The School Work Blahs

Springtime can be a lovely time of year, and it can also bring out the imp in our children when it comes to school work. I’ve noticed in my own family that school work can take a nosedive this time of year, what with the gorgeous weather calling kids to play and ditch homework. But what do you do when your child refuses to do her homework or school work correctly, despite her capability?

Many times, the problem gets lost in a flurry of explanations, generally along the lines that she’s too bright and the work is boring. However, part of life is learning to do even the boring things to the best of our ability because—and this is the cold, hard truth—we all have to do boring things throughout our lives.

To the problem at hand, a child won’t change unless she’s the one who is concerned about her school work. Here’s my radical solution that should get a child to do the work she’s capable of doing in a manner acceptable to her teacher.

Step 1: Meet with her teacher (without the child present) to get her on board. Tell the teacher that you fully expect your child to get the grades she deserves based on her actual work, not her potential. Say that you are fully prepared to have her repeat her current grade if her work does not radically improve in the next two months. Be prepared for the teacher to suggest ways you and your spouse can “help” your child with her work. Be firm by saying that if your child isn’t able to complete the work on her own, then she shouldn’t advance to the next grade.

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Step 2: Kick her out of the garden for at least two months. That involves stripping her room of everything except her bed and some clothes (but not her favorites). Tell her that if her grades on all her school work, including tests, in-school work, and homework, do not improve within two months, she will repeat her current grade next year. Tell her that she will be totally responsible for turning in all her work as her teacher wants (legible, neat, answered correctly, on time, etc.), and that you will not ask her about her school work. Her school work is hers alone.

Step 3: Well, there’s not really a step three, except that you must be prepared for tantrums, even worse papers coming home, and an “I don't care” attitude, from your child. Things generally get worse before they get better.

If your child is as smart as she seems to be, then her work will improve 100%. If she doesn't think you're serious, then she'll find out that her current grade isn't as fun the second time around. And for those who gasp at such a harsh “sentence” of repeating a grade, remember that it's always better to address these things in elementary school instead of high school, and the way she was going, things were not going to improve on their own. If she can't do the school work in her current grade, then she's obviously not ready to advance.

Until next time,

Sarah