Why Children Fail in School

Do you have a child who is struggling academically? See if your child fits under any of these ten categories. The good news: there are solutions and strategies for each of these causes.

Lack of Parental Involvement and Absenteeism

The impact parents have on the academic success of their children is immeasurable. Granted, there are a few students who succeed despite their home lives, but most students need a stable home and a parent or guardian who stays involved and makes sure their attendance is steady. Keep lines of communication open with teachers and administrators; ask your child what he or she has learned each day; check that homework is completed; provide meaningful praise for effort and the continuous opportunity to extend lessons of interest outside the classroom. The goal is to be interested in what your child is learning so that he or she will see the value in learning. Your child should want to go to school, not be dragged in each morning.

Poor Organization

Students need to develop individual organizational skills. They should be able to track assignments in an agenda and locate materials and assignments quickly. Make sure your child has a place at home conducive to homework with materials at hand. Purchase different colored folders for each class to help your child bring the right materials to the right class. Cover books with similar colors for quick matching.

Poor Study Skills

Often students have no idea how to study. At some point in their academic life, they realize that the work has gotten harder and they can no longer “wing it.” To truly learn something, a student must first assimilate the information. Teach your child to break down and memorize information using flash cards or charts.

Memorizing facts is an important first step in learning a new concept, but children must also analyze and apply the information. Students must be able to answer the simply questions “Why?” and “So what?” They need to connect ideas to understand facts in context and see their relevancy.

Lack of Motivation

The cause of low motivation is often nebulous. Keep asking your child what is wrong, and keep encouraging long-term goal planning. Modern students are accustomed to instant gratification, not slowly working towards an eventual reward.

Unfortunately, if motivation stays low for too long, you must press for answers, look for signs of depression, bullying, sex, drug use, or video game and/or computer addiction (see Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence).

Poor Reading Comprehension

Poor reading comprehension leads to academic failure in many subjects, not only English. Unfortunately, the best way to improve reading is to read, and most reluctant readers avoid words at all costs.

Bring your child to the library weekly, and allow him or her to choose the reading. Read aloud to your child whenever possible, or provide books on tape. Do not let your child simply listen to the tape; he or she must look at the words in print to improve sight-reading, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Poor Basic Arithmetic

Math is sequential; children learn one math skill, which then enables another skill. If a student is struggling in math, he needs a one-on-one diagnosis. Find a tutor who can observe your child to see where he or she gets lost in the mathematical process. For example, often in algebra, the problem is not the algebraic equation, the problem is a weakness in basic arithmetic. Once a tutor can narrow down the gaps in learning, a child’s math skills and self-esteem can be rebuilt.

Student Hunger and/or Lack of Sleep

Does your child eat breakfast each morning? Does your child purchase school lunch? Does he or she actually eat a healthy lunch, or does your child always buy junk food? Studies show that healthy food intake, including low-fat protein and carbohydrates high in fiber, help students to concentrate. Poor nutrition actually lowers a student’s ability to process information and perform well on exams.

Does your child get adequate sleep, or is he or she up playing video games and watching television? A lack of sleep interferes with cognition and emotion, preventing students from retaining and analyzing information accurately.

Peer Pressure

What is really going on in the life of your child? Are his or her friends good influences? Practice dialogue with your child on how to deal with peer pressure. Role-play situations dealing with smoking, drugs, dating, and bullying to teach your child appropriate ways to avoid peer pressure while still seeming “cool.”

Lack of Social Skills

Does your child have friends? Does he or she belong to any clubs or play any sports? Often never connecting with a school impacts how a student feels about going to school in general. Students need to create a place of belonging within school. Encourage your child to participate in activities to meet more students.

Low Self-Esteem

Once students believe they are “bad” at a subject, they will always be “bad” at that subject. To break the cycle, talk to your child about any negative, self-defeating thoughts and try to “reprogram” positive messages into his or her brain. Praise any new success by saying, “You must be so proud of yourself!” Students must discover inner pride for their accomplishments.

Lack of School Resources and Staff

With budget problems looming over every school, programs are being cut. What you may not realize is that many mandated programs are now understaffed. If your child has special needs, be sure those needs are being met. Most schools have gone to full-inclusion, and at the same time, there is a lack of special needs teachers across the country. So where does that leave your child?

Lack Communication Within the School

Schools are busy places, and unfortunately, sometimes information gets jumbled year to year. Do not assume teachers receive information about your child’s medical, family, and/or academic history. Inform teachers of any special circumstances yourself. Student confidentiality laws often prevent teachers from learning information about your child that you may actually want them to know.

Getting your child back on track may take some time, but success will come.

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