Grades Dropping? What Do You Do Now?

Watching your child’s grades drop can be stressful. It may be something relatively easy to fix, such as a change in vision that makes seeing the chalkboard difficult. If there is no easy explanation, you may need to do some investigating to get to the root of the problem.

Watch for Signs

Watch for signs that your student may be having trouble with a certain subject or if his or her mood has changed. It may be something as simple as getting their eyes checked or hiring a tutor to get through a difficult subject. In some cases, there may be a problem between the teacher and the student. If you notice anything amiss, ask questions. Talk to your child as well as the school to see if there is anything that can be done to correct the situation.

Has Something Happened to Shake Things Up?

Many times a stressful event, such as the loss of a grandparent or parents getting a divorce can be enough to rattle a student. Has something happened at school? Talking to your child may not give you the answers you need. Talk to his or her friends as well. Has there been some kind of confrontation? Is your child being bullied in some way? While these kinds of things may be hard to track down, it is important to find out as much as possible before things get too far out of hand.

Talk to the School

Talk to your child’s teachers and find out if your student is suffering in one class or having problems across the board. As a child progresses through the school years, things begin to dramatically change. Kids are given more responsibility and, in most cases, more homework. This can be overwhelming to a student. If the ever-increasing workload is becoming a problem, work with your child and teach him or her ways to better manage time. At homework time, offer to be close by in case he or she needs help. Sometimes, opening up a clear line of communication can work wonders when it comes to getting a student back on track.

Study Time

Make sure your child has a comfortable place to study, with ample lighting and all of the required tools. Offer a snack and make yourself available to your child if he or she has questions or just gets bored. Talk to your child. Sit with your child or find something you can do close by.
A child’s plummeting grades can be the first clue that something is wrong. While your child may not come right out and say it, it’s up to you as a parent to figure it out and help make the necessary changes to get your child back on task and moving forward.