Hi Hillgrove Avenue friends! I’m Katie Speetzen, and I’m excited to bring you my new column, Chaos to Calm(ish). As an executive functioning coach and a National Board Certified Teacher, I know parenting school-aged kids can feel like juggling flaming swords… blindfolded… while someone yells about lost gym shoes.
This column is here to help you navigate the homework battles, messy backpacks, and everyday chaos of raising kids. Each month, I’ll share practical strategies (with a healthy dose of humor) to bring more calm, structure, and confidence to your home.
A little about me: I’ve spent 15+ years in education and now run Katie Speetzen Family Consulting, helping families build stronger organization, time management, and stress-busting skills. I’m also a La Grange mom who loves a cappuccino with extra foam, a good laugh, and connecting with other parents in the trenches.
Now, let’s dive into this month’s topic—the mid-semester slump.
The Mid-Semester Slump: How to Get Kids Back on Track Before Report Cards
Remember that shiny, back-to-school energy from August? The crisp folders, the sharpened pencils, the color-coded routines that worked like a dream? By October, that glow has faded. The lunchbox smells a little questionable, the backpack has transformed into a black hole of crushed granola bars, and your child’s new favorite phrase is: “I think I did it.”
Welcome to the mid-semester slump. The good news? It’s normal. The better news? With a few simple executive functioning tweaks, you can help your child get back on track before report cards make their dramatic entrance on your kitchen counter.
1. Spot the Signs Early
The slump doesn’t usually announce itself with flashing neon lights. It creeps in quietly: a missing assignment here, a vague “I don’t remember what we’re supposed to do,” or a 30-minute staring contest with math homework before a pencil even moves.
These are not signs of laziness—they’re clues that your child’s executive functioning (planning, organization, and time management skills) needs a little tune-up. Parent tip: instead of waiting for a teacher email or a surprise grade, build in a weekly check-in with your child. A simple, open-ended “What’s on your plate this week?” can reveal gaps before they snowball.
2. Sunday Night Set-Up
Then, make it concrete. Think of this as your family’s reset button. Spend 15 minutes on Sunday evening tackling three things:
- Backpack clean-out (yes, that’s where the missing permission slip was).
- Calendar check: what’s coming up this week both at school and after (sports or play practice, upcoming tests, etc.)
- Prioritizing what needs to happen this week, and how your child will reach their goals.
This ritual cuts down on Monday morning chaos and gives kids a sense of control heading into the week.
3. The Two-Minute Rule
Finally, get specific. Sometimes the hardest part of a task, like homework, is just getting started. Enter the two-minute rule: tell your child to spend just two minutes on the dreaded task. That’s it.
- Two minutes writing a topic sentence.
- Two minutes organizing a binder.
- Two minutes reading the instructions.
More often than not, once they start, momentum carries them forward. And even if it doesn’t, they’ve already chipped away at the task—and that builds confidence.
Final Takeaway
The mid-semester slump isn’t a sign of failure—it’s just a signal that systems need a refresh. With a little structure, a little encouragement, and maybe one less fossilized granola bar in the backpack, your child can finish the semester strong.