What should I do when my child is having a problem in school?

Posted June 19th, 2008 by harvey
  • Compare your child’s teacher’s explanation of your child’s behavior and abilities with your knowledge and experience of your child in different social settings with different adults and different objectives. If you and your child’s teacher’s explanations and descriptions are pretty consistent and in-line with each other, then there is no reason to doubt the offered explanation or the steps identified to address the problem area.
  • Any and all opportunities for the teacher to work directly with the child after school or at recesses,  sending extra work home,  assigning a student mentor, extra Resource Room* help, etc. are all fine strategies…if they work!
  • Pls. note:  Resource Room help is often available only to Special Education
    students. If extra help isn’t working,  it is often due to the teacher employing the
    same approaches he/she used in the classroom. Children who have learning style
    clashes with their teachers will not (usually) be assisted by going for help after
    school, since, often, nothing changes (in the manner in which the information is
    presented or taught).
  • On the other hand,  if the explanation the teacher shares with you of your child’s abilities and the reason for his or her academic or social difficulties does not coincide with your observations, experiences, family history or beliefs regarding your child,  then it is time to problem solve
  • If you can identify that the teacher is either making assumptions that are unfounded, or characterizing your child  (often as unmotivated,  immature, not doing his/her best, etc.) or your family status in any way which makes you feel uncomfortable (i.e. blaming your being a single parent, for example),  this should set off some bells.  Start with the teacher and ask him/her to better explain to you under what conditions or in what situations your child succeeds and when he/she fails.