13 Signs Your Child Would Benefit From Academic Coaching Services

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on students. In Fall 2021 alone, students in grades 3–8 scored 0.2–0.27 standard deviation points lower than their 2019 peers. Meanwhile, reading scores dropped 0.09–0.18 points from Fall 2019.

If your child has trouble learning, he or she is not alone. Still, no parent wants to see their child struggle. That is why we’re bringing you this guide to academic coaching services.

An academic coach can help your child build a toolbox for academic success. The skills your child will learn can not only help them in school. They will also be able to use these skills in college and throughout their career.

Are you wondering, ‘Does my child need academic coaching services?’ Then keep reading this complete guide for the top 13 signs your child needs a little extra help with school.

What Are Academic Coaching Services?

Academic coaches are professionals who specialize in helping kids develop learning skills. An academic coach does not only help your child with homework and school projects. Your child’s coach will also teach your child how to learn.

Additionally, academic coaches can address many of the behavioral problems school-aged children showcase. These behavioral problems might include disrupting class or procrastinating.

By now, you may be thinking: how exactly is an academic coach different from an academic tutor? We are explaining the difference between these two types of services next.

Academic Coaching vs. Tutoring

The main difference between academic coaches and tutors is that anyone can be a tutor. Many tutors are only high school-aged students who specialize in a certain subject or two.

But academic coaching requires at least some college experience. Many academic coaches are working on their Bachelor’s degrees. Academic coaches can also have credentials in education, counseling, or ADHD.

Now, all of this is not to say that an academic coach is better than a tutor. These two learning assistants are just different. In fact, many children benefit from tutoring alongside academic coaching.

Tutors teach specific subjects, while academic coaches provide skills that apply to all subjects. This means that academic coaching can help a child find better success in tutoring, and tutoring can make an academic coach’s job easier.

Another thing you should know about academic coaches vs. tutors is the cost. Tutors cost much less than academic coaches. Yet, the breadth of services your child can receive from academic coaching are priceless.

Signs Your Child Needs an Academic Coach

So, how do you know when an academic tutor is not enough for your child? Here are 13 signs you need to take advantage of the best academic coaching services from Peak Academic Coaching.

1. They Tend to Procrastinate

Some procrastination is normal. After all, we all do it. But if your child procrastinates on every assignment and it has started to impact their grades, it may be time to call an academic coach.

Your child’s coach can help address procrastination from the source. The coach will identify why your child procrastinates in the first place, whether it is because they do not feel capable of completing the assignment or something else.

Your child’s coach will then offer coping mechanisms to help your child stop procrastinating. That way, he or she will feel more confident in their ability to get things done on time in the future.

2. They Feel Resentful Towards You

Is your relationship with your child suffering because of their poor school performance? You want the best for your child, and part of that is getting good grades. But if you push too much or too often, your child may start to resent you.

If you and your child’s arguments often center around grades and school work, an academic coach can help. After all, your child is far more likely to listen to a non-parental figure than they are to you.

The good news is that when you no longer have to nag your child about homework and deadlines, your relationship will improve. The academic coach can take on the burden of ensuring your child keeps his or her grades up.

3. They Often Fail to Meet Deadlines

Procrastination is one thing. It can be annoying to have to help your child scramble against the clock to meet deadlines. But it is another thing entirely if your child’s procrastination has resulted in unmet deadlines.

Luckily, an academic coach can help with this issue, too. Your child’s coach will help your child create a schedule to manage their revolving homework and project deadlines.

It is important to take note here, though, of what classes your child is missing deadlines for. If it is the same class again and again, this could be due to your child feeling behind in that class. In this case, a tutor might be more appropriate.

4. They Have Poor Test Performance

So, maybe your child does well on their homework assignments. But when exam day comes around, everything falls apart. This usually means your child understands the material but does not know how to apply it during a test.

An academic coach can help your child learn how to take tests. That’s right: believe it or not, test-taking is a learned skill. And when your child picks it up, he or she will be in a better position to succeed on more important tests like the ACT or SAT.

5. They Have Difficulty With Self Management

Our self-management skills are closely tied to the brain. More specifically, an area called the frontal lobe helps us with tasks like inhibiting inappropriate behavior, taking responsibility for one’s actions, planning, and organizing.

