As we start to get knee-deep in school this term you may already see the signs of your child being swallowed up in scholastic quicksand! Take a look at these very helpful tips and insights – and then call us. There’s no better way for your child to get on track than consistency – and, no offense, but sometimes that can be done better by us than you (we don’t annoy them as much with our very presence!). Call us for a complimentary consultation. All you have to lose are stress, an anxious teen, and those pesky ‘F’s’. Let’s talk! 561.815.8516
In high school, harder concepts are introduced, more work is assigned and the expectations are higher than ever—and that doesn’t even take into account the stress of your teen’s non-academic pursuits, such as sports, clubs, jobs, and friends.
With all the pressure piled onto today’s teenagers, it’s no surprise that some start to get in trouble with their schoolwork. Teens who fall behind may fall into a pattern of poor test grades, incomplete homework, and failing grades.
While you can’t force your teen to do his work, you can offer a little extra support to help him get his work done. With your help, he should be able to catch back up on his homework before he falls behind too much.
Whether your teen doesn’t understand his math or he lost an important project in science, falling behind can be really stressful. And many teens cope with that stress by avoiding the truth.
Rather than face that pile of homework that keeps adding up or stare at a book they don’t understand, they often prefer not to think about it. But the “out of sight, out of mind” approach only makes their problems worse.
If you suspect your teen is falling behind, consider it a sign that he needs some extra support and the sooner you step in, the better. It’s easier to catch up on missed work and difficult concepts when they are only a little bit behind.
If they get too far behind, they are likely to become overwhelmed and it will be much harder to dig themselves out of the hole.
If your teen is flitting from drama club to football practice to flipping burgers each day, she may be overscheduled. If that’s the case, she may need to cut back on non-academic pursuits.
Sit down with her and prioritize which activities need to take precedence. Some teens assume their involvement in extra-curricular activities is crucial to college admissions. But, college admissions officers won’t care what activities appear on transcripts if they have failing grades.
You may need to establish a clear rule that helps your teen decide whether she can continue activities outside of school. For example, you might say, “If your progress report shows and failing grades you’ll need to quit your job,” or “If you’re missing more than two homework grades, you’ll need to quit the drama club.”
Sometimes learning disorders go undiagnosed until high school. When the work gets harder, their learning disabilities become more apparent.
If you suspect your teen may be struggling with a learning issue, talk to school officials. If your teen’s teachers see signs of a problem, your teen may be tested for learning disabilities.
Many teens struggle to stay caught up on their schoolwork because they’re battling mental illness. It’s hard to do homework when you’re feeling depressed or anxious.
Sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, eating disorders or substance abuse are just a few of the comment mental health issues teens face.
If you suspect your teen has a mental health issue, schedule an appointment with the doctor. Discuss any changes you’re seeing in your teen’s mood, behavior, and academic performance and the physician can help determine how to proceed.
Your teen’s teachers might have already called you if they noticed a drastic downturn in performance, but if they haven’t, schedule a one-on-one with them as soon as possible.
If your teen is doing poorly in more than one subject, see if you can set up a group meeting rather than visiting the teachers individually. In some cases, the teacher might have tried to remedy the problem with your teen already and is turning to you because that strategy didn’t work.
At the meeting, ask teachers if they’ve noticed any changes in your teen’s mood or behavior. Often, instructors see a part of your child at school that you don’t see at home, particularly as it relates to friends or a potential relationship.
They might have insight as to what is the root problem. Keep in mind that some information the teacher gives you might surprise you, and it might even make you upset.
Teachers may say your child simply isn’t trying or that they’re “lazy.” Remember that it’s not an attack on your parenting skills or your child’s character, but rather an observation as to what’s going on at school.
Your teen’s teachers will likely have support available to your student, both in and out of school. They might hold study hours after school or offer to meet privately with your teen to help them review the material before a test.
Teachers might know about tutoring groups that meet in the school library or have a recommendation for a tutor whose services are provided outside the school.
If your teen is having difficulty in one particular subject, rather than overall, a tutor might be the smartest option. Just one session a week can make a big difference in the overall understanding of a topic.
It can be hard to create a structure for your teen’s life if she’s already fairly independent. But, setting aside a clear homework time could help her develop better self-discipline.
Establish clear study time rules too, such as no cellphones. Turn off the TV and have your teen set up a work in a quiet place that’s easily accessible to you rather than behind a closed bedroom door where you can’t see what happens.
Implement a routine as it pertains to your child’s sleep patterns, as well as a morning routine. Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night and failing to get that can lead to academic issues.
A morning routine can also help start your teen’s day off properly so she’s not feeling rushed or stressed and can better focus once the bell rings.
Some families aren’t comfortable rewarding good grades. But, some teens will feel motivated to work a little harder if there’s something special on the line. It might be something as simple as being able to go out a little later than curfew on a weekend or something bigger, like being able to use the car.
Talk to your teen about what she’d like to earn. Then, discuss how you’ll know when she’s on track. Getting all of her homework done on time for a week might lead to an extra privilege. Or, getting caught up on the work she was behind on might lead to more fun activities on the weekend.
Reference: {https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-help-when-your-teen-falls-behind-in-school-4047447}
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