Executive functioning skills help children plan, organize, manage their time, remember information, make decisions, and regulate their behavior. These skills are important for everyday activities such as completing homework, following routines, getting ready for school, and managing responsibilities. Many children struggle with executive functioning, and these challenges can be particularly noticeable in children with ADHD and learning disabilities.

Because executive functioning skills develop through practice, everyday activities can provide valuable opportunities to strengthen them. Halloween offers many ways to practice planning, organization, time management, working memory, self-control, and reflection.

Try the ideas below with your child.

Plan a Halloween Costume

Selecting and creating a Halloween costume involves a lot of executive functioning skills!

Rather than handling all the details when it comes to your child’s costume, encourage them to play a role in the planning process. Start by asking them questions like:

• What do you want to dress up as?
• What will you need to create your costume?
• Which items do you already have?
• What do you need to buy or make?
• When will you need to have everything ready?

Young children can create a visual checklist to help them with this planning, while older children can make a written list with corresponding deadlines. For example, a young child might create a visual checklist that has pictures of their costume, a trick-or-treat bag, a flashlight, and a jacket. They should check off each item once it’s done. An older child might write out each step, like choosing a costume, ordering supplies, and putting everything together, then add a corresponding complete-by date next to each item on the checklist.

This exercise can help your child practice planning, organization, prioritization, and task initiation. It also teaches them how to break down a larger task into smaller, more manageable steps, key components of executive functioning!

Practice Time Management

Halloween offers a fun opportunity for children to practice estimating how long different tasks will take and then comparing their estimates with the actual time needed to complete them.

Before they get ready for Halloween, ask your child how long they think each step will take. For example, they might estimate:

• 15 minutes to put on their costume
• 12 minutes for makeup or accessories
• 5 minutes to gather their trick-or-treating bucket and supplies

Once done, they should note how long these tasks took them to complete and compare their estimated times with the actual times.

Children who struggle with executive functioning often have trouble accurately measuring the passage of time. By practicing time estimation during a fun activity like getting ready for Halloween, you can help your child gain a better grasp of how long tasks take to complete.

You can also carry this strategy over to homework by asking your child how long they think an assignment will take to complete and then comparing the estimate to the actual time it took.

Use Trick-or-Treating to Strengthen Working Memory

Working memory is the ability to hold information in one’s mind while using it. Children utilize their working memories when they follow multi-step directions, solve math problems, work on writing tasks, and complete classroom assignments.

Before your child leaves the house to go trick-or-treating, give them a list of items to remember to bring, like their trick-or-treat bag, flashlight, jacket, and a water bottle.

Ask your child to repeat the list, visualize the items, or write down a list of the items rather than just trying to remember them.

You can also practice working memory during trick-or-treating by asking your child to remember which houses and streets they have already visited and what the plan is for the path going forward.

Remember to keep it fun! The idea is not to make Halloween a structured academic experience, but to find small opportunities to let your child practice remembering and managing information on their own.

Use Candy Sorting to Practice Organization

Organization is a central component of executive functioning. After trick-or-treating, your child can practice their organizational skills by sorting their candy.

They can dump their candy out on a table or the floor, either alone or with a friend or sibling, and organize their candy by:

• Type
• Size
• Chocolate versus non-chocolate
• Favorites versus items they want to trade
• Candy they want to eat now versus save for later

For younger children, sorting offers a concrete way to practice categorizing items. Older children can develop their own organizational system (instead of a system you choose) and explain why they chose it.

This same thinking process applies to organizing a backpack, binder, folder, desk, or digital files. Your child can learn to group similar items together and create systems that help make their materials easier to find.

Develop Self-Control and Decision-Making

A giant pumpkin filled with Halloween candy can provide a natural opportunity to practice self-control and decision-making!

Instead of creating all the candy eating rules and passing them onto your child, involve your child in developing a reasonable plan for their candy consumption. For example, you might decide together how much candy they can eat that evening, how the rest will be stored, and when they might have some of the remaining candy (or donate it).

This approach gives children an opportunity to practice delayed gratification, making wise decisions, and self-monitoring.

Practicing these skills can help children learn to resist distractions during homework, wait until it’s their turn, or complete an assignment before moving on to an activity they enjoy.

Plan a Halloween Activity from Start to Finish

To further work on executive functioning skills, plan a challenge for your child! To do so, let your child plan a Halloween activity.

While it depends on their age, some activities they can plan include:

• A pumpkin-carving night
• A Halloween movie night
• A Halloween party
• A Halloween craft
• A baking project

Once your child has identified the activity they want to plan, help them break it into steps. Which materials will they need?  How much will each item cost? When should each step be completed? What needs to happen first, second, third, etc.?

Give your child support and guidance without taking over the planning process. The idea is to provide your child with the opportunity to manage a multi-step task from start to finish.

Reflect After Halloween

Reflection is an important part of executive functioning development.

After Halloween, spend some time talking to your child about how things went. Ask them questions like:

• What went well?
• What was harder than you expected?
• Did anything take longer than you thought?
• Did anything take less time than you thought?
• Did you forget anything?
• Would you do anything differently next time?

These types of questions can help your child develop metacognition, which is the ability to reflect on their own thinking and learning.

Metacognitive skills play an important role in school. When a student can recognize that they waited too long to start an assignment or that they learn information better when they write it down or dictate it out loud, they can begin to make better choices and approach schoolwork more independently.

Closing Thoughts

Many children struggle with executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, time management, task initiation, working memory, and self-regulation. With these Halloween activities, you can help your child develop stronger executive functioning skills and become more confident and successful in school.

EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one in person and virtual tutoring for students in grades pre-K-12 with specialized learning needs. They use research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, to develop students’ reading, writing, math, note taking, test taking, and executive functioning skills. Each student is evaluated and then receives an individualized learning plan to address their specific academic needs. Learn more at http://www.eblcoaching.com/. Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, is happy to hear from anyone who is in need for their child. You may reach her thru her website, and mention you heard of her thru MotherhoodLater.

The post How Halloween Helps Children Build Executive Functioning Skills appeared first on EBL Coaching.

While it’s normal for children to need some time to adjust to a new teacher, routine, and set of expectations, persistent academic difficulties shouldn’t necessarily be dismissed as part of the adjustment period.

Identifying these challenges early can help prevent small difficulties from developing into larger learning gaps as the school year progresses. The sooner you understand where your child is struggling, the sooner you can find the right targeted support to help them strengthen their skills, become more independent, and build confidence in school.

How can you tell if your child is simply adjusting to a new school year or may need additional academic support? Here are 10 signs your child may be falling behind in school.

1. Homework Takes Much Longer Than It Should

The amount of time it takes your child to complete their homework can be an early indication of how well they are managing grade-level expectations.

If short assignments consistently take hours to complete, your child may be struggling with the academic skills required to complete the assignment. They might also be having difficulty understanding the directions, or they may have attention or executive functioning difficulties.

Try to observe whether your child:

• Needs a lot of prompting to complete their homework
• Takes much longer than expected to finish their assignments
• Becomes easily frustrated when completing their homework
• Needs you to clarify directions
• Struggles to work independently
• Tries to avoid assignments that involve reading, writing, or math

Some academic struggles are normal, especially at the beginning of a new school year. However, if these challenges continue or begin to interfere with your child’s ability to complete their work, they may deserve closer attention.

