How to Know When Your Child Needs Supplemental Education

If your child's latest report card was full of poor grades or you recently attended a dismal parent-teacher conference, supplemental education may be the obvious next step to help your child. But what other red flags should parents take note of when it comes to their child's school performance? Look for these common warning signs that your child is struggling in school-and would benefit from a customized supplemental education program:

Your child is falling behind. Falling grades are always a clear indicator of school difficulties, but does your child seem to lack some of the basic skills he or she should have mastered in previous grades? Does your child get stumped on math homework because he or she struggles with simple addition, or get stuck when writing a book report because he or she is a poor speller?

Your child is anxious or dismissive when school comes up in conversation. Is your child defensive when you ask about school or homework or what he or she is learning in school? Or does he or she withdraw altogether when school comes up, changing the subject quickly or giving elusive answers?

Your child spends far too long on homework. Talk with your child's teacher to get a sense of approximately how much time should be spent on homework each night. If your child works significantly longer and his or her grades do not reflect that effort, it suggests that he or she does not understand the concepts in class and is having trouble figuring them out on his or her own.

Your child's disorganization is negatively affecting his or her school performance. Messy desk, crumpled papers in the backpack, forgetfulness about upcoming projects-sound familiar? Poor organizational skills can create chaos in a child's school life, leading to missed or lost assignments, an inability to multitask or prioritize, and a propensity to put off homework.

Your child procrastinates-always. Procrastination is not an unusual habit of many students, but if it takes much more than a nudge to motivate your child to do homework - and he or she seems indifferent about the consequences - it's possible that your child is struggling with one or more subjects and is avoiding the frustration of homework time.

If one or more of these signs rings true with your child, don't wait to seek help. By the time your child's grades have suffered, it's likely that his or her confidence and self-esteem have, too. At Huntington, we will first perform a diagnostic assessment of your child to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses. We then develop a customized, one-to-one program of instruction designed to build skills and bridge learning gaps. Most importantly, Huntington will help your child enjoy - rather than dread - school and learning.