A Fresh Start

The first week back to school after the holidays is always a tough transition for students. However, the break can also offer a period of revitalization and provide the fresh start so many students need after a long, tough marking period.

These easy steps can help any student jumpstart their new year.

1. Backpack Purge – A student’s backpack is notorious as a deep dark abyss. Who knows what over-ripe, half-eaten, treasures lurk in the far reaches of canvas after four months of continued use. Setting aside one hour to turn a backpack inside out and giving it a good cleaning (often in the washing machine) will not only return it to a hygienic state but will probably also turn up a missing library book or two.

2. New Calendar – Using a calendar as a visual representation of time is always helpful. At the beginning of each month it can be helpful to sit down with a student and fill in all known upcoming events such as extra-curricular activities, vacations, family occasions, long term projects, and exams. The process can often lay the groundwork for improved time management, especially when the calendar is re-visited often.

3. Organize Binders – Even the most organized students struggle to keep their binders organized under the stress of daily handouts, homework and flyers. The tell-tale sign of a bulging front pocket about to burst under the stress of dozens of worksheets is always a good indicator that a binder purge is overdue. A home filing system using colorful folders can be very helpful for those students who are wary of cleaning out their binders because they are unsure of which papers will be necessary later in the year. This way work can be saved by subject at home until they are certain it is unnecessary.

4. Set Goals – New Year resolutions are not just for adults, with half of the school year complete, students are often in a good position to set realistic goals for themselves. They should be aware of goal setting and encouraged to ponder their aspirations for a few days before committing to them aloud. By identifying steps for achievement and planning for potential challenges these goals are more likely to be reached.

Time Management Aids

Timers are not for every student, but in my experience they have been incredibly helpful for estimating how long a task will take, completing an assignment in a timely manner and preventing procrastination. I have a variety of timers I like to use depending on the needs of the student and the type of assignment s/he is attempting to accomplish.

The Timers (clockwise from top left):

1. Reading light & timer – Set up to 90 minutes of reading time, after which, the light will turn off automatically. Great for younger children who are required to complete a certain amount of reading each night or older students who tend to fall asleep while reading, www.smarthome.com ($15.99).

2. Time Timer – This product is a fantastic visual representation of the amount of time allotted for any given task, www.timetimer.com ($30.00).

3. Sand Timer – A great source of false pressure, sand timers can motivate children to try and accomplish as much as in a limited amount of time.

4. Time Tracker – A fun product for younger children, the green, yellow and red sections can be programmed with sound effects to indicate that time is running out, www.target.com ($39.95).

5. Egg Timer – Another good source of false pressure for those students who struggle with procrastination and perform better when provided with a sense of urgency.

Sunday Night Dread

Many children and adults alike grapple with the classic anguish of Sunday nights; the freedom of the weekend is slipping away and thoughts of the new week loom. Sunday nights can be a particularly stressful time for students who want to enjoy every possible moment of the weekend and “save” their assignments for the last minute. As most parents and students realize saving assignments not only aids stress to an often tense evening but often results in incomplete or poorly executed work.

Here are a few suggestions that I and the families I work with have found as helpful ways to break the cycle and transform Sunday evenings into a pleasurable time:

• Create a Homework Plan Early

Parents and children should sit down on Friday afternoon or evening to create a weekend homework schedule. Spreading out the work over the course of two days and trying to accomplish as much as possible Sat & Sun mornings can not only significantly lessen the blow, but also allows time for purchasing supplies or trips to the library as necessary.

• Systematically Relinquish Control

Creating a structure schedule for homework completion which children know they will be held accountable for can be highly effective strategy for preventing procrastination. However, working under constant monitoring can seem stifling to most students. Since it is highly unlikely that parents will provide homework supervision throughout their child’s academic career and it is in the student’s best interest to engage in self-monitoring it is important to create a compromise. The most effective type of compromise is one in which both members are clear about their responsibilities. For instance, a contract that clearly states parent and child will work together to create a weekend homework schedule for 4 weeks, and then the child will be given the freedom to create his/her own weekend schedule but cannot save all homework until Sunday night and if all homework is saved for Sunday night the 4 week cycle will begin again. A parent who systematically relinquishes control of the weekend homework plan as his/her child can demonstrate the independent ability to be proactive about assignments, will provide an healthy foundation for planning and time management.

• Replace Negative Associations with Positive Ones

Creating an enjoyable Sunday Night ritual can not only replace negative end of weekend associations but it can also provide the motivation to complete work ahead of time. Utilizing the evening as a time to gather as a family to engage in a relaxing activity like having a movie night complete with popcorn and tickets, playing a game or talking a walk for ice-cream can provide a tranquil transition from the weekend to the new week.