Students who struggle with organization, task initiation, time management, or completing homework independently may benefit from executive functioning coaching in NYC. Learn more at Best Executive Functioning Coach in NYC: How to Choose – EBL Coaching.

2. Your Child Is Struggling With Reading or Is Avoiding Reading

If your child struggles with reading, they may try to find ways to avoid it.

Young children may resist reading aloud. They might also guess at unfamiliar words or rely on pictures and context clues instead of actually decoding words. Older students may try to avoid reading assignments. They may skim their assignments rather than reading carefully, or they may have difficulty remembering what they read.

Signs of a reading challenge might include:

• Slow, laborious reading
• Trouble sounding out unfamiliar words
• Frequent guessing at words when reading
• Skipping or replacing words
• Challenges with spelling
• Poor reading comprehension
• Avoidance of reading tasks

Students with dyslexia and other reading challenges may benefit from Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan, which provides systematic, multi-sensory instruction in reading and spelling. Learn more at Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan for Dyslexia & Reading Success.

3. Writing Assignments Are Becoming a Struggle

Writing demands increase as children progress through school. Students are expected to do more than just spell words and write sentences. They must organize their thoughts, develop paragraphs, provide supporting details, revise and edit their work, and complete increasingly complex writing assignments.

Some students can clearly explain their ideas when speaking but have difficulty expressing those same ideas in writing. They may know what they want to say but struggle to organize their thoughts, get started, or put their ideas into complete, well-developed written responses. When these difficulties persist, additional writing support may help children strengthen their written expression skills and become more confident writers.

Look for writing difficulties such as:

• Trouble getting started on writing tasks
• Short sentences or paragraphs
• Poor sentence structure
• Weak organization of ideas
• Spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors
• Challenges with developing paragraphs
• Difficulty organizing ideas before writing
• Frustration with writing tasks

These difficulties can become more noticeable as the school year progresses and writing demands increase.

If your child consistently struggles with written expression, writing tutoring for learning disabilities can provide targeted support with sentence construction, organization, paragraph development, and written expression. Learn more at Why Smart Kids Struggle with Writing and How Writing Tutoring Helps.

4. Your Child Is Struggling with Math Skills

Forgetting some math skills that were taught during the prior school year can be normal. However, if your child has forgotten key concepts or continues to struggle even after those math skills have been reviewed, there may be gaps that need to be addressed.

Watch for challenges with:

• Basic math facts
• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division concepts
• Fractions or decimals
• Multi-step calculations
• Solving word problems
• Retaining previously learned concepts
• Selecting the correct operation
• Articulating how they arrived at an answer

Math demands increase as students progress through school and concepts build upon one another. By addressing foundational gaps early, you can make it easier for your child to learn the new concepts that will be introduced later in the year.

Learn more about dyscalculia and math struggles at What Is Dyscalculia? Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Children – EBL Coaching.

5. Your Child Struggles with Organization and Assignments

Some students can easily grasp new academic concepts but struggle with their executive functioning skills.

Your child might finish a homework assignment but forget to turn it in, study the wrong material for a test, lose important papers, or start their assignments right before they are due.

Signs of executive functioning challenges can include:

• Forgetting assignments regularly
• Losing papers and materials
• Forgetting to use a planner or calendar
• Waiting until the last minute to start assignments
• Underestimating how long tasks will take to complete
• Difficulty getting started on tasks
• Needing frequent reminders from parents

As your child’s workload increases, these executive functioning challenges can make it harder for them to keep up with schoolwork, even when they understand the material.

6. Your Child Understands the Material at Home but Performs Poorly on Tests

Your child may seem to understand the material when studying for a test but still consistently receive lower grades on tests and quizzes. If this happens, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your child isn’t trying hard enough.

Some students simply need to learn more effective ways to study. Others may have difficulty with memory, focus, reading comprehension, test-taking strategies, or understanding and following multi-step directions.

Simply rereading notes or looking over a textbook may not be enough. Many students benefit from learning specific study strategies, such as self-quizzing, using memory techniques, creating study guides, breaking information into smaller parts, and spreading their studying out over several days. These strategies can help students feel more prepared and confident when it’s time to take a test.

7. Your Child Is Losing Confidence in School

Try to pay attention to changes in the way your child talks about school.

When they make comments like “I don’t know,” “I’m bad at reading,” “I hate writing,” or “I’m just not smart,” pay attention, as these kinds of comments sometimes reflect more than just temporary frustration.

When children consistently struggle with schoolwork, they may begin to lose confidence in their abilities. They may become hesitant to try challenging tasks or give up quickly because they are worried about making mistakes or not being successful.

The right academic support should be more than simply getting homework done. It should help children build the skills, strategies, and confidence they need to approach schoolwork more independently and feel successful in the classroom.

8. Your Child Is Becoming Increasingly Anxious About School

Academic struggles may not appear on quizzes or tests right away.

Some children start to complain about school, become easily upset when doing homework, worry excessively about quizzes and tests, or try to avoid certain classes or assignments.

If this behavior occurs regularly around specific academic tasks, you may want to look into whether your child may have an underlying skill deficit that is contributing to their stress.

If a child finds reading extremely difficult, for example, they may become anxious when asked to read aloud. A student who struggles to organize their thoughts may avoid writing tasks. Addressing underlying academic challenges early can help reduce the frustration surrounding them and prevent continued challenges.

9. Your Child’s Teacher Is Already Expressing Concerns

If your child’s teacher gives you feedback early in the school year, don’t ignore it! They might mention that your child is having difficulty keeping up, completing independent work, following multi-step directions, reading at the expected level, writing organized responses, or grasping new math concepts. If that’s the case, try to gather more information.

You may want to ask questions like:

• Which skills are my child struggling with the most?
• Is my child performing below their peers?
• Have these challenges been observed consistently?
• Have any interventions already been tried? If so, which ones?
• What can I do at home to help?

The more specific information you have, the better you’ll be able to understand where your child is struggling and what type of support may be most beneficial.

10. The Same Challenges Keep Appearing Year After Year

Pay attention if your child’s struggles are repeating year after year.  Perhaps they struggled with spelling last year and continue to struggle with it this year. Maybe their teachers have consistently mentioned difficulties with reading, writing, math, focus, or organization.

When the same challenge continues across grades, just waiting for your child to “catch up” likely isn’t the best approach.

Consistent academic challenges may indicate that your child needs more targeted instruction than they are currently receiving.

Don’t Wait for the First Report Card

Some parents wait until the first progress report, parent-teacher conference, or report card before seeking additional help for their child. If your child is struggling, don’t delay taking action! Try to be proactive rather than reactive.

Grades are only one indication of how a student is doing. Study habits, self-confidence, independence, teacher observations, and the amount of effort exerted can all provide important information well before the first progress report arrives.

Early intervention also can help address specific areas of weakness before the demands of school continue to increase.

Finding the Right Academic Support

The best support for your child depends on what they are struggling with and their overall academic profile.

A child with dyslexia may need explicit, research-based, multi-sensory reading instruction, such as Orton Gillingham tutoring. A student who has dysgraphia or struggles with writing may benefit from structured tutoring in sentence construction, paragraph development, writing organization, and self-checking.

Students with executive functioning difficulties may need direct instruction in planning, organization, time management, and task initiation. Other students may need targeted math intervention to help them develop foundational concepts before progressing to more advanced math concepts.

Instead of just focusing on homework help, effective academic intervention should identify the skills your child is struggling with and teach them strategies to help them become a stronger, more independent student.

