Learning Strategies for Summer Growth
Tips and ideas to become a better learner before your school year starts
As another school year wraps up, you might be feeling a mix of relief, excitement, and maybe some uncertainty about what's next. Whether you're moving from middle school to high school, finishing your first year of university, or anywhere in between—this transition time is the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and set yourself up for continued growth.
💭 Meaningful Reflection: Your Academic Journey So Far
Before you completely disconnect from "school mode," take a moment to honour how far you've come. This isn't about grades (though celebrate those wins too!). It's about recognizing your growth as a learner and human.
Try This 5-Minute Reflection:
Grab a journal, your phone's notes app, or even just think through these:
What learning strategy did you discover this year that actually worked?
Maybe it was finally figuring out how to take notes, or discovering you study better with music.
What was your biggest "aha!" moment?
In any subject, or about yourself.
When did you feel most confident as a learner?
Was it during a presentation, solving a tough problem, or helping a friend understand something?
What challenge taught you the most about yourself?
The hard stuff often shows us our resilience.
Remember…
Your academic journey isn't just about what you learned—it's about how you learned to learn.
Looking for a tool to support your reflections on learning? That’s precisely what the Feel Good Learning: Academic Reflection Journal is for! A recent edition to Awakened Learning’s growing #feelgoodlearning library of resources, it could be just the support you need to take time and contemplate what’s really working for you (and what isn’t) in your school habits.
🚀 How to Avoid Burnout as a Student
Choose Your Own Adventure Learning:
Follow your curiosity: What topics made you lean in during class? Dive deeper through documentaries, podcasts, or YouTube channels.
Learn something completely new: Pick up an instrument, try coding, learn to cook a cuisine you love.
Read for pure joy: Fiction, graphic novels, biographies of people who inspire you.
Create something: Write, draw, build, design—making things teaches us in ways textbooks can't.
Looking for more ideas? Revisit this recent free Awakened Learning resource, “Summer of Possibility”! No strings, no gimmicks, just goodness!
The 20-Minute Rule:
If you want to keep academic skills sharp, dedicate just 20 minutes a day to something learning-related. That's it. Could be:
Reading an article about something you're genuinely interested in
Practicing math problems (for those heading into challenging courses)
Writing in a journal
Watching an educational video
Finding your ethical-AI-dance-partner: Microsoft Math Solver for your numbers-based courses? Plaude.ai, Fireflies.ai, or Otter.ai for note-taking support?
🗝️ The key? Make it choice-driven, not forced.
🌉 Navigating Sesonal Transitions with Confidence
Change can feel overwhelming (for learners and parents and professionals alike), whether you're starting at a new school, entering post-secondary, or just moving ahead to the next grade. Here's how to approach transitions as opportunities rather than obstacles:
Before Your Next Chapter Starts:
🗺️ Get Practically Prepared
Visit your new campus or school if possible–feel out the spaces
Connect with one person who's "been there" (older student, alumnus, family friend)--feel out the relationships
Organize your learning tools and space–feel out your upgraded workflow
Review any summer prep materials without pressure, just familiarity–feel out the new expectations
🧠 Prepare Mentally
Remind yourself that you've successfully navigated transitions before
Set one small, achievable goal for your first month
Practice self-compassion and know that everyone feels nervous about new beginnings
Remember that confidence builds through action, not just mindset
❤️ Prepare Emotionally
Stay connected with supportive friends and family
Maintain routines that ground you (physical activity, creative time, family meals even if virtual)
Plan something to look forward to in your first few weeks
Trust that you have everything you need to figure it out as you go
📝 Your Summer Learning Mantra
Copy this, adapt it, make it yours:
"This summer, I give myself permission to learn in ways that feel good. I will follow my curiosity, rest when I need to, and trust that growth happens in many forms. I am not behind, I am not ahead—I am exactly where I need to be. When I start my next academic chapter, I'll bring with me everything I've learned about how I learn best. I am ready for whatever comes next."
🌻 A Final Thought
Your learning journey is uniquely yours. There's no "right" way to spend your summer, no perfect way to prepare for what's next. The fact that you're reading this newsletter shows you care about your growth—and that's already enough.
Be gentle with yourself. Stay curious. Trust the process.
Let's transform exam season from a period of dread to an opportunity for beautiful learning.
Wishing you kind learning,
xo Deena
