Spring Break: Bringing up my grades
With the arrival of spring break, we are reminded the end of the school year is not far away. Student promises to "bring up grades" are coming due, and it is time to check in and see if it is actually happening.

With about 2 months until the end of the school year, there is time to make a difference in final grades, but there is not much room for dilly-dallying. If there is a time to take action, it is now.

Tutors can help students catch up by working with students to create a plan, fill in learning gaps and helping parents interact with teachers to get missing work. Parents can get involved by meeting with teachers or encouraging the student to meet with teachers to work on a "missing work" deal. Many teachers are willing to work with students who show a genuine change of heart--but students need to show the change of heart. This usually means working harder, and harder still, until the last bell the last day of class.

Spring break can be a good time to catch up. While the class is on break, students can catch up on past concepts, make up missing work, and work on extra credit projects if they are available. Then they can come back after the beak with a new attitude, and some momentum in the form of new knowledge and assignments completed to back it up.