If you’re wondering whether your child’s struggles are significant enough to warrant additional support, you may also want to read about signs your child may need a tutor. Learn more at 7 Signs Your Child Needs a Tutor: How to Know When to Get Help – EBL Coaching.

Academic Tutoring for Learning Disabilities in NYC and New Jersey

EBL Coaching provides individualized, one-on-one academic tutoring to students in New York City and New Jersey, including at our Upper East Side Manhattan and Englewood, New Jersey learning centers. We work with students throughout Manhattan, Bergen County, and surrounding areas who have dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, learning disabilities, and other academic needs.

Our instruction is customized to each student’s unique learning profile and can focus on reading, writing, math, organization, time management, executive functioning, and other areas of academic development.

For students with reading and spelling challenges, EBL Coaching offers systematic, multi-sensory instruction using the Orton Gillingham approach. Students who struggle with writing, math, organization, or executive functioning receive targeted strategies designed to address their specific areas of need.

The beginning of the school year is an ideal time to identify academic challenges and give your child the appropriate support. By addressing difficulties early, you can help your child strengthen their essential skills, keep up with academic expectations, and tackle the rest of the school year with greater confidence and independence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my child is falling behind?
To gauge whether your child is falling behind, look for consistent patterns rather than an occasional difficult assignment or low grade. Spending an excessive amount of time completing homework, showing repeated difficulty with certain academic skills, avoiding assignments, teacher concerns, weak test performance, or increasing dependence on parents may suggest that additional support may be helpful.

Should I wait until the first report card before seeking a tutor for my child?
If your child is struggling, try to avoid waiting until the first report card before seeking a tutor for them. If you are noticing consistent academic difficulties, you may want to find support before report cards are issued. Early intervention may prevent small challenges from becoming more significant difficulties as the school year progresses.

What type of tutoring is best for a child with a learning disability?
The tutoring your child receives should be individualized to their specific learning needs. Students with dyslexia, for example, often benefit from explicit, systematic, multi-sensory reading instruction, such as Orton Gillingham tutoring. Students with executive functioning challenges may need direct instruction in organization, planning, time management, and task initiation.

What are early signs of dyslexia?
Potential signs of dyslexia can include trouble sounding out unfamiliar words, slow or laborious reading, guessing at words, poor spelling, challenges with remembering sound-symbol relationships, and reading avoidance.

Can executive functioning struggles make a child appear to be falling behind?
Yes. Some students understand academic material but struggle to manage their homework assignments, remember due dates, organize their materials, start tasks, plan out long-term projects, or study efficiently. These challenges can negatively affect their academic performance.

Where can I find learning disability tutoring in NYC or New Jersey?
EBL Coaching specializes in providing individualized tutoring to students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, executive functioning difficulties, and other learning challenges in New York City, New Jersey, and surrounding areas. The instruction uses research-based, multi-sensory techniques and is customized to each student’s specific academic needs and learning profile.

About the Author

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching and has more than 20 years of experience helping students strengthen their reading, writing, math, study, and executive functioning skills. She has worked with thousands of students with dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other academic challenges.

Dr. Levy is the author of the Strategies for Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. Her expertise has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Parenting Magazine, The Epoch Times, and Macaroni KID. Read more about Dr. Levy at About Dr. Levy ADHD treatment New York City.

The post 10 Signs Your Child Is Struggling in School and May Need Help appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Start Preparing for the New School Year Early

To help reduce anxiety, preview what the new school year will look like with your child ahead of time. You may want to practice the drive or walk to school, visit the school building if possible, and show your child a picture of their new teacher. Familiarizing them with these details can make the first day feel less intimidating and more predictable.

You can also talk to your child about what a typical school day will look like, including arrival, classes, lunch, activities, and dismissal. You may want to review the school calendar together and help your child enter important dates, events, and days off school into a planner or assignment book. This gives them a clearer picture of what lies ahead and will help them feel calmer and more prepared.

For children who struggle with anxiety, including those with special needs, uncertainty can be very stressful. The more you can preview the routines, people, places, and events they will encounter during the new school year, the more familiar and manageable the transition is likely to feel.

Discuss What Is Worrying Them

Your child may begin showing increased signs of worry as the new school year approaches. Rather than simply waiting for these feelings to pass, encourage them to talk about what is making them nervous. Understanding the source of their anxiety can help you provide the right reassurance and support.

Try asking specific questions rather than general ones. For example, instead of simply asking, “Are you worried about school?” consider questions such as:

• “Are there certain parts of the first day you’re worried about?”
• “Are there any subjects you think might be difficult for you?”
• “Are you concerned about how much homework you’ll have?”
• “Are you worried about making friends or who will be in your class?”
• “Is there anything about your new teacher or classroom that makes you nervous?”
• “What could we do to make the first week feel easier and less stressful?”

Questions like these can help uncover what is really behind your child’s anxiety. They may not be worried about school in general, but rather about a specific challenge, such as keeping track of assignments, finding their classroom, making friends, reading aloud, completing difficult schoolwork, or remembering to bring home the materials they need. Some children may also feel self-conscious about receiving extra help or being pulled out of class for additional support.

Once you understand what is causing your child’s anxiety, you can work with them to address those concerns before the school year begins. Identifying specific worries and developing a plan for handling them can help your child feel more prepared and confident.

Restart Routines Gradually

When the school year begins, many children go from less structured summer days to highly structured school schedules. Rather than introducing a completely new routine on the first day of school, try to make these changes gradually in the days and weeks leading up to the new school year.

Start by talking to your child about what time they will need to go to bed and wake up once the school year begins. Then gradually shift their bedtime and wake-up time earlier until they reach their school-year schedule. This can make the transition easier and help prevent the first few school mornings from feeling rushed and overwhelming.

It can also be helpful to establish consistent morning and evening routines ahead of time. Children with special needs, including those with ADHD or executive functioning challenges, often respond best to routines that are simple, concrete, and easy to follow rather than long or overly complicated ones.

For younger children, consider creating a visual schedule on a poster or whiteboard that they can easily reference. For example:

Morning Routine

• Wake up
• Eat breakfast
• Brush teeth
• Get dressed
• Pack backpack
• Go to school

Evening Routine

• Come home from school
• Have a snack
• Complete homework
• Eat dinner
• Take a shower
• Pack backpack for the next day
• Get ready for bed

If your child has sports, tutoring, clubs, or other after-school activities on certain days, you can adjust the schedule accordingly. Each day might not look exactly the same, but the goal is to give your child a predictable framework for what their days and weeks will look like. The more familiar the routine feels before school begins, the easier it will be for your child to adjust to the structure and expectations of the new school year.

Create a Consistent Homework Routine

Before the school year begins, help your child establish a consistent homework routine. Start by choosing a designated study space where they will complete their homework each day. This might be a desk in their bedroom, or it can be a shared space, such as the kitchen or dining room table. Ideally, the area should be comfortable, organized, and free from unnecessary distractions.

Stock the study space with the supplies your child is likely to need, such as pencils, pens, paper, highlighters, and other school materials. Keeping these items readily available and replenishing them when they run low can prevent your child from wandering around searching for supplies when it is time to work.

Next, decide together when homework will typically be completed. Some children work best immediately after school, while others benefit from having a snack and a short break first. Another option is to complete homework after dinner. There is no single schedule that works best for every child. The key is to choose a routine that works for your child and follow it as consistently as possible. Over time, a predictable homework routine can make it easier for your child to get started, stay focused, and complete assignments more independently.

