Earliest Signs of Falling Behind in School

Parent, Teacher and Student Communications

• Falling behind in school can be prevented, and a conversation with your student is always the first step. Ask how the day went, and take note of any negative comments. If the student says he or she hates school, thinks school is boring, doesn̵7;t understand the work, or feels bullied by someone, take their concerns seriously and share them with the child̵7;s teacher. The teacher may already be aware, as classroom teachers are usually the first to recognize that a child is struggling. It would also be helpful to implement a daily planner to be passed from teacher to parent for accurate monitoring of the school day.

Health Monitoring

• Your pediatrician is a key asset to your student̵7;s success. Poor performance in school can be a sign of other problems, such as medical or emotional issues, that must be addressed immediately. Hearing, vision, general health, diet and sleep patterns can all affect school progress. Your pediatrician knows what is expected developmentally at your child̵7;s age, and working with him or her to make sure that your child is at optimum health will set the stage for healthy living and a better school experience. Also, if any educational issues do arise, your pediatrician can offer insights based on your collected parent/teacher information.

Supporting Learning at Home

• A quiet home environment for studying should be created, removing your student from the temptations of electronic toys and TV. Often students who show signs of falling behind have difficulty focusing on their studies. A pleasant space with parental monitoring and support helps to reinforce learning in the home. Also, the ongoing practice of reading aloud and discussing ideas with family will strengthen student success in the classroom.

Student̵7;s Progress Portfolio

• Parents and teachers should not wait too long to meet if there is an ongoing lack of progress with the student. Keeping a folder that contains schoolwork, artwork, notes from school, collected journal notes about learning situations and any other artifacts about the child̵7;s instruction will greatly help during future ̶0;Individual Education Plan̶1; meetings. Sometimes simple steps can make all the difference in a student̵7;s success (Scientific Learning, 2013, reference four). With all stakeholders working together, the student should soon begin to thrive in school.