Has the forgetfulness kicked in yet? Is there strangely less homework, yet and more missing/late assignments? Are you getting the "I don't know what that is!" during your weekly grade checks? It's easy to feel frustrated as those last semester's patterns begin to reappear.
Keep in mind, this is a particularly difficult time for our students. They really are trying to hold onto the last remnants of independence, as their need for our help grows.
They want independence, but they need help.
We want to support them, but not enable helplessness.
It's time to address the problem areas, from a collaborative problem solving point of view. With forgetfulness setting in, and mounting missing/late assignments, it is the perfect time to bring in our catch and track support… without taking over.
Within this approach, you will become your student's note taker and reminder. Think of it as taking on the role of assistant more than disciplinarian or motivator. Discipline in other conversations because if you focus on discipline and motivation, then you've taken over and disempowered your student.
As the assistant, you will maintain a running log of plans for fixing mistakes as well as efforts made towards resolving the situation, and opportunity for praising and rewarding those efforts.
Listen, you get the easiest part of all this. You get to have the easy job of logging the information, while your student has the difficult job of remembering and planning.
The "Catch"
Together, you will identify the assignments (ie. problem areas or mistakes) to keep on the list.
Together, you will decide on a plan to resolve the issue. This may be simply "hand in Tuesday" or "email teacher to ask." Note that some items may not even have an action step, such as, "waiting for grade." Marking assignments waiting to be graded, becomes useful because it provides a running log of how long you've been waiting, and thus, when is a good time to follow up with the teacher.
You will set a "check back" date to get updates on the progress. I would suggest following up weekly or every few days.
The "Track"
On the "check back" date, get an update on the progress and update the list with any next steps.
If no progress - Write a new plan and the next check back date.
If some progress - Praise progress, write the new plan, and check back date.
If completed - Praise, reward, and cross off the list. See "pro tips" below.
Rewrite the list, every week. It's nice to see the list shrink over time, and gives a lovely fresh start kind of feeling to the week.
Pro Tips:
Only consider assignments as complete, when the correct grade is in the grade report. Those assignments stay on the list until that grade is there.
Pay attention to which part of the processes is particularly difficult for your student. Add a strategy to help, rather than a talk about how important it is that they get it done.
Praise effort over result goes a long way with energizing ongoing motivation.
Note the number of weeks that a problem area has been on the list.
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