Why isn’t my child doing as well in school this year?

Last year, your child got excellent grades. This year, however, you’re a little disappointed with their results, though mostly concerned. Are you wondering what’s behind this change? Here are a few avenues to explore when looking for an explanation.

Before jumping to conclusions, such as assuming your child has a learning disorder or isn’t making an effort, you may want to look at their lifestyle and school environment. Most of the time, you’ll find an explanation that can help you correct the issue. To pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, start by asking yourself the following questions:

• Is my child getting the sleep they need to focus in class? (a lack of sleep can affect learning)
• Is my child expending enough energy? (a lack of physical activity can interfere with concentration in class)
• What are the teacher’s evaluation criteria? (evaluation methods may differ from one year to the next)
• Are my child’s grades above or below the class average? (lower, but above-average grades can be considered good)
• Is my child adjusting to the transition to high school? (evaluation criteria are usually more stringent in high school)
• Etc.

There’ve been no external changes in your child’s life, and yet their grades are still falling. Perhaps a lack of motivation is to blame. When motivation drops, other patterns of success start to falter. To get the ball rolling again, consider the three major factors that influence motivation in children :

1. Does your child understand the purpose (i.e., the importance and objectives) of the academic activities required of them?
   
   If they feel as if they’re studying for nothing, they may become less engaged in what they’re doing. If this is the case, invite your child to set learning-related goals, such as the following :
   
       •    Overcoming a personal hurdle
       •    Increasing their knowledge
       •    Applying academic learning to everyday life (e.g., making a budget using their math skills)
       •    Etc.
2. Does your child believe they can succeed?
   
   A young person who feels like a failure is likely to put in less effort. There are a number of things you can do to convince your child that success is within reach :
   
       •    Help them get their work done
       •    Write them encouraging messages
       •    Offer advice on how to organize their study time
       •    Remind them of their past achievements
       •    Etc.
3. Does your child feel that they have any power over what they do?
   
   A child’s impression of how much control they have over an activity influences their engagement. To help your child feel in charge of their own life, suggest that they do the following :
   
       •    Choose their own homework time
       •    Determine the order in which they do their assignments
       •    Find a new strategy for completing assignments
       •    Etc.