“I’m a Teacher and I Know Nothing”

I could tell that this teacher was a good one.  She had a real heart for her struggling students and provided accommodations and supports to help them be more successful in her classroom.

But she wasn’t talking about her students.  She was talking about her daughter.  When it came to her daughter – smart, social, and probably dyslexic – she felt like she knew nothing.  Because in spite of her best efforts, her daughter was still struggling in school, and at 12, really didn’t want her mom’s help.

Why Parents Feel Like They Know Nothing

So many parents of struggling students feel alone and confused.  They feel like they know nothing because day after day, they work tirelessly with their kids to re-teach or get the homework done and it doesn’t seem to get better.

When smart kids struggle in school, it is baffling.   How can they be so bright or talented in some ways, but struggle with something that every kid does – go to school?

Why does it take them so much longer, so much more effort to get the work done?  It seems to take the fun right out of learning.

Learning Disabilities and Struggling Students

Whether a student has a diagnosed learning disability or minor struggles in school, the culprit is most often related to a weakness or inefficiency in one or more of the underlying learning skills. These include such skills as auditory,  visual and motor skills, memory, attention, processing speed, comprehension, and executive function. When any of the underlying learning skills are weak, it can cause students to have to work harder and longer than expected and often with a lesser result, even though they are smart and even though they are motivated.

Correcting Learning Challenges

Dyslexia, learning disabilities, and struggles with attention or academics can chip away at a student’s self esteem and impact nearly every aspect of a child’s and their family’s life.  Smart, talented kids can decide that they are dumb.  Older students and adults may find ways to cope with their challenges, but compensations are not comfortable or efficient, and often keep them from becoming as independent as they should be.

It Doesn’t Have to be This Way. 

Does your child struggle with homework, reading, learning, or attention?  These challenges can be changed.  While there are no simple, overnight solutions, most learning and attention challenges can be dramatically improved or completely corrected through identifying and developing the weak underlying skills and remediating the affected academic areas.  Are you ready for a change?

Quick Answers

Why is my smart child struggling in school?

Whether a student has a diagnosed learning disability or minor struggles in school, the culprit is most often a weakness or inefficiency in one or more of the underlying learning skills, such as auditory, visual and motor skills, memory, attention, processing speed, comprehension, and executive function.

Can learning challenges be changed?

These challenges can be changed. While there are no simple, overnight solutions, most learning and attention challenges can be dramatically improved or completely corrected.