At the start of January, many people make New Year’s resolutions – statements of intention to improve themselves or their lives in some way. But for many adults, resolutions quickly fade, forgotten within weeks or months. One study found only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions.
For adults in the full swing of life, of course, it can be difficult to change. When you return to the same job, the same tasks and routines, it’s easy to keep doing the things you’ve always done.
For students, however, the start of a new year means the start of a new semester. On a block schedule, this may mean a completely new slate of classes, and even if students have the same classes year-round, they will be starting a new unit and a new grading period in each of their classes. In many ways, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start. And it’s an opportunity you should absolutely take advantage of.
If your child has been having difficulties with grades and/or organization, you might encourage him or her to make a New Year’s resolution to do better this semester. You can even make the resolution together; parental engagement is key for student success, and your child will be more likely to follow through if you provide daily reminders and encouragement.
Of course, it’s not enough just to resolve; to get the best results, you and your child should also make a concrete plan, first setting an academic or organizational goal and they laying out a strategy for achieving it. Our guide to organizing for school is one useful resource which might help you to construct such a plan. And if you’d like more tailored help, you can always call General Academic to set up a consultation or arrange for a study skills/ academic tutor for your child.
With your help and support, your child can make big academic improvements in 2015. And on that note, we here at Thesis wish you and your family a very happy and successful New Year!