And the Skills They Need to Succeed
If you’ve been secretly wondering whether math class feels more challenging now than it did a generation ago, you’re not imagining it. Math itself hasn’t changed much, but the way teachers deliver lessons has.
Instead of just showing up to class, taking notes, and studying from a textbook, today’s students juggle online portals, endless notifications, and unpredictable tech issues. They have to find what they need in digital folders, organize it all along with their printed handouts, and somehow stay focused while doing it all on the same device that’s built to distract them.
That’s a lot. And most students haven’t been taught how to do it.
If you’re a parent trying to help your teen navigate high school academics, you might feel like the strategies that worked for you don’t seem to apply anymore. Maybe you’ve tried following up on your teen’s math homework, only to hear “There wasn’t any homework.” In reality, practice questions were assigned, but since they weren’t for marks, your teen didn’t think they were important.
Or maybe you’ve tried helping your teen study for a math test, and suggested they review the textbook questions to figure out what topics to focus on. But your teen might respond with something like, “We don’t really use the textbook.”
As a math tutor, I hear both statements all the time.
The fact of the matter is, what students need in order to succeed in school today isn’t the same as it was a generation ago. The structure and environment have changed.
Many schools now rely heavily on online platforms like Microsoft Teams or Google Classroom to post materials and assignments. But the teacher may not have updated the platform when the student checks, or the system isn’t easy to navigate on student devices. Some teachers use materials from their own resource banks. Some use digital textbooks. Students are expected to know where everything is and how to access it.
So when your teen seems confused or scattered, it might be because they don’t have the foundation they need just to begin. The barrier to entry for studying is higher than it used to be, and not every student knows how to cross it.
Before effective studying can happen, these invisible pieces need to be in place. Here’s a checklist to help identify what might be missing.
Students often struggle to begin studying simply because they can’t access what they need. Most schools now use platforms like Teams or Google Classroom to post materials and assignments. But students may be using shared devices and are logged into another family member’s account and unsure how to switch profiles. Some don’t even know their passwords or how to recover them. These small barriers create major slowdowns and stress.
Before a student can study effectively, they need a system for managing files, notes, and written work that’s actually usable. That starts with making a choice to use a digital or paper-based system, and making sure that choice supports focus, organization, and how they physically interact with the material.
If your teen is primarily using a digital system:
If they are using a paper-based system:
If they are using both digital and paper:
Most students do know when they have a test or assignment. But instead of writing tasks down when they’re assigned, they rely on checking platforms like Microsoft Teams to remind themselves.
That usually works until it doesn’t. Sometimes the page doesn’t load, or their phone is low on battery, or the Wi-Fi is spotty. Suddenly, the information they need is out of reach right when they need it most.
A better way is to build the habit of logging due dates in a calendar when they first hear about them, so they don’t have to rely on memory or taking extra steps to find information.
Perfect class attendance isn’t always possible. But it is still the student’s responsibility to find out what they missed in class.
Some try emailing the teacher for class updates, but they don’t always get a response right away. Teachers are busy and they may not respond outside of work hours.
That’s why every student should have at least one person in each class they can message if they’re absent. Ideally, someone who’s organized and willing to share notes or reminders.
Students today are expected to focus while surrounded by devices designed to pull their attention away. Phones, apps, and constant notifications can break focus in seconds, and most students haven’t been taught how to manage them.
Distraction management is a skill. Students need simple, repeatable habits that protect their focus during study time, and get them back on track if they do get distracted.
In the past, structure was built into the learning environment. Students had hardcopy textbooks with predictable learning outcomes, less tech confusion, and far fewer distractions. Now, students are responsible for managing a digital learning environment that even adults find confusing at times.
These invisible skills of tech literacy, self-organization, and attention regulation are now prerequisites for success.
When they’re missing, students use up all their brainpower just trying to get started. No wonder they feel overwhelmed before they even open the textbook.
This is where I come in.
As a math tutor in Burnaby, I work with high school students not just on content like Pre-Calculus 11 and 12, but on the systems that help them thrive.
I help students:
Willpower is a limited resource. Exerting self-control depletes mental energy.
That’s why habits and routines matter so much. Once a behavior becomes automatic, it no longer drains mental energy. The brain treats it like default mode, and that’s what keeps students consistent, even when motivation is low.
Clara Tong is a Burnaby-based math tutor who helps high school students across Metro Vancouver build both math understanding and the executive-function skills they need to thrive.
She specializes in BC Math 8-12, and filling foundational math gaps for students who feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Through one-on-one and small-group lessons, Clara helps teens organize their learning systems, strengthen focus, and rebuild confidence in math.
