5 Ways to Fix a Child’s Dropping Grades

Low grades may not be the best way to describe a child’s success. But with great grades children develop healthy self-esteem. Sudden low grades can be due to some minor or major factors.

However, it’s of great importance to pay attention to your child’s learning process.

Oftentimes, I hear parents complain of sudden low grades in their children who used to have high grades. 

This happens for various reasons. One of which is parents’ lack of skill to structure learning at home. 

When learning is structured, so many lapses would be avoided.  

Learning begins at birth, so it won’t be out of place to state that parents need to be involved in their child’s learning.

Even with your busy schedule, get involved in your child’s learning. 

So, why will a child who used to have fantastic grades begin to have low grades?

Let’s review the reasons behind it.

Reasons for your Child’s Dropping Grades

Stress

As a child grows, he or she encounters a lot that may not be communicated to parents. Oftentimes, these impact the child’s learning. Children who undergo prolonged toxic stress such as substance abuse, exposure to violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and exposure to family financial burden are at risk of this stress. Toxic stress in a child causes a release of stress hormones, such as cortisol.  When cortisol is sustained at a high level, it causes the hippocampus the (learning and memory center), and the prefrontal cortex (the executive function center) to shrink. Hence, affecting the cognitive development of the child. 

Complexity of concept learned.

As children move into a new class which is usually higher than the previous class. Certain subject concepts become higher in cases where the said child’s IQ hasn’t stepped up to measure up with the new level. Also, every grade level requires a different approach to explaining concepts or subject matter.

For instance: at the preschool level, children learn to sound through recitation, demonstration, and songs. At Grade level 1 such a child would be expected to read and make sentences using these sounds. Hence, learning methods and techniques drift and adjust.

Age 

There are stages to cognitive development, stated by psychologists. Learning skills and capacities are dependent on age. There are many things young children are unable to understand, unlike the older ones.

Children whose ages do not meet the age of their new class would likely struggle with the subject matter learned in a higher class. This in turn affects academic grades. For instance: why should a child of 8 years be in JSS1 while children who are 2 years to 4 years older? A teacher teaches to the age range of the learner and this defines the method of teaching. I see this a lot of times. If a child is doing so well in grade 2 at age 6, there isn’t a need to move such a child to Grade 4 in the next session, instead of Grade 3. Such a child would satisfy more advanced terms above the age limit set. Several learning systems in school are structured with age ranges. 

Change is Teaching Methodology 

Every subject matter must meet Learners’ needs, for learning to be complete. Varying teaching methods is an effective approach for meeting learners’ academic needs. When students are unable to relate to the teaching methods administered by the teacher, it results in low grades for the student. 

Learning Styles

As individuals, we have different learning styles. When attention is given to only a particular learning style, it goes a long way to affect children’s academic performance and grades. A kinesthetic learner would struggle to learn from a teacher, who is using a lecture method of teaching. The Lecture method would be in favour of auditory learners. Hence, a child’s learning style could be a reason for sudden low grades.

Environment

 An insecure  environment will become a distraction to a child’s learning.  These environments include both social and physical environments.  An environment which supports learning is said to be safe and conducive. There are factors which makes an environment unconducive learning;

• Class size
• Family size; a child can find learning difficult at home when there are too many occupants in that house.
• Socio-economic status; a child could feel distracted in a house where people come in and leave. A family where the members are busy with events or activities. It leaves the child no time to be attended to.
• Dieting; research has shown that poor feeding in a child can affect the child’s ability to learn. Thereby, leading to low grades.

 

How to Fix a Child’s Dropping Grades

• Investigate the reason behind the sudden drop. While you carry out your findings, be careful not to blame your child.

 

• Build a well-structured learning system. A structured learning plan impacts a child in the long term. Certain things to consider while setting up a structured learning system at home.

1. Create time to study alongside your child.
2. Consider the age of your child against the grade level.
3. Study the learning style of the child.
4. Create a conducive environment for learning.
5. Building a healthy academic self-esteem.

• Communicate with a Learning Specialist. 
• Talk to a pediatrician to examine the health status of your child.
• Be patient about your child’s effort and progress.

 

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