How to Talk to Teachers About Academic Struggles

A guide for parents on how to initiate productive, collaborative conversations with teachers when a child is facing academic challenges.

  1. Prepare for the Conversation. Before scheduling a meeting, gather concrete examples of the challenges your child is facing. Parents often find it helpful to review recent assignments, test scores, or notes from the teacher to identify specific areas where the child seems to stumble. This data helps shift the conversation from general concerns to actionable observations. It is also beneficial to ask your child for their perspective. Understanding whether they feel overwhelmed, bored, or simply unsure of how to ask for help can provide valuable context for the teacher. When you approach the meeting with a curious mindset rather than a defensive one, it sets a collaborative tone for the discussion.
  2. Approaching the Dialogue. When you meet with the teacher, consider framing the conversation around the question, 'What are you seeing in the classroom?' This invites the teacher to share their professional observations first. Many parents find success by focusing on the 'how' rather than the 'why'—asking about specific instructional strategies or classroom supports that might help their child engage more effectively. It is common for families to discuss potential adjustments, such as preferential seating, modified assignment pacing, or additional check-ins during independent work time. Remember that teachers manage many students simultaneously, so identifying small, manageable changes often yields more immediate results than requesting broad, systemic shifts.
  3. Establishing a Follow-Up Plan. The end of the meeting is the right time to establish how you will track progress. Many parents agree on a 'trial period'—perhaps two or three weeks—to implement new strategies before checking in again. This keeps the communication line open and ensures that both the home and school environments are aligned in their support. If the initial strategies do not lead to the desired progress, you might consider asking the teacher about school-based resources, such as tutoring programs, reading specialists, or the process for requesting a formal evaluation if underlying learning differences are suspected.