Making Midterms Manageable: How You Can Help
It's midterms time! Your student is likely gearing up to demonstrate her knowledge — or lack thereof — on her first set of midterms. You can be more helpful in this process than you think, no matter whether you are near or far.

Be Supportive. When talking with your student over the next few weeks, remember that his stress level may be high. Midterms can cause many students to panic. Reassure him that you just want him to do the best he can and remind him to use his resources.

Send Some Encouragement. Now's a great time to put a little something in the mail to let your student know you're thinking about her. A bit of home cooking or a humorous card will do the trick!

Don't Take Things Personally. If your student seems unaware of things happening with your family or is cutting conversations short, it most likely is due to feelings of being overwhelmed. Many midterms are given as take home exams, which take a great deal of time to complete. For those happening in class, students are often expected to know everything they've learned up until this point in the term. Some classes only offer two opportunities for assessment — midterms and finals. So, you can imagine the pressure he might be feeling to do well.

Encourage Healthy Eating and Sleeping Habits. This is probably the last thing your student wants to hear, but the reminders are important. Make sure to gently remind your student to eat well and to get plenty of sleep, especially if she wants to be at her best for midterms. A tired student doesn't remember things very well!

Most Importantly, Just Be Ready. Ready to support, ready to talk or ready to back off just a little to offer your student space to do as well as he can. Once midterms are over, everyone can take a deep breath and get back on track. Your support will mean a great deal to your student during this hectic time.