Is your child struggling?

If your child is falling behind in school, you may be the last one to know about it. Your child might be too embarrassed or ashamed to ask for your help, but if you look for these seven signs that your child needs help in school, you can get your child the assistance he needs before it's too late.

Inability to discuss school

Children don't always know why they're uncomfortable, but you can bet that they don't like discomfort. If something is going wrong in school, they'll fidget, run around and do anything to avoid a conversation about it."

Increase in neediness

If your normally independent child starts becoming more dependent on you, there could be a problem in school.Children that aren't doing well academically or socially in school (particularly young children) will develop a new sense of neediness with mom and dad.

Getting heated

Watch closely for an increase in aggression. If your young child is becoming aggressive, there is something irritating them. This is particularly true if the intensity of their moodiness occurs right before or after school."

Distant or depressed behavior

While it's hard to believe that children can get depressed. If you notice that your child's energy level has changed particularly around school time, then it's time to investigate the circumstances."

Test your child's cognitive skills

The root cause of many learning struggles is weak cognitive skills. These underlying mental tools make up IQ and include memory, attention, logic and reasoning, visual and auditory processing and processing speed. Signs of weak cognitive skills include difficulty paying attention or focusing; low test scores, grades or reading comprehension; frustration with learning tasks; poor memory; trouble remembering multi-step directions at school or home; taking a long time to complete tasks, tests and homework; careless mistakes, and anxiety over going to school or mystery illnesses on test days." 

Communicate

Communication and knowledge of what your child should be able to master at his/her age level are two keys to help to determine if your child is falling behind in school. Communicate with your child's teacher and let them know you desire the same in return. Google the educational standards covered by your child's state/grade to get an idea of what they should be able to master last year, this year and next year. If you're working closely with your child and reviewing homework, you'll see where they are falling short."

Don't delay

Too many parents wait until the 'signs' of failure have already caused the child too much frustration. At this point, getting the child motivated and engaged is the first battle. Instead, parents should seek help at the first signs of struggle, which include frustration every evening during homework time, papers coming home with failing grades or constant 're-dos,' or the child expressing that he just doesn't 'get it'. The child's teacher should be the first source for help. If he or she can't offer private assistance, an independent tutor or tutoring center can help the child get back on track."

What type of learner is your child?

A single classroom contains children with broadly differing learning styles, yet are taught in the same way. And even within the same family, siblings often possess their own learning styles. Knowing what type of learner your child is will help you tailor his education, study environment and the way in which you help him learn. 

Use this checklist to determine your child's learning style.

Linguistic:

• Good with words. 
• Prefers to learn with words or language. 
• Excellent at communicating. 
• Careers that linguistic learners often pursue: Speaker, journalist, attorney. 

Logical-mathematical:

• Good with numbers. 
• Strong sense of reasoning, shows very logical thinking. 
• Good at detecting patterns, shows strong scientific reasoning and deduction, and can predict outcomes of events, particularly when they are based on numbers. 
• Careers that logical-mathematical learns often pursue: Scientist, engineer, accountant. 

Spatial:

• Learns best with pictures. 
• Likes to look at charts, graphs, etc.
• Careers that spatial learners often pursue: Artist, designer, architect, photographer, inventor. 

Kinesthetic:

• "Body smarts" -- needs movement to learn. 
• Able to handle objects well. 
• Has a good sense of timing. 
• Careers that kinesthetic learners often pursue: Dancer, firefighter, athlete, soldier, diversity. 

Musical/auditory:

• Sensitive to rhythm, sound, tone and music. 
• Able to sing on pitch, enjoys playing musical instruments
• Learns well from lectures
• Careers that musical learners often pursue: Singer, composer, conductor. 

Interpersonal Learner:

• "People smarts" -- enjoys working with others, in groups, etc.
• Extroverted. 
• Sensitive to other. 
• s' moods and feelings. 
• Good communicator. 
• Careers that interpersonal learners often pursue: Therapist, educator, clergy. 

Intrapersonal learner:

• "Self smart" -- self reflective
• Introverted
• Very in touch with own feelings and motivations
• More solitary than other types
• Careers that intrapersonal learners often pursue: Psychologist, writer, philosopher. 

Naturalistic learner:

• In touch with nature
• Knows where things are, doesn't tend to get lost
• Studies well near an open window or outside
• Careers that naturalistic learners often pursue: Farmer, gardener. 

Once you determine the type of learner your child is, you can better understand how he learns best.