Finishing the Year Strong: 3 Strategies for Students

Written By Jessy Feinberg, MS
 
 

It is the time of the year where many of our students are experiencing “school fatigue,” or lacking motivation around schoolwork and academic commitments. This is totally understandable- the weather is brightening and summertime is on the horizon.

This feeling causes increased procrastination, which means more missing assignments and potentially lower grades. As onlookers, we can be frustrated that our students are “slipping” when they only have a few weeks left of the school year because we know the importance of their final averages.

Here are some tips to encourage your student’s motivation towards a strong finish to the school year:

  1. Break Down Tasks: Encourage students to look ahead at long-term, end of the year projects and work to break them down into smaller deadlines and tasks. Develop to do lists with each step necessary to complete the entire project on time. Cross them out as you go!

  2. Incentivize Success: Ask your student to determine a reward that would help push them towards success- maybe it is ice cream or a new pair of sneakers. Next, set a goal that you can incentivize them to reach. Remember to keep the goal SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound). 

  3. Technology for Good: Challenge your student to use their phone to set timers and alarms that will keep them focused and provide reminders for assignments and tasks. You can also use a habit-tracker to foster positive routines.

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Jessy Feinberg, MS

An integral part of the Life Solved team for over four years, Jessy is highly skilled in supporting students with writing, organization, study skills, course-specific content, and time management. She is strongly committed to helping students feel empowered as learners and to foster productivity and creativity in an increasingly digital world.

With extensive experience in educational settings, Jessy spent time teaching Social Studies in D.C. Public Schools, worked with students aged 17-24 at an Opportunity Academy, and also spent time teaching History at the secondary level at Prince George’s County Public Schools. Jessy has direct experience teaching U.S. History, AP World History, and World History at the honors and ESL levels.  

Additionally, with six years of experience as Head Counselor, Jessy spent a total of 12 years working with young adults at a sleep-away camp in the Catskill Mountains.

Jessy has a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland at College Park; she also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Studies and two Graduate Certificates in School Administration and Supervision and Leadership in Technology Integration from Johns Hopkins University.

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