Form a plan
After gathering all the
information from your child’s
teacher and pediatrician, it is time
to develop a plan to support your
child. Whether you hire a tutor or
a learning specialist or decide on
a trial medication, it is critical to
allow time for the interventions to
be successful… or not. There are no
“silver bullets” that fix everything
immediately!
When formulating a plan to help
shut down learners, Dr. Selznick
recommends these strategies:
• Know what you are targeting.
What skills or gaps exist?
• Take the heat (hostility) out of the
interactions at home. Yelling does not
help! Look for small things to compliment
your child on. If she immediately began
her homework without being asked, point
that out.
• Find a mentor for your child – someone
who truly values him. It could be a former
teacher at your child’s school. The mentor
can check in with your child and provide
some moral support.
• Maintain equilibrium. Do something fun
at home. Play cards or a board game or go
to a park.
Evaluate the plan
Once the plan has been in place for several
weeks, evaluate its effectiveness. If your
child began wearing glasses, have they made
a difference? Follow up with the teacher to
ensure she has been wearing them in class! If
your child has started a medication, have you
seen an improvement in her grades? Has the
teacher witnessed an improved ability to focus
in the classroom? If your child is working
with a tutor or learning specialist, does your
child seem more confident in the subject
material?
Putting it All Together
When your child is struggling in school it
is important to remember that the struggle is
not a reflection of you, the parent. Determine
the root cause: is it academic or behavior?
Once you have pinpointed the problem, the
focus needs to be on supporting your child
with the appropriate interventions. Working
in concert with the teacher and pediatrician
gives your child the best chance to work
his way out of the struggle and regain the
confidence necessary to sustain success in
school and life.
For more information about what to do when
your child struggles in school, please contact
Engage the Brain at 407-636-9281 or visit
www.engagethebrain.org.
Greater Orlando Edition — Volume XII, Issue II 7
Personalized instruction that is
systematic, direct, and provides
immediate, specific feedback will
guide all types of learners to
their truest potential.
/www.engagethebrain.org