Keeping students motivated

5 Tips to Battle the Mid-term Slump

May 19, 2022

It circles around every year. Everyone starts the year strongly, plans well, and the first semester races towards its end. This is the time when students might be feeling tired, burnt out and ready for holidays. Plus there is cold/flu season (and the ever-present Covid) to battle with. How can you help your students and child to remain in the right headspace during this assessment period? Here is a guide for educators and parents to help our students:

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1. Get outside!

Try to soak up some sun – even in the colder months. Encourage kids to get some fresh air and take a break. It helps to refocus and relax for a few moments, helping them to get back to work with a clear head.

2. List Important Dates

We’ve just done this in our house. A printed-out assessment calendar helps students to visualize the rest of the semester and know what they need to be prepared for. We have two copies for each child and keep them in a place where you will see them often (one on our kitchen wall and one above their desks). A printout acts as a reminder of the due dates, it will help the child know what’s coming and they can be better prepared for the end of the semester.

3. Talk to the pros!

If you feel your child is struggling in a class or that they’re not grasping a concept, make contact with their teacher. Teachers want all their students to succeed, so ask for help.

4. A change of scenery

Studying and completing homework can be a lonely experience. As a parent, you might encourage your child to study with a group or friend one afternoon. Teachers can encourage their students to simply change their study habits – which might be as simple as working in a park, moving to a different room in their home, or to another part of the library.

Rewards for progress

In keeping focussed for these last few weeks, ask a child, “What are you looking forward to when the term finishes?” It’s important to have something fun to look forward to. This might range from catching up with friends, a sleepover, a nice dinner out or even just taking the day off to play video games! These pit stops are important to help our students to remain motivated and keep their spirits up if they feel under pressure.

Don’t let the weight of the semester get to our kids so much that they can’t see what they are achieving.

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