girl doing homework pensive
The symptoms of a school slump are easy to spot. Your child trudges home with a sagging backpack after school, and discards it by the door until the next morning. Any questions you ask about school are met with an eye roll and/or a shrug. The process of getting your child out of bed in the morning is growing longer and more painful with each passing day. You know something is wrong, but what should you do?
Read on to find out how you can help your child bust out of the slump.
Slump Buster #1: Retool the workspace
You remember all those pencils, folders and notebooks you got during the back-to-school frenzy? Well chances are they’ve been used up, misplaced, or fallen apart. While there’s no need to replace every school supply that’s not up to snuff, sometimes some cool new tools - mechanical pencils, fresh erasers, a thumb drive - can motivate kids to get back on top of the workload.
Help your child organize her desk, or set aside space in your kitchen for supplies. Ask your child for input on how to arrange the space to give him some ownership. You can even call the area his “office” so he knows you take it seriously!
Slump Buster #2: Know what’s up
Parents have a lot on their plates, and teachers know this. They try to keep you up-to-date in the easiest possible way. Many teachers have a website or monthly newsletter. Read these; they are written for parents. If you notice a big assignment or unit of study that might be the source of your child’s slump, talk to her about it. Ask what you can do to help.
Remember, the most important source of knowing what’s going on at school is your child. Be like the best teachers, and ask open-ended questions. Things like, “what did you do in science?” will elicit a better response than “how was your day?” You’ll quickly learn what your child’s interests are, and they are more likely to share if you continue to ask.
Slump Buster #3: Break it up
Contrary to popular belief, teachers don’t give homework to punish students (or their parents). Most of the time, it’s an opportunity for independent practice, or to apply skills learned in class.
Be positive about the homework process. Schedule movement breaks for younger children to help them express their energy and refocus (this is why schools have recess). Maybe after they read for ten minutes, they get to go outside for a bit, or help you make a snack. For older kids, split study sessions into chunks according to subject.
Making the task more manageable will help your child see that even less-than-desirable tasks can be done without pain. And whatever you do, don’t bash the homework, teacher or class.
Slump Buster #4: Feed their minds (and bodies)
School-day schedules are rigorous for kids of all ages. In many cases, kids have lunch early in the day, sometimes before eleven o’clock. By the time they get home, all they can think about is eating. If your child seems low on energy when he gets home, have a healthy snack available. If you aren’t around when your child gets home, make sure there are options available for him such cold cuts for a small sandwich, fruit salad, or veggies and dip. Low sugar cereals are also an easy, healthy option.
But don’t stop with snacks. Keep in mind that eating breakfast is a crucial part of your child’s day. If your child refuses to eat at home, look into having her eat a hot breakfast at school, or pack a cereal bar and piece of fruit.
Slump Buster #5: Show up
Make a point to attend events at your child’s school, such as open houses, concerts, or academic fairs and exhibitions. Events like these allow you to show your support and celebrate kids’ accomplishments. Parent-teacher conferences and meetings are important too, but you don’t want to send the message that you only go to school when there is a problem or concern. Besides, it’s always nice when your kids get to see you in their environment – it gives them a chance to show off!
Also keep in mind that, like you, teachers are very busy. Helpful parent volunteers can be a huge asset to a classroom. Ask your son or daughter’s teacher how you can help support the classroom and offer some ideas, such as organizing the classroom library, or copying handouts. It’s great if you can be in the classroom from time to time, but there are other ways to participate too. If you’re unavailable during school hours, brainstorm things you can do from home, like compiling photos from the class field trip. You learn what’s happening in class, and if your child sees you making an effort to be involved, she may want to make an extra effort too.
Beth Fornauf is a freelance writer and mother of two. As a teacher, she enjoyed helping elementary and middle school students bust out of many mid-term slumps!