It’s May – for families with schoolchildren, the busiest month of the year. Spring sports, band and choir concerts, summer camp signups – all on top of a busy academic schedule filled with big projects, research papers, and final exams. How can you cut through the chaos and finish school on a high note?
“This is such a tough time for kids,” says Lawrence Kloth, co-founder of Reading Success Plus. “Everybody is counting down the days, just waiting to be done with school. They’re just done.”
And it’s even tougher for kids who struggle in school – a description that applies to many of the students we see at Reading Success Plus. In the last month of classes, all the challenges intensify. Do you hate taking tests? Welcome to final exams. Is writing painfully difficult? That term paper is due at the end of the week. Do you struggle to stay organized and on task? Well, in the next three days, you have two finals, a group presentation, a concert, and a track meet on the other side of the county. It’s overwhelming.
Lawrence, who has dyslexia and ADHD and had his share of difficulty in school, recalls how he felt this time of year.
“When I was in school, by mid-May, I was done. I was burned out. I had enough, but I still had so much left to do. I thought school would never end.”
Students dealing with the same obstacles share that almost-end-of-school frustration.
“School is a big chore for them,” Lawrence explains. “They have to concentrate so hard, and it’s a lot of work. It’s nobody’s fault – they just don’t learn in the way that typical school kids learn. They’re neurodiverse, and that makes a big difference. If you have dyslexia, ADHD, are on the spectrum, or have any other learning challenges, it makes it very tough.”
So, if you’re a parent, how can you help your child make it across the academic finish line? Lawrence offers several ideas, but the most important thing is to use your time wisely.
“Time management is huge. If you can manage your time well, then you’re going to be well off.”
Academics above all
We strongly believe that interests and activities beyond classwork are vital to a child’s development and happiness, and that parents should nurture those outside interests. But for the sake of lifelong happiness and success, school must come first. The goal is to find the right balance between studies and other passions.
The key is using study time effectively. The first step is to schedule those times. See what works best for your child. For elementary students, the best strategy might be to have a snack, a little playtime to burn off excess energy, and then dedicate a block of time to homework. If the child has trouble focusing, build in frequent short breaks. Set up a study area with all the necessary materials.
For middle school or high school students with more after-school activities, homework time might be after dinner. But the same principles apply – have a scheduled time and place for studying.
At Reading Success Plus, families often ask about taking a break from tutoring during these busy times. Lawrence discourages stopping lessons completely, because even a short break can set back a student’s progress. “If you’re too overwhelmed and feel that you can’t do tutoring twice a week, cut it back to once a week for a short while,” he advises. “Then, when crunch time is over in June, go back to your usual schedule.
“We want to make sure your students keep moving forward. Keep that routine, keep the consistency.”
First things first
Initially, that final month of tests, papers, and projects may seem insurmountable. But if you break that pile of work into smaller pieces, it becomes much more manageable. Spreading a research project over two weeks, for example, is less stressful and more productive than jamming it into one weekend. The same principle applies to studying for tests.
“If you’re overwhelmed, focus on things that are due the next day. If you have three tests in one week, focus on the one that is next. Don’t try to cram it all in at once. That’s a lot to handle.”
Understand what needs to be done
To prioritize your tasks, you first must know what they are. Online gradebooks and assignment lists make it easier than ever to see if your child is keeping up with their work. A conversation with the teacher may provide an even clearer picture of where your child stands. (Ideally, you and the teacher have a relationship that began back in the fall, but if not, start it now.)
If your student has missing assignments, see whether they can be made up. If the child has an IEP, it may have provisions for additional time for assignments. (The IDP also might require accommodations during testing.) If not, see what makeup arrangements the teacher will accept – even partial credit is better than taking a zero.
“Just make sure you have an active conversation with the teacher,” Lawrence says. “If your child is falling or has fallen behind, a strong, open relationship is important. If the student is a high schooler, they should work with their teacher to determine how they can raise that grade. At that stage, they have to learn to self-advocate.”
Rest up
Make sure that your child is getting enough sleep. Especially for high school students, all the assignments, projects, sports, and other activities can cut into sleep time. With afternoon practices or games pushing study time late into the evening, it’s tough to get eight hours of sleep.
“Get as much sleep as you can,” Lawrence advises. If you can sleep in on a weekend to make up for lost sleep, go for it.”
With younger students, you might want to try the opposite strategy. “They probably need to burn off some energy,” he says. “Give them a chance to run around before they start studying. They might need a play break after 30 minutes or an hour. Just pay attention to what they need. It will help their concentration if you break things up.”
Rewards work
Use positive reinforcement and celebrate your child’s wins. “When they get something done, tell them, ‘Good job.’ I think that goes a long way,” Lawrence advises. “Positive talk will make a big, big difference for them, no matter what their age.”
A tangible reward helps, too. “Maybe at the end of a hard week, you take them to their favorite ice cream place or restaurant, or give them some extra video game time. The treat itself is a motivation, but just as important is that the child sees that you notice and appreciate their efforts.”
Do your best – and live with it
Sometimes, your best efforts don’t pay off. “We’ve all been there,” Lawrence says, “when you just get overwhelmed, you try your best, and it just doesn’t work out. You started out hoping for an A, but you realize that won’t happen. Maybe not even a B. You think, ‘It isn’t my best work. I’m not going to even turn it in.’
“Turn it in. Get every point you can, get the best grade possible. Down the line, you’re going to want to get into the best school or trade program or job possible. Taking a zero on an assignment is the worst thing you can do.
“There’s a lot going on – you have ACT, SAT prep going on. You have the testing, other classes – you have a lot of moving parts here. You’re just trying to figure out, OK, is this what I need to do, and is this the best work I can do at this point? If it is, just turn it in.
“Manage your time well. Do everything you can. Then, regardless of the grade, you know it’s the best you could do under the circumstances. Be proud of that and move on.”
Reading Success Plus has offices in Grand Rapids and Troy. It offers one-on-one tutoring online or in person in reading, math, and writing, as well as personal and family coaching. You can get more information at readingsuccessplus.com. To contact us, call 833-229-1112 or go online to https://readingsuccessplus.com/#contact.