| If Advocacy is Needed An advocate might be necessary if there is a lack of communication between the child and the teacher, the teacher and the parents, or the school and the parents. A child who is struggling in school needs the support of everyone involved and that means consistent and clear communication is vital. An advocate can help with this process. |
| Learning Differences or Disabilities If your child has learning differences or disabilties there are many strategies that can be developed and put into place specifically for your child. Problems with reading comprehension, writing, problem solving in math, and other more definable difficulties like ADD, ADHD, non-verbal learning disabilties, and dysgraphia can learn to be managed so academic success is reachable. |
| Strategies Through a combination of steps including weekly meetings with the student, coach contact with teachers or administrators, consistent feedback and check-ins with parents and strategies directly introduced and modeled for the student, school management can be learned. School success is possible for every student, at every level, with the proper strategies and interventions. |
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| The Solution The usual path chosen to help students (and parents) deal with mismanagement issues is to hire a tutor in one or all the subjects in which the student is struggling. If the student is having difficulty with class material, then a tutor is the right choice. If, however, the student is having managment problems, needs an advocate at school, or has learning differences or difficulties, a coach is a better choice. A coach can work with the student and the family to find effective strategies that will help the student manage homework, classwork, essays, papers, and projects. The coach provides the necessary guidance and support to help the student succeed. |
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| Assumptions We Can Make About Struggling Students |
| School creates a certain amount of pain in their lives. Many times their performance is not commensurate with their ability (which is potentially high). Many want a better educational experience. They are averse to taking educational risks. They have a habit of failing. They often have out of balance relationships with members of the family. They have an inaccurate self-concept. They are anti-authoritarian or have problems with authority and authority figures. They do not trust family, adults, self, teachers, or peers. Some have low impulse controls. They shoot before they aim. They have poor habits of mind-time management, critical thinking skills, organizational skills. They have an unhealthy lifestyle- diet, sleep patterns, drugs. They lack a visible strong work ethic. They see themselves as victims of unfair situations and fail to take responsibility for their own actions or outcomes. *This list was created by the staff of Mid-Peninsula High School, Menlo Park, California. |