When struggling in school, it can feel like all hope is lost for the student. Naturally, as a parent, this feels concerning. Whether the student is experiencing failing grades, late assignments, or other academic challenges there is one silver lining. There’s something that many families overlook: struggling in school can actually be a good sign, especially during the teen years.
At The Tenney School, we’ve worked with countless middle and high school students who initially come to us due to them struggling in past schools. We often see that the signs of struggle isn’t necessarily a signal of failure, but instead an indicator of growth and potential!
In this blog we’ll dissect our experience working with students who struggle in school, and present 5 reasons why your teen’s struggles may actually be a positive turning point.
Why Struggling in School Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
Before jumping into the five reasons, it’s important to discuss struggle and why it can be beneficial. Teens who are challenged academically are often being pushed in ways that help develop self-awareness, resilience, and independence. The fact is these “bumps in the road” can spark essential learning opportunities that ultimately smooth the path of learning forward.
1. Struggling in School Can Reveal Hidden Strengths
When a student struggles in school it can often bring underlying issues to the surface. Things like undiagnosed learning differences, anxiety, and even executive functioning challenges are all easier to spot when a student begins to struggle. Once the underlying reason for the struggle is identified, the academic obstacles can be addressed which allows your teen to unlock their true potential.
At The Tenney School we’ve carefully developed our one-on-one learning model to uncover these root causes quickly. Our teachers are trained in such a way that they can easily pivot the instructional model of the classroom to fit around the student and their learning preferences. In many cases, students begin thriving after just a few short weeks of target support with our teachers.
2. It’s a Sign Your Teen is Being Challenged (and That’s Good!)
Some students breeze through early years of schooling which can build a false sense of confidence. This “wall” that they hit in middle or even high school poses as an academic barrier, but not in the negative way you’re thinking. When a gifted student is finally academically challenged, they can begin to grow rather than coast.
Struggling in the classroom isn’t a setback for the student, it’s actually a developmental milestone. When they have the right support, your teen can learn how to study, stay organized, and take full ownership of their learning!
3. Struggling Builds Critical Life Skills
Another hidden gift of struggling in school is the development of essential life skills. “What are these skills” you may ask? They include perseverance, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and most importantly, the ability to ask for help! Learning these skills early on, sets them up for immense success later in life. The reason for this, is instead of your teen fearing a challenge, they have the tools necessary to get themselves through it, building grit and independence.
4. It Opens the Door to a Better Learning Environment
Sometimes struggling in school isn’t your student’s fault, it could be the setting. Each and every student has a learning style and preference. Some learn best in large classroom settings, while others prefer a smaller, more personalized setting. The fact of the matter is that the traditional classroom doesn’t accommodate every kind of learning style, pace, or need. That’s where alternative education models come in. Schools like ours specialize in meeting the student exactly where they are in a learning style that they prefer. This is how you see the most growth for your student. Moreover, it helps students move past the struggle and see the success!
5. It’s an Opportunity to Strengthen Parent-Teen Communication
When your teen is struggling in school, it forces necessary and important conversations to happen. While these moments can be difficult, it gives ample opportunity for building trust, understanding, and collaboration between parents and teens. Additionally, there’s a science that shows when a student struggles, they are actually learning better. Check out the video below for more information:
Struggling in School? Houston Families Don’t Have to Face it Alone
If your teen is struggling in school know you’re not alone. At The Tenney School, we specialize in helping students turn academic challenges into personal achievements. With one-on-one instruction and a focus on individual growth and success, we meet students where they are and help them become the best they can be!
We work with students throughout the Houston area in-person and help families across the country with our online learning equivalent: Tenney School Live.
Ready to Turn Struggle into Success?
If your child is currently struggling in school, now is the perfect time to consider a school that can get your child back on track. Contact us today for a free consultation and discussion with how our one-on-one learning platform can help you!