Unfortunately, this area of the brain does not reach maturity until around 26 years of age. That means your child has a long way to go before it is at prime self-management function.

There is something you can do in the meantime, though. Hiring an academic coach who specializes in executive functioning skills can help your child get a head start in learning those critical self-management habits.

6. They Struggle With Time Management

Time management is an essential skill that even many adults struggle with. So, it should be no wonder if your child struggles to manage his or her after-school time effectively.

An academic coach can help your child learn how to prioritize. Systems like time-blocking can also be helpful. And on the plus side for your child, time management will help him or her finish schoolwork faster so they can get back to the fun stuff.

7. They Are Often Distracted

Being easily distracted is another side effect of a frontal lobe that is not yet fully developed. But if your child’s inability to focus is impacting his or her grades, it is time for academic coaching.

An academic coach can teach the self-discipline skills needed to stay focused and work hard. Depending on the coaching service you choose, your child’s coach may also be able to help with coping skills when he or she can not focus.

In some cases, an inability to focus is a signifier of an underlying learning disability. For example, children with ADHD often struggle with constant distractions. We offer ADHD coaching services for this very reason.

8. They Do Not Know How to Study

Another reason some students do well in class but poorly on exams is that they do not know how to study. Not knowing how to study for tests is actually extremely common. And it is no wonder since studying is not taught in school.

An academic coach, on the other hand, specializes in teaching students how to study. This starts with an understanding of your child’s learning style. Then, your child will learn study skills customized to their unique needs.

9. They Have Trouble Setting Goals

Does your child struggle with goal-setting, both in school and in his or her personal life? This problem is not uncommon among school-aged children. Again, goal setting requires long-term planning skills, and the frontal lobe of the brain controls these skills.

But one aspect of goal-setting that can be taught is understanding why your child should have goals in the first place. An academic coach can show your child why it is important to work hard in school.

Ultimately, this education will help your child get better at setting goals in life, too. More importantly, your child will learn how to set small goals like completing their homework each night.

10. They Are Stressed Out

Your child may adamantly say that he or she does not care about school. He or she may also say that they don’t care about their bad grades. Yet, if your child seems stressed for no reason, you can guarantee it is because their grades are impacting their mood.

Studies show that stressed children are more likely to think and learn differently. An academic coach can help tease out your child’s unique learning style. That way, he or she can improve their grades and their mood.

11. They Have Low Motivation

If your child doesn’t think studying and completing homework is important, then he or she may struggle to get motivated. The same is true of students who do not feel rewarded after working hard on assignments.

With the help of an academic coach, your child can learn the reasons that schoolwork is important. And with a reward system in place, he or she will start to see the fruits of their efforts.

Additionally, many students struggle with motivation because they work hard but still get poor grades. The academic coach will ensure this does not happen, motivating your child even further.

12. They Possess Low Academic Self Esteem

Does your child consider him or herself a bad student? If so, this is a sign of poor academic self-esteem. Academic self-esteem comes from the belief that one can learn anything and make good grades as long as one tries hard enough.

Without good academic self-esteem, your child may struggle with motivation and focus. If the result is always a bad grade, why try?

With the help of an academic coach, your child can unlearn this negative self-belief. Your child’s academic coach will teach him or her that good students are not born but made through hard work and the right learning strategy.

13. They Have Poor Grades in All Their Classes

If your child is struggling in only one subject, a tutor may be more cost-effective. A tutor is sufficient to help a child boost his or her grades in one or a few classes.

But what if your child is struggling in all their classes? This is when it is time to call an academic coach. The academic coach will help your child apply broad learning skills to all their classes instead of memorizing facts with a tutor.

And the best thing about academic coaching is that your child can apply the skills he or she learns in college and beyond. There really is no better way to provide your child with a well-rounded learning experience than with an academic coach.

Ready to Take Advantage of the Benefits of Academic Coaching Services?

An academic coach can help your child succeed in school and life. Your child’s coach will give him or her how to learn. This skill is invaluable for students doing poorly across the board and children with low academic self-esteem.

Are you looking for academic coaching services for your child? Peak Academic Coaching offers online coaching for school-aged students. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out if our services are right for your child.