Your Kids

When To Seek Academic Help For Your Child

Posted: 12/21/2011

Research shows that without intervention, reading problems in third grade are likely to persist into high school.

(NAPSI)—While all children may occasionally have difficulty with subjects or assignments in school, it’s important to recognize the signs of persistent learning challenges.

Here are just a few clues that your child may need help:

• Your child doesn’t want to go to school.

• Your child doesn’t want to do the homework.

• Your child’s grades are slipping.

• Your child complains about school subjects, saying, for example, that “math is boring” or “I hate reading” or “the teacher did not explain this to me.”

Early intervention is important. Research shows that without intervention, reading problems in third grade are likely to persist into high school. Children vary in their development of academic skills, but they should be in the same range as their classmates.

“Catching the problem early can save time and frustration,” says Dr. Mary Mokris, an education specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centers. “When students are full grades behind their peers in the core academic skills, there is cause for concern.”

Children rarely admit they are having a problem in school. If you suspect a problem, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask about the subjects or skills that your child finds difficult and ask what you can do to help. Stay in close contact with the teacher.

Also, talk to your child’s doctor and ask if any additional testing might be recommended to ensure vision and hearing problems are not affecting the ability to learn.

Sometimes, learning problems, varying from mild to severe, can interfere with a child’s ability to read, making it difficult for that child to understand the curriculum. For one out of five children in America, learning to read is a frustrating and persistent problem. Although some children who need help learning to read are identified in first and second grades, many are not identified until third grade or higher.

If you feel your child is not reaching his or her potential, ask about tutoring programs at school or consider an enrichment program. For more information about enrichment programs, contact a Kumon Math & Reading Center or visit them at www.kumon.com.

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