Set Up an Organizational System

Before your child starts school, help them set up an organizational system. You can try a color-coded approach, where your child chooses one color for each class, like green for science, blue for math, etc. Then when you purchase school supplies with them, select green notebooks and folders for science, blue for math, and so on. In their assignment book (which they should also use throughout the school year), they can even color-code their assignments by highlighting their homework tasks in the color corresponding to each subject. For example, they might highlight their science assignments in green, math assignments in blue, and other assignments in whatever color corresponds to that subject.

Make Sure Academic Supports Are in Place

Before the school year begins, it’s important that you ensure the academic supports your child needs are in place. If they have an IEP or 504 Plan, make sure your child’s school and teacher receive the document. Set up a team meeting, so their teacher and any other service providers understand the services and accommodations your child needs.

It is also helpful to establish a system for communicating with your child’s teachers and service providers throughout the school year. Regular communication can help you stay informed about your child’s progress, identify potential concerns early, and work together to address challenges before they become more significant.

Closing Thoughts

A new school year can bring excitement and the opportunity for a fresh start, but it can also come with uncertainty and anxiety. By putting these strategies into place before school begins, you can help your special needs child feel more prepared, confident, and ready for a successful year ahead.

EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one in person and virtual tutoring for students in grades pre-K-12 with specialized learning needs. They use research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, to develop students’ reading, writing, math, note taking, test taking, and executive functioning skills. Each student is evaluated and then receives an individualized learning plan to address their specific academic needs. Learn more at http://www.eblcoaching.com/. Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, is happy to hear from anyone who is in need for their child. You may reach her thru her website, and mention you heard of her thru MotherhoodLater.

The post How to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety for Your Special Needs Child appeared first on EBL Coaching.

How can you help your child with dyslexia prepare for the new school year?

1. Establish a Back-to-School Routine for Your Child with Dyslexia

In addition to reading challenges, some students with dyslexia may also have difficulty with executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, and time management. Helping them set predictable routines can reduce the number of tasks your child needs to remember and can make busy school days feel more manageable for them.

Before school starts, establish consistent routines for waking up, getting ready for school, completing homework, and going to bed. Encourage your child to prepare as much as possible the night before by packing their backpack, choosing their clothes, and organizing any materials they will need for the following day.

You may want to even create visual checklists for recurring tasks, both for the morning and after-school hours. Over time, these strategies can help your child become more independent and organized.

2. Create a Homework Space That Supports Your Child with Dyslexia

To build organizational skills and prepare your child for the new school year, help them set up a designated place where they will consistently complete their homework and study. Ideally, the area should be quiet, organized, and free from distractions.

Make sure you stock this space with supplies they will need for completing their schoolwork, including pens, pencils, highlighters, paper, and folders. Having everything readily available can minimize interruptions and make it easier for your child to get started and finish their work.

If your child has difficulty staying focused for long periods, try breaking homework into shorter work sessions with brief breaks in between. Additionally, a long assignment can also be overwhelming to them, so try dividing it into smaller, clearly defined steps.

3. Help Your Child with Dyslexia Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

Children with dyslexia may feel anxious about challenges they may face during the new school year, such as reading aloud, completing writing assignments, keeping pace with their classmates, or adjusting to a new teacher’s expectations.

Talk to your child about these concerns. Instead of just reassuring them that everything will be okay, help them identify specific situations they are worried about and develop strategies for handling them. For instance, if homework was particularly difficult last year, discuss strategies that can help make the process more manageable this year.

Giving your child a voice in these conversations can help them feel more prepared and less anxious about starting the new school year.

Learn more about dyslexia tutoring and the different approaches that may support reading and writing development at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching.

4. Talk to Your Child’s Teacher About Dyslexia Before School Starts

For students with dyslexia, communication with teachers is important. Don’t wait until your child starts to struggle to establish communication with their teacher.

At the beginning of the year, introduce yourself and share relevant information with them about your child’s dyslexia, learning style, strengths, and areas of difficulty. If your child has an IEP, make sure their teachers and service providers receive the document and are familiar with the accommodations and services your child needs.

You may also want to establish a system for ongoing communication so you can learn about and address any concerns early, before they become larger challenges.

5. Make Sure Your Child’s Dyslexia Accommodations Are in Place

Accommodations can help students with dyslexia demonstrate what they know without being limited by challenges with reading, spelling, or writing.

While it can vary based on a child’s individual needs and educational plan, accommodations might include extended time, access to audiobooks or text-to-speech technology, reduced copying demands, or preferential seating.

Accommodations should always be individualized to the needs and profile of each student. The idea is to provide appropriate access to instruction and allow your child to demonstrate their knowledge.

6. Watch for Early Signs of Academic Difficulty

The beginning of school can provide important information about whether your child’s current supports are sufficient.

Take notice if your child:

• Takes an unusually long time to complete reading or writing assignments
• Often avoids reading
• Has significant challenges with spelling
• Struggles to sound out words
• Reads slowly or inaccurately
• Has trouble remembering information they read
• Becomes increasingly frustrated when completing schoolwork
• Makes comments like, “I’m bad at reading,” or “I’m not smart”
• Shows a decline in confidence

One challenging homework assignment or poor grade doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. However, a consistent pattern of difficulty shouldn’t be ignored.

Learn what to look for when choosing a reading specialist in NYC at What to Look for in a Reading Specialist in NYC- EBL Coaching.

7. Provide Structured Reading Support

Children with dyslexia typically benefit from reading instruction that is explicit, structured, multi-sensory, and cumulative.

Structured literacy approaches, including Orton-Gillingham instruction, can provide explicit, systematic instruction in foundational reading and spelling skills. It incorporates multi-sensory tools while explicitly teaching sound/letter relationships, decoding, spelling, syllable types, and other foundational literacy skills.

For a child with dyslexia, don’t assume that additional reading practice alone will resolve their challenges; it’s important to determine the specific areas of difficulty and provide instruction targeted to those needs.

At EBL Coaching, we provide individualized, one-on-one tutoring to students with dyslexia and other learning challenges. The specialized tutoring sessions integrate structured, research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham approach, that target each student’s specific reading and spelling needs.

Students can receive support at our learning centers in New York City and New Jersey, at your home, or virtually.

8. Focus on Your Child’s Strengths

When a child struggles with reading and other academic skills, those difficulties can easily become the focus of conversations about school.

Try to make a conscious effort to recognize and emphasize your child’s strengths. A student who has difficulty decoding words may be an excellent problem solver, athlete, artist, musician, or creative thinker.

Remember to praise their effort, persistence, and improvement, rather than focusing exclusively on grades.

Your child should understand that dyslexia describes a particular pattern of learning challenges, but it doesn’t define their intelligence or their potential.

9. Don’t Wait Too Long to Seek Additional Help

Some parents may think that a challenging start to the school year will resolve once their child becomes adjusted to a new teacher and routine. While that may sometimes be the case, persistent reading difficulties shouldn’t be ignored.

If your child continues to struggle with decoding, reading fluency, spelling, comprehension, or writing, you may want to speak to their teacher and seek additional individualized support.

Early intervention can prevent academic gaps from becoming even greater and can help protect your child’s confidence.

Helping Your Child Start the School Year with Confidence

A new school year can be an exciting time, offering children with dyslexia an opportunity for a fresh start. By establishing predictable routines, communicating with your child’s teachers, ensuring appropriate accommodations are in place, and providing targeted reading intervention, you can help make your child’s transition to school much smoother.

