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Some students in middle school are talking
excitedly about their summer plans — wait, this is even
before spring break, they were talking! Clearly, now that spring
achievement testing is over, many students think the whole school
year is over! Why worry about studies now? I’ve done well so
far, so that’s it! So wrong!
As a teacher I realized that it would be a
good time about right now for both parents and their children to
remind themselves to “buckle down” for the last weeks
of this school year. Even with a month or so to go, in that month,
studies and grades still need to be mastered, earned and
maintained. It does not take much slacking off for grades to fall
and affect the whole great school year’s outcome and next
year’s placement as well. Hey! Eyeballs on summer, rather
than the grand school finale can really change fall class placement
and/or achievement. Setting aside consistent good work or making
only a half-hearted effort will likely impact the final assessments
in a negative way.
The following are eight suggestions
parents have shared which they have successfully incorporated in
the last couple months of school!
1. Sit down once more and discuss the end
of the year coming, pointing out that the student is “not
there” yet, even though at school and among friends, it might
feel like it.
2. Review what is expected on school days
and nights — including any rules about completed homework,
television or computer involvement, bed-times, curfews! These
rules, parent reminds, are for sure still in force.
3. Plan together something very special to
celebrate the actual end of school. Depending on the child’s
age, try to include a few friends if possible. At the very least
make it something to look forward to — say a boat ride, trip
to one of the theme parks, party with lots of food at home or in a
park. Stress that this celebration is dependent on a smooth school
exit over the next few month or so. DO NOT have this event during
the last day of school — that is, so students skip school to
attend.
4. Make a large calendar for the fridge
with the final school dates on it and note the date of the end of
the year celebration. Student gets to cross off the days.
5. Help student find out if there are any
books or materials checked out at school which need to be returned
before the last day. This saves lots of anguish and hunting around
home and school under the pressure of being signed off at school.
It also means if a checked out library book is not turned in, that
a student may start the next school year owing money and unable to
check out books.
6. If there is a mid-marking period
progress report, examine it with your student. While, at that point
it may be too late to improve areas which need it, it still reduces
the amount of sticker shock when the final card arrives. It may
also not be too late at all for some improvement to jack up the
grade. Encourage the student to concentrate on that item —
ASAP! If need be, contact the teacher for some additional
direction.
7. Some parents provide a special reward
as the result of a good year’s work maintained to the very
end! One parent purchases a notable item for the student’s
collection, whatever it is. Another provides some additional techie
device which the student wants. Another hands out movie tickets and
still another loads up and is off to a favorite restaurant or theme
park, including a few friends, of course.
In the case of this reward situation,
there are some issues. For example, putting up some grand reward as
school begins in the fall, may postpone the fact that the student
needs to be rewarded in doing well — just that. In reality,
some students are paid for grades and maybe that works. However, be
aware, say some parents, that the student may get the impression
that everything he/she does is only for the money!
8. When that last card comes in, if it
reflects continued progress, improvement, or high achievement, let
people know. Encourage student to call grandma and tell her. Even
if the last couple months have just shown maintained work and
studies at at home or in school, a final, acceptable card, much
less a fabulous one, should be noted.
If that last card is actually not so good,
what should a parent do then? The student already thinks this
isn’t a positive moment — knows it isn’t,
whatever the reason — his/her slacking off or honestly not
understanding. A parent can go far, if not making a big deal
— heavy disappointment reactions or anger will not solve nor
improve anything. Parents in this situation have to be encouraging,
maybe hire a summer tutor, communicate with the teacher, make new
plans with the student. Parents can still celebrate the end of
school, but keep that event simpler than it would be, if everything
were terrific.
Still one other parent pointed out to me
that by this time in the year there probably shouldn’t be any
surprises on school grades. That’s a comforting thought, but
sometimes students actually say to themselves, “What’s
the use?” and quit working at their job — school.
Parents need to stick with helping the student address his/her
school as business through the very last day. This shows the
student that school is not out yet, that there’s still work
to be done, and well. It also makes clear that your family
matters!
© 2007 Rosemary Lee Potter. All
Rights Reserved.
Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a
teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle
School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm
Harbor. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by mail in care
of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.
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