6 Ways to Help Your Child Make It Through the 4th Quarter

It’s that ‘time’ of the year, school is almost out, and students are getting antsy.  Below are 6 ways for students to maintain their focus and continue to be motivated through the end of the school year.

1. Plan Ahead
Use Sunday as a day to help get the school week planned for your child. Look through their assignment notebooks to see what quizzes, tests and projects are coming up and help them plan accordingly. This can be a crucial time of the year for many students and it’s important that they stay on top of things and to make sure to turn in all homework assignments on time.  Remember to provide positive reinforcement and guidance in helping them get their week planned so that it seems like more of a team effort as opposed to you nagging them.

2. Incorporate Study Time Each Night
If your child is not doing their homework or they are performing poorly on quizzes and tests, start designating a set amount of study time each night to keep them on track. Depending on the student’s grade level, study time can vary from 20 minutes to 90 minutes.  Try having them do this every school night, whether or not they have homework to do.  It’s always beneficial to have them review previous material.

3. Get Them Moving!
Physical activity is shown to improve academic focus for students. Encourage your child to be active and to try to do at least 20 minutes of exercise before they sit down to do their homework and study.  This can be as simple as having them play outside with their friends and run around, ride their bikes, or shoot some hoops for a little while.  They will be sure to feel energized and motivated!

4. Say “Yes” Instead of “No”
Your child might be starting to ask to do things that will distract them from getting their work done. For example, they might say, “Can’t I just play video games for awhile?”  Your intial reaction might be to say “No! You’ve got to get your schoolwork done!”  This turns into a negative situation.  Instead, try saying “Yes!  Once you finish your homework for tonight, you can definitely play video games.”  See the difference?

5. Use a Family Calendar
Have a family calendar that is visible to all family members and post it in a common area in your house. Many families have multiple children and it’s definitely hard to keep track of everyone’s schedules and their important due dates.  This way everyone is involved in staying accountable and will be able to look at it and update as needed.

6. Reward Privileges for The Process
Instead of rewarding your child for good grades, give them extra privileges for studying and putting in the hard work. This encourages kids to try their best and to put in the effort.  If they consistently study, then give them an extra bonus by allowing 15 more minutes to play video games or to stay up a little later than their normal bedtime.

These next couple of months can be a difficult time for both students and parents.  Take a deep breath, be supportive and hopefully the 6 methods above will provide some relief!

Written by Sarah Kochan

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