“It doesn’t matter how hard I study I just can’t seem to get the hang of geometry. I guess I must be dumb or something”… says Bayo.
At least one in five students will have trouble keeping up academically at some point during junior and high School. School slumps require immediate attention, before the damage to self esteem is irreparable or a youngster develops hatred to attending school. While the root of the problem may be school related and nothing more, a drop in grades can be a warning sign of one of the underlying causes below:
• Physical ailments: undiagnosed sleep orders, anaemia, infectious mononucleosis, thyroid conditions, impaired vision or hearing, others.
• Emotional disorders: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, others.
• Learning disabilities/developmental disabilities: dyslexia, central auditory-processing disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), others.
• Substance abuse: a drastic decline in grades maybe a tipoff that a child is experimenting with alcohol or illicit drugs.
What can you do?
1. Talk to your teenager: After all, she’s the ultimate authority on what’s behind her academic difficulties. But this should be a conversation, not a confrontation. Let her know that you’re on her side and want to help her get back on track:
“Honey, this is the fourth test in a row that’s come back with a C or a D. You’re usually a B-plus student. Is there anything going on in school or other areas of your life that you would like to tell us about? We are concerned and we want to help.”
2. Arrange a meeting with the teacher(s): Even the most involved parent doesn’t truly know what goes on in school. Adolescents sometimes reveal sides of themselves at school that they keep under wraps at home or vice-versa. So a teacher’s observations can provide invaluable clues to the cause of a child’s academic troubles. In the days leading up to a parent-teacher meeting, write down questions addressing the areas that most concern you. You may not be pleased to hear everything the teacher has to say once you get to the meeting but try to keep in mind that with rare exceptions, less-than-glowing feedback is not a personal attack on your youngster’s character or your competence as a parent.
If your son’s home economics teacher says that he disrupts her class with his wisecracks accept that what she says contains at least a shred of truth. Ask her to be more specific and listen politely to what she has to say. For instance: “Could you please give me an example of what you mean? How frequently does he acts up in class?” Then, work together to come up with a solution. Perhaps you decide to warn your son that any future incidents of misconduct will result in the loss of a privilege, such as one week’s allowance.
3. Consider hiring an after-school teacher: One-on-one sessions with a private tutor can work wonders with students who just weeks ago seemed unable to grasp the subject matter. Learning in a pressure-free environment probably has as much to do with that success as does the one-on-one instruction. Another advantage of letting a tutor work with your child is that it gets parents of their kid’s backs. Tutors can also will help bridge the gap of time that teens are out of school instead of falling behind during this short but crucial periods, tutors can make your child stay caught up and on track.
Source: Caring for Your Teenager (Copyright 2003 American Academy of Pediatrics)