Back-to-school Day Two is in the books, and whether or not your kids are still stuck in the “Holiday Haze,” classes are right back up to speed with 2nd quarter quizzes, tests, and project due dates right around the corner…
Now, before we left off in December we talked about how January can become an “issue,” especially if your child’s backpack has collected dust for the full 16 days since they left class before break.
Now, instead of just outlining our recommendations, we took it a step further and asked 3 of our top tutors (with an elementary, middle [read it here!], and high school focus [read it here]) about their tips for handling January in the best way possible.
Let’s jump in!
First, we asked one of our top Elementary tutors, Marla Merrill about her recommendations for getting younger students back into “school mode” after the long break.
What’s so hard for elementary school kids about January?
Marla: After having a two-week break from school, it’s often difficult for elementary students to get back in the swing of things knowing that they still have half of the year ahead of them.
How do you approach this with your students?
Marla: My approach for this is to do engaging activities, bring in creativity and fun, play a few more games just to make it as engaging as I possibly can. I also like to remind them that spring break is only a few months away and that they just need to hang in there.
What are some things that you’re doing now with your kids to make January less overwhelming?
Marla: I’m helping my kids by making a short-term plan of attack with their workload, listening to their goals, and focusing on the immediate, not the long-term. When they get too involved in worrying about what’s happening later on, then a lot of times they lose focus on what’s really important, which is what’s happening right now.
What can parents of elementary schoolers do to help?
Marla: I think the best thing that parents can do is be encouraging and understanding. Be cognizant of the pressures on your child and the potential for getting overwhelmed or burnt out.
Spending extra time with them reading books, playing cards, and doing things that can still be educational but are more focused on fun, is a great way to spend more time with your kids, take off some of the stress, and also bond together.
Need some extra help getting your elementary schooler up to speed this month?
Click the link below and send us a message, and we’d be happy to help.