How to Improve Your Child’s Academic Performance

September 25, 2024 byTrey Edgington

4 min to read

Most Learning Coaches want to help their children improve their academic performance. It is known that reading with children and making sure they get enough sleep are important, but what else can Learning Coaches or caregivers do?

Hint: it starts at home.

How to Improve Grades for K-12 Students

Encouragement and Self-Esteem

To do well in school, it’s important that your child believes in themselves. Confidence can go a long way when it comes to academic performance, and letting them know that they are valued—no matter what grades they earn—can take away some of the anxiety that grades can give. Notice what subjects your student is interested in and what subjects they do well in; they will often be the same. Encourage them to pursue their interests, and offer help and encouragement so they are more likely to gain confidence that may help with the subjects they find more challenging.

For example: ask your child to help with a chore they enjoy or do well. Then shortly after, ask them to try a new task. They will likely feel more confident when trying the new task. Also, it is important to consistently verbalize strengths. For instance, instead of saying "you are such a good student" say "I love that you always pay attention to your teacher and ask questions when you don't understand. Those are signs that you are a good student".

The Importance of Reading with your Student

“Reading and exposure to words helps kids maximize their language and cognitive capacity,” writes Laura Phillips, PsyD, ABPdN, Senior Director, Senior Neuropsychologist at the Child Mind Institute. Familiarity with the written word can help them in every subject, not just language arts and English.

No matter what age your child is, you can still designate a specific time to read together. Reading time should include the chance for your student to ask questions and discuss the stories. This can help them with comprehension and give them the ability to talk about the stories, which can be a great shared moment.

Learning Experiences Outside of School for Students

Almost everything we—and our children—do is a learning opportunity. Though many household tasks don’t seem like it at first, take a closer look. Cooking is a great example. Recipes involve reading, measurements, time, temperature, and even chemistry, which covers quite a lot in just one activity. You can discuss money and budgeting, and even economics, while you do your grocery shopping.

Discover Your Child’s Learning Preference

We all have different strengths and weaknesses, just like we have different learning preferences. You may be a visual learner, but your child may be more hands-on. Avoid trying to teach the way you learn most easily and try to teach them the way they do. This is particularly important for parents who guide their kids through online school. A personalized learning plan can help improve engagement, boosting understanding, retention, and academic achievement. With these benefits, the student will also build confidence that will last long after graduation.

Setting SMART Goals

Setting goals helps keep us focused and plan our time. Setting goals can go a long way to improve your child’s academic performance, when they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound—in other words, SMART goals. . This structure can give you and your student a framework to successfully meet their goals and improve their academic performance by providing a clear, actionable structure they can work towards throughout the school year.

Manage Their Time

Helping your kids with organizational skills can help them through school and beyond, but do you also help them organize their time? Start by helping them create a daily calendar that includes class time, homework, extracurriculars, test days, and any other important due dates so they give themselves enough time to stay on top of their tasks and activities. Consider setting up a digital calendar with reminders so you can both be aware of what is coming up for your student’s upcoming week.

Meet the Teacher and Stay Involved

Meeting the teacher and maintaining communication can vastly improve your child’s academic performance. By communicating with your student’s teacher, you can learn more about your student’s academic performance than you could from a grade on a report card. And it’s not just about where your child is struggling; knowing about your child’s strengths and achievements—and celebrating them—is just as important. Sharing your concerns with the instructor is also helpful. It may give the teacher something to be mindful of during class time, or they may be able to alleviate your concerns.

An online school student working to improve grades through academic support.

What Is Academic Support?

Sometimes kids need more help than parents or teachers can provide. Parents may not have the expertise, and teachers may not have as much time as they would like to spend with each student. This is where other academic support strategies can come in handy. Many schools offer after school programs that focus on specific subjects, which can help your child improve their performance in that area, and these are often free. Using tutors can also be a good way to get the academic support your student needs. Additionally, summer programs, credit-recovery courses, and education-centered technology are also great strategies to improve grades and comprehension if students need it.

There are many strategies and tips to help improve your child’s academic performance, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. But with these tips, you can be on your way to helping your child’s academic success.