How to Have a Strong Start to the Second Half of the School Year

Whether the first half of the school year was a breeze or a battleground for your family, the new year creates a new opportunity for a fresh start. The second half of the school year can drag on. It is full of long stretches (without many breaks), lots of testing for many kids, and a decreased motivation level that can make learning harder. 

Instead of heading into this part of the school year with dread, here are some ways to set your family up for success:

#1: Create (and Stick to) Routines

The brain thrives on routine. There is something powerful about knowing what to expect, whether it’s with your morning routines, weekly family rhythms, or other areas of life. Starting the new year strong with routines can help your kids feel safer and more prepared for the things that come their way! This can look like:

• Prioritizing healthy breakfast and setting them up for a better school day
• Staging everything the night before school so the morning isn’t as much of a rush
• Being consistent with after school activities (or just prioritizing rest in this season, depending on what your family needs)
• Having times where you are fully available for your kids without distraction
• Weekly game nights or movie nights (or some other activity) that help you connect

These may sound simple, but having a family routine that everyone knows and expects can help your kids thrive in this part of the school year!

#2: Set Mini-Goals to Celebrate Along the Way

As the seemingly endless months of cold drag on, it can be hard to find something to celebrate. The holidays are over, spring still feels a long way away… so what can you set as some fun goals as a family?

This would be a great time of year to do a winter reading challenge (think summer reading, but on a smaller scale). Cozy up with some books this winter and celebrate when you meet your milestone!

Is your child struggling in one particular subject? Set some goals aligned with the progress you want to see him or her make this semester. Setting small, actionable steps will help them make more progress than just saying “we want you to do better.” 

(Check out more tips for praise/encouragement that is actually helpful for kids here)

#3: Focus on Organization and Planning Ahead

Did your child finish the first semester with a backpack exploding with loose papers? Or do they always seem to “lose” their digital files, and not have any sort of system for organizing their laptop?

These are some helpful things to refresh at the start of the new year! As a family, you can start to prioritize organization in your home, work, school, and family life to help everyone feel more confident. This can look like many things, including:

• Weekly “cleanouts” where you sort papers, organize files online, go through physical spaces in your home, and make sure you’re not holding onto anything extra
• Color coding and creating a system that works for the individuals in your family
• Scheduling out the week so everyone knows what’s coming up

Here are some more organization tips to help your child conquer the second half of the school year.

#4: Get a Brain Skills Check-Up

If your child struggled through the fall semester, it’s time to ask an important question: Why?

WHY is reading still a struggle? WHY are they unable to comprehend new information? WHY can’t they work independently, organize their spaces, or keep up with all of their stuff?

Cognitive skills impact every area of life—not just academic performance. If your child is:

• Consistently struggling with reading
• Falling further behind despite school assistance or accommodations
• Struggling with math, problem-solving, or critical thinking
• Always the last to finish and embarrassed to even try
• Easily distractible and having trouble engaging in class

… THERE IS A REASON.

Your child isn’t just lazy. They’re not just slow. There are real skill deficits that are making learning harder for them than it needs to be.

Starting the second half of the school year with a cognitive skills assessment can allow you to understand the WHY. This first step is invaluable to understanding the root cause of your child’s learning struggles. Once you have this answer, you can create a plan to help them succeed!

If you want this part of the school year to go more smoothly than the first, don’t put off getting the answers you need to help your child learn, think, remember, read, and focus more easily. Contact us today to learn more.