When Your Child Has Trouble Learning And You Can't Teach: Options
A parent tends to feel a little helpless when his/her child is struggling at school. Parents always want to help, but sometimes they do not know how, or worse, they end up doing their children's schoolwork for them. If you have a child who is currently having trouble learning something and you know you cannot teach him/her the subject, there are options and solutions.
After-School Help Sessions
Some school districts offer after-school sessions to help kids that need extra help. You would have to sign your child up for these sessions and then make sure your child attends. It only helps them if they actually show up and stay for the time in class after school to go over that day's assignments. Getting on the bus to come home or heading off to a friend's house after school defeats the purpose of trying to sign up for these help sessions.
Older Tutors at Night or on the Weekends
Older tutors can help. These are usually high school kids willing to tutor younger kids for pay. They can come after dinner on certain nights of the week or on weekends. It helps if these tutors are well-versed in the subject matter with which your child is having difficulty.
Tutoring Programs
Tutoring programs, like the Orton Gillingham tutoring program, operate outside of schools and homes. They have buildings dedicated to times and subjects where your child can go and get tutoring help. You do have to sign up, select time slots based on subject matter and availability, and pay for the tutoring sessions. However, most parents find that these programs are quite excellent, seeing as most of the tutors are often teachers or student teachers.
More Focused Programming for Learning Disabilities
Some kids are dyslexic while others are hyperlexic. Some kids cannot picture things in three dimensions. Some kids have trouble with reading numbers and sets of numbers out loud, which leads to frustration with mathematics and mastery of the subject. Trouble processing sounds prevents students from creating verbal speech that does not terrify them. All of these are learning disabilities, but they can be overcome if the right focused program for these disabilities is started early and followed strictly. Ask your child's pediatrician if there are programs of this sort where you live.
For more information or to set up an appointment, contact a resource such as the Pride Reading Program in your area.