Let’s forget about getting the kids organized and focused for a few minutes.

How about we model the behavior for them?

I cannot tell you how many dozens of times kids have asked me "when will I need to know/use/need this every again?" I love helping clients uncover a strategy and skill set which they will use after they get out of school. Two of the best ones to work on are goal setting and planning.

If you are modeling the strategies, they will absorb the need to learn it. Face it, modeling beats nagging!

So – try teaching them a new way. Try this:

• Set two goals for your self.
  • One goal should be long term – say a year from now.
  • Second goal should be shorter and lead to the longer term goal.
• Now, break the second goal into steps and enter those steps into your planner or calendar. It might help to mark due dates a few days in advance to remind you of what is coming.
• Follow through, update your calendar when needed and discuss what you are doing with your child.

Share your success when her when you reach a goal. Hopefully, they will see your process as something she can do as well. You might even want to ask her if she wants to set a goal with you and then you can keep each other accountable. If that goes over poorly (which it very well may do), ask her about setting a goal with a friend. You may get a better response from that suggestion.

Just try it. The worse thing to happen would be for you to reach your goal, feel a sense of accomplishment and no one else gets anything.

Is that really a bad thing?

• Do all your homework – students tend to wait until the a few weeks after the holidays to get serious. Third quarter it is important to start off getting all your assignments in to the teacher. That way, if fatigue hits your grade won’t tank if you blow one test or miss an assignment. It is much more difficult to bring the grades up after you have let them get down.
• Get outside some everyday – I know, even in Florida it is tempting to come home and veg out in front of the Nintendo. Especially if those games you got for Christmas are calling out to you. Don’t give in – get out! Even thirty minutes of sunshine, fresh air, recreation can clear your mind and get you ready to do your homework and study. After all, you have been stuck inside most of the day. Your body WANTS to get out and run and your brain wants the visual space so it can process all the things you crammed into it during the day.
• Get involved- find a cause, a charity, a group of positive people to be involved with on a regular basis. Balance is the key to success, you need to balance work, play, and giving. Also, people act differently when working together outside of school, this can be a great way to work on the skills you need to work with students or others on projects.

Try these three things and see if you don’t stay a little more focused, a lot less stressed and much happier this third quarter!