Remember not to measure your child’s success solely by how quickly they read or the grades they receive. Help them recognize their progress (and be proud of it!) and understand that they can become successful students even when certain academic skills require additional effort and support.

If your child with dyslexia is struggling with reading, spelling, writing, or executive functioning, EBL Coaching can help! We offer individualized tutoring for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges in NYC and New Jersey. We create customized tutoring plans based on each student’s specific learning needs and use structured, research-based, multi-sensory approaches to help students strengthen their academic skills and self-confidence.

Learn more about Orton Gillingham tutoring for students in Manhattan at  Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan for Dyslexia & Reading Success.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dyslexia Intervention 

How can I prepare my child with dyslexia for a new school year?
To help prepare your child with dyslexia for the new school year, start by establishing school-year routines before classes start, like creating visual checklists and moving bedtime and wake up times earlier. You can also help your child set up a homework space and communicate with their teachers and other service providers early.

Should I tell my child’s new teacher that they have dyslexia?
Yes! Teachers should know about your child’s diagnosis along with their learning needs and any accommodations or services included in their IEP or 504 Plan. You may want to also share information about strategies that have worked well for them in the past (and even those that haven’t worked) to help their teacher support your child from the start of the year.

Which accommodations can help students with dyslexia at school?
Accommodations vary based on the needs of each student, but some accommodations that many students with dyslexia benefit from include extended time, audiobooks, text-to-speech technology, reduced copying requirements, and additional time for writing assignments. Accommodations should be based on your child’s individual needs.

What are signs that my child with dyslexia needs additional reading support?
If your child has difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, reads slowly, has persistent spelling challenges, avoids reading, or takes an excessive amount of time to complete homework, additional support may be helpful for them.

Is the Orton Gillingham approach helpful for children with dyslexia?
Yes! The Orton Gillingham approach uses explicit, structured, sequential, and multi-sensory instruction to teach students foundational reading and spelling skills. These principles align with the type of structured literacy instruction that students with dyslexia often need.

How often should a child with dyslexia receive tutoring?
There is no set schedule that is appropriate for every student. The frequency of tutoring should vary based on your child’s individual needs, including their reading level, severity of difficulties, and school-based services they may be receiving. Consistent instruction is important when a student is receiving Orton Gillingham tutoring or reading remediation to develop academic skills effectively and help close significant skill gaps.

Can tutoring help a child with dyslexia become more confident?
Yes! Individualized dyslexia tutoring can help students build skills that previously caused frustration. As children begin to develop their reading skills and experience success, they often become more confident and willing to take on challenging academic tasks.

Where does EBL Coaching provide dyslexia tutoring?
EBL Coaching provides individualized tutoring for students with dyslexia and other learning challenges in New York City and New Jersey. Sessions can be provided at their learning centers, at the home, or virtually.  Tutoring sessions use research-based, multi-sensory techniques that are individualized to each student’s specific needs.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with dyslexia improve their academic skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Back-to-School Tips for Children With Dyslexia: A Parent’s Guide appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Students with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, planning, and task initiation. After the less-structured days of summer, adjusting to early mornings, full school days, homework, and new routines can feel especially overwhelming for them. However, there are practical steps you can take to ease the back-to-school transition for your child with ADHD. By putting the right routines and supports in place, you can help your child start the school year feeling more confident, organized, and prepared for success.

Why Is Back-to-School Challenging for Students With ADHD?

ADHD affects more than a child’s ability to focus. It can also impact the executive functioning skills they need to effectively manage their daily responsibilities and stay on top of their schoolwork.

A student with ADHD may be bright and understand the material being taught in class, yet still struggle to keep track of assignments, remember to bring home necessary materials, manage their time, or get started on their work.

These challenges can become especially noticeable at the beginning of the school year, when students are adjusting to new schedules, routines, teachers, and academic expectations.

Back-to-school challenges that students with ADHD often face include:

• Forgetting their assignments and important materials
• Losing papers or school supplies
• Struggling to get ready in the morning
• Procrastinating getting started on homework
• Becoming easily distracted when working on assignments
• Struggling to transition from one activity to the next
• Estimating how much time assignments will take to complete
• Forgetting upcoming quizzes, projects, or deadlines
• Feeling overwhelmed by a multitude of assignments
• Struggling to adjust to new classroom expectations

Learn more about how to find the right executive functioning coach in NYC for your child at Best Executive Functioning Coach in NYC: How to Choose – EBL Coaching.

11 Back-to-School Strategies for Students with ADHD

Instead of waiting for missing assignments and poor grades to pile up, use the start of the school year as an opportunity to put strategies in place that strengthen these skills and help your child stay on track. Try the ideas detailed below:

1. Reestablish a Daily Routine

Students with ADHD often benefit from predictable routines and consistent schedules. Knowing what to expect throughout the day can reduce the number of decisions they need to make and make it easier for them to manage transitions and responsibilities.

Before school begins, gradually start shifting your child back to a school-year schedule. Move bedtime and wake-up times earlier and begin establishing consistent times for meals, homework, and extracurricular activities.

Once the school year is underway, try to keep the general structure of each weekday as consistent as possible. A predictable routine can help your child stay organized, manage their time, and feel more prepared for each part of the day.

An after-school routine for your child might look like:

• Come home from school
• Have a snack
• Take a short break
• Complete homework
• Organize materials for next day
• Eat dinner
• Enjoy relaxation time
• Get ready for bed

The specific routine you create should be tailored to your child’s individual needs. Some children may benefit from physical activity or downtime right after school, while others may do best starting their homework while they are still in “school mode” before they become tired or distracted.

The idea is not to create an overly rigid schedule, but to establish enough consistency that important tasks and responsibilities gradually become part of your child’s daily routine.

2. Create a Morning Checklist

Mornings can be particularly challenging for students with ADHD. Your child may become distracted while getting dressed, forget to pack an important item in their backpack, or suddenly remember something they were supposed to complete the night before.

A visual morning checklist can help your child stay on track and complete each step of their routine more independently, while reducing the number of reminders you need to give them.

While it may vary based on your child’s age, a visual checklist might look like:

• Wake up
• Get dressed
• Eat breakfast
• Brush teeth
• Pack lunch
• Check backpack
• Pack sports or activity equipment
• Put on shoes
• Leave for school

You may want to hang up the checklist up in a visible place where your child will see it every morning.

As your child gets older, try to encourage them to take more responsibility with completing the items on their checklist independently, without you reminding them to do so.

Read our parent guide to executive functioning skills in children at What Are Executive Functioning Skills? A Simple Guide for Parents – EBL Coaching.

3. Create One Place for School Materials

Many students with ADHD struggle with organization and time management. They might spend fifteen minutes completing their homework and another thirty minutes looking for it the next morning.

To help with these struggles, create a designated “organization station” near the door.

Select one location where your child puts everything they need for the following day, including their backpack, completed homework, lunch, sports equipment, and other materials.

Encourage your child to place their belongings in this area the night before rather than in the morning, to avoid morning chaos.

By minimizing the number of details that your child needs to remember in the morning, you can make leaving for school much smoother.

4. Set Up an Organization System

Some parents start the school year by helping their child create a detailed organizational system, only to find that it is abandoned within the first few weeks.
For students with ADHD, simpler systems are often easier to maintain and more effective over time.

