What to Do When Your Child Is Unexpectedly Struggling with Reading, Writing, Spelling, or Memory at School
As a parent, it can be concerning and even frustrating when your child unexpectedly struggles to learn essential skills like reading, writing, spelling, or remembering school lessons. These foundational skills are critical for their academic progress and overall confidence. If your child is falling behind despite your best efforts and the school’s curriculum, it’s important to approach the situation with a proactive and supportive mindset. This blog will guide you through practical steps to address the issue, identify potential causes, and provide effective solutions.
1. Recognize the Signs of Struggle
The first step is to understand the areas where they struggle.
Look out for these signs:
- Reading: Avoiding books, guessing words instead of sounding them out, or struggling to recognize familiar words.
- Writing: Difficulty forming letters, organizing thoughts on paper, or avoiding writing tasks altogether.
- Spelling: Repeatedly misspelling simple words, reversing letters (e.g., “b” and “d”), or forgetting words they previously knew.
- Memory: Difficulty remembering instructions, retaining new vocabulary, or recalling lessons from the day before.
These issues might appear sporadically initially but can become consistent if not addressed.
2. Understand That Every Child Learns Differently
It’s important to remember that learning is not a one-size-fits-all process. Children develop skills at different rates; a temporary struggle doesn’t necessarily indicate a long-term problem. Some children may require more repetition, visual aids, or hands-on activities to grasp concepts.
Keep in mind:
• Children not progressing at the same pace as their peers may need alternative teaching methods.
• A lack of engagement in traditional classroom activities doesn’t mean they lack potential—it could mean they need different stimuli.
As a parent, you must remain patient and open-minded as you determine what is best for your child.
3. Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher
If your child is struggling, the next step is to have an open conversation with their teacher. Teachers are often the first to notice learning difficulties and can provide valuable insight into what they observe in the classroom.
When speaking with the teacher:
- Ask about specific areas where your child is struggling (e.g., reading comprehension, writing structure)
- Inquire about how your child develops from one stage to the next compared to their peers.
• Discuss strategies the teacher has already tried and whether they’ve made any progress.
Teachers may also recommend additional school resources, like small-group instruction, tutoring programs, or extra practice activities.
4. Rule Out Underlying Issues
Learning difficulties can stem from a variety of underlying causes. It’s crucial to identify whether your child’s struggles are related to external or internal factors.
- a) Vision or Hearing ProblemsSometimes, the issue isn’t with learning but with how your child processes information. Undiagnosed vision or hearing problems can make it difficult for them to follow lessons or read clearly. Schedule an appointment with an optometrist and audiologist to rule out these possibilities.
- b) Learning Differences-Conditions like dyslexia (difficulty reading), dysgraphia (difficulty writing), or dyscalculia (difficulty with math) can hinder learning in ways that traditional teaching methods don’t address. If you suspect a learning difference that is leading to a disability, speak to your school or Charlotte Click & book a free 30 min chat about where you are at and what to do.
c) Attention Deficits
Conditions like ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) can affect a child’s ability to focus, follow instructions, and retain information. Children with attention issues often need specialized strategies to stay engaged.
Attention, processing, or memory: how are they working together?
As I work with children, their abilities and focus vary. Often, holding onto information, enough information, long enough, without distractions to complete the task is a real common problem. By training all of our senses to put the information together. We can improve their working memory, visual memory, auditory memory & written expression with a multisensory structured memory exercise. I do it with Learn Right 4U Memory Boost. I have seen countless times where I have had many students who struggle to hold 4 pieces of information and print reversals regularly. They trained with this program and now are working with 6 pieces of information, and their letters and numbers are no longer reversed. They can now keep up with the information and remember what they heard, read, or thought. and keep it in the right order and complete tasks. Wow, what a difference. The reduction of anxiety I see as confidence and capabilities grow is fantastic!
d) Emotional or Social Factors
- Stress, anxiety, or challenges in their social environment can significantly impact your child’s ability to learn. Bullying, lack of confidence, or feeling overwhelmed by expectations may lead to struggles in school.
5. Create a Supportive Home Environment
At home, you can create a learning environment that fosters growth and confidence.
a) Make Learning Fun - Children are more likely to engage in learning activities when they’re enjoyable. Use games, puzzles, and apps to teach reading, spelling, and memory skills. For example:
- Try phonics games for reading.
- Use word searches and word-building board games for spelling practice.
- What sounds can you hear in…? What do these sounds make? Example /b/ /e/ / d/ What sound is the same in these three words?• Use word search puzzles and building board games for spelling practice. Visual Tracking is a key skill for reading, word search puzzles are a great visual exercise. It is also good for memory, sequencing, and reading. Learn Right 4U Word search puzzle series is a cumulative series that grows a vocabulary while discovering each sound and spelling for English.
- Incorporate storytelling or journaling to improve writing skills.
b) Encourage a Growth Mindset
- Teach your child that mistakes are part of learning and that effort leads to improvement. Praise their hard work rather than just results.
c) Set a Routine
Children thrive on routine. Set aside specific times for homework, reading, or skill practice. Keep sessions short and focused to prevent frustration.
d) Read Together
- Reading with your child daily can improve their comprehension and fluency. Choose books they enjoy and discuss the story to boost their understanding. The more books read the larger the exposure to vocabulary. I wish I had greater exposure to words and knowledge as I grew up. With limited literacy, so much information is no longer available to learn.
6. Consider Professional Support
If your child continues to struggle despite your efforts, professional intervention may be necessary.
- a) Tutoring - A specialized tutor can provide one-on-one attention and tailor lessons to your child’s learning style. For instance, some tutors focus on phonics for reading or multisensory techniques for spelling.
- b) Speech and Language Therapy - If your child struggles with language comprehension or memory, a speech therapist can help them improve these skills.
- c) Educational Therapy - An educational therapist works with children with learning difficulties, combining academic support with strategies to overcome challenges like dyslexia or ADHD.
- d) Testing and Assessment - In some cases, an educational psychologist can assess to identify specific learning disabilities or recommend accommodations.
7. Collaborate with the School for Accommodations
If your child has a diagnosed learning difficulty, they may be eligible for accommodations at school. These adjustments ensure your child has equal access to education. Examples include:
- Extra time on tests
- Small-group instruction or one-on-one assistance.
- Audiobooks or speech-to-text tools for reading and writing tasks.
Speak to the school about creating an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Canada or a 504 Plan USA to formalize these accommodations.
8. Be Patient and Celebrate Progress
Overcoming learning challenges is a process, and it’s essential to stay patient. Celebrate every small victory, whether it’s reading a new word, completing a sentence, or remembering a task. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in building your child’s confidence.
9. Encourage a Love of Learning
One of the best ways to support your child is to instill a love of learning. Show them that education is not just about grades but about exploring, growing, and discovering new things.
Ways to encourage curiosity:
- Take them to libraries, museums, or science centers.
- Let them explore their interests, such as art, music, or sports, to build self-esteem.
- Lead by example—show your own excitement about learning new things.
Final Thoughts
When your child struggles to read, write, spell, or remember at school, it’s natural to feel worried. However, with the right approach, you can help them overcome these challenges and reach their full potential. Understanding their unique needs, collaborating with educators, and creating a supportive environment can empower your child to succeed academically and beyond.
Remember, every child is different, and their learning journey might take a different path. Stay patient, consistent, and encouraging—and celebrate
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