We all want the best for our children and would do anything to ease their pain. As a parent you sense there is a problem with your child’s school work, but is it significant?
“Is my child really having a problem?”
“Is it just a development phase?”
“What do those school reports actually mean?”
“Will tuition really help?”
There is no simple answer as every child is an individual and there are many different situations. However the following will help you ask the right questions and point you in the direction for the best advice.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs…
- “I don’t understand what my teacher is talking about” – “I don’t get it” – “I’m too stupid”
- Always struggles with homework – emotional stress during homework.
- Rebellious towards school work – doesn’t want to talk about school.
- Loses interest in learning – becomes bored with school work.
- Marks in assignments and tests are below their ability level.
- Grades have been on a steady decline for a period of time.
- The teacher contacts you expressing their concern.
If your child does need some help, before we can get to an appropriate solution, it is important to find the root cause of the problem.
It is amazing what you will learn by simply asking them about school and then just listening. Here are some questions to ask…
- Are you happy at school? Are you finding anything hard?
- Do you ask for help from the teacher? Does the teacher have enough time to help you?
- What are you getting for homework? Can you do it? Do you want some help with it?
What you are trying to pick up on is anything that is happening that could be interfering with their concentration at school. Try not to interrupt them and show them that you are really interested in what is going on. It may take you a few attempts at different times before they really open up to you but be patient!
Not only are they with your child for six hours each school day but they can compare with how your child is going to the other children in the class. The teacher generally has many years of experience in educating students and usually has dealt with these types of issues before. Here are some questions to ask…
- How is my child going at school? What are their weakest and strongest subjects?
- What kind of tests do you give? What do the test results show about my child’s progress? How do these results compare to other students in the class?
- What is my child’s ability level? Do they work comfortably at that level?
- Does my child complete work on time? Do they hand in their homework on time?
- How is my child’s behaviour? Do they participate in class activities?
- Are there any behaviour or learning issues that you think I need to be aware of?
- What do you think I can do to help my child’s progress?
- Is there anything happening at home that might cause stress for your child?
- Do you see evidence of a physical or physiological problem that is affecting your child? (For example, hard of hearing, sight impairment, difficulty with concentration, etc.)
Below are some suggested options and resources that may help…
School
- Your child’s teacher may have suggestions for additional academic assistance.
- The school may offer additional classes to help struggling or gifted students.
- Obtain homework that targets the subject areas in which your child is having trouble.
- Obtain additional homework to stretch your child if current school work is not challenging them.
Home
- Set a regular homework time. Designate a quiet area away from TV and radio to work.
- Think about your child’s diet. Are there any changes you can make?
- If you have the time and ability yourself then become more involved in helping your child with their school work.
Other
- Have a chat to other parents. You may be surprised how others have had similar issues and have already worked out a solution for them.
- If you believe that some of your child’s problems are physical or physiological then it is very important to obtain the advice of a professional in the field.
- Obtain an educational assessment. An independent assessment by a qualified tutor will tell you the exact grade level of your child and pinpoint any areas requiring attention.
However, remember, at the end of the day you are the one that knows your child the best: ask questions, talk to qualified experts and make sure you listen to your own intuition to guide you on how you can best help your child with their school work.
