Many high school students face academic challenges when in high school. This can lead to low self-esteem, behavioral problems, or even students dropping out of high school due to their struggles. These students need to be noticed when they are younger and get the help they need to reduce their struggles and give them the sense of self-worth they need to be successful in life.
Although some of the academic struggles that high school students face can be traced back to a learning disability or functional impairment of the student, not all academic struggles are related to these issues. Many of the struggles that high school students face academically can be prevented and/or reversed by taking an interest and working with these students to find a solution.
To excel in other academic areas it is necessary for a student to read well and understand what he is reading. Literacy is essential for functioning not only in school but in the community and on the job as well. The National Center for Family Literacy states the following facts pertaining to children and literacy. Children who watch less than three hours of television a day score higher on reading and writing tests than those who watch more than three hours of television a day. Students who read well tend to understand mathematics and score higher than students who do not read well. Individuals with strong literacy skills are able to make better connections between their lives, previous experiences, films, or texts.
As a parent it is important to know your high school student well enough that you can see his struggles. If you notice a drop in grades on progress reports or report cards, it is important to contact the teacher right away to determine what the problem may be. If it is determined that your child is struggling due to a learning disability, getting your child the help he needs immediately may prevent further struggles or self-esteem issues.