Why Kids Struggle In School | Rachael Gallows | Episode 114

When teenagers struggle in school the effects ripple outward. Parents try to help their kids but often end up in power struggles, an argument or even someone being in tears. Rachel Gallows knows what that’s like. She struggled and almost failed year after year through elementary school but she made some changes and graduated as high school valedictorian. Now she is a tutor who works a little differently with her students. Today she joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to talk about what happened, why kids struggle in school and how that impacts their homework.

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A Favorite Quote from the Show: 

Kids who struggle in school often appear apathetic. They do care, they just need the skills to learn in a way that works for them and to manage school.

High Points of Our Conversation About Why Kids Struggle in School:

Rachael struggled through elementary school and almost failed every year. She was labeled a troubled child and teachers didn’t like her.

She hated being called a failure so she learned tips and tricks to do better in school. She learned to self advocate and how learn her own way.

Students learn in different ways.

Every student who struggles in school, no matter the subject, does so because they don’t have skills they need for school.

Teachers may not teach the way your child learns.

Kids who struggle in school often appear apathetic. They do care, they just need the skills to learn in a way that works for them and they need to learn how to manage school.

When students put in hours of effort and get an F they figure they’re wasting their time. They’ll put in the time if the results are worth the effort.

We don’t usually think this way but there is a set of academic skills that students need. These include: study skills, time management, organizational skills, and note taking skills.

Parents can show empathy and support with statements like:

• • “I know you’re struggling in this area and I want you to know it’s not your fault.” 
  • “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to teach you how important homework is.”
  • “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to teach you how to get organized so you remember what’s due or to turn in your homework.”
  • “Can I please show you a method that may work better for you?”

When kids struggle in school they need a tutor who shows them how to get organized and take good notes. The tutor also needs to help them discover how they learn best and show them what they can do to learn the material if the teacher doesn’t teach that way.

Teenagers often feel that homework is busy work so they don’t turn it in. We need to show them how easy it is to raise their grade by simply turning in homework. We can also show them how doing homework helps them learn the material and reduces study time for a test.

Have them ask if they can turn in missing homework for partial credit. Even if they only get half credit it can have a huge impact on their grade.

Our kids need to know their learning style. Are they a visual, auditory, read/write, or kinesthetic learner?

If they’re a kinesthetic learner then they’ll need to depend heavily on their secondary learning style.

Organization is the simplest step and has a huge impact.

Resources Mentioned in Show:

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Our Guest Rachael Gallows:

My name is Rachael and I have been a private tutor for over 12 years. I earned my undergraduate degree in 2 and a half years and earned my graduate degree by age 22. I have tutored dozens of high school students, college students, and graduate students. I offer resources and encouragement to help parents learn how to best help their teen or child that is struggling in school. 

To learn more or connect with our guest visit https://www.theexperiencedgraduate.com/