The Teacher Has Identified Concerns About Your Child's Learning—What Should I Do?

When a teacher shares that they have concerns about your child’s learning or progress, it can bring up a range of emotions—worry, guilt, confusion, and even relief if it validates something you’ve noticed yourself.

Whether it’s about reading, writing, concentration, social skills, or general classroom engagement, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. But you’re not alone—and there are proactive steps you can take.

Understand What the Teacher Is Noticing

It’s helpful to first understand the nature of the concern. Ask the teacher to be specific about what they are seeing.

For example:

• “Your child is having difficulty sounding out words and is not reading at the expected level for their age.”
• “They seem to struggle to follow multi-step instructions and often forget what they’re meant to be doing.”
• “During writing tasks, they avoid starting and need a lot of support to get ideas onto paper.”
• “They’re finding it hard to stay on task and are easily distracted.”
• “They often get frustrated when the work is challenging and may give up quickly.”

Ask the teacher:

• When did this concern first arise?
• What strategies have already been tried?
• Has there been any improvement with support?
• What additional support can the school offer (e.g., literacy intervention, small group programs, learning support staff)?

Consider Outside Factors

Sometimes learning difficulties are not the only cause. Consider whether your child has experienced:

• Frequent illness or school absences
• A recent change in schools or teachers
• Big life transitions (e.g., family separation, bereavement)
• Disruptions like the COVID-19 home learning period

These factors can impact your child’s learning and make it harder to keep up, even without an underlying learning disorder.

Talk With Your Child

Take some time to speak with your child and gently explore how they feel about learning.

Try asking:

• What do you find easy or hard at school?
• Are there parts of the day you really don’t enjoy?
• Is there anything you wish your teacher did differently?

They may share that they feel overwhelmed, embarrassed, or frustrated. They may even describe that the way something is being taught doesn’t make sense to them. Share this information with the teacher—it can be really valuable.

Plan for Ongoing Communication

This is not a “one and done” conversation. Ask for:

• Regular updates from the teacher about your child’s progress
• A follow-up meeting in 4–6 weeks to review strategies and changes
• A shared approach to supporting your child at home and school

Working as a team is key to understanding what’s going on and helping your child feel supported and confident.

Should You Consider a Formal Learning Assessment?

If your child continues to struggle despite support at school, or if the teacher suspects there could be a deeper issue, it may be time to consider a formal learning assessment with a psychologist.

An assessment can:

• Identify strengths and weaknesses in learning and thinking skills
• Detect specific learning difficulties like dyslexia or dyscalculia
• Provide insight into your child’s cognitive style and learning needs
• Help tailor classroom strategies to better support your child
• Give you peace of mind by offering clarity and direction

Assessments can also help you advocate for your child’s needs and access additional support services through the school system.

In Summary

When a teacher identifies concerns about your child’s learning, it doesn’t mean something is “wrong.” It means there’s an opportunity to learn more about how your child thinks, learns, and grows.

With open communication, teamwork, and the right support—including assessment if needed—your child can feel confident, capable, and ready to thrive.

📞 Need more guidance? At Future Minds Psychology, we offer learning and cognitive assessments tailored to help children reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more or book a consultation.

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