Your kids are back in school. Whew! If you’re like most moms, you feel a mixture of relief and dread. We start fall with the best of intentions to stay on top of it all. But as the weeks go by, it’s easy to spiral into survival mode, just trying to get through the day. Start working with your kids now, to help them develop strong study skills, and hopefully, the fall won’t feel quite as overwhelming.
#1 Be sure your child has an assignment book and uses it
Encourage your child to get in the habit of reviewing his assignment book at the end of the school day, as he packs up his backpack to come home. Doing so will ensure he has the books, worksheets, etc. required to complete the night’s homework and will prevent the angst of the “I left it at school” syndrome.
#2 Teach your child to prioritize his assignments
Have your child take out all of his homework and give it a quick rating as to its difficulty level and the time required for completion. Then, encourage him to decide where to begin. It feels very empowering to control your destiny, even if it’s only with regard to homework.
#3 Keep notebooks and backpack organized
Your child is going to need your continued support as these steps start to become habits. In a positive, encouraging way, sit down together once a week and go through his notebooks and backpack together, either filing or tossing loose papers.
#4 Make the weekend count
When Friday afternoon comes, all of us want to kick off our shoes and relax. It’s important to have downtime, but spending a little time studying over the weekend can be a real grade booster. Whether he’s reviewing a topic from the week prior or getting a jump on the upcoming work, being prepared is always a confidence booster!
#5 If all else fails, enlist help
As a parent, you have to judge what battles are worth fighting with your kids. If helping them with organizational skills is fraught with conflict, let it go and find someone neutral that will work with your child. Your child’s teacher may be able to help. Also, there are tutors in the Dallas area that specialize in teaching organizational skills to students.
Learning to be organized will help your children immensely as they grow up. Don’t procrastinate – get started right now!
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