The end of the school year is in sight and teachers, students, and parents are starting to wind down. Those healthy lunches you packed so diligently in the beginning of the year have gone from this…

to this…

Teacher’s Facebook posts are beginning to feature a lot of margarita close ups.

And your teenager has a permanent case of “I’m done caring”.

It can be difficult to resist the urge to coast through the last few weeks of school. Here are a few tips on how to help your teen end the year on a good note.

1. Help your teen set a goal that’s achievable by the end of the school year. Write it down and describe it in detail. Have your teen think about what it would feel like to accomplish that goal. What resources do they need and who do they need to ask for help from?                                                                                                                                                                         Then, set up some ways to help hold your teen accountable for working on their goal. It can be helpful to set up a weekly check in or the promise of a reward if they reach their goal. Remember, rewards don’t have to cost a lot of money. Staying out an hour later or an ice cream date with a friend can be great motivators.

2. Encourage your teen to talk to their teachers. It’s a great way to help identify any missing assignments (half credit is better than no credit) and to let their teachers know they care about their grades.                                                                                                                        Pro hint: Don’t ask teachers for extra credit. Instead, ask them what you can do to better your grade.

3. Help your teen make a final exam study schedule. Make sure that your teen knows which classes require a final exam and when the exam is scheduled. Ensure that they have a copy of any study guides, notes, old tests and quizzes. The best way to study for finals is to make a study schedule and stick to it. Here’s an example of a sample study schedule:

Each day on the calendar shows what subject the student is studying for, the time of day they plan to study, and the actual task they are doing to study. Just writing “study” isn’t enough because the word “study” is so vague. Try to be more specific and write tasks like make flashcards, review old tests, fill out study guide, take a practice test, etc.

4. Lastly, remind your teen that the last few weeks of school are a great time to check things off their bucket list. Encourage them to try to fix any relationships that need repaired, finally attend a student council activity, ask someone special to the upcoming dance, or maybe take a chance and try the rectangle shaped pizza in the cafeteria. No regrets! It’s the “last call” to accomplish the things on your teen’s to do list.

Do you have any other tips for helping teens finish out the school year? We’d love to hear them. Comment below and feel free to share this post with anyone who may enjoy it.