Homework Problem: “Spring Fever”
While the term Spring Fever seems to have come from the Colonial times to describe the symptoms of scurvy, it has taken on a more modern meaning: the excitement and giddiness that comes with more sun, longer days, and warmer weather. All of which can cause distraction issues in your student.
Take heart in knowing, however, that it also means that your student will be happier due to the higher level of the mood-elevating neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is our body’s naturally happy chemical.
Homework Solution: 4 Steps to “Staying Cool“
Now is the time to capitalize on your student’s increased positive mood and renewed energy to help keep them on track for a strong academic finish. Here are four ways to do just that:
Communicate with the teachers. Reach out to your child’s teacher with a phone call or email. Keep this contact brief and positive even if they have less than positive news for you (including late or missing assignments). Acknowledge that you understand how difficult it must be to motivate a classroom full of youngsters this time of year and assure them that you are willing to do whatever you need to do to make their job easier.
Find new goals to set with your child. This should include short term goals for finishing their year strongly AND longer term incentives that give them a treat when they do finish strong. Again, keep it positive and focused on their needs. Goals should include homework, schoolwork, behavior and organization all the way up to the last day of school.
Encourage, Encourage, Encourage. We know how difficult it is to be positive when your child is doing less than their best in school. So remember to remain calm, avoid lecture, listen to your child, be patient, provide positive options and remind them that they CAN do it!
“Pay the piper” when needed. As adults, we don’t like failure and we certainly don’t like to see our children fail when we can help them! Sometimes, however, failure is exactly what they need to LEARN! Allowing your child to bear the natural consequences of their decisions is a healthy way for them to learn from their mistakes. And there will be other opportunities for them to succeed!
What is Really going on When a Smart Child is Struggling in School?
When smart children or teens struggle in school or have to work harder and longer than they should in order to keep up or make the grade, it is almost always because there are one or more areas of underlying processing/learning skills that are not supporting them well enough.
Accommodations at school or through traditional tutoring may help students to get by, but just coping with a problem for a long period of time is not comfortable and is not the answer.
These underlying processing/learning skills can be dramatically improved or completely corrected through specific brain training.
With the right kind of help, children and adults with learning challenges can work to their potential, comfortably and independently. Meet our Learning Academy director to find out how we can help your child today.