Supporting your student through summer courses
Summer Session courses are a great way for students to get ahead and focus on one or two classes at a time. Although, sometimes it can be challenging to stay motivated over the summer. Getting distracted happens to the best of us, and learning to manage time effectively can play a big role in your student’s academic success. Here are some tips to help your student get the most out of their summer courses.
Set up a workstation
All summer classes are offered in an online, remote or hybrid-online/remote teaching format. So it’s important for your student to find or create a space to participate in their summer classes – just like their favorite on-campus study spot. Encourage them to find a quiet space to work that’s free of distractions.
If your student finds themselves easily distracted, here are a few things to suggest to help them stay focused. They could:
Take games off their laptop so they won’t be tempted to play them.
Use browser extensions like or to set time limits or block social media and other “black hole” websites.
Create a phone-free area by turning off their cell phone or putting it in a different room during class. They could also turn off notifications on their laptop.
Manage time
Encourage your student to use a calendar or planner and add important dates from their syllabuses (exam dates, project or paper deadlines, presentations, etc.). If their course does not have a designated time for lectures, suggest that they schedule their own times to watch lectures and complete assignments. This can help your student feel organized and keep pace with the course.
As your student makes their schedule, they should make sure it’s manageable. Encourage them to pace themselves with their courses while staying on top of other daily activities. Suggest that they create daily to-do lists – writing out tasks can help your student stay accountable, and it’s a great way to see progress for the day.
Stay engaged and connected
It can be challenging to stay engaged and motivated in remote classes. Encourage your student to:
Attend their instructor’s and teaching assistant’s virtual office hours.Ěý
Ask questions during lectures or on the discussion boards in Canvas.Ěý
Create group chats with classmates.Ěý
Make a study group that they can video-chat with a few times a week.
Reach out for help if they need it.
Check their email daily.
Take breaks
Some students want to sit down and get everything done at once or pull an all-nighter, but that can be more harmful than helpful in the end since sleep is so vital for memory. Encourage them to take short breaks during study sessions (5-minute break for every 25 minutes of studying) to give their brain a rest. Staying hydrated and eating regular, balanced meals and snacks are also important for maintaining energy and focus.
Find help
Encourage your student to find help early if they find themselves struggling. They can email their instructor or chat with a classmate to ask questions. They could also check with their instructor to see if there are any academic resources or help labs available to them. Additionally, is available to support students with technology challenges. They also offer a to help students navigate different features and challenges of remote courses.Ěý
As always, New Student & Family Programs is here to support you and your student and can help connect you to the right resources on campus.