What if my child falls behind?

A valid concern for any homeschooler is for their student who may fall behind for whatever reason. Sometimes a student becomes ill, and is unable to keep up with their coursework, and is not able to catch up by the end of the school year. Or maybe a student is simply struggling with the material, and is unable to understand it well enough to remain on track. Or perhaps it’s been a difficult homeschooling year for other reasons, and the student is just behind schedule, plain and simple. What happens in these situations?

A student who falls behind for reasons other than being developmentally delayed, or possessing a learning disability, will often eventually catch up. It may not happen in a month, or a semester; it may not even happen the same school year. But allowing your student to progress through a difficult concept at their own pace can potentially give them a measure of confidence to push through the challenge. Your only real challenge may be in regards to meeting your state’s homeschooling requirements. Most every state makes allowances for students who show challenges with the learning. As a reminder, you

will seek out resources for your student if they are struggling. Have they fallen behind in math? Perhaps a different curriculum is in order. Are they struggling with writing? Maybe an adjustment in the writing assignment will help.

For a student who may have a learning disability or is developmentally delayed, you will need to investigate how to best handle this situation. Your state’s homeschooling laws may have a specific section addressing this issue; your local school district may also be able to provide some suggestions. But you as the parent can and will remain in control of your student’s learning experience.