Middle School Matters by Phyllis L. Fagell

Author:Phyllis L. Fagell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hachette Books
Published: 2019-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

Spruce up the study experience.

Kids see studying as dull, but parents can enhance the experience. Let your child pick out their own colorful notebooks and decorate them. Ana Jovanovic, a psychologist and coach at Nobel Coaching, an online tutoring service, told me she has kids name their planner to make it harder to reject. It also injects a little fun and silliness into the process. They’ll say, “What do I have to do today? I should ask Jake.” Keep the study space well-equipped, but make sure it isn’t visually distracting.

Your child might want to choose special study attire to set the mood for studying, such as a “learning hat” or a pair of glasses. Have them wear the designated item for homework, but remove it when they take a break. Researchers at Northwestern University found this technique works for adults, too. When subjects in white lab coats were told they were wearing doctors’ coats, they were more focused than those who were told they were wearing painters’ coats. Similarly, in a study published in the journal Child Development, researchers found that young children persevered longer at a task when they pretended to be a superhero.

Rewards incentivize many kids, but middle schoolers work best when they’re immediate. “You earn them when you do your homework for a week, not a quarter,” Kim Campbell said. “Some parents say you have to get all As for the semester, but long-term goals don’t work.” The payoff can take many forms, from point systems to stickers to going out for ice cream. Kids should choose something small and meaningful. Even adults like to work on a reward system. I spoke to Jennifer Goodstein, a sixth-grade teacher and executive functioning coach, who said, “At Weight Watchers, if you go to eleven out of thirteen meetings, they give you a sticker and an extra charm. If adults are still being incentivized by stickers and charms, you can do it with an eleven-year-old.”

One parent asked me if it was appropriate to offer $500 for straight A’s. I discourage the practice. This may lead to a small initial surge in performance, but it’s not a good long-term strategy. Your child won’t feel responsible for their own learning, will likely lose enthusiasm for academics, and may start to expect regular payouts. And, as we discussed in Chapter 11, straight A’s aren’t always an ideal or healthy goal in their own right. Instead, focus on their perseverance and good habits.

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