Many teenagers struggle with staying organized, balancing homework with other activities and responsibilities, planning ahead for projects and papers, and studying effectively for tests.

 For both teens and parents, problems in these areas can be very frustrating and can lead to a lot of family conflict. Teenagers can start to lose confidence in themselves, become defensive, or resort to a “just try to get by” sort of philosophy. Parents ask themselves – How much should I be involved in this? Should I take away privileges? Try to help? Get a tutor?

TOPS (Teen Organization, Planning, and Study Skills) is a group program first developed by Dr. Ahern at Duke University that is designed to help high school students improve in these areas. These are skills that do not always develop naturally for many teens, and while some teens know how to get organized, they have a problem staying organized. TOPS combines a skills-teaching approach with hands-on activities and applied practice, problem-solving skills, and helpful parent strategies to address these issues.

TOPS general information:

• 4 to 6 students per group during the school year; up to 10 students over the summer
• High School group: 9^th through 12^th graders  (in summer, rising 9^th through rising 12^th)
• Middle School Group: 6^th through 8^th graders (in summer, rising 6^th through rising 8^th graders)
• During fall and spring semesters, one 90-minute session per week for 9 to 10 weeks
• During the summer, two 90-minute sessions per week for 5 weeks
• Gift card raffled off at each session for participation
• Number of sessions includes one or two parent sessions providing strategies for parents to help students generalize strategies to their work at home and school and to improve communication between teens and parents

TOPS topics:

Sessions typically address the following topics –

• Managing homework
• Keeping track of books, papers, and other materials
• Time management
• Planning ahead for projects and papers
• Study and Memory Strategies
• Note-taking
• Self-advocacy in the classroom (aka knowing when and how to ask for help)

TOPS sessions:

Students discuss and practice strategies they can incorporate into their daily lives. Homework is assigned after each session for further practice. Parent sessions address ways to help students use strategies in real life and reward good organizational behavior.

TOPS Pre-College/College Seminars Now Enrolling!

A one day seminar offered on the following dates:

Friday, June 11^th    10 am - 1 pm

Friday, July 23^rd     10 am - 1 pm

Having trouble balancing your life with your studies in college?

Have a child who is headed to college in the fall? 

This 3 hour seminar is a crash course in organizing papers, using a planner, managing time and studying at the college level.  Choose one of the two seminar dates offered this summer!

For more information or to register today, contact Dr. Lisa Ahern at ahern@3cfs.com or 919.677.0101 ext. 528