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BREAK THROUGH THE ACADEMIC
DOLDRUMS OF EARLY SPRING
By Dr. Raymond J. Huntington
Last September, you sent your child off to school feeling confident
that good study habits, good behavior and good grades would be a top
priority all year long. But by February and March that
back-to-school energy may be a distant memory, while the rewards of
summer are still months away. If so, you and your child may need a
jump start to get back on track. Here are some simple ways to get
over the late winter doldrums and help your child recapture his or
her enthusiasm for learning and achievement:
Take stock of the high and low points. Healthy self-esteem and a
can-do attitude are important to academic success, but insecurity
over learning difficulties can start a frustrating cycle of failure.
For this reason, it can be helpful to look back over the year and
revisit the accomplishments and challenges your child has
encountered so far.
Begin by looking at major tests and projects that earned top grades
and praise from you and your child’s teachers. Talk with your child
about his or her inherent abilities. Is he a naturally good reader
who might some day grow up to become a famous writer? Does she have
an innate ability to understand the challenging mathematical
concepts that lead to scientific and engineering marvels? As a
parent or guardian, it’s important to recognize and nurture your
child’s special talents. This will help build confidence and a will
to meet new challenges.
It’s likewise important to take a thoughtful look at trouble spots
so far this year. Which subjects have been the most challenging?
Which skills have been most difficult for your child to master? This
type of a discussion can be tricky – you don’t want it to be about
criticism as much as observation. Your son or daughter needs to be
reminded that absolutely no one is a genius at everything and that
some people are bound to be more gifted in reading, writing and
mathematics than others. But once you candidly pinpoint the weak
spots, you can find a way to overcome them.
Create an action plan for improvement. Think of some unique ways to
leverage your child’s talents while shoring up the skills that need
work. If your son or daughter is struggling in a particular area,
talk with teachers and guidance counselors about how to improve.
Simple steps – such as setting aside more time for homework,
improving study habits or minimizing classroom distractions – may
help solve the problem. Your child may also benefit from
after-school programs that offer concentrated or one-on-one
instruction.
Teachers and guidance counselors should also be able to suggest
activities that nurture your child’s innate talents and interests.
These might include book clubs for avid readers, extra-credit
experiments and projects for the scientifically-minded, or “field
trip” excursions to museums or other educational or historical sites
that you can enjoy as a family. Nurturing these talents will help
your child understand that despite the inevitable challenges,
learning should be viewed as an adventure.
Identify benchmarks and rewards. There are several events in three
or four months that can have a big impact on your child’s academic
future. If your child is in public school, the statewide tests given
in the spring may determine whether or not he or she progresses to
the next grade. Third and fourth-quarter exams and major assignments
will likewise impact your child’s grades and readiness for the
increasingly challenging work that lies ahead. It’s a good idea to
contact your child’s teachers to find out when the big tests will be
given and when the big projects are due so you can make sure your
child makes the best use of his or her time. Mark these events on a
calendar and keep it readily at hand.
At the same time, it can also be inspiring to mark the fun and
rewarding events ahead. In most school districts this means a week
for Spring Break – which will hopefully include some of the learning
activities suggested above. You might also mark exciting events such
as birthdays, family trips and visits from relatives. And as long as
you’re blocking off the period for final exams, start thinking now
about a way to celebrate the last day of school, when the rewards of
your child’s hard work become clear.
Dr. Raymond J. Huntington is co-founder of Huntington Learning
Center, which has helped children achieve success in school for 26
years. For more information about how Huntington can help your
child, call 1 800 CAN LEARN.
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