Falling Behind In School? - 11 Steps To Catch Up And Move Forward

Falling behind in school is every student’s nightmare. School work starts piling up while lessons keep progressing. It’s very hard for students to get good grades if they don’t understand their lessons. It can be a very stressful journey that will eventually lead to burnout. Students may even lose their excitement and passion to learn. It should be every parent’s goal to ensure that does not happen by offering the proper support and access to helpful resources.

Did you know that…

"Nearly half of all public school students in the US that entered the 2022-2023 academic year are lagging behind benchmarks, according to a new Department of Education report.

The National Center for Education Statistics School Pulse Panel  report, published Thursday, shows 49% of students are performing below grade level in at least one academic subject, up from the 36% average of a typical pre-pandemic year. This year’s survey garnered the largest response on record with 1,026 public schools participating."

As you can see, students falling behind in school is a serious issue that far too many students are experiencing. Odds are, you know people who can relate, it could even be you.

Today, we will be sharing some proven tips to help students catch up, get back on track and do better moving forward. Simple steps repeated consistently is key to making it happen. Take these to heart and use the information below transform a student’s educational journey. It can happen in the next 30 days or less.

If you're falling behind, here's 7 tips you can implement now to create momentum.

1. Assess the situation

Don’t panic. Relax and take a moment to understand the current situation. How far behind are you? What caused this? What’s confusing? Take note of all pending projects, assignments, tests and exams. Write everything down so you can see the breakdown of everything that needs to be done in a more organized manner.

2. Prioritize tasks

Identify and rank tasks from least to urgent. Organize these tasks by deadline and importance. Start by working on the tasks that are urgent and work your way down the list. This will buy students some time and will help ease stress. 

Students should always be aware of deadlines and the importance of each task. Cramming should never be an option. It’s best to get tasks done in a timely manner. Don’t let them sit and build up. Work on it right away even if the deadline is still far off. It’s better to always be prepared and to take action right away.

3. Create a schedule

Things become simpler when you are organized. Having a schedule allows students to properly allocate time and effort to subjects and schoolwork. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Set a realistic schedule with proper expectations, timeline and follow it. Make sure to add some breaks in between so students don’t burn themselves out.

4. Break tasks into smaller chunks

Breaking big projects into smaller manageable chunks will make the workload simpler and less daunting. This will also allow students to make steady progress by moving forward step by step. 

5. Ask for help

The most surefire way to solve an issue is to ask for help from experts. There is nothing wrong with seeking additional help and guidance. In fact, it’s the most effective and efficient way to clear up all confusion, gain confidence and get back on track.

Everyone started from the beginning at one point. Asking an expert and having a mentor will do wonders. It can help give students a boost in confidence which is not only key in school, but also in navigating life. 

That’s why we’ve made it our mission to give K-12 students a free 30-minute online tutoring session. Each session is done by a licensed teacher. This is perfect for students who need extra clarification or help with schoolwork. No purchase necessary. 

Click here to claim your free session!

6. Stay focused

Focus is important. The better the focus, the more efficient things get done. Eliminate all distractions and make sure the environment is suitable for studying. Students should do their best to follow their schedule and to not let any outside distractions take control. 

If a computer is needed, make sure to stay on track and not navigate outside of what needs to get done.

7. Stay organized

As mentioned before “Things become simpler when you are organized”. Create to-do lists and use planners to keep track of progress and tasks. Before the day ends, it is a good habit to plan the next day. This helps students stay prepared and ready for what’s to come. 

It’s also important to organize a student’s work environment. Mess will not do anyone any good. Overall, organization is a core life skill that should be practised and mastered. The sooner, the better. 

8. Stay consistent

Consistency is key to progress. One day of hard work is not enough. Follow effective study habits and do not let work pile up. If a problem arises, work on it right away and remember to help if needed. Click here to claim your free online tutoring session with a licensed K-12 teacher.

9. Prioritize self-care

Staying on track with school is important. It is important to remember that taking care of one’s physical, emotional and mental health is just as important. Take breaks, get enough sleep, get proper nutrition and exercise. That way, students feel refreshed, healthy and energized.

10. Learn from the experience

Mistakes are a part of life. Use this to learn and identify what went wrong. Identify the bad habits that caused a student to fall behind and work on changing that. Learning from one’s mistakes and working to resolve it is part of personal growth.

11. Patience, kindness and persistence

Catching up will not happen overnight. It happens step by step through consistent action. Be patient and kind with yourself. Through persistence, things will get better. It is also important to remember that with every win, no matter how small, should be celebrated. This is how students stay excited and motivated.

Conclusion:

Great things take time. Be patient and take things step by step. Challenges are part of the journey. Be consistent, practice good habits and self-care. If someone needs help, ask for it right away. Students can never go wrong by having a dependable mentor by their side.