How to know if your child is falling behind in school?

KIS academics -

Five signs your child is falling behind in school

1. They don't like to talk about School

If your child is showing signs of discomfort, e.g. fidgeting, becoming angry, or changing the subject when asked “How are you doing with school or homework?” this could be a sign it is a touchy subject for them and that they are struggling in school. 

2. They are misbehaving at School

In the same way, children can begin to misbehave in class in response to an under-stimulating curriculum, some children may have the same reaction to being overwhelmed by the curriculum. If your child is usually well-behaved and has been recently acting out in class, it is important to discuss their behaviour with the teacher to get to the root of the problem which may be that they feel inadequate or stressed in the classroom.

3. Taking Excessive Amounts of Time to Complete Homework

If your child has been prescribed 30 minutes of homework each night by their teacher but is taking hours to complete it, it could mean that they are struggling to handle their expected learning tasks. Procrastination and avoiding getting into the work assigned by the school are often symptoms of feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by its contents.

4. Low Grades or Teacher Concern

Falling behind in class has a compounding effect, the longer it takes for a parent to take action, the harder it becomes for the child to catch up with his or her peers. Instead, parents are encouraged to seek advice from their teacher at the first signs of a learning struggle.

5. Anxiety about school

Has your child suddenly become anxious about school and creates excuses not to go? If you have ruled out other issues that may be impacting your child's mental health, the problem could be that they are struggling in class and no longer feel comfortable learning there as they left behind.

Expected Curriculum Learning Outcomes

Literacy

Year 2 learning outcomes are to:

  • sound out or recognise words
  • use simple punctuation, such as capital letters and full stops
  • spell a number of common words and write in sentences as well as add pictures to what they write

Year 4 learning outcomes are to:

  • read and understand a range of different types of texts that explore imaginative and informative topics
  • write imaginative texts that include characters and events
  • use mostly correct grammar, including simple and compound sentences
  • use accurate spelling and punctuation, and edit own writing

Year 6 learning outcomes are to:

  • analyse and explain how authors organise their texts
  • select vocabulary to represent ideas, characters and events
  • demonstrate understanding of grammar, including the ability to write complex sentences
  • use accurate spelling and punctuation

Mathematics

Year 2 learning outcomes are to:

  • describe number sequences and locate numbers on a number line
  • represent simple fractions using pictures
  • describe and draw shapes and objects, and use units to measure length 
  • learn to tell the time from an analogue clock, and use a calendar to determine the date

Year 4 learning outcomes are to:

  • choose strategies to add, subtract, multiply and divide
  • represent the value of money, make simple calculations and recall multiplication facts
  • represent fractions on a number line
  • explore addition, subtraction and multiplication number patterns 
  • measure temperatures, lengths, shapes and objects

Year 6 learning outcomes are to:

  • place positive and negative numbers on a number line
  • convert between 12- and 24-hour time and interpret timetables
  • measure length, area, volume, capacity and mass, and calculate the perimeter and area of rectangles
  • list outcomes of chance experiments
  • apply fractions, decimals, percentages, angles and measurements to solve problems 

How can I check up on my Child's progress?

As a parent, your child's learning development is a top priority. However, despite your best efforts, there may be times when your child struggles academically. Here are some tips on what you can do to support them and keep up to date with their learning.

  1. Assess Their Understanding of Classroom Concepts

One of the first signs that your child is struggling is difficulty understanding the concepts taught in class. Both parents and teachers must ensure that students are keeping up with lessons. 

What to do? Ask them questions about what they are learning in school. Give them fun tasks such as reading a recipe and cooking or creating a travel itinerary that helps you check up on their numeracy and literacy skills.

  1. Monitor Their Ability to Keep Up with Lesson Pacing

Children learn at different paces, and it's essential to determine whether your child is keeping up with the pace of lessons. If your child struggles to keep up with their peers or the overall class progress, it's important to intervene. 

What to do? Consider providing additional support by setting aside dedicated time for one-on-one assistance. ie. taking some time to do homework with them and explaining key concepts. Additional help from a tutor may also be beneficial to keep them on track in class.

  1. Observe Their Assignment Completion Habits

Difficulty completing assignments on time is another indicator that your child may fall behind. 

What to do? Stay up to date with your child's homework tasks and help them meet deadlines and work through their homework together. It can be easy for children to feel overwhelmed and loose track of time. Get them a calender to help them build on their time management skills and dedicate certain study times after school.

  1. Communicate with Their Teacher for Progress Feedback

While monitoring grades is helpful, hearing directly from the teacher provides a more comprehensive understanding of your child's overall performance. 

What to do? Have regular communication with your child's teacher to stay informed about their academic progress. This isn’t limited to parent-teacher interviews- these discussions can be additional meetings with your child’s teacher (which most teachers are happy to organise) to give valuable insights into where your child is falling behind.

FAQs

How will I know my child is making progress in their learning?

A good way to find out about if your child is making progress is to ask them about their targets and get them to show you what they have learned. Asking your child to explain the concepts to you is a great way to demonstrate their learning progress and for them to consolidate their learning!

What are some ways parents can keep informed about their child's learning progress in school?

Keeping in contact with your child’s teachers and creating a planner with your child’s learning pace and progress are a few steps you can take to keep informed about your child’s academic progress despite your busy schedule!

My child is struggling in school, should I consider getting a private tutor for them?

Yes! Private tutors are able to give them the personalised help they may need to understand the concepts taught in class to keep on track with their learning. This may be particularly helpful for students easily distracted in the classroom setting or for students who don't feel vocal about asking for help from their teacher. It can sometimes be a bit of trial and error to see what learning strategies work best for your child. Be sure to do this as early as possible so that your child has a well-established learning system in place for senior years.

Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for VCE Mathematical Methods and Specialist Maths, Margery Zhang. Margery is currently pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at Melbourne University and has received stellar reviews from her past KIS Academics students. You can view Margery’s profile here and request her as a tutor.