Bullying has been around for generations. It is so prevalent that the actions of students being rude to one another are portrayed in movies to this day, yet what isn’t seen is realistic conflict resolution. Wearing a pretty dress to the prom is nice, but life isn’t a movie, so fixing all of your problems comes much harder than that. Over 3.2 million students each year fall victim to bullying (Whyinc, N.D.), and such a high number means the probability of you or your child experiencing bullying is also high, which is why it is important to teach them how to properly go about resolving such an issue. Of American students, 17% report being bullied two to three times a month, and by age 14, only 40% of girls and 30% of boys will talk to their peers about bullying (Whyinc, N.D.). This lack of willingness to talk about their experiences with bullying is what makes their ability to solve such issues on their own that much more important since if they will not be seeking outside help, they need to know how to handle conflict themselves.
Society tends to not like people who are different despite those differences making us who we are, which is why some are more susceptible to this kind of behavior from those around them. Students with life challenges such as ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Learning Differences, etc., are two to three times more likely to experience bullying when compared to their peers who do not experience such life challenges. This can make education harder for them, and due to the nature of some life challenges, understanding the steps to get to a resolution can come harder for them as well. Understanding social cues, what behaviors are and are not acceptable when facing a bully, and how to properly manage their emotions when and after getting bullied is crucial to the resolution process, and the Support for Students Growth Center can make the process of learning these skills so much easier, for all students.
For those in school, bullying is almost inevitable. Whether it happens to them or their friends, the ability to step in is going to be needed at one point or another. Learning what to say to a bully, parent, or teacher in a way that isn’t overstepping, it is important to the resolution process. Understanding how their bullying makes you or others feel, being put in scenarios to experience bullying and resolution in a safe environment and providing a space to report bullying are all ways the Support for Students Growth Center can help you or your child understand how to properly handle what can sometimes be overwhelming to face on your own. Allowing your child to learn how to resolve bullying with a program like ours can reduce the level of stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues that come with an already stressful environment such as school. Don’t let the problem become too large before getting help. Trust the Support for Students Growth Center to help.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Bullying of students with disabilities. Students with Disabilities – National Bullying Prevention Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/students-with-disabilities/
Bullying facts & statistics. WHY Incorporated LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.whyinc.org/bullying-facts-statistics
Body language is the mind’s subconscious way to communicate with those around us, and more often than not portray the emotions we as people don’t want to say out loud. Whether it be nervous hand movements around your crush or a quick jump in the air after getting into your dream college, our bodies seem to have a lot to say, but what happens if you can’t notice it? Some people are simply just lousy at reading body language, but for some, it can be caused by another factor, making it even more difficult for that individual to read others around them. Those who are faced with ‘life challenges’ such as ADHD, Asperger’s, and Autism can find identifying social queues to be more of a struggle than others.
The first step to understanding body language is knowing that not all of what we are taught as a society is true. Crossing your arms across your chest is thought to be rude and closed off when in reality it is a way for an individual to self soothe (Jung, 2021). Understanding these differences helps people understand one another, especially since most of our communication is nonverbal. The 7-38-55% rule explains how 7% of communication is verbal liking, 38% is vocal, and 55% is facial (Mehrabian, 1971). This study shows that more than half of our understanding of what the other person is portraying is done through body language such as facial expression and hand movement. Studies show those with ‘life challenges’ find identifying emotions to be more laborious due to the difficulty with attributing their own emotions to how others feel (Durham University, 2009). This can cause a mental blockage of relation, making it harder for those who experience this to tell when someone is upset by things, which can also create issues when trying to form relationships. However, just because someone experiences these struggles doesn’t mean that they cannot be taught how to read body language. It simply just requires guidance, and the Support For Student’s Growth Center is the ideal place to receive it.
