Many learners do not find school easy. Some face obstacles such as learning difficulties, poverty, cultural differences, or a lack of support at home or in school. This guide gathers nine practical strategies teachers can use to help struggling students keep learning and succeed. It also shows how parents and the community can help.
On this page 5 sections
Why some students struggle
Education gives every person the knowledge and skills they need in their personal and working lives. Still, not every learner progresses at the same pace. Common reasons include:
- Learning difficulties and conditions, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder, which can affect how a learner takes in and processes information
- Poverty and other socioeconomic barriers, such as poor nutrition, few learning materials at home, or unstable housing
- Cultural differences that make the classroom feel unfamiliar or unwelcoming
- Weak support systems at home, in school, or in the community
No single fix works for every learner. The strategies below work best when used together and adjusted to each student.
Nine strategies for helping struggling students
1. Identify and address learning difficulties
A learning difficulty that goes unnoticed can hold a student back for years. Use regular assessments to spot learners who need help early. Then give tailored support and accommodations that fit each learner’s needs.
2. Build a supportive learning environment
Students learn better when they feel safe, motivated, and valued. Teachers can:
- Build positive relationships with each learner
- Give frequent feedback and encouragement
- Create a classroom culture that celebrates diversity and includes everyone
- Use hands-on and interactive activities that deepen understanding and build critical thinking
3. Provide extra support and resources
Some learners need more than regular class time. Options include:
- One-on-one tutoring
- After-school programs
- Academic intervention programs aimed at specific needs
- Assistive technology, such as text-to-speech software or audio textbooks, for learners who have trouble reading or processing text
4. Address socioeconomic barriers
Hunger, missing learning materials, and unstable housing all affect how well a child learns. These problems are too big for one teacher to solve alone. Work with parents, community organizations, and social service providers so learners can get nutritious meals, learning materials, and other forms of support.
5. Foster a growth mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can grow through effort and persistence, instead of being fixed. It helps learners keep going when lessons get hard. To build it:
- Treat mistakes as chances to learn
- Praise effort, not natural talent
- Encourage learners to set challenging goals and work toward them
6. Use technology
Technology can make learning more engaging and open new ways to learn. Examples include interactive educational games, virtual reality simulations, and online learning platforms. Video calls and online messaging can also help students and teachers stay in touch and work together.
7. Encourage peer-to-peer learning
Pairing a struggling learner with a more advanced classmate helps both of them build thinking and problem-solving skills. Peer tutoring and mentoring programs also help struggling learners feel connected to their class and less alone.
8. Provide positive role models
Role models show learners that obstacles can be overcome. Teachers can:
- Share stories of people who overcame similar challenges in school
- Invite professionals to talk about their own experiences
- Be role models themselves by showing a growth mindset, offering encouragement, and celebrating learners’ achievements
9. Monitor progress and adjust strategies
Check regularly whether your support is working. Use assessments, track grades and performance, and have frequent check-ins with learners. When the results or the learner’s own feedback show that something is not working, change your approach.
Quick summary
| Strategy | What it looks like in practice |
|---|---|
| Identify learning difficulties | Regular assessments, tailored accommodations |
| Supportive environment | Positive relationships, feedback, inclusive classroom |
| Extra support | Tutoring, after-school and intervention programs, assistive tools |
| Socioeconomic barriers | Partnering with parents, community, and social services |
| Growth mindset | Learning from mistakes, praising effort, setting goals |
| Technology | Educational games, online platforms, video calls |
| Peer learning | Peer tutoring and mentoring |
| Role models | Success stories, guest speakers, teachers as models |
| Monitoring | Assessments, grade tracking, check-ins, adjusting plans |
For teachers and parents
Treat each learner as an individual with their own needs and challenges, and tailor your support to fit. Teachers cannot do this alone. Working with parents, community groups, and social service providers helps address the social and economic problems that hold learners back. With the right guidance and support, every learner can overcome obstacles and reach their goals, whatever their background.
Frequently asked questions
What are common reasons students struggle in school?
Common reasons include learning difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder, poverty and related problems like poor nutrition or unstable housing, cultural differences, and weak support systems at home or in school.
What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work and persistence, instead of being fixed. Teachers build it by letting learners learn from mistakes, praising effort over talent, and encouraging challenging goals.
How can technology help struggling learners?
Interactive educational games, virtual reality simulations, and online learning platforms can make lessons more engaging. Assistive tools such as text-to-speech software and audio textbooks help learners who have trouble reading or processing text.
How can teachers help with problems outside the classroom, like poverty?
Teachers can work with parents, community organizations, and social service providers so learners can get nutritious meals, learning materials, and other support.
How do teachers know if their strategies are working?
By using regular assessments, tracking grades and performance, and checking in often with learners, then adjusting strategies based on the results and the learners’ feedback.
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