to go forward go back

Midterms are here and I often get calls from parents wanting help for their child for the first time.  Sometimes these students have fallen so far behind after 15 weeks of school that one session with me will not allow them to bridge the gap in their understanding.  Fortunately the parents recognize this also and ask me what they can do at this stage of the game.  This is where I say, "to go forward go back."  What I recommend is that students, in addition to keeping up on their current material, take the time to review problems from each chapter starting with chapter 1.  This can be a daunting task, but most textbooks have a section at the back of the book entitled, "Extra Practice."  This section has 1-2 pages with the key problems that one should know how to do from each section of the chapter. I recommend making a daily commitment(Saturday and Sunday included) to do say 10 problems. By the end of the week you will have completed a chapter or two and by the end of a month you will have completed the entire first semester's material.  You can have a parent, teacher, friend, or tutor help you with the ones you don't understand.  Again, this is not my most popular recommendation which is why when I mention it to some students I never see them again.  However, I want you to succeed, so I suggest breaking this down into very small manageable steps so it won't take much extra time per day and you will be building the foundation for success in the second semester and beyond! You can do it!