I don’t have a great memory, but I do recall packing my sons’ lunches at the start of the school year and saying, “Well, this isn’t a good sign.” It was the first week, and I was tossing in whole apples instead of sliced and granola bars in lieu of lovingly prepared sandwiches—two telltale signs I’d already thrown in the towel. It was going to be a long year.
Now, here we are in the home stretch, and I know I’m not the only one who’s ready for summer. My kids were ready yesterday. Still, we press on! If your kids’ brains are spent, their pencils are eraserless stubs, and their toes are poking out of their shoes, here are 5 things you can do to finish the school year strong.
1. Repeat “Every point counts.”
The finish line is so close, and just as the steps at the beginning of the race matter, so do the ones at the end. I’ve watched a child pull his math grade up from a D to a B with two homework assignments and two quizzes, so teach your kids it’s never too late for redemption (or to see a good grade slip away because of late-semester slacking).
2. Set one last goal.
If your child responds well to goal setting, why not set an end of the school year goal? Can she get all A’s and B’s on her exams? Can he remember to write down his homework every day this week? A specific goal set with a brief time frame can be the boost a kid needs to stay on track and finish the school year strong.
If your child responds well to goal setting, why not set an end of the school year goal? Click To Tweet3. Buy a new supply.
For months I watched my son struggle with his three-ring binder. The rings stopped lining up, and all the dividers kept getting snagged. It was frustrating to watch, so I finally broke down and bought him a new one. As much as it pained me to buy school supplies after August, the binder did have that new supply smell. It was a nice pick-me-up, and it inspired him to get reorganized. If you’re concerned about wasting money, check the supply list for next year if you can. You might be able to reuse it!
4. Switch up the after-school routine.
When I was a kid, we always did homework on the back porch for the last few weeks of the year. It was nice outside, and we needed a change of scenery. Would it help your kids finish the school year strong if you did homework at the park or ate an early dinner and studied afterward? Just breaking up the monotony might be enough to help them power through to the end.
5. Watch your words, Mom.
I’m guilty of making offhanded comments like, “Ugh. No more homework!” or “I’m so ready to unplug that alarm clock.” The relaxed feel of summer (even for those of us who work full-time) is always a welcomed change, but we have to harness our attitudes because they trickle down to our kids. Focus instead on motivational things like, “We’re almost there!” and “Your hard work will pay off.” In other words, fake it ’til you make it, Mom!
If your kids are done with school, you’re not alone. Listen to this episode of the iMOM Podcast, “How to Finish the School Year Strong” for a fun conversation about seeing it through till the end of the school year.
How do you help your kids (and yourself) finish the school year strong?
