Early Signs Tutoring: For Parents: Early Signs Your Child Needs Academic
Falling grades are only one signal. Here are the earlier ones parents often miss, and what to do about each.
Most parents start thinking about a tutor after a bad report card. By then, the gap has usually been growing for months. These earlier signs are worth watching.
The signs to look for
- Homework takes much longer than it used to, or doesn’t get finished
- They avoid one subject or say they “hate” it
- Marks drop in one subject while others stay steady
- They can do examples in class but not on their own at home
- Tests go badly even though they say they studied
- They’ve stopped asking questions at school
- They’re anxious or upset before tests in a particular subject
Two or more of these in the same subject is a strong signal. Act early, it’s much easier to fix.Margin note from Lucy
What to do first
Talk to your child and their teacher. Ask the teacher which specific topics are causing trouble, not just how they’re doing overall. That tells you whether a few targeted sessions will help, or whether they need regular support.
Try a trial lesson
A trial lesson shows you how your child works with a tutor and gives you a clear picture of the gaps. Many NoteStore tutors offer the first lesson free.
For further reading, see this external resource.
You can also explore more resources on our website.