What to Do if You’re Worried Your Child is Falling Behind in School

A major concern on the minds of many parents as we pass the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic is learning loss in students. As schools work to safely reopen, many students have spent months engaged in remote or hybrid learning. Learning over the computer is not the same as learning in person, and some students have faced a variety of challenges accessing classes, materials, and information.

While some students are thriving, others are struggling. This has led to valid concerns about students falling behind in certain subjects. Many subjects, such as math, build on previous knowledge. Mastering foundational skills is essential as concepts become more complex.

So what can you do if you’re worried your child is falling behind?

Get Organized

It is easy to fall into a routine become less vigilant about ensuring that your child is attending all of their classes and keeping up with assignments. Go over tasks with them to see what is missing and what is due soon. Help them prioritize what they need to be working on.

Students will often put off assignments they may not understand or think are too hard. Set aside some time to review them together and see if you can offer any help. Talking through assignments aloud and discussing what to do may enhance clarity and reduce confusion.

Break Things Down

Work on one subject at a time and one task at a time. If your child is getting overwhelmed with an assignment, break it up into smaller tasks. This can help them to focus and realize they actually do know what they are doing when they slow down. In addition, they can make sure they understand the first step before moving on.

Buddy Up

Encourage your child to find another student in their class who they can ask questions to or study with. Since both students listened to the same lesson, they may be able to explain it to one another or fill in information the other missed. The students can also motivate and challenge each other to want to do better.

Ask About Resources

Talk to your child’s teacher — or have your teen talk to their teacher — and let them know they are struggling. Find out if they have recommendations to support your child’s performance, such as encouraging them to ask questions during or after class, being more strategic about who they work with on assignments, or providing clearer instructions. The teacher may be able to check in more often or adjust how they present information or assign work.

You can also ask about additional resources to supplement what your child is learning in class. Perhaps there are websites where they can get more practice, worksheets or workbooks you can use, videos to watch, or other tools to help.

Work with a Tutor

Working with a tutor can also be advantageous because they can provide one-on-one help tailored to your child’s specific needs. Crafting Scholars offers diagnostic tests for math, reading, writing, and study skills to determine where your child may have gaps in their understanding. These gaps may be contributing to their current struggles because topics such as math build on themselves, so not understanding one concept makes it harder to learn a related concept.

Based on the test results, an individualized learning plan can be created to focus on areas of need and reinforce key skills. This can enhance their gains and help them to stay on track with grade-level standards so they are ready for next year and more advanced courses. The further they fall behind, the longer it can take to catch up, so addressing problems early on is essential.

Help your child overcome some of the challenges they may have faced through remote learning by scheduling a diagnostic test today to see where they are in their learning and where there are opportunities for improvement. Contact Crafting Scholars and start boosting your child’s academic performance and confidence.