Try using:

• One folder for papers that need to come home from school
• One folder for assignments your child has completed
• Color-coded folders for each subject
• A backpack organization system, with a designated clean-out day
• One planner for all assignments and activities

Try to avoid creating a complex organizational system with too many steps. If maintaining the system requires too much effort, your child will be less likely to use it consistently.

You can also designate one day each week, such as Tuesday or Friday, for your child to clean out their backpack and folders. This weekly routine can help prevent papers and clutter from piling up and make their organizational system easier to maintain.

5. Encourage Your Child to Use a Planner

Writing down assignments in a planner may sound simple, but it actually involves multiple executive functioning skills.

A student must record their assignments accurately, remember to look at their planner, bring home the materials needed for completing their homework, finish their assignments, and remember to turn them in.

Students with ADHD often struggle with their executive functioning skills and may need explicit instruction and repeated practice with this process.

When using a planner, encourage your child to record:

• Homework assignments
• Tests and quizzes
• Project deadlines
• After-school activities
• Appointments
• Holidays
• Important school events

For long-term projects and assignments, your child shouldn’t just write down the final due date. Instead, they should work backward to create smaller deadlines for individual steps.

For example, if they have a social studies project to complete, they might write the following steps in their planner:

• October 12: Choose research topic
• October 14: Find relevant sources
• October 17: Finish outline
• October 20: Create first draft
• October 22: Edit draft
• October 24: Turn in project

By breaking down large assignments into smaller steps, the assignment will feel much more manageable for your child.

Read more about ADHD homework strategies for better focus and organization at Homework Help for ADHD: Strategies That Actually Work – EBL Coaching.

6. Create an ADHD-Friendly Homework Environment

Students with ADHD are often easily distracted by their surroundings. A phone notification, television playing in another room, nearby conversation, or even clutter in their workspace can pull their attention away from schoolwork.

To help your child stay focused, create a designated homework area with as few distractions as possible. Keep commonly used supplies, such as pens, pencils, paper, highlighters, and a calculator, fully stocked and within easy reach. This can prevent your child from repeatedly leaving their workspace to search for something they need.

Keep phones and other distracting devices out of reach unless they are necessary for a particular assignment.

The ideal homework environment will vary from child to child. Some students work best in complete silence, while others concentrate better with quiet background noise. You may need to experiment with different setups to determine which environment helps your child stay focused and productive.

7. Break Homework into Manageable Pieces

Students with ADHD can easily feel overwhelmed by large amounts of homework. Avoid telling them to just “do your homework,” since they may not even know where to begin and might avoid starting their work all together.

Instead, help your child break larger assignments and homework tasks into smaller, manageable steps. For example, rather than saying, “do your book report,” break the assignment down into specific actions, like review the assignment, choose a book, read the directions, create an outline, and begin working on the first section.

Breaking assignments into smaller steps can reduce the demands on your child’s working memory and make tasks feel less overwhelming and easier to start.

It can also be helpful to divide homework time into shorter work periods followed by brief breaks. For example, your child might work for 20 minutes, take a five-minute break, and then begin the next task. This approach can make longer homework sessions feel more manageable and help your child maintain their focus.

8. Focus on Task Initiation

Many students with ADHD spend more time avoiding or putting off assignments than actually completing them. This tendency is often related to difficulties with task initiation, an executive functioning skill that involves being able to begin a task efficiently without excessive procrastination.

One way to make getting started easier is to keep the first step as small and manageable as possible. For example, instead of saying, “Start your math homework,” try saying, “Open the assignment and review the instructions.”

Once your child takes that first step, it may be easier for them to build momentum and continue working.

Timers can also be helpful for overcoming the initial resistance to starting a task. Try challenging your child to work for just seven minutes. Knowing they only need to focus for a short period can make an overwhelming assignment feel more manageable, and once they get started, they may find it easier to keep going.

9. Build in Movement

For many students with ADHD, movement helps them improve their focus.

Rather than asking your child to sit at their desk for several hours straight, build in short movement breaks between homework assignments.

During these breaks, your child might:

• Go for a short walk
• Stretch
• Jump in place
• Take the dog out
• Have a quick snack
• Kick a ball for a few minutes

Try to keep these breaks brief and structured. The goal is to give your child a chance to reset and refocus without becoming absorbed in another activity that makes it difficult to return to their work.

10. Communicate With Your Child’s Teachers Early

For students with ADHD, regular communication between home and school can make a significant difference. If you notice that your child is struggling, don’t wait until the first parent-teacher conference to reach out to their teacher.

At the beginning of the school year, connect with your child’s teacher and share any relevant information, including strategies or supports that have helped your child succeed in the past.

As the year progresses, look out for patterns that may indicate a specific area of difficulty. Is your child completing homework but forgetting to turn it in? Is writing taking them much longer than expected? Do long-term projects make them feel overwhelmed? Are assignments frequently missing or incomplete?

Identifying these specific patterns can help you and your child’s teacher better understand where they are struggling and determine which strategies and supports may be most helpful.

11. Encourage Independence Gradually

You may feel that you are helping your child by reminding them about every assignment or stepping in to prevent a poor grade. However, doing too much can result in you managing their schoolwork rather than helping them learn to manage it independently.

While guidance and support are important, the ultimate goal is to help your child develop strategies and systems they can gradually take ownership of and eventually manage on their own.

Instead of telling your child what to do from the start, ask them questions like:

• “Do you have a plan for getting your assignments done?”
• “Which materials do you need to bring home from school today?”
• “When should you start studying if your quiz is on Thursday?”
• “What’s the first step you need to do for your science project?”

These types of questions will help your child learn how to plan and problem-solve rather than rely on your reminders.

When Does a Student with ADHD Need Extra Support?

Some students gradually adjust to the school year after a few weeks of consistent routines and structure. Others, however, may continue to struggle despite receiving support at home.

You may want to consider additional academic tutoring or executive functioning coaching if your child consistently:

• Loses or forgets their homework
• Has trouble starting tasks
• Takes significantly longer than expected to complete schoolwork
• Struggles to organize their materials
• Waits until the last minute to start studying or working on projects
• Has difficulty managing multiple classes and assignments
• Becomes easily overwhelmed by schoolwork
• Understands core concepts but receives grades that don’t reflect their abilities
• Depends on you to manage their schoolwork and academic tasks

If these challenges continue despite consistent routines and support at home, your child may benefit from ADHD tutoring or executive functioning coaching. Individualized support can help students learn specific strategies for organization, time management, planning, task initiation, study skills, and completing assignments more independently.

ADHD Tutoring and Executive Functioning Coaching in NYC and New Jersey

EBL Coaching provides individualized ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students in New York City and New Jersey. Our one-on-one programs help students strengthen the academic and executive functioning skills that can make school challenging for children with ADHD.

Our instruction is highly individualized to each student’s specific needs and can target skills such as:

• Organization
• Planning
• Time management
• Prioritizing
• Task initiation
• Task completion
• Note taking
• Test preparation
• Academic skills development

We help students with more than just completing their homework. We teach them concrete, research-based strategies for managing their assignments, preparing for tests, organizing their materials, planning long-term projects, and becoming more confident learners.

Some students with ADHD also struggle with specific academic skills in reading, writing, or mathematics. EBL Coaching provides individualized academic tutoring based on each student’s specific strengths and needs. We begin by evaluating the student to identify areas that need support and then develop an individualized instructional plan.

