Post on 12-Jun-2015
description
The Science Behind
Procrastination
Presented by:
Ann Dolin, M.Ed.EC Tutoring, President
www.ectutoring.comann@ectutoring.com
Introductions Ann Dolin, M.Ed.
President and Founder, Educational Connections Inc.
20 years of experience as teacher, tutor, and education consultant
Author of: Homework Made Simple: Tips,
Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework
A Guide to Private Schools: The Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland Edition
Feel free to contact me anytime. ann@ectutoring.com 2
Statistics vary by age; 20% of general population, up to 70% of college students
Those who rate themselves as high in this area have: Lower achievement More negative feelings More health problems
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If Everyone Procrastinates, Why Is It a Problem?
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When it comes to academics: Higher stress levels Reduced accuracy
Things our tutors have noticed: Functional procrastination Dysfunctional procrastination
Chapter in Homework Made Simple
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Impact on Students
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It’s not due for another week! I have plenty of time.
I work better under pressure.
That will only take me a half hour – tops!
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Excuses We Hear…
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“I work better under pressure” Not true; more mistakes,
more stress Becomes a habit, so students
know no other way
“I’ll be in a better mood later on to do it” The better mood does not
come Students are really at a
crossroads in terms of “mood repair”
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Common Myths
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Executive functioning abilities (frontal lobe) I - initiate S - sustain I - inhibit S - shift
Procrastinators have weak EF abilities
Problem is with self-regulation
Good news is that improvement can be made !7
EF and Procrastination
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Student must want to improve
Recognize “giving in to feel good” Fork in the road Post Instagram photo or
start math? Send a few texts or begin
bibliography? Stop, engage in self-talk
What Are the First Steps?
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Just Start
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Strategies our tutors use: “Tolerable ten” “Five minutes of fury” Do first two problems Study five vocab words Create a title page and
add one source to bibliography
Use a hula-hoop or “one song” approach
Success breeds success
Set the Bar LOW by Time or Task
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Find multiple locations Distraction-free as
possible Computer in public
place Limit open applications Have a homework
routine – depends on student’s age
Create a “Distraction-Limited” Area
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Distractions – different for each student Music – okay for rote
memorization, not for tests
TV – never good Texting and FOMO – Consider a “tech break”
Managing Distractions from Media
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Other Strategies
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Time Travel Forgiveness “This is probably a
bad idea” The 80/20 rule Outside help:
ectutoring.com/educational-coaching
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Free resources
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Contact Info Ann Dolin ann@ectutoring.com www.ectutoring.com 703.934.8282
Thank you for attending!
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Q&A and Contact Info