How can I help my child learn to love school?

Question

Students love school when they experience success! In a classroom, it is challenging for one teacher, or even two, to teach at the exact pace all the individuals need. Some teachers need years to master the content themselves in order to understand it well enough to give each student what they need. Teachers are often mandated to use specific programs with their students, even when the child doesn't seem to be learning. This is when children are at risk of learning to hate school!

I provide one-on-one teaching from a certified and highly educated teacher with over 25 years of experience by focusing on your child's personal needs and areas of interest, using humor, patience and high interest materials!

Answer 1

As a parent, I have been there. As a teacher, I have been there. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your child lose interest in school. There are so many factors that play a part in a child’s disinterest.

Depending on the age of your child, the best place to start is to acknowledge their pain. You can do this through investigation: ask your child what their favorite part of school is. Ask more questions about why they love this part. Ask them what three things they would change about their school day. You might find that some of the reasons for their waning interest may be social, and not academic. Finding the root of the problem and then working with your child and the school is the best recipe for success. Social issues at school are often ripples in the pond and manifest into problems with academics, anxiety and overall disinterest.

If you learn that your child feels as though he or she just can’t catch up or is feeling behind and the issues are purely academic, then a chat with your student about subjects he or she loves may help to spur a conversation about where the areas of opportunity for more specialized attention may be required. This will help you to begin the conversation with the teacher(s) when you ask them for their observations of your child and any areas of opportunity that they may notice.

The best gift you can give your child is the gift of working through the problems together. If he or she feels they have a partner in working it through, you will have addressed a major part of the feeling of being “lost.” Children want to be seen more than anything. If your child knows you truly see him, and if he feels he has a partner in working it through and feels he has your trust and partnership, it can really help to boost his confidence.

You don’t have to tell your child, “School is awesome! Come on! You can do it!” This type of cheerleading only makes your child feel unseen and as though you don’t truly understand. But by meeting them where they are and validating that it is hard, you can really help to get the ball rolling. Once you have validated and connected with with your child, however low she may be, you can then bring her along to the next step. Validate, connect and then come up with a plan. The plan with depend on the specifics of your child, the specific issues, the school, the teacher, the classmates, etc. Whatever you do, be your child’s advocate and hear what she is saying. Help her find her voice.

I have had plenty of opportunities in my career as teacher and parent to have gotten this issue wrong, and I have on a few occasions. But when I got it right, it was when I was my child’s or my student’s partner. I wish you the best of luck. I’m sorry to say there is no magic, one size fits all solution to getting your child to love school. Sometimes the best we can do is to help them tolerate the bad days and celebrate the good ones alongside them. In the end, that is what they will remember- that you were there for them. I truly wish you all the best.

Answer 2

Depending on the style and personality of the child active learning techniques never let my students down.