How to Tell if Your Child is Struggling in School: Key Signs to Watch For

As a parent, you want your child to thrive both academically and emotionally. But how can you tell if your child is falling behind in school? Here are some of the most common signs that your child may be struggling with reading, writing, or math:

General Signs of Academic Struggles

• Low scores on assessments, report cards, or progress reports

• Teacher or parent concerns based on observation

• Difficulty keeping up with grade-level expectations in reading, writing, or math

• Takes an unusually long time to complete homework and requires frequent parental help

• Expresses frustration, embarrassment, or dislike of school

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Reading

• Trouble recognizing letters or matching them to sounds

• Difficulty with sight words and phonics rule application

• Reads word by word without fluency or expression

• Doesn’t understand that text is read from left to right

• Struggles with comprehension and retelling what they’ve read

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Writing

• Inconsistent use of capitalization and punctuation

• Letter reversals (e.g., mixing up “b” and “d”) or inserting capital letters randomly

• Trouble with spelling, including high-frequency or phonetic words

• Poor spacing between words and awkward sentence structure

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Math

• Difficulty writing numbers correctly

• Lacks understanding of place value

• Struggles with basic math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

• Inconsistent ability to solve word problems or apply strategies

If you’re noticing any of these signs, your child may benefit from academic support, early intervention, or a learning evaluation. Early identification is key to helping children build confidence and skills in the classroom.

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