Finishing the School-Year Strong

Getting Through to the End of the School Year: Guest Post by Susie McDaniel

Spring Break has passed. which means there are only a few weeks standing between school children and summer vacation! Sometimes this anticipation leads to decreased motivation to keep up with the rigorous learning expectations their teachers still have for them. Help your child hold onto the skills that got them this far, so they can finish the school year strong!

The following strategies can help boost your child’s motivation for learning:

1. Encourage your child to ask questions when they don’t understand something being taught or assigned. It’s hard to start a project or homework assignment if a child doesn’t fully know what’s expected of them.

2. Give frequent praise when they make a strong effort! Even if they don’t succeed, praising them for trying and giving their all can encourage them to continue.

3. Model a joy of learning! Designate a technology-free time to read a book, sign up for a cooking class, or talk about your favorite class from when you were a student. Enthusiasm for learning is contagious. Kids learn from watching the adults in their life.

4. Set small but attainable goals. It’s hard to feel motivated when you’re facing down a blank screen with a 5-page paper due the next day. Break up larger projects and papers into smaller goals (e.g., spend one hour researching the topic, create an outline, write the introductory paragraph) to help kids feel like they’re making progress.

5. Encourage self-reflection. Encourage your student to evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses rather than just hearing them from a teacher. After a project or assignment is a great time to reflect on what went well and what to try differently next time.

6. Offer rewards! You don’t need to buy your child a new toy or ice cream every time they finish a task, but rewarding effort (rather than success) can be a great motivator to reach milestones (e.g., finishing reading a book) and boost confidence.

7. Pair your student up with other kids. Social interaction can help kids stay motivated and on-task when they see their peers are working at the same things.

Take the First Step!