As a staff, our desire is to see students be successful in their academic endeavors at Ignite Christian Academy. There are several tools students like you can use when building a roadmap to academic success. Time management and organizational skills are such tools. If you manage time wisely and get organized, you can take the necessary steps to successfully complete your courses and reach your destination.
Let’s talk about how to build a roadmap to reach your goals. For any given task, an important first step is to have a plan. At the start of each day and week, ask yourself, “What are my top priorities?” In other words, before you start working on an assignment, stop and consider what assignments need to be completed by the end of the week. Next, take a look at what other commitments you have going on during the week. Whether your schedule consists of guitar lessons, basketball practice, a dentist appointment, a job, or youth group, you can start building a schedule to manage your time once you’ve determined which assignments and activities are going to require your attention. Spreadsheets, word documents, calendars, and notebooks are all great places to keep track of your priorities. Just be sure to keep your schedule in a safe, accessible place.
Another important thing to keep in mind as you build the roadmap is your end goal. Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Where do you want to head in life? For some of you, your end goal may be to get your high school diploma or to work in a specific career field. The great thing is that God designed each of you with special skills, abilities, and talents as well as a unique purpose. Always remember to keep God’s plan at the forefront of your mind as you start each day!
Two other important factors that go along with building a schedule are keeping your routine consistent and sticking to the plan. The more you prioritize and accomplish your daily tasks, the more it becomes a habit. Soon you’ll find yourself accomplishing the larger goal of finishing a unit of school work, a semester course, or an entire school year. The goals you set each day are a way for you to measure the progress you make throughout the week, month, and eventually the school year.
As you set out to follow your road map, remember that we want you to succeed at ICA! If you get stuck on a specific concept in one of your classes, be sure to reach out to your teachers by calling their direct extension, calling the Academic Support Line (1-877-543-0148), attending your teacher’s office hours, or sending your teacher a message. If you run into any computer issues, please reach out to our technical support team (1-800-585-4216) who are happy to help identify the problem and steer you in the appropriate direction.
To learn more about study skills, time management, stress management, career planning, and other useful topics, check out the online classrooms our school counseling department offers each month.
Here’s to a great school year!
Mrs. Steventon & Mrs. Hansen
Academic School Counselors