After the review, you can look ahead to the new year and what he hopes to accomplish then.

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• Can you tell me about a time this year when your hard work really paid off?

• What have you learned about yourself this semester?

• Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

• Did you have any goals for last semester? How do you think you did meeting them?

• What do you wish you had known when you started this school year?

When it’s time to talk about next semester, you may want to have pen and paper handy. Research shows that you are far more likely to achieve goals if you write them down. Keep the list short and specific. Here is an example:

• Let’s come up with three goals for next semester.

• Let’s list some steps to take that will help you meet your goals.

Once you have a list, talk with your child about whether posting it in a visible spot would help. Some people need to see a big list in a spot visited by the whole family, such as the refrigerator door. Others prefer keeping the list in a more private place, such as a corner of a desk.

Finally, talk about fun ways to celebrate when goals are met!

Copyright © Parent Institute