The Children’s Trust: What to do when your child needs more academic help

From pressure from grades and exams to stress and difficulty, there are many reasons why a child may need academic support beyond the classroom. Parents and caretakers who haven’t had to solve algebraic equations since grade school or have to work more hours to cover household costs, also face additional strain, leaving less time to help children study at home.

If you notice signs that your child needs additional help, remember that this doesn’t reflect your parenting style or effort. One study published in the National Library of Medicine examined the effect of extracurricular tutoring on adolescent students and concluded that “the cognitive ability level of teenagers who participated in extracurricular tutoring was significantly higher than those who did not participate in extracurricular tutoring,” which begs the question: Why not bring in the experts to help with algebra so you don’t have to try to remember it?

When is it Time to Seek Help?

It’s not always apparent that your child needs help to reach their academic potential. Here are some telltale signs that you can look out for:

• Grades dropping: The most obvious sign that a child may need more help is if grades start dropping in certain subjects.

• Avoiding homework: If your child is avoiding doing homework, this could indicate that they don’t know how to do it and need help.

• Stressed or disorganized: Organization and development of study habits are a key part of academic success. If your child doesn’t seem to know how to study for an upcoming test, isn’t aware of upcoming assignments, or is repeatedly losing assignments, this could indicate that they need to develop specific skills to help with organization and study habits.

• Overwhelmed (you or your child): We aren’t all natural mathematicians or writers. It’s okay to seek outside help if you stare at your kid’s homework and can’t figure it out.

Homework Help & Tutoring Program

Finding someone to help your child reach their academic goals doesn’t have to affect your monthly budget. Since 2018, The Children’s Trust has partnered with the Miami-Dade County Public Library System to offer the Homework Help & Tutoring Program, which provides free online and in-person tutoring by certified teachers in reading, math, and science. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the program conducted more than 40,000 sessions for Miami-Dade County students between K-12th grades.

The program is available online on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and in person on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 29 public library locations throughout the county. Students can sign up for the program at mdpls.org/tutor.

More Helpful Programs

High-quality summer and after-school programming can have lasting positive effects on children’s quality of life. The Children’s Trust funds various programs for all ages of students that include K-5 classes with general group literacy activities, and small-group literacy instruction for children reading below grade level, as well as STEM, arts, and specialized programming for children with disabilities. For grades 6-12, the focus shifts to academic success, social and emotional learning, career skill-building, as well as arts, STEM, civic engagement, sports, entrepreneurship, and college readiness.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers public elementary and secondary grade students help in English, math, science, and more with the Pop n’ Prep free homework program online, Monday through Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Students can register from 3-8 p.m. for sessions up to 24 hours in advance. They will need access to Microsoft Outlook and Teams and can visit popnprep.dadeschools.net to schedule a session. Individual schools also offer tutoring and homework help and students can contact them directly for more information.

While there are many ways to improve academically during the school year, it’s essential to continue learning during the summer. If students don’t, they could experience a “summer slide” where academic performance stalls or declines, with patterns even stronger for disadvantaged children.” In 2022, the portions of Miami-Dade fourth graders scoring proficient or above on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) indicated significant racial disparities, with 21 percent of Black, 40 percent of Hispanic, and 64 percent of White students reaching this achievement. Summer camps can protect against learning loss (especially in reading) while school is out. Find a program near you at TheChildrensTrust.org/Find-A-Program.

The Children’s Trust is proud to fund these exceptional programs that give families across Miami-Dade access to more academic help after the bell rings. However, if your budget allows, private tutoring services are also available. This type of tutoring is usually one-to-one and more focused on specific areas a student is struggling in.

How to Talk to Your Child About Tutoring

One stumbling block parents may encounter in their journey towards better academic outcomes for their children is resistance or lack of interest. That’s why it’s essential to approach the subject positively with care and compassion. After all, your child may feel shame or embarrassment if they start slipping academically. Be positive about areas they are doing well in before asking them if there’s anything they think they need additional help with. Invite them to help choose a tutor and a time that works for them, so it feels more like a group decision and less like a punishment. This additional support may make a significant difference for your child as they continue their academic progress toward success.

Danielle Barreras, Associate Director of Community Engagement for The Children’s Trust, is an advocate for children & families, and a subject matter expert on literacy initiatives and partnerships. As an educator for over a decade, she is a community connector with a track record of developing collaborative efforts that positively impact children.