If she seems frustrated about school lately—“Class is boring! What’s the point?”—she may need a little motivation to get back on track.

Here are some ideas you can try:

• Help her watch her words. Does she often utter words such as can’t, won’t, never and no? Acknowledge her concern and respond with positive statements: “It sounds like social studies is a challenge. You can do well—and will do well—when you study hard.”

• Encourage her to set goals. She may be unmotivated because the school year seems so long. She can’t focus on something so far in the future. Help her break down her studies into shorter segments so she can see her progress. For instance, instead of having her focus on getting an A in social studies this semester, have her concentrate on doing well on Thursday’s quiz.

• Shift the spotlight away from her. Encourage her to help others. From tutoring a younger sibling to volunteering in the community, lending a helping hand can be very motivating.

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