If your child is struggling with organization, time management, homework, study skills, or other ADHD-related academic challenges, EBL Coaching can help! Families seeking ADHD tutoring or executive functioning coaching in NYC or New Jersey can contact EBL Coaching to discuss their child’s needs and learn more about our individualized one-on-one programs.

Learn what to look for when choosing an ADHD tutor in NYC at Best ADHD Tutors in NYC for Executive Functioning & Academic Support.

Helping Your Child Start the School Year with Confidence

Students with ADHD do not need to be perfectly organized to have a successful school year. The goal is to establish practical routines, teach effective strategies, and gradually help your child take greater ownership of their academic responsibilities.

With consistent routines, individualized support, and direct instruction in executive functioning skills, students with ADHD can develop the tools they need to manage their schoolwork more independently and approach the new school year with greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD and Back-to-School Strategies

Why is the beginning of the school year difficult for children with ADHD?
The transition from summer to school presents many changes in structure, schedules, and responsibilities. Students with ADHD may have difficulty adapting to these changes, since those with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills including organization, working memory, planning, time management, and task initiation.

How can I help my child with ADHD get organized for school?
To help your child with ADHD become more organized, start with a simple organizational system. Set up designated locations for homework and school materials, encourage them to use a consistent planner, help them create morning and evening checklists, and schedule a weekly backpack and folder cleanout. Try to avoid complicated systems with multiple steps.

How can I make mornings easier for my child with ADHD?
To make mornings easier for your child, prepare as much as you can the night before. Have your child pack their backpack, organize their homework, choose the clothing they plan to wear the next day, and place necessary items in a specified location. A visual morning checklist can also reduce the need for repeated reminders.

Why does my child with ADHD take so long to do homework?
ADHD can affect sustained focus, working memory, task initiation, and the ability to process multi-step directions. Students may become easily distracted and overwhelmed by a large volume of assignments. Help your child break their homework assignments into smaller tasks and use structured work periods to help them complete their homework efficiently.

Should students with ADHD use a planner?
Yes, but just giving your child a planner is probably not enough. Students with ADHD often need direct instruction and practice on how to record assignments, when to check their planner, and how to prioritize tasks, estimate time, and plan ahead for exams and projects.

What executive functioning skills are important for students with ADHD?
Executive functioning skills include organization, planning, prioritization, time management, working memory, task initiation, and self-monitoring. These skills become increasingly important as students progress through school, so the sooner your child can develop these skills, the better.

When should I consider executive functioning coaching for my child?
If your child consistently struggles with organization and time management and these challenges begin to interfere with their academic performance, it may be helpful to consider additional support. Signs that your child may need extra help include frequently missing assignments, procrastinating on schoolwork, taking significantly longer than expected to complete homework, struggling to prepare for tests, or having difficulty keeping their materials organized.

Can ADHD affect reading and writing?
Yes. ADHD can make reading and writing more challenging, particularly when tasks require sustained attention, working memory, organization, planning, and self-monitoring. While ADHD itself is not a reading or writing disability, some students with ADHD also have dyslexia or another learning disability. These students may benefit from targeted academic instruction in addition to executive functioning support.

Where can I find ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching in NYC?
EBL Coaching provides one-on-one ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students in New York City and surrounding areas, as well as in New Jersey. Instruction can target organization, planning, time management, task initiation, study skills, test preparation, and academic skills, based on each student’s individual needs.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with ADHD improve their academic and executive functioning skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Back-to-School With ADHD: 11 Strategies for a Successful School Year appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Students with learning disabilities are bright, capable learners who benefit from specialized instruction and support tailored to their individual strengths and needs.

If your child has dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, autism, processing challenges, or executive functioning difficulties, the start of a new school year is an ideal time to seek the tools, strategies, and support they need to feel confident and succeed.

What Are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities are neurological differences that affect how an individual learns, processes, stores, or retrieves information. Learning disabilities can affect skills such as reading, spelling, writing, math, organization, and memory.

Common learning disabilities include:

Dyslexia

Dyslexia typically affects reading and language processing. Students with dyslexia often have difficulty with decoding words, reading fluency, spelling, and reading comprehension.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia affects a student’s writing skills. Students with dysgraphia often struggle with organizing their thoughts, forming letters properly, handwriting, spelling, or expressing their ideas in writing.

Students with dysgraphia may benefit from specialized writing instruction and strategies that help them organize their thoughts and express their ideas more effectively. Learn more at Why Smart Kids Struggle with Writing and How Writing Tutoring Helps.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia affects a student’s ability to understand math concepts. Students with dyscalculia may have difficulty with number sense, math facts, or word problem solving.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of dyscalculia in children at What Is Dyscalculia? Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Children – EBL Coaching.

Students may also struggle with:

Executive Functioning Challenges

Executive functioning skills help students plan, organize, manage time, initiate tasks, retain information, and finish homework assignments.

Many students with learning disabilities also struggle with executive functioning skills, including organization, time management, task initiation, and completing assignments. Learn more about the executive functioning skills students need for the school year at Executive Functioning Skills Every Student Needs This School Year – EBL Coaching.

10 Back-to-School Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities

What are some strategies that can help your child with a learning disability start the school year strong?

1. Review Last Year’s Challenges

You can help your child start the school year on a positive note by reflecting on strategies that worked and did not work for them in the past.

Ask yourself questions such as:

• Which subjects were easiest for your child?
• Which homework assignments created frustration for them?
• Did homework take them longer to complete than expected?
• Did they struggle with organization?
• Did they need frequent reminders to stay on task?

Understanding what did or did not work in the past can help you create a better plan for your child for the new year.

2. Create an Organized Homework System

Many students with learning disabilities struggle with managing their assignments and overall workload.

Before the school year starts, help your child develop systems for:

• Recording homework assignments
• Organizing their folders and binders
• Breaking large tasks into smaller steps
• Tracking assignment and project deadlines
• Packing the materials they’ll need for the next day

The goal is to help your child become more independent and gradually transfer responsibility from you to your child.

3. Create Consistent Routines

Summer often brings a more relaxed schedule with fewer routines and expectations. However, many children with learning disabilities benefit from the consistency and predictability of a regular routine.

Set up an after-school routine for your child before the school year starts, which may look like the following:

1. Take a short break after school
2. Review assignments that need to be completed
3. Prioritize tasks and create an order for completing them
4. Break down homework in manageable chunks
5. Prepare materials for the next day

A consistent schedule can help your child feel more prepared, reduce stress, and know what to expect each day.

4. Communicate With Your Child’s Teacher Early

Try to set up a line of communication with your child’s teacher early in the school year. Don’t wait until your child starts to struggle to reach out; it’s always better to be proactive early on than reactive once the challenges become more severe.

Setting a communication plan early with your child’s teacher can help them understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and learning needs.

Set up a meeting and share helpful information like:

• Strategies that have worked well in previous years
• Accommodations that have been effective
• Areas where your child needs continued support
• Ways your child learns best

Whether your child attends a public, private, or specialized school in New York City or New Jersey, establishing clear communication with their school team can help ensure everyone understands how to support their learning needs.

5. Teach Self-Advocacy Skills

As students move through school, it’s important that they become active participants in their education and learn to advocate for themselves, especially if they have a learning disability.

To help them advocate for themselves, teach your child how to:

• Ask questions when they are unclear
• Request clarification on concepts or directions
• Use accommodations effectively
• Communicate their learning preferences

Self-advocacy is an important skill for students to develop before they finish high school and move on to college and adulthood.

