Helping Students in Need of Extra Help

Just as school was beginning this year I came across an excellent article from one of our local newspapers - "Helping Students in Need of Extra Help" http://www.windsorstar.com/Helping+students+need+extra+help/8814313/story.html

The article outlines some steps parents can take to help their children reach their full academic potential.  If you feel your child is struggling, spend time doing homework with them.  It is the easiest way to figure out the areas where your child excels and where they are struggling. Secondly, talk with the teacher.  They work with your child everyday and may be able to confirm your suspicions or allay your fears. 

If you determine your child needs some additional guidance in a particular subject, develop a tutoring plan.  Some parents can tutor their child on their own.  Other cannot.  From personal experience, when I am tutoring my own child, I sometimes think she would respond better to a third party tutor.  It isn't because I cannot help her, but just because I am Dad.  When Dad asks her to do something, there is a natural reaction to sometimes question or challenge what I am asking her to do.

If you decide to seek help for your child from a tutor or tutoring service, talk to the tutor about your concerns.  Ask for regular updates to track how well your child is doing during the tutoring sessions.  Talk to your child's teacher to see if your child has made any progress.  Lastly, stick with the tutoring plan as progress might take longer than anticipated.  It might take the entire school year before your child takes it to the next level.