My Child Is Struggling Academically: What Should I Do Next?
Hearing that your child is struggling can bring up worry, sadness, and an immediate urge to do something.
I understand. As a parent of children with learning differences, I know how deeply we want our children to feel successful and understood.
Start by identifying the specific difficulty, understanding the support already in place, and agreeing on how progress will be reviewed. Significant or persistent concerns may call for further assessment and a different instructional plan.
You do not have to solve the entire school year tonight. You can take a useful next step.
Make the concern specific
Write down what happens, how often, and during which tasks.
“Reading unfamiliar words takes a lot of effort” is more useful than “School is not working.”
“Math goes well when I explain every step, but my child cannot start independently” tells us something important, too.
Include strengths. Understanding the whole child helps adults plan support that builds on what is working.
Find out what support is happening
Ask:
Which skill is being taught?
Who provides the instruction?
How often does it happen?
How is progress checked?
When will we review the results?
If the recommendation is to give it more time, ask what improvement you will look for and when you will reconnect.
Consider whether more information is needed
When concerns are significant, worsening, or persistent, discuss whether a school evaluation or an evaluation by an appropriately qualified professional is needed.
A parent-teacher conference alone does not determine disability or eligibility for services.
If your child already has an IEP or 504 plan, ask how current supports address the concerns and how progress is being reviewed.
Match the support to the need
Homework help, targeted instruction, educational assessment, and comprehensive evaluation serve different purposes.
A child who needs direct instruction in foundational reading skills may need more than assistance finishing assignments. Getting clearer about the need helps you choose the next step.
How My Learning Farm can help
At My Learning Farm in Penryn, California, I offer individualized academic instruction, educational assessments, homeschool consultations, and educational advocacy support.
Educational assessments guide instruction; they do not diagnose disabilities or determine school eligibility. Advocacy support provides educational guidance, not legal advice.
You can take your concerns seriously and still hold onto hope. Your child’s struggle deserves understanding and a thoughtful response.
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