Small Strategies Help NewHope Academy Students Manage the School Day

An unorganized backpack can tell staff members at NewHope Academy more than it might seem.

Missing papers, forgotten assignments, or a student who regularly needs reminders to finish a task can point to challenges with executive function. For some students, those difficulties can make the school day frustrating and leave them feeling overwhelmed.

Individualized Support at NewHope Academy

NewHope Academy, a therapeutic day school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, serves students in grades 6-12 with average to above-average intelligence who need additional support to succeed in school. Students may have autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other needs that can make a traditional school environment difficult.

The smaller setting allows staff to get to know students and work closely with their families to determine what support will help them attend and engage in school.

“We work closely with parents and students to come up with creative ways to help students attend school and be successful here,” said Kathy Szumski, LPC, a therapist at NewHope Academy. “That might include additional check-ins with a therapist or more support in the classroom. We’re also talking as a team about what each student needs and what we can try.”

Recognizing Executive Function Challenges

That individualized approach extends to executive function, an area where Szumski sees students encounter challenges in practical, everyday ways. A student may need prompting to complete an assignment or have difficulty keeping track of materials. Teachers may notice missing work or a student becoming frustrated and beginning to avoid class time.

What can look like a student who does not want to do the work may have a different explanation. Szumski said this can be particularly true for students with ADHD. A student may want to be successful in class but have difficulty managing what is required to get the work done. That distinction matters because it changes how staff members can respond.

Breaking Schoolwork Into Manageable Steps

Support can be as straightforward as a one-on-one check-in. A teacher can sit down with a student, look at an assignment, and help determine how to approach it.

For a longer assignment, that might mean dividing the work across several days rather than presenting it as one large task. Timers can help, too. Szumski sometimes recommends 20 minutes of work followed by a 10-minute break.

Building Organization Into the School Day

Organization is also built into the school day. Students participate in mentor classes each morning and afternoon, providing dedicated time to review assignments and organize materials. Teachers can help students clean out folders, check their gradebooks, and make sure they have what they need.

These routines give NewHope Academy students repeated opportunities to practice managing the parts of school that can otherwise become stumbling blocks. Over time, a student who once needed frequent reminders may begin to recognize what works, making the school day feel more manageable.