End-of-Year Home Stretch: A Roadmap for Families

Try to maintain ROUTINES. I know from experience that as the year begins to wind down, it is tempting to relax the routines in place for homework, sleep, etc. Everything we had in place seems to slowly unravel. Try not to give in to that YET. Structure and routine are such powerful supports for all of us to do our best work. It seems small but will be a great gift to your children to hold the line a bit longer. 
  

Notice and celebrate the WINS. We aim to do this all year but it is even more important as children are tempted by the sunshine and the calendar, to let everything slide a bit. Help fight this by continuing to celebrate the wins…and I do not mean just biggies. A word of praise for smaller accomplishments can mean a lot. Getting homework done early, the back hall does not look like a ‘cyclone zone’, you woke up on time all week, you really learned this concept well, good work at practice, and on and on.  Use the phrase, “I noticed …” And then, fill in the blank. These small affirmations mean a lot. We all like to be recognized when we are making an effort, regardless how small the outcome may be. And encourage your child to reflect on their own growth, recognize what they have accomplished, and think about ways to keep moving forward.   

Stay in COMMUNICATION with the school. Again as the year rushes to its completion, we often stop the communication too early. Teachers are ready to help to the bitter end...never be afraid to reach out; to ask for clarification; to request some help with motivation; or simply to get a progress report. It is a good thing for students to know that you and the teacher are working together and staying connected.  

Promote HEALTHY HABITS. Wellness is always important…making sure our students are getting good sleep, eating balanced diets, getting some exercise…and having some fun along the way. Try to encourage breaks from school work and time to be with family and friends. Balance is key to avoiding anxiety or weariness. Laughter and fun are healthy ingredients in all our lives. 

FOCUS on the LEARNING. Don’t go on about grades, talk about the learning. You did poorly on this assessment? Okay, let’s learn from it. What are the next steps for learning this content? Get enthused about the learning…share what you know about the topic and ask questions. Always make it about the learning…I know this can be tough for parents (It certainly was for me!), but it is far more important, healthier, and far more rewarding for our children to value their learning, develop curiosity, and seek knowledge for the joy of it. Right? Something for us all to ponder.