There are many ways that students learn and hone their capabilities outside of the traditional classroom environment. In addition, there are different models of support that work well for each student. One way for students to receive academic support outside of the classroom is through tutoring. Tutoring is beneficial for all types of students, whether they are struggling and need help getting caught up or they are a high achiever looking for an extra challenge. There are typically signs that students need some extra academic support, which we will cover in this article.
The first, and perhaps most noticeable, sign that a student needs extra support is when their grades are lower than expected. If a student is failing exams or classes, they likely need some extra support. Another sign is if they are taking a long time to complete homework or if they feel frustrated while doing it. This likely means they don’t understand the content and could benefit from some extra explanation of the concepts. They may be struggling due to gaps in foundational skills, or they may just need some more personalized attention.
Another sign that your student may need some extra support is if they are feeling stressed out or anxious about school. It’s normal to feel some level of stress about schoolwork, but if the anxiety is overwhelming or affecting other areas of their life, it may be time for some one-on-one intervention. Anxious students might engage in negative self-talk, or they may act out in class and become disengaged from the learning process.
While students can need extra support at any point in their academic life, there are certain times when struggles are more common. One of these times is during major life changes. Whether that is a move to a new city, switching schools, or changes at home, it can interrupt a student’s academic life. Events such as illness or trauma can also greatly affect a student’s academic performance. Additionally, transitions into middle school, high school, or college are times when students may begin to struggle, even if they haven’t before. It’s important to keep an eye on your student during these transitional periods and difficult life events.
Another sign that your student needs some extra support is if they are having difficulty with executive functioning. While organization and executive functioning are skills that all students struggle with to some degree, but if they are not making the progress you expect, it might be time for a tutor to step in to provide some individualized coaching. Some specific signs are: trouble keeping track of homework and/or test dates, not understanding how to get started on or complete longer term projects, procrastination, and taking longer than expected to complete work. Tutors can provide different tips and time management skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom.
So, what can you do if you notice any of these signs that your student is struggling? Start by talking directly with your student to get their perspective and see how they’re feeling. It’s also helpful to check in with their teacher to see if they have any insight on how your student is doing. They can share if the struggles are new or if they are ongoing. Sometimes school counselors can connect you with different resources based on what their teacher recommends. Tutors can provide students with more personalized support than what they receive in the classroom. They can experiment with different strategies, time management approaches, and ways of explaining concepts. They can test out different strategies, time management approaches, and explanations of concepts. Tutoring can be beneficial for many different types of students, and we hope this article has helped outline when it may be time to consider tutoring for a struggling student.