The Winter Stretch

March is the turning point in the school year. At the end of the month, it feels more like spring, and the end of the school year (and summer) seem that much closer. March, however, often feels like a long month. There are few vacation weeks in March (sometimes spring break sneaks in at the end) and usually a grade report comes out sometime during the month. The weather isn't particularly good, and the days have not quite gotten long enough to lose their winter feel.

It is in this month that many students lose heart. The end seems to be nowhere in sight. We get a lot of demand for tutors in the month of March, because students who had been working hard to keep themselves afloat ease off the gas because they are tired.

If you see this happening to your son or daughter, sit them down and find out what is causing the overwhelming feeling. Get involved with your child's workload, and see if you can help him or her prioritize things and break them down into smaller chunks. Encourage your child to talk to his or her teacher to find out if a deadline extension is possible, or if the teacher can lend some extra help before or after school. Also, make sure your child is getting enough rest and eating at least one healthy meal--which probably will be dinner, since that is likely the only meal you have control over. If you can manage, preparing a simple but healthy breakfast can go a long way to help your child stay focused during the long academic day.

If all this doesn't seem to dent your child's March Madness, then consider bringing in a tutor. Tutors can work wonders in helping students get themselves back on track, particularly when there is still time to turn things around. March is critical, as there are still plenty of weeks left in the semester to cause a significant change in the grade your child will receive. Not to mention that tutoring can help alleviate the stress your child is feeling on a daily basis. Not sure what to do? Give us a call.

Not sure what to do? Contact us, and I will be happy to talk to you about implementing some strategies at home that can help.