Q: My daughter’s project deadlines always seem to approach too fast, and we scramble to finish. What tips do you have to help us avoid the last minute scrambles?
A: Forgetting projects and assignments or putting them off until the last minute is usually a sign that your daughter is dealing with organizational and/or motivational issues. With a little help and some stronger study skills, your daughter will get organized and get those projects done with time to spare.
Here are six easy steps to avoid those last-minute scrambles:
- Start by making sure that when your daughter is assigned a project she lets you know about it right away. If you can’t rely on your daughter to let you know, contact the teacher yourself and get a list of all upcoming projects and test dates for the year.
- Now that you know when the next project is due, grab a calendar and start blocking off time to get the work done.
- Break the project down into small, manageable pieces. Do a little at a time.
- Pick a date to begin research, a day to have an outline finished, and a day to write.
- Stick to the timeline you’ve created together, offer support, and stay involved. Offer prompts but don’t micromanage. Ask, “How is everything going?”
- Begin early! The earlier that your daughter begins the project, the less likely that she’ll run out of time.
Learn how an elementary school tutoring program can help here.
