Is Your Child Falling Behind? Here’s How to Best Support Them.

Have you noticed that your child may be behind in school? There are so many reason that this could be the case. Besides the regular issues many children encounter, kids today are coming off some of the most challenging years because of Covid. A McKinsey & Company report found that for most students the disruption from Covid was significant: “Our analysis shows that the impact of the pandemic on K–12 student learning was significant, leaving students on average five months behind in mathematics and four months behind in reading by the end of the school year.” If you think your child is falling behind, we have put together some tips for how you can help get them back on track.

 

Identify the Issue

There are a lot of signs that your child gives off if there is an issue. Take some time to observe them and see if you can identify what is going on. Understood.com suggests trying to pinpoint the issue: “Does your child fall apart after school? Does certain homework take a long time to do? Or maybe your child refuses to go to school on certain days, like when there’s a math or spelling test.” By observing, you can start to identify where the issue lies in order to a create plan of action.

 

Support

The best place to start is by talking to your child’s teacher. This is a great opportunity to discuss what you have observed and the teacher can also provide their observations. Together, you can assess where the child may need additional support. There are variety of ways you can go about helping, from additional in-class support in conjunction with your school or by exploring different tutoring options. Caroline Miller from the Child Mind Institute explains: “If your youngster is failing in one particular subject, a tutor might be the way to go.”

Tutoring can be a great option; consider checking with your school or in your local community. Many teachers, or retired teachers, often tutor. If you are looking for a great, affordable, virtual option for a tutor, Stride K12 offers flexible tutoring options in a wide variety of subjects and grades.

 

Organize

Once you have a plan in place, try and develop a strong routine. It is important for all kids, but especially those who are struggling in school, to be organized. This is something parents or guardians can help with. Guidance counselor Linda Lendman, M.S.W. says: “Encourage your child to label everything. Develop strategies, such as a ‘must-do’ list before you leave school (e.g., put math book in backpack). Schedule a weekly ‘clean out the backpack and clean off your desk’ time so papers don’t build up. Be patient and try not to place blame.” By creating a routine, you will help your child build confidence and structure.

It may take several options, time, and lots of patience, but with the right plan and lots of support you can get your child back on track. If you are unhappy with the support you are getting from your child’s current , check out Stride K12-powered schools. Enrollment  is open!