People need help in all aspects of life, which is why the SSGC offers assistance in many social categories, such as body language. It is important to be aware of what emotions we are making people feel, especially since that is how we maintain and grow relationships around us, and as people, our nonverbal cues are what give us away. Knowing boundaries such as how close to stand is comfortable based on how we are socializing with a person, what those individuals like and don’t like, and how something is making them feel is crucial. When a person’s face changes negatively to a topic, then you’d know to move on and not bring it up again, but if you are not aware of the body language you may continue, accidentally upsetting them more. Everyone deserves to have positive social interaction in life and a fair chance to fully understand those to who they are talking, which is why you shouldn’t let the inability to read body language hold you back. Once taught, it is easy to read social queues, and with the help of the Student Growth Center, you or your child can become an expert in no time.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of young people ages 4 well into the 20’s and their families, including college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
British Library. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.bl.uk/people/albert-mehrabian
Autism affects ability to read body language – durham university. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=8449
Survey of American college students, use of & satisfaction with college tutoring services, 2018 – researchandmarkets.com. Survey of American College Students, Use of & Satisfaction with College Tutoring Services, 2018 – ResearchAndMarkets.com | Business Wire. (2018, April 13). Retrieved January 11, 2022, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180413005463/en/Survey-of-American-College-Students-Use-of-Satisfaction-with-College-Tutoring-Services-2018—ResearchAndMarkets.com
2021 Summer Services
In Person or Live/Online
Weekly Social Skills Groups
(back live starting the week of June 14th)
- 13 unique groupings based on age, ability and needs. (ages 4-adult)
- We use brainstorming activities, modeling, role-playing and direct instruction to target the specific needs and abilities of each unique group.
- Each of our 13 unique social skills groups meet weekly for an hour at the same day and time. (Managing Anxiety in Social Situations, Make and Keep Friends, Join Conversations, Turn Taking, Body Language, Impulse Control, etc.).
- Wrap-up between counselor and parent after each group
- Weekly parent support documentation, included.
- We use our proprietary curriculum for over 90-targeted topics.
- Initial consult required for new participants (ZOOM or In-Person)
Executive Functioning Programs (1 on 1)
3rd grade-college
- Personalized, scientifically based, “Executive Functioning Program”, we teach essential skills NOTdirectly taught in school.
- Through directly coaching “organization skills”, “time management skills”, “critical thinking skills” and “problem solving” abilities, your child can become more teachable, flexible and adaptable to academic and life situations.
College Life Skills Program (1 on 1)
9th grade-college
- College bound students with characteristics of “Giftedness”, ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s” or Learning Disabilities can be successful when preparing for and then attending college with our Individualized College Life Skills Program.
- Self-advocacy, social relationships, time management, organization, hygiene/nutrition, career readiness, prioritizing, “screen” addiction, study skills and more.
Adjusting Back to School Programs
(Groups, live/online and in person)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BACK TO SCHOOL MINI-PREP PROGRAM!
IN PERSON or LIVE/ONLINE
Fun and eductaional.
For Students Entering Grades 1-5
(Initial Consultation Required for New Participants to Ensure Proper Placement)
Monday July 12th – Thursday July 15th, 2021 and/or
Monday July 19th – Thursday July 23rd, 2021 at 3:30-5:00pm (Ages 5-11)
Program is for 4 consecutive days, $480 (6 hours, includes materials)
We also offer 1 on 1 back to school programming for those who can’t make the group meeting or would benefit from 1 on 1 support. (Additional fee)
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM
IN PERSON or LIVE/ONLINE
Fun and educational.
Summer Intensive Program at “The Support for Students Growth Center” of Boca Raton
Initial Consultation Required for New Participants to Ensure Proper Placement
“Middle and High School Readiness Program”
For students ages 11-17 in age appropriate groups
Initial Consultation Required for New Participants to Ensure Proper Placement
$640 per 4 day series (8 hours), Workbook Included
Monday July 26th – Thursday July 29th, 2021 at 3:30-5:30pm (Ages 11-17)
We also offer 1 on 1 back to school programming for those who can’t make the group meeting or would benefit from 1 on 1 support. (Additional fee)
ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE
- Individual and Family Counseling/Coaching (behavioral and emotional)
- Educational Consulting
- Specialized Academic Tutoring
(Services are provided):
- Via phone and/or text, ZOOM, Facetime, email and in varying combinations
- In person (as available)
- Nationwide
Contact Us:
Support for Students Growth Center
https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com
5454 Town Center Rd, Suite 7
Boca Raton, FL 33485
561-990-7305
DrNach@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com
College Life Skills Program
(as subsidiary program of the S.S.G.C.)
All People Can Achieve Their Goals by Preparing Effectively
“Tools” for both parents and their children
Four P’s of Goal Setting
We all need goals to get things done. However, not every goal is effective. The way that we and our children word our/their goals will determine whether or not we reach them. When establishing goals, it is important to remember the Four P’s of goal setting. They need to be positive, personal, possible, and prioritized.
