Working Hard To Finish Strong

As we go into the final quarter of the school year it is very important that your child finish well. There can be many disruptions to his academic progress throughout the school year. However each subject and each grade level build on the previous ones. The elementary years are really a practice field where your child needs to learn organizational skills, perseverance when the task is difficult, and how to learn from his mistakes, not just from his successes. Academic grades are used to help your child (and you) evaluate how he is doing with these things. Please allow your child to take ownership of his grades so they really can be used to motivate him to new levels. If you take responsibility for them, he will not become the independent learner he needs to be.

Here are just some suggestions that I would encourage you to consider at this time of year:

• How much input do you have to give for your child to complete his homework?

• Does he bring home what he needs to complete his work?

• Does he have a set routine at home to complete his work or are you still directing that process?

• Does he use his planner to keep himself organized?

• Has he figured out how he best prepares for tests?

• Does he plan ahead for projects—have you helped him make a timeline with goals that need to be achieved at different points along the way?

• When he gets back graded work, does he evaluate how he did, what he has learned from that, maybe some follow up he still needs to do?

• Have you talked to him about what he really enjoys doing at school, what is more difficult for him, and what excites him about his school day?

I know these are simple yes or no questions, but hopefully, after considering those answers, you can decide what is your next step. School should be your child’s work, not yours. Also, research shows the one who works hardest, learns the most. Your child should be working harder, not you. Your child will also be gaining the self-confidence he needs when he knows he is accomplishing the required tasks. If you must continue to direct, the child realizes that you do not think he is competent enough to do it.

Ask parents of older students. They will tell you that it is a joy when you see your child taking responsibility for his schoolwork. Then you can be speaking positives into his life, encouraging his interests and challenging him to the “hope and the future” (Jeremiah 29:11) that God has for him!

Partnering together to help children mature into competent, Godly adults, while understanding each one’s uniqueness,

Sue R. Meckstroth