"Why Is My Child Still Struggling?"

"Why is my child still struggling in school?" This is a question that, unfortunately, many parents will be asking themselves as their child reaches middle school. There are so many wonderful programs implemented in elementary schools that are designed to assess and help students who are falling behind with basic fundamental skills that aren't affected by a learning disability. What many people outside of the teaching world (and even many on the inside) may not realize is that these programs are designed to be temporary, ending once the child masters the specific skill, or in many cases moves on to upper-elementary school. The goal is to fix what is broken so that the child can succeed with the current grade level material. So then why do we still see children struggling with those same skills well into middle school, high school, and even college?

From the teacher's perspective, the answer is very simple. There are not enough hours in the day, resources, and pieces of us to go around to make sure that every single child receives the one on one attention they deserve.  In 2015 The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) union surveyed 858 of its members and found that over 79% of teachers joined the profession because they want to help students achieve the "light bulb moment". This tells us that your teachers wholeheartedly care about the success of your children. Teachers want to see that student master those math facts, or fully comprehend what they are reading. But we just can't do it alone. Almost any teacher will tell you that if your child is struggling, they will greatly benefit from a one-on-one tutor. The evidence that supports the success of students who utilize a tutor is astounding. When a child receives one-on-one tutoring, they are able to let go of the fear of failing due to a low stress environment. A recent study by U.S Department of Education provided the following summary about students who were tutored for the duration of a school year: 

• Students who were tutored twice a week for one hour sessions produced strong improvements in reading skills.
• Over 50% of the students successfully increased a full year of reading skills in comparison to a control group with similar characteristics who did not receive tutoring.
• Tutored students increased an average of 2 grade levels over the year in comparison with non-tutored students who increased a 1 grade level.
• Tutored students reported an increase in confidence and an improved attitude towards education.

​This evidence suggests that one-on-one tutoring is proven to increase a child's academic abilities greatly. A teacher's advice is this: don't let your child fall further and further behind. Help teachers help your child succeed at the initial signs of struggle by seeking out a tutor. Even students as early as first grade who are performing below their peers can benefit from a tutor. Why so early? Numerous studies prove that if a child does not receive the proper one-on-one help for their struggles with basic skills as early as possible, that it will be a constant battle of catching up. Education is linear, which means that it builds upon what is learned in years prior. The benefits of establishing one-on-one tutoring for your child early on are ones that you won't regret.

-Melissa Lewis
Creative Minds Academics & Arts
Certified Teacher, Tutor