Does Your Child Need Help? Look For These Signs
November is less than a week away. The school has been in session for almost two months and all seems fine. You ask your son or daughter how things are at school and you get a familiar reply: “Okay I guess.” It may be tough to tell what “okay” means, especially before the first report card arrives. Fortunately, there are a few surefire signs that may indicate your child could use more help.
Work is Missing
Is your child’s schoolwork consistently missing? When asked about homework your son or daughter may say they “we weren’t given any homework today.” When you ask to see completed and corrected tests your child can’t find them. Quizzes with high marks are not usually misplaced! It may be time to track them down and discover what is going on. Contact the teacher early, and stay informed about how your child is performing at school.
A Mysterious Case of the Sniffles
Another common indication that something may be awry is a headache, stomach ache, or another ailment that mysteriously appears on Sunday night or Monday morning—only to go away again on Friday afternoon. Many of these struggling kids feel real pain. Their symptoms may be real, but the cure is not a medical one. The best cure is to help your child master the skills that are demanded at school. Medical help will only mask the problem and potentially add side effects that will make things worse in the long run. Several students who have come to us for tutoring have been suffering from these “mystery bugs” only to be miraculously ‘cured’ by gaining confidence, reducing stress, and developing stronger skills in math reading, and writing.
My Kid Is Missing!
It is homework time. Have both work and student suddenly disappeared? Another scenario: you try to help with homework, but things do not go too well. You may get impatient and so does your child. After a few attempts, you are ready to give up. Your child is still struggling and something must be done.
Read Out Loud
When your child reads out loud, what does it sound like? Reading is the basis of all academic performance—even in high-level math. If your child does not read well it is definitely time to get assistance. When the student reads, does it flow well, with good inflection? Is it clear and understandable? Or, is the reading choppy? Does it lack rhythm, accuracy, or inflection (especially at the end of sentences). Does your child sound out each unfamiliar word or does he/she guess at what it might be based upon other words around it?
Phonics
Many classrooms in Canada use a “whole language” approach to reading instruction. As a result, children learn words by memorizing a “word wall”, spelling lists, etc… The problem is, a significant number of children may not have learned a strategy to break words down (phonics), and when presented with an unfamiliar word they will guess or skip over it. If by the end of Grade 1 your child is in this category, it is time to get help!
The Joy of Reading
Children who struggle with reading are not likely to enjoy it. It is doubtful these students will improve their skills without quality tutoring. Reading out loud every day is the absolute best way to improve reading skills. Do not rely upon silent reading as a method to build skill.
Keep in mind that any child will be able to read silently any faster or more accurately than they can read aloud. Reading out loud provides the student with immediate feedback, which can improve reading skills. Try to arrange for at least a few minutes of reading aloud each night. Try antiphonal reading: alternating the material, with you reading one sentence and your child the next. This method allows you to provide some teaching as well as some feedback, and it takes a bit of pressure off the student.
If you encounter any of the above warning signs, you should consider providing your son or daughter with supplementary assistance to restore or build confidence and skill. Quality in-home tutoring is an excellent way to do so.