3 Reasons why your child’s grades are declining

No matter how gifted, talented, and hardworking a student may be, the wrong circumstances can negatively affect their academic performance. At Think Digital Academy, we often hear of precocious students suffering severe academic blows. It’s important to understand why this happens.

In this article, we’ll offer a closer look at some of the most common reasons why children’s grades suddenly begin to drop. Use this insight to take the right steps and help your child get back on track.

Unqualified teachers

Have you recently switched your child’s school? Perhaps they are studying at the same institution, but their teachers have changed? Unqualified, inexperienced and insufficiently trained teachers can make even the most talented students falter.

To succeed in school, students must develop a strong interest in their studies. This interest is contingent on how passionate, qualified, experienced, emotionally intelligent and empathetic their teachers are. If the wrong teachers take your child under their wing, the outcome will be disappointing.

We strongly recommend setting up a meeting with the school. Leading up to the meeting, do your research. What are the qualifications of the teachers? Ideally, they should be qualified. Moreover, how much experience do they have? Which teaching approach do they use? Are they harsh towards students or empathetic and, are they understanding and kind?

These details make a big difference in student performance. As the meeting progresses, you’ll get a good idea of whether the school is the right fit for your child. If you’re afraid you’ve made the wrong decision, consider switching schools.

The right school can help students realise their potential and shine bright in and outside the classroom. At Think Digital Academy, our MA/PhD qualified teachers deliver engaging, enjoyable and retentive recorded lessons that help students secure top grades.

Lack of flexibility

As academic stress, anxiety and burnout increase among students, education specialists urge parents to reconsider their approach. When students are pushed to study for an unreasonably high number of hours per day, they struggle to maintain optimal levels of focus and concentration.

Students spend the bulk of the day studying. As a result, they develop academic fatigue. Instead of improving, their academic performance declines.

It’s possible that your child is overworked. If this is the case, encourage them to develop a healthy work-life routine. Once their classes end for the day, students should enjoy ample afterschool activities like sports, hanging out with friends, exploring new hobbies and interests, developing new skills, going on adventures and explorations with friends or family, meeting new people, having new experiences, visiting new places and so on. This is part of the learning process.

As a parent, ensure that your child is granted ample flexibility. Once they return home from school, they should have ample time to study, revise, complete their homework and enjoy themselves. A healthy, balanced schedule will help your child improve their grades. If they’re overworked, however, their academic performance will continue to stagnate.

Inadequate support

To thrive, students must be equipped with the right academic support, tools and guidance. While excellent teachers are important, they’re not enough. Students must also have a positive learning experience supplemented with the right tools.

At Think Digital Academy, we have created a vast online library to help students keep their academic performance on track “after school”. Once their online school time ends for the day, students can explore thousands of resources like join virtual clubs, read through study notes, explore our online Reading Room, activities, past papers, worksheets, study guides and so much more.

These tools help sustain the learning process. As students complete their lessons or revise for the day, they may have questions. Our online tutors and student success coaches address these questions to get rid of any confusion or doubt.

These invaluable resources also play a pivotal role in keeping students happy, motivated and encouraged. If a student is struggling with any academic, personal or social problem, they can unhesitatingly reach out to our online tutors. We provide a safe, open and candid space to students. They can address their problems without fear of judgement.

As a parent, you should have a razor-sharp focus on improving your child’s academic performance. At Think Digital Academy, we help you shoulder this responsibility by providing you with weekly activity reports delivered straight to your inbox every week. This report helps you to keep track of your child’s academic progress and performance. Since our inception in 2017, we’ve helped thousands of talented students get back on track.

If your gifted child has been struggling recently, consider switching to the online schooling model with Think Digital Academy. We offer the South African CAPS, British International and American GED curricula to students across the globe. As one of the most esteemed, trusted and recognised online schools in South Africa, we’re trusted by thousands of parents.

Explore our FREE two week trial and see for yourself.