This first post is going to be about creating structure in life. Not just online school although that is imperative. Creating structure in life is the foundation for success therefore it is our blog pStructure is one of those words in the English language that is a little obnoxious, because it is one word that in different context means something else. the first definition is Mode of building, construction, or organization; arrangement of parts, elements, or constituents. The second is something built or constructed, as a building or bridge, or dam. the last a complex system considered from the point of view of the whole rather than of any single part. There are about five other definitions that were found on dictionary.com. In other words to create structure basically means to build and organize a life.
Building and organizing a life can make people think a couple of different things, the first is many people think that creating structure is boring. Structure means you have to eat at the same time and sleep at the same time and do the same thing at the same time everyday. Others tend to think creating structure is to hard and there is too much to think about. Both of those are common misconceptions with the phrase creating structure. The truth is creating structure is more about setting goals and following through with those goals. Finding balance in life and making the things that are important a priority.
How to create structure is as easy as setting daily goals. Waking up and thinking and prioritizing a day. Asking questions like; what do I need to do? what do I want to do? whats the best way to do that? and then organize the time in the day to make that happen. For example if getting school done is a priority then setting aside a specific time each day to get it done is required or it will always get pushed to the back burner. If getting in shape is a priority setting aside specific times in a day to make it happen is usually the only way it will ever happen.
How to get a teenager to be structured. Teenager have goals and have what they want in life. If going to college is a priority then they have to set aside time to do the things it will take to get there and the biggest is doing homework and turning in assignments. The only way this works for any student is helping them set goals and hold them accountable to those goals.
Applying all this to online school
If a student embarks and decides online school is the best choice for them, then it is up to that student to set realistic goals as well as have some way of being help accountable for those goals. Most students fail at online school because they don’t have the support, it becomes a fight with parents, or school ceases to be a priority. Helping maintain structure as well as accomplishing daily goals will help keep students focused and driven to be successful.