The stretch between winter and spring breaks can feel years long. It’s not unusual at all for students’ motivation to dip during this time. We see this in tutoring every year, and we’ve learned how to reignite that spark! Often, it’s a combination of small, consistent actions that put kids back on track. The strategies below work best when customized to a student’s interests and strengths.
Sometimes a lack of motivation is due to a lack of routine. Setting certain tasks to autopilot will give your child the jumpstart they need.
Switching up the same old same old can re-energize your child’s attitude toward school. No grand gestures needed! How can you inject some novelty into these humdrum days?
When students feel stuck, motivation disappears. We help students recognize that and choose to find it by taking action—any action—to get started. Usually that first step leads to the next and the next, and before they know it they’re connecting the dots! You can see how this works with a writing assignment:
Taking a purposeful break is great for motivation, but kids aren’t taught how to do that. If your child is spinning their wheels on a math word problem, and they keep at it past the point of frustration, they’ll likely not figure out the answer; they may even give up on the rest of the assignment. However, if they take a break, their brain will keep chipping away at the problem in the background while they do something else. Then they can come back to the problem with fresh eyes and a better chance of cracking it!
Some people fear that celebrating along the way to a big goal will make kids think they’re done, and they’ll lose momentum. Quite the opposite. Marking milestones increases their motivation, and it feels good to have hard work recognized! When celebrating, give specific praise so that your child connects their choices and actions to positive results.
Reflecting on mistakes is just as important as celebrating the wins. Mistakes are portals into a whole new world of learning! Students who see mistakes as opportunities are self-aware learners, critical thinkers, and intellectual risk-takers. They also tend to take setbacks in stride and find joy in learning. Open-ended questions work especially well when it comes to embracing mistakes.
Sometimes (all the time?!) it’s easier for students to try out these strategies with someone who’s not their parent. If that’s the case for you, give us a call! We’d love to match your child with a tutor they trust and look forward to meeting with.
Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.
My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.
I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.
On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.
Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!
A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!
I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.
On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.
Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!
My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.
My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.
On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.