Intelligent students receive bad grade reports. While this may seem paradoxical, it is not uncommon for smart kids get disappointing grades. As a parent or teacher, trying to assist these kids can be frustrating, particularly if they previously earned good grades.
The good news? It’s likely not the students’ fault and definitely not their intention. Schools focus predominantly on grades and test scores. Yes, grades are important. But it’s the hard work that leads to the learning. Being smart doesn’t guarantee good grades. And good grades is not necessarily an indication of intelligence, but hard work.
Executive Function Skills
All students, especially high school and college students need to acquire a set of skills known as executive function skills. Without them, academic achievement can be elusive. Once mastered, the world is their oyster.
Self-regulation
When it comes to academic achievement (or achievement in any area), inhibitory control is an important skill. Many students lack control over their emotions. Getting caught up in the thick of thin things has derailed achievement of too many well-meaning student.
This is a sign of maturity. The emotionally
Attention
Sustained cognitive engagement is the skill of paying attention for extended periods of time. Situations in which high schoolers need this skill include tests, final exams, and the infamous SAT Exam.
This skill will also serves college students and adults in the workplace.
Task Initiation
Once you give your undivided attention to achievement, it’s time to start the tasks needed to reach your goals. Procrastination always precedes decision. People procrastinate when they have a goal that requires skills they do not have. Without the right skills, people get on an infinite feedback loop. Each time they make the loop, they acquire more reasons for why they can’t achieve their goal.
The ability to approach classmates and instructors with new ideas is another form of task initiation.
Organization
Once a task is started, improved working memory becomes important. Non-verbal and verbal are the two parts of working memory. Organization of thought helps parse the mountain of information students encounter every day.
Beyond organizing ideas is physically keeping track of materials. And in the 21st century, managing digital files is an essential skill.
Planning and Prioritization
Organization leads to planning. The most important part of planning is learning how to prioritize. The number one time-suck in 2019 is cell phone screen time. Organization is the learned skill that enables students to judge which parts of multi-step projects need to be tackled first.
Time Management
Prioritization bleeds into time management. Students have more free time than they realize. This skill is developed through a time analysis. Tracking what you do every hour for 100 hours can help identify where a student has margins
Cognitive Flexibility
When confronted with facts that run counter to long-held beliefs, do you have the ability to change your mind? Many will experience cognitive dissonance which puts up a wall to achievement. Empathy (from self-regulation) leads to cognitive flexibility.
This skill of seeing things from someone else’s point of view — especially if that someone else is a content expert! — is important. People are allowed to make mistakes and change their minds.
Metacognition
The skill is the ultimate in self-actualization. Metacognition is having an awareness for and understanding of one’s own thought processes.