Teenagers are notoriously known for their lack of concentration and interest in school. When people talk about teenagers and schooling, it’s not always in a positive way. Teenagers are busy growing up and it’s easy to be distracted by puberty, friendships, and self-involvement. The thing is, as a parent, you are going to notice if there is a problem in their education because a teenager doesn’t do very well in hiding their feelings.
A previously outgoing and confident teenager withdraws into themselves, placing them in isolation and social withdrawal when things are going wrong. They don’t often know how to handle changes, and they certainly don’t like to speak up in a struggle. So, it’s up to us as parents to work it out and make sure that we are taking notice of the changes.
Many teenagers struggle with academics or paying attention during class at some point or another. Sometimes, it’s a temporary change in their ability to concentrate. Parents then panic that their child isn’t able to focus – and they may even be concerned with whether their child has a learning difficulty. It should be reassuring that not every instance of struggling at school is because of learning difficulties. Some teenagers find school difficult because they cannot see the board. This one is an easy fix, as all they will need is an eye exam. Then they can choose a pair of Gucci glasses to rock on the daily and they’ll be able to see what they’re doing.
The point is that as a parent, you must pick up on low grades, disruptive behavior, and an acute dislike of school, as all of these are signs that your child is struggling. Before you start hunting for solutions or blaming their lack of concentration on something unfounded, let’s look at 10 clear reasons that your teenager could be struggling in school.
1. Practicing
Your teenager isn’t practicing as much as they should be. Schoolwork is a matter of memory, and if your teenager isn’t keeping up with their studies, they’re going to find it hard to remember anything. A lack of practice is one of the biggest issues teenagers find in school, so encourage your teenager to come up with routines that can help them to study.
2. Work is too hard
A classic reason that your teenager isn’t doing well is that they simply do not understand what is asked of them. It’s so much harder to want to do well in school when the work is too hard. It’s not that they’re not concentrating, they just don’t get what the concept of learning is in the first place. This can knock their confidence and make them feel like it’s not worth learning anything in the first place.
3. Not Being Challenged Enough
A teenager who struggles in the classroom due to a lack of concentration often feels that way because they are not being challenged enough. When there is a lack of challenge, interest fades faster than anything else. Some children are unable to keep up because they need more than their school is offering. Assess their needs at home and ask the school to do the same!
4. Distractions
Distractions, distractions. Classrooms are wonderful places that are filled with joy and learning. The thing is, classrooms also have chatty classmates and cluttered workstations. They have all the distractions that teenagers find hard to ignore. Even homeschooling suffers from the possibility of too many distractions.
5. Lack of Motivation
A sheer lack of motivation could be the reason for your teenager struggling, but you need to look beyond laziness. It’s not often a teenager feels such a disregard for their own learning unless there is an external factor affecting their want to learn.
6. Learning Style
Teenagers learn in different ways, so if your child is an audio learner but they spend all their time reading text, they’re not going to want to try harder with their learning. Figure out how your teen learns best and match their learning style. You might find that they are a completely different person once they’re able to understand what’s going on and how it’s being taught.
7. Adequate Sleep
Teenagers love to get themselves to bed late, but you have to enforce an earlier bedtime routine. We’re not suggesting that you treat them like a five-year-old, but you do need to come to an agreement or they’re never going to be able to get up for school on time. Teenagers need adequate sleep at night to be able to face the school day the next morning. Without the right amount of sleep, they cannot concentrate and they won’t do as well as they could! This is one area that homeschooling has the advantage – you can start school when it works for your student.
8. Lack of Organization
Do you remember loving school shopping at the beginning of the year? Buying pencil cases, materials and notebooks with your parents before the new year started was always an adventure. If your teen isn’t organized with their belongings, there could be delays in learning. A lack of organization makes it harder to have the necessary supplies at hand when they need them.
9. Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the biggest factors for struggles in teenagers. School is an overwhelming place to be, so it’s important to recognize when your teenager is feeling anxious. Perhaps there are too many kids. Perhaps the noise is too much. Perhaps they are being bullied. No matter what their anxiety stems from, you need to be on the ball.
10. Learning Difficulties
Lastly, learning difficulties could be a reason for their lack of concentration. It’s not that they don’t know what to do, but they don’t know how to focus. Have your teenager assessed if you are concerned.
Teenagers need to be watched to notice the changes that happen to them as they go through puberty. Don’t hesitate to ask your teenager how you can help. They will appreciate it (even if they show it by rolling their eyes)!