Twelve Tips to Help Your Struggling Student

Is your student bringing home grades that do not8. Get your child out of the house! Find activities
reflect his level of intelligence? Is your childrelated to the academic area of difficulty.
complaining about not liking school? Talking aboutActivities will show your child the real-life
school being boring? Having difficulty findingapplication of school work and will motivate him to
motivation to complete homework and schoollearn. Some terrific educational outings include
projects? Those may be signs that your child ismuseums, plays, movies related to a recently
finding his schoolwork too challenging. Get to theread book, extra-curricular science and math
bottom of the problem by having a candid talkclasses/clubs, observatories, zoo, arboretums,
with your child and his teacher(s). If you find thatrecycling plant or symphony. The possibilities are
your child is indeed having difficulty, here areendless.
some tips that can help:9. Break learning up into smaller chunks. For
1. Have your child's vision tested. Your child mayexample, before attempting to teach double digit
simply need glasses.multiplication, one must first know his times tables.
2. Have your child's hearing tested. Hearing can beBefore going through the entire stack of flash
affected by things such as impacted wax, orcards, teach 3-5 letter names/sounds until they
injury from prior ear infections.are known by heart and then add 3-5 more.
3. Conference with your child's teacher(s). Find out10. Keep up the hard work. It's tempting to take
what specific academic areas need extraa break during the summer, but it's an ideal time
attention. "Reading" is vague, but "learning letterto play catch up. While everyone else is on
sounds", "identifying compound words" is morevacation, your child can maintain and gain another
specific and helpful to you.two months worth of skills! It's worth the effort!
4. Ask educational experts for referrals; tutors,11. Be encouraging and patient. When your child
learning centers or good supplemental materials infinally accomplishes something, give due praise. A
the needed areas. Some excellent experts includegoal chart is a great way to visually track goals
your child's teacher, school principal, a tutor,and mark achievements.
retired teacher, a children's librarian, or a12. Before beginning the task, set a goal and a
knowledgeable employee at a teacher supplyreward. Some children require external motivation,
store.especially to conquer a challenging area that they
5. Purchase a notebook to correspond with yourwould rather ignore. Explain that the size of the
child's teacher. On a weekly basis, ask her to alertgoal is tied to the size of the reward. Some
you of progress noticed, inform you of upcomingreward ideas are having a soda with dinner, a
tests or signal a new area of difficulty. If youmeal at a favorite restaurant, a new toy, a
have hired a private tutor, have the tutorslumber party, going to the movies with a friend,
correspond with the teacher as well. Regularor a trip to an amusement park. As long as you're
communication is key!both in agreement, it can be as simple or complex
6. Get your child organized. Your child shouldas you want.
organize his backpack, school folders, desk/lockerThe main factor in your child's success is parental
on a weekly basis. Check-in when necessary untilinvolvement. When you become involved in helping
a habit has been established.your child, you are modeling teamwork, time
7. Make learning fun! Children are less likely tomanagement skills, organization, the importance of
rebel when learning activities are interesting andacademics, perseverance and optimism. You are
fun. Add educational games, books on CD,in fact teaching your child quality traits that will
educational DVDs, educational music andlast his lifetime.
educational software into the mix.