Helping Tweens Succeed in School: Parenting Strategies for Academic Success

Helping your tween thrive academically isn’t just about grades—it’s about fostering motivation, independence, and a love for learning. In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with JoAnn Schauf, founder of Your Tween and You, to discuss how parents can set their tweens up for success in school without constant battles over homework and grades.

JoAnn, often called the Parent Whisperer, shares expert insights from her book Loving the Alien: How to Parent Your Tween. She provides practical strategies to help tweens develop strong study habits, take ownership of their learning, and build confidence in their abilities.

 

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How to encourage motivation without nagging
• The best ways to help your tween set and reach academic goals
• Why focusing on strengths leads to better learning outcomes
• How to balance support and independence in schoolwork
• The role of technology in learning—and how to set boundaries

  5 Key Takeaways for Parents of Tweens

• Collaboration boosts motivation – Involve tweens in goal-setting to help them feel invested in their education.
• Study habits matter more than grades – Focus on effort, organization, and progress rather than just report cards.
• Let them take ownership – Encourage problem-solving instead of fixing everything for them.
• Support, don’t micromanage – Guide your tween in developing independence rather than controlling their work.
• Praise the process, not just the outcome – Recognize hard work, consistency, and small wins to build confidence.

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Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• 20% discount for new coaching clients through September 15, 2024 at YourTweenandYou.com

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction and Background
• 03:01 – Encouraging Motivation Without Nagging
• 08:05 – Setting Realistic Academic Goals
• 13:56 – Balancing Support and Independence
• 19:01 – The Role of Technology in Learning
• 24:54 – Focusing on Strengths Over Grades
• 31:48 – Helping Tweens Build Study Habits
• 36:50 – Conclusion and Book Recommendation

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: JoAnn Schauf

• Website: YourTweenandYou.com
• Instagram: @YourTweenandYou
• YouTube: Your Tween and You
• Facebook: @YourTweenandYou
• LinkedIn: JoAnn Schauf

 

Connect with Your Host: Dr. Cam Caswell

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• TikTok: @the.teen.translator
• YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam
• Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

 

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Cam (00:00.762) Hello, parents of tweens and teens! As the new school year approaches, prepping our tweens for success is more important than ever. Today, we're diving into some of the biggest challenges parents face: balancing expectations, navigating social dynamics, and setting up accountability for academic success. Our special guest, JoAnn Schauf, is here to share expert insights. Often called the "Parent Whisperer," JoAnn is the author of Loving the Alien: How to Parent Your Tween and founder of Your Tween and You, a resource dedicated to supporting, empowering, and inspiring parents. She’s here to give us valuable tips and actionable advice to help our tweens have their best school year yet. JoAnn, welcome to the show!

JoAnn Schauf (00:48.354) Thank you so much! It’s so fun to be here.

Dr. Cam (00:50.444) It is! I love starting with the backstory. What inspired you to help parents and their tweens?

JoAnn Schauf (00:58.872) This has been building for a while. I was a school counselor when cell phones first became a big thing, and parents were tearing their hair out. It was already tough—tweens were hibernating in their rooms, and parents felt lost because they weren’t as involved in middle school as they were in elementary school. At one point, I had more parents in my office than students because they didn’t know what to do with technology. Then I realized—it wasn’t just technology. There were so many things parents needed help with. So, I thought, They need a book. They need tools and strategies to understand what’s going on with