From Slump to Spark: Finding a Mid-Semester Boost!

As the semester hits its midpoint, many students begin to feel the weight of deadlines, expectations, and sometimes their own doubts creep in. Some students fall behind and others check out. You might notice that plain encouragement won’t work. But, digging in to find times in the past when the student rose to the occasion to make it, will.

Here’s how you, as a school counselor, can help spark that turn around this week, without focusing on what’s going wrong!

1. Start with what is working!

When a student walks in looking discouraged or defeated, try this:

“I imagine it’s been tough lately. Yet you showed up here—that tells me you “want something better.”

“What do you know about yourself that helped you to come talk today?”

This gentle question re-orients them toward their own initiative and belief about themselves.

2. Ask Future-Focused Questions

Rather than diving into what's not done, ask:

“Suppose this semester ended like you wanted. What would you have achieved?”

“What would that do for you?”

“What’s worked for you in the past when you’ve had to catch up?”

“If you were doing just enough to catch up slightly, what would others see you doing?”

These questions invite students to step out of the stuckness and picture momentum. Picturing how others see the student helps map out a plan.

3. Look for Small Signs of Progress

You might ask:

“On a scale from 1 to 10, where 10 is ‘I’ve got this,’ and 1 is ‘I’m stuck’—where are you today?”

“What would move it just a half-step forward, just today? What else?” (Ask 5 times!)

By focusing on small movement, you help students shift from overwhelm to hope.

4. End With a Doable Next Step

Ask:

“Suppose today was just an experiment with moving up a half-step. What might you do, just for today?”

“What would your teacher notice?”

“Who would be the most pleased at the end of the day?”

Let their answer lead the way to breaking things down into doable actions.

Remember, mid-semester doesn’t mean it’s too late. It does mean that it’s the perfect time to reflect on what has helped the student be successful before. Every student has moments of resilience behind them—your questions help bring those moments forward.

Keep asking. Keep noticing. Keep believing. Let your students can figure it out through your questions.