Ep. 186: Final Sprint: Tips for a Strong School Year Finish - Hunja Koimburi

Welcome back to another episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning! Tune in this episode as Dr. Karen Wilson welcomes educational therapist Hunja Koimburi to the podcast to discuss end-of-year strategies for students with learning differences. As the school year winds down, students and parents alike face many challenges, including but not limited to completing final projects and managing increased stress levels. Hunja shares his expertise on how parents can support their children during this critical time, highlighting how important it is to understand the unique needs of students with learning differences. He reveals what initially drew him to this field and how his journey from studying economics and law to educational therapy has molded the ways that he helps students. He discusses the importance of using personalized strategies that are tailored to each individual student's unique learning challenge(s), focusing especially on time management and prioritizing tasks. Hunja also elaborates upon practical advice for parents to help their children finish the school year strong, discussing how breaking down large projects into manageable tasks and encouraging a balance between academic commitments and social activities can help relieve overwhelm and stress. Hunja also touches on the importance of helping students reflect on past experiences to improve future performance. As summer quickly approaches, Hunja offers practical ways that parents can effectively use this time to support their child's learning and development, suggesting that parents use the summer to focus on areas that need improvement, but he emphasizes the value of maintaining a balance between relaxation and productive activities to ensure students return to school feeling confident and prepared. Hunja’s insights are a valuable resource for parents seeking to support their children through the end of the academic year and beyond, so tune in to gain practical strategies for helping your child navigate the end-of-year pressures and make the most of their summer break, setting them up for a successful start to the next school year.   Show Notes: [2:10] - Hunja Koimburi is here to share his expertise on supporting students with learning differences as they transition to college. [3:01] - Inspired by his experience supporting students with learning differences, Hunja empowers educators and parents to specially tailor teaching and parenting strategies. [5:32] - Hunja emphasizes the importance of addressing learning differences to support students during busy school periods. [8:49] It's important to break down large projects and prioritize them to avoid overwhelm. [11:09] Hunja highlights the need for helping students with learning differences with time management and prioritization. [14:10] Executive functioning coaching can help tackle time blindness and enhance study techniques. [15:01] - Hunja values strategic planning over impulsive optimism to help students with learning differences manage their time. [17:32] - Hunja argues that supporting students with learning difficulties through compassion and practical time management strategies is most effective. [20:56] - Parents can relieve pressure on students by providing external support and temporarily reducing their chores during busy times. [22:43] - Some students experience a downward spiral of anxiety and self-doubt about their academic performance. [24:46] - Providing early deadlines can help students with learning differences manage workloads and reduce anxiety. [26:56] - Help students prepare for transitions and familiarize themselves with upcoming materials in order to reduce stress and overwhelm. [28:17] - Hunja reiterates the importance of early deadlines and long lead times. [31:19] - Short-term rewards motivate students, especially when they're exhausted from a long academic year. [34:51] - Hunja highlights self-paced online tools like IXL and ALEKS for learning differences, adding that there is a need for accountability and additional support. [36:59] - Hunja suggests that while summer is less ideal due to a lack of current work, it can still be useful for passion projects that require accountability. [38:39] - High schoolers can benefit from summer projects like getting a driver's license or applying for jobs. [39:59] - What are the best ways to get in touch with Hunja?   About Our Guest: Hunja Koimburi is a Director at Hayutin Education, where he specializes in executive functioning support. He is passionate about the intersection of neurodivergence, executive functioning, and learning. He believes that developing a growing self-understanding of one’s learning profile is key to building lasting executive functioning skills and effective study (and life) skills. This allows us to proactively anticipate challenges rather than always reacting to them. As one of the lead trainers at Hayutin, Hunja prepares educators at Hayutin to support neurodivergent students with appropriate strategies and tools to thrive in the classroom.   Links and Related Resources: End of Year Checklist Young Scholars Academy IXL ALEKS Connect with Hunja: Hayutin Education Contact Hayutin Education Hayutin on ChildNEXUS Email: [email protected] Phone: T 310-829-7505, x114   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses for Better Understanding and Supporting Your Child with ADHD, Dyslexia & Anxiety   The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.