How to Tap into Resources for the Struggling Student

Sometimes struggling in school can be a lonely feeling. A student can feel like he’s all alone and be hesitant to ask for help for fear of embarrassment. It’s good to know, however, that there are so many resources available if only we know how to access them. Below, we’ll endeavor to take a look at some ways to find assistance when a student is having a hard time.

Use your school: Your school offers a plethora of resources to help with practically any situation. From school psychologists to guidance counselors to learning specialists to reading and writing coaches to peer tutors (and that’s a very incomplete list), your school itself should be one of your first stops when seeking help. Imagine, for instance, a third grader who just cannot seem to grasp mathematical concepts. As the student becomes more and more frustrated and the parent more exasperated, it can be easy to feel helpless and not know where to turn. A school learning specialist may be able to help uncover the core issue: perhaps the student has a latent learning disorder, for example. From there, the student may be eligible for accommodations within the school, such as extended time on tests or extra help from teachers. We sometimes forget that we often have innumerable resources right at our fingertips.

Look in the community: A community, by definition, fosters a sense of fellowship and common goals and objectives. You’d be hard-pressed to find a community that didn’t want to see its students succeed, so it’s natural that yours probably has various resources to help the struggling student. Do not hesitate to access neighbors, friends, teammates, and others in the community to gather information. They might be able to turn you on to a great tutor or share something they’ve learned in their own experience that might be applicable to your situation. Within the community, as well, you will find myriad professionals to help you navigate the sometimes rough seas of adolescence, from educational psychologists who can administer tests to determine learning disabilities to learning consultants and academic coaches who can help students sharpen skills and learn good study habits. The people right in your own neighborhood can often provide much needed assistance.

Seek support systems: There is a psychological element to academic success; success, or lack thereof, can greatly impact a family’s overall sense of well-being. The family system can be easily affected by poor grades or lack of motivation. It is, therefore, vital to seek systems of support not only for the student, but also for the rest of the family. A parent who has an understanding of ADHD, for instance, will be much more successful in acting as a support for the child than will a parent who simply labels a kid “lazy.” Support systems can come in the form of mental health professionals, support groups, family counseling, and more. The key is to remember that you’re never alone in dealing with this sort of struggle.

Put your pride to the side: It’s important to ignore stigmas when seeking help for a student who is having learning difficulties. There is nothing wrong with tapping into resources or seeking accommodations; in fact, this is the reason such things exist. It can be helpful to remind the student that getting help is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a credit to one’s assertiveness and drive to succeed.

Written by Phil Lane

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