The second 9-week period of the school year has started. This period starts revealing in grades how your child is actually doing in school. If you had great grades or some no-so-good grades, we have now a fresh start and the right inspiration to do things better. Let us help you improve your planning for this School period. Proper planning can significantly impact academic performance and reduce stress. Here are five essential questions you should ask yourself, along with answers and explanations of how planning can improve your child’s grades.
5 Key Questions for Parents
- What were my child’s strengths and weaknesses in the first 9 weeks?
- How can I help create a balanced schedule that includes study time and extracurricular activities?
- What resources or support does my child need to succeed in challenging subjects?
- How can I encourage my child to set realistic academic goals for this period?
- What strategies can we implement to improve time management and reduce procrastination?
Answers and Insights
We are sure these questions have brought ideas that you may want to apply, so here are suggestions on how to do it. Make sure to write it down in a place where you can see it for the next 9 weeks.
- Assessing strengths and weaknesses: Review your child’s first 9-week report card, assignments, and teacher feedback. Identify subjects where they excelled and areas that need improvement. Why it helps: Understanding your child’s academic landscape allows you to focus efforts where they’re most needed, potentially leading to improved grades in challenging areas.
- Creating a balanced schedule: Answer: Work with your child to create a weekly schedule that allocates time for homework, studying, extracurricular activities, and relaxation. Why it helps: A well-structured schedule ensures that your child dedicates sufficient time to academics while maintaining a healthy balance, leading to better time management and potentially higher grades.
- Identifying necessary resources: Answer: Discuss with your child and their teachers what additional support might be beneficial, such as tutoring, study groups, or online resources. Why it helps: Providing the right resources can help your child overcome obstacles in difficult subjects, leading to improved understanding and better grades.
- Setting realistic goals: Answer: Help your child set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for each subject. Why it helps: Realistic goals provide motivation and a clear direction, encouraging your child to work consistently towards improving their grades.
- Improving time management: Answer: Introduce techniques like the Pomodoro method (focused work intervals with short breaks) or help your child break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Why it helps: Better time management reduces stress and procrastination, allowing your child to complete assignments more effectively and potentially achieve higher grades.
The Power of Planning
Planning for the second 9 weeks is not just about creating a schedule; it’s about setting your child up for success. By addressing these questions and implementing thoughtful strategies, you can help your child:
- Develop better study habits
- Reduce last-minute cramming and associated stress
- Maintain a balanced lifestyle
- Build confidence in their academic abilities
- Learn valuable life skills like time management and goal-setting
Remember, the goal of planning is not to create a rigid, stressful environment, but to provide a supportive structure that allows your child to thrive academically while enjoying their school experience.
By taking the time to plan now, you’re investing in your child’s academic future and teaching them valuable skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Let us know in the comments if you found this helpful.
Need extra help? Contact us! Tutoring and coaching services available for your student online or in-person.
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