They Need to Be Positive
When you are creating goals, remember to make sure that they are positive. This means that you focus on what you want to achieve rather than what you want to avoid. For example, you would write, “I will complete this project.” rather than “I can’t wait till I will no longer work on this horrible project.” Staying focused on the positive will help improve your outlook and remove any negativity. This, in turn, will improve your chances for success. Reaching your goals will automatically help you avoid your present circumstances. When creating positive goals, remember to be as specific as possible.
They Need to Be Personal
When creating goals, they need to reflect your dreams and desires. Goals that are not personal are more likely to be ineffective. Your goals should be about you and only you. For example, “My boss will appreciate me.” is an ineffective goal because it is not about you. It is possible to be a wonderful employee and still be unappreciated. A more specific, valued, and better goal could be, “I will find a supervisory position where I am appreciated for my talent.” If your goals are not personal, you will never achieve them. Making goals personal places the burden of responsibility on you, but it also means that other people do not determine when you reach your goals.
They Need to Be Possible
When creating goals, you need to make sure that they are possible. When you set impossible goals, you set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Creating possible goals demands that you be honest with yourself. Some goals may require continued education or experience to achieve while others will remain out of reach. For example, it is not possible for someone to become a famous singer without any talent whatsoever. You need to assess your talents and determine what you can achieve with hard work and what is unrealistic for you to accomplish. Once you have determined which goals are possible for you to achieve, success will be within reach.
They Need to Be Prioritized
Brainstorming goals can become overwhelming. You will probably have more goals than you can handle. This is the time to prioritize your goals. Begin by numerically ranking your goals and choosing the five goals that are the most important to you. Choose these goals based on your passions, and make sure that they cover all areas of your life: professional, health, personal growth, finances, etc. All of your time and energy should be spent working towards these goals.
You should place your other goals on the back burner. It is not possible to focus on 20 goals at the same time. In fact, you should avoid the other goals at all cost. You risk becoming side tracked with less important goals if you continue to entertain them. You will need to reprioritize your goals periodically. For example, you can reprioritize after you achieve one of your top five goals.
People with goals succeed because they know where they are going.
Earl Nightingale
Excerpts taken from “Dynamic Goal Setting and task Completion to Promote High School, College, and Career Readiness” © Support For Students Growth Center, 2021.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist. Since 2012 he has been the Founder and President of the Support for Students Growth Center in Boca Raton, FL, where he and his team of professionals provide the Social, Academic, Behavioral and Emotional support services for Children, Teens, Young Adults and their Families, In-person, Online, Nationwide and Worldwide.
Overcoming the Distractions That Influence Procrastination
“Tools” for both parents and their children.
Overcoming Procrastination
Procrastination can happen at any time. It is not enough to identify that you are avoiding a project. You need to take active steps to remove the temptation to procrastinate. By taking control of your schedule and school/work environment, you will be able to reduce the amount of time that you spend procrastinating each day. In turn, you will be able to improve your productivity and accomplish your goals. You will create more time to do the things you really want to do.
Remove Distractions
We are bombarded with distractions every day. These distractions are only temptations to procrastinate. By removing as many distractions as possible, you will be on track to overcoming procrastination.
Distractions to Avoid:
- Clutter: Clean up your space at the end of each day, at home, school, and in the office. This will help to keep you focused, and you will not be tempted to clean during a project.
- Email notification: Establish specific times to check email. Automatic notifications are distracting and cut into the time you spend on each project. Mealtime is an ideal time.
- Telephone calls: Do not take all calls. Choose a time to return calls and texts.
- Social Media: Schedule specific times to check on social media and texting.
- Searching the “Web”: Only as a “tool” to do research or do work, all other Internet-based activities should be left until after all key tasks are completed.
- Environment: Remove distractions such as video games, social media, card games, books, magazines, TVs etc., from your work or study area.
Start Small and Build
A habit of procrastination does not happen overnight. Equally, it is not possible to stop procrastinating overnight. Expecting an immediate change will only lead to disappointment. You need to start small and build in order to end procrastination once and for all. Begin by creating a daily “to do list” for your personal life. Include the daily tasks that you have trouble completing such as homework, studying, laundry, paying the bills, garbage or cleaning the kitchen. When you have stability in your personal schedule, it will be easier to address procrastination at work.
