Hail Mary Month
- They got behind on their school work.
- Grades plummeted.
- In April, parents suddenly see that things are falling apart.
- Children tell their parents, “Relax. Leave me alone. I’ve got this! Just trust me.”
- Parents know it’s not about “trust”, it’s about the track record, which shows that their child is not realistic about what needs to be done to dig themselves out of this pit.
- Despite best intentions and parental “nagging”, these students don’t get it together in time.
- Before you know it, school’s over and they failed classes.
- Now we deal with things like summer school, retaking classes in the fall, “recovery” credits, lower GPA. All of these ultimately cause more frustration and resistance towards school, and a cascade of deeper consequences.
- The next year begins, and usually the patterns repeat in the fall: 1. Strong start 2. Fall behind 3. Swim upstream for a stressful end to the semester 4. Repeat.
- Create a strategy based on what actually works with these kids.
- Tell them what to do specifically, step by step.
- Support them to do it.
- Teach parents how to help rather than push them away.
- Break it down into manageable chunks.
- Educate parents and kids on what’s going on in the brain.
- Help my students in a playful manner while employing a “No B.S.” rapport.