7 Ways to Give Struggling Students a Fresh Start in 2025
Beyond the “New Year, New Me!” hype around resolutions and goal setting, there’s some concrete reasoning for struggling students to feel like they get a fresh start in school after the new calendar year. For most K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, January signals the start of a new semester after the long holiday break.
If you’re looking for ideas to help your struggling child or teen feel more optimistic about facing the return to school this month, consider these seven tips:
#1: Re-evaluate their study space.
Just as new art supplies can help jumpstart creativity, a revamped study space can give a child or teen a new perspective on homework and studying.
Evaluate the space for physical properties:
- Is it so cold that a space heater would help or too hot that they fall asleep while reading?
- Would a better light source—such as a desktop lamp—improve a dimly lit space?
- Is the chair comfortable and the desk aligned with the student’s height when seated?
- Are all the necessary school supplies (e.g. calculator, pencils, pencil sharpeners, etc.) within reach?
Now think about privacy:
- Is the space too loud?
- Are there too many distractions from other family members as they pass by or entertain themselves in nearby rooms?
- Is there any chance that your child feels isolated and alone when doing homework when they’d prefer to be with family?
Don’t assume that you know what your student prefers or needs when it comes to their study space. Take the time to discuss their current setup and make adjustments that help them feel more content, studious, and hopeful about school.
#2: Enroll struggling students in personal brain training.
While most parents are familiar with the concept of tutoring, which re-teaches academic content, fewer are familiar with personal brain training. The simplest way to understand the difference is through the “two parts to smart” concept. The first part is WHAT you know (e.g. history facts, math formulas, vocabulary words) while the second part is how you process information (e.g. cognitive skills like long-term and working memory, processing speed, attention, logic & reasoning, auditory and visual processing).
While tutoring is beneficial for material that was missed the first time, such as an extended school absence due to an illness or family move, it won’t necessarily help in the long run if the student doesn’t have strong cognitive skills to learn it.
But personal brain training is designed to target, train, and strengthen the brain’s thinking and learning skills. Based on the results of an initial Brain Skills Assessment, each student receives an individualized brain training plan. Using this plan, the student’s designated brain trainer uses cognitive drills, mental exercises, and brain games to target the skills that showed the most room for improvement in the Brain Skills Assessment. Beyond stronger brain skills, the majority of clients report feeling far more confident!
#3: Reassess your calendar.
Just because your time management is on point doesn’t mean your family should be doing everything on your calendar. Many students feel overwhelmed by overscheduling, which often includes a mix of school, homework, extracurricular activities, and family commitments that leave them little “downtime.”
Check in with your child or teen to ensure they’re still 100% engaged in their extracurricular activities (e.g., sports, band, choir, theater, youth group, student government). Foster an open conversation without judgment to ask if they feel like they’re getting enough time alone, with friends, or to sleep and adjust accordingly.
#4: Address their fears together.
Give your student the space to talk openly about their current concerns or feelings regarding their life. Some kids may worry about bullies, school shootings, a lack of friendships, or not “keeping up” in class. Others may stress over relationships, not getting into a good college, feeling inadequate academically, athletically, or in terms of appearance.
Consider that therapy might help your student sort through their feelings and learn coping techniques to help them better deal with stress, trauma, or low self-esteem.
#5: Discuss realistic goals to help struggling students make progress.
All parents have hopes and dreams for their children, but sometimes they don’t align with the reality of your child’s desires, capabilities, or aspirations.
Set aside a time to have a discussion in a calm and neutral setting in which you really listen to what your student considers to be realistic goals. While you may desire your child to make the honor roll every quarter or your teen to get into an Ivy League school after graduation, those may not be realistic—or shared—goals. Work together to lay out a plan that feels doable and motivating to your struggling students so they can track their progress and take ownership of their success.
#6: Consider MORE independence.
For many parents with struggling students, the idea of giving them MORE independence may seem counterintuitive. But the reality is that students who are given more autonomy in their learning often experience increased motivation, greater responsibility, enhanced self-efficacy, deeper learning, and even improved time management skills.
To be fair, it may take some time to find the sweet spot. But striking a balance with clear expectations, regular check-ins, supportive resources, and positive reinforcement can help foster independence while ensuring academic success. It all starts with a conversation about what your student wants and believes they’re capable of without the micromanagement of a parent.
#7: Research the best-matched study tools for struggling students.
Technology has significantly changed with each generation and your student may benefit from study tools that you don’t even know about. Spend some time asking your child or teen about which types of resources (e.g. flashcards, study apps, mind maps, or online quiz games) seem most appealing and helpful based on their learning style and preferences.
As your student starts the new academic semester, the most valuable gift you can offer them is active listening. Rather than doubling down on restrictions and punishments for less-than-stellar grades, consider the best ways to support your learner based on what they tell you. Granted, they may not always know what they want or how to improve their grades, but broaching the subject with an open mind and compassionate heart may help you work together to find realistic solutions while demonstrating your unwavering support.