Create a daily schedule for work once you have broken down your larger tasks into smaller ones. As your productivity increases, you will be able to build upon your schedule. You will soon find that you are finishing tasks ahead of schedule and school.
Reward Yourself
People tend to procrastinate because they do not find certain tasks to be enjoyable. Procrastination becomes its own reward. Overcoming procrastination requires that you implement a reward system for completing tasks. Otherwise, you will revert to bad habits. Rewards should match the tasks completed. For example, taking 10 minutes on Snapchat could be a reward for completing an assignment or responding to all work-related email before 5pm. Similarly, going to a movie (after COVID times) could be a reward for completing larger more important tasks on time. When choosing rewards, you need to stay away from anything that you already have planned. For example, if you already have plans to go out with friends on a weekend, the outing will not serve as a reward. Using the appropriate rewards will improve motivation and help prevent procrastination.
Set Realistic Deadlines
Schedules and deadlines will help you stay focused and avoid procrastination. When setting deadlines, however, you must be realistic. Deadlines that are not realistic will actually contribute to anxiety, avoidance, and procrastination. If you do not give yourself a chance of completing a task on time, you will avoid it. If you are creating your own deadline, you should consider how long similar tasks have taken. Be honest and allow time for interruptions and emergencies. Do not create a schedule based on the best-case scenario. You are setting yourself up for failure. If you are assigned a deadline, determine if it is realistic. If the deadline is not realistic, you should attempt to negotiate a more realistic date. This negotiation should be done as quickly as possible to prevent complications later.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist. Since 2012 he has been the Founder and President of the Support for Students Growth Center in Boca Raton, FL, where he and his team of professionals provide the Social, Academic, Behavioral and Emotional support services for Children, Teens, Young Adults and their Families, In-person, Online, Nationwide and Worldwide.
Success is steady progress towards one’s personal goals…Jim Rohn.
Everyone has dreams and goals. Achieving personal and professional goals, however, requires planning and action. Learning how to manage time and set realistic goals will increase your or your child’s chance of success in every area of life. Following the advice in this brief article set you moving forward towards increasing your productivity and help you achieve your dreams.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly.
Overcoming Procrastination
We all procrastinate from time to time. Procrastination occurs when we avoid tasks that we find unpleasant. Even if we perform other work-related tasks instead of the ones we dislike, we are guilty of procrastination. Unfortunately, procrastination will hinder our long-term success. With the proper skills, you can easily overcome procrastination.
Eat That Frog!
Mark Twain has a saying that applies to procrastination:
If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long!
Most goal oriented and successful people keep Mark Twain’s quote at the front of their mind. The frog is anything that you do not want to do. Basically, you should complete your dreaded tasks first. Getting these tasks out of the way will provide you with a sense of accomplishment and keep you from procrastinating. Always begin with the task that is the hardest and most significant, and you will be less tempted to procrastinate on other activities.
Just Do It
When you dislike a particular task, it is easy to procrastinate. Whether you spend time playing video games, checking email, sleeping excessively, or keeping up to date with everyone on your social media accounts, you are procrastinating. You need to do more than identify when you procrastinate. You need to discover why.
- Discover your obstacles: What is it that you choose to do instead of your more important tasks?
- Discover ways to remove obstacles: Ask for support, and take action. For example, you could turn off the Internet and your phone when the times comes to complete an important task.
- Reward yourself: Make the task fun and use small rewards as incentive. (i.e. finish all your homework for the night, give yourself 15 minutes to enjoy checking in on your social media accounts or whatever you find enjoyable to do for those 15 minutes.
Once you have identified your “frogs” and obstacles, the only answer left is to take action. Make the tasks that you want to avoid part of your daily routine. Schedule the tasks into your calendar. Once they become habit, you will find them easier to accomplish. Once you have scheduled the time to accomplish your tasks, you must follow through. Resist the temptation to procrastinate with your favorite time waster. Just do it.
Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday…Don Marquis
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist. Since 2012 has been the Founder and President of the Support for Students Growth Center in Boca Raton, FL, where they provide social, academic, behavioral and emotional support services Online, Nationwide and Worldwide.
#MSDStrong
Proud Member
