Research the student's background. Check the student file for any long-standing physical or psychological problems. Examine assessment scores and previous report cards. If there is a history of underachievement, meet with the school counselor and/or other health care professionals for advice on how to help improve academic performance. Contact the parents to discuss your concerns. Find out how they motivate the student at home. If the problem is a recent one, note any symptoms, such as pale skin, frequent colds, poor appetite and low energy and refer the student to the school nurse.
Arrange a private meeting with the student. If you have a good rapport , ask about the student's relationships with parents, friends, siblings and pets. The student may be grieving the death of a pet or feel depressed because of a falling out with a friend. Listen carefully and reflect the conversation. Do not offer too many suggestions or try to fix the problems. In most cases, the student simply wants a friendly, non-judgmental adult ear. Offer to meet with the student each week and help with his work habits. However, if the student has serious personal issues, such as suicidal thoughts or substance abuse, discuss your concerns with a counselor, the school social worker and/or an administrator.
Make small, gradual changes to the immediate environment. In an elementary or middle school, you can change the seating plan for the entire class and positively affect the dynamic of the room. When you separate low achievers and pair them with more extroverted, high achievers, they may be positively impacted by the new relationship. At the secondary level, provide more opportunities for the underachieving student to participate in class discussions and projects. If the student is not comfortable speaking up, appoint him or her as the timer or recorder for a debate or discussion. Incorporate a variety of activities into your daily lesson plans. Include activities that will benefit visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.
Encourage the underachieving student to attend extra help sessions after school. Alternatively, you could suggest a peer or adult tutor. When meeting with the student on an individual basis, encourage setting realistic goals. For example, if the student has a D average in mathematics, suggest aiming for a C on the next test. As work and study habits improve, suggest that the parents implement an appropriate reward system. For example, if the student attends classes and completes all assignments, the parents could treat the student to a special dessert or outing on the weekend. As performance improves, the parents could increase the reward. Families on tight budgets could make the necessary adjustments.