don’t need for the day.
4. Set routines and schedules
Having a clean and consistent routine helps in creating. Learn the 4 principles of behavior change.
It all comes down to consistency in the end. Students looking to stay organized and maximize their academic pursuits can benefit from establishing routines and schedules. These practices provide structure and more productivity.
Routines should focus on developing habits to help you become a better learner. Consider these examples:
- Setting aside regular study times each day.
- Scheduling cleanups to maintain an organized space.
- Taking periodic breaks from studying.
- Assigning particular spaces to specific tasks (bed should only be for sleeping, desk for studying, etc.) helps turn habits into schedules.
Schedules provide a framework for organizing tasks over the long term; they should factor in work-related and leisure activities. Habits and routines are strongly linked, so understand the difference and connection!
Takeaway
The environment you set up should meet your psychological and study needs. Triggering cues in your surroundings could be anything from an image or color to an object or phrase. They should help you make the most of your time without burning out.
Also, consider adding plants or anything soothing that motivates you. Remember to stay organized by ensuring essential tools, notebooks, and papers are always within reach. You’ll eventually develop the habit of studying according to your surroundings and turn it into a fully developed routine.
Check Our Our Other Blogs:
References:
What does clutter do to your brain and body?
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-and-body
How organizing your space can lead to success
https://open.lib.umn.edu/collegesuccess/chapter/2-2-organizing-your-space/
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Craig Selinger
Owner at Themba Tutors
Meet Craig Selinger, the passionate owner behind Themba Tutors, a renowned practice specializing in executive function coaching and tutoring. Together with his team of multidisciplinary professionals, they bring their extensive knowledge to numerous locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as offering remote services. As a licensed speech-language pathologist in the state of NY, executive functioning coach, and educational specialist with an impressive track record spanning over two decades, Craig has professionally assisted thousands of families. Craig's proficiency encompasses a wide spectrum of areas, including language-related learning challenges such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. He is also well-versed in executive functioning, ADHD/ADD, and various learning disabilities. What truly distinguishes Craig and his team is their unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive support. By actively collaborating with the most esteemed professionals within the NYC metropolitan region – from neuropsychologists to mental health therapists and allied health experts – they create a network of expertise.
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