6. Focus on Strengths, Not Just Challenges

Children with learning disabilities often notice that a lot of attention is focused on the areas where they struggle. Yet it’s just as important to recognize and celebrate their strengths, talents, and unique abilities.

Students with learning disabilities may excel in areas such as:

• Creativity
• Innovative problem solving
• Big-picture thinking
• Storytelling
• Visual reasoning
• Coming up with unique solutions

Helping your child become confident and motivated can play a significant role in their long-term success.

7. Build Strong Study Skills

Students with learning disabilities often need explicit instruction on how to develop effective study skills.

Helpful study skills strategies may include:

• Using graphic organizers before writing
• Creating visual study guides
• Learning strategies for retaining information
• Breaking studying into shorter blocks
• Developing organizational strategies

Effective study skills can be learned and strengthened, and they become increasingly important as students advance through school.

8. Monitor Homework Without Taking Over

When a child has a learning disability, their parent often becomes their “homework manager” to help ensure they complete their assignments effectively. However, the goal is to gradually build your child’s confidence and independence so they can take increasing responsibility for managing their homework as they get older and progress through school.

Instead of asking questions like:

“Did you finish your homework?”

Try asking:

“Do you have plan for completing your homework assignments tonight?”

Aim to help them become more independent rather than being dependent on you.

9. Look Out for Signs Your Child Needs Additional Support

If your child continues to struggle despite receiving support at home, it may be time to consider specialized tutoring. For families in NYC and New Jersey, working with a local tutoring provider who understands learning disabilities can provide your child with individualized academic and executive functioning support.

Some signs that suggest they may need additional support include:

• Homework takes them much longer than expected to complete
• Grades do not reflect their effort
• Your child avoids certain skills and subjects
• Your child becomes easily frustrated or overwhelmed with academic work
• Your child frequently forgets to turn in their assignments
• Your child needs constant reminders to start their homework or stay on task to complete it
• Your child lacks confidence in their abilities

Seeking the right support early can prevent small challenges from turning into larger struggles. Learn more about the signs your child may benefit from tutoring at 7 Signs Your Child Needs a Tutor: How to Know When to Get Help – EBL Coaching.

10. Help Your Child Start the Year with Confidence

The first few weeks of school can set the tone for the year ahead, so help your child start the school year feeling confident, supported, and ready to learn.

Encourage your child to focus on:

• Progress and effort, not perfection
• Building effective habits
• Asking for help when needed
• Celebrating small successes

Positive, encouraging language can make a big difference in your child’s performance.

Learning Disability Tutoring in NYC and New Jersey

EBL Coaching provides individualized tutoring and academic support to students with learning disabilities throughout New York City and New Jersey. Our individualized tutoring programs help students develop the skills they need to become more confident, independent learners.

We help students with:

• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyscalculia
• ADHD
• Autism
• Executive functioning challenges
• Reading difficulties
• Writing challenges
• Math struggles
• Study skills difficulties

We don’t just focus on homework help; we teach students the skills they need for success across all subjects.

Through one-on-one instruction, students in New York City and New Jersey receive individualized strategies tailored to each student’s learning profile, academic needs, and goals.

EBL Coaching works with families throughout New York City and New Jersey to provide individualized tutoring and executive functioning support for students with learning disabilities and other specialized learning needs.

Where does EBL Coaching provide tutoring?

EBL Coaching provides one-on-one academic tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students in New York City, New Jersey, and surrounding areas. Programs are tailored to each student’s learning profile, academic needs, and goals.

Academic Support for Students with Learning Disabilities in NYC and NJ

Finding the right academic support can make a significant difference for students with learning disabilities. EBL Coaching works with families throughout New York City and New Jersey to provide individualized tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students who learn differently.

Our programs can support students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, reading difficulties, writing challenges, math struggles, and study skills difficulties.

Whether your child needs support with specific academic skills, homework management, or executive functioning, our one-on-one approach is designed to build both skills and confidence.

Closing Thoughts

A new school year is a great opportunity for students with learning disabilities to strengthen their academic skills, develop confidence, and apply strategies that work for them.

At EBL Coaching, we help students in NYC and NJ build the academic and executive functioning skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning Disabilities and Back-to-School Success

What are signs my child may have a learning disability?
There are several signs that may indicate your child has a learning disability. These signs can include challenges with reading, spelling, writing, math, organization, memory, completing homework assignments, or struggling in school despite putting in consistent effort.

Does having a learning disability mean my child is not smart?
Absolutely not! Learning disabilities are not related to intelligence. In fact, many students with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence, but need specialized approaches to learning.

Should my child receive tutoring if they have a learning disability?
Many students with learning disabilities benefit from specialized one-on-one tutoring that focuses on academic remediation and skills development, not just homework help. The right support can help students with learning disabilities improve their academic skills while becoming more confident and independent learners.

What is the difference between tutoring and executive functioning coaching?
Tutoring typically focuses on academic subjects, such as reading, spelling, writing, or math. Executive functioning coaching focuses on skills such as organization, planning, time management, task initiation, and finishing assignments.

Many students benefit from a combination of both academic skills tutoring and executive functioning coaching.

When should parents seek help?
Don’t wait until your child is struggling significantly before reaching out for support. If your child is consistently struggling, frustrated, overwhelmed, or losing confidence and motivation, early support can help them build their skills and develop effective strategies before these challenges increase.

How can I help my child with a learning disability become more independent?
You can help your child become more independent by gradually transferring responsibility from you to them. Teach your child systems for organization, planning, problem solving, and homework completion and give them the opportunity to practice managing their own responsibilities.
Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with specialized learning needs build their academic skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Back-to-School Tips for Students with Learning Disabilities appeared first on EBL Coaching.

If you’re looking for the best Orton Gillingham tutor, it’s helpful to understand more about this instructional approach, which students benefit from it, and how to choose the best Orton Gillingham tutor for your child.

What Is Orton Gillingham?

Orton Gillingham is a research-based, multi-sensory teaching approach that is designed to help students develop their reading, spelling, and writing skills. While it was originally developed for students with dyslexia, it has proven to be effective for most students who struggle with reading, even if they don’t have a dyslexia diagnosis.

Unlike traditional reading tutoring, Orton Gillingham lessons are individualized to each student’s specific needs and levels. The sessions are systematic and cumulative, building skills in a sequential, step-by-step manner. Students learn how to decode words accurately and strengthen their spelling, writing, and reading comprehension skills, helping them excel across all subjects in school.

Read more about what Orton Gillingham tutoring is in our guide to the structured literacy approach at What Is Orton-Gillingham Tutoring? Multi-Sensory, Structured Help | EBL Coaching.

Who Benefits from Orton Gillingham Tutoring?

Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan can help many struggling readers, especially students with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences. It is typically recommended for students who:

• Have dyslexia
• Struggle with decoding words
• Have difficulty spelling words accurately
• Read slowly
• Reverse letters past the early elementary years
• Struggle to remember and apply phonics rules
• Avoid reading due to struggles
• Have dysgraphia or writing challenges
• Benefit from a structured, multi-sensory approach to teaching

Many students who struggle with decoding, spelling, or writing show significant improvement with Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan, even if they don’t have a specific diagnosis.

Read more about how Orton Gillingham tutoring supports students with dyslexia and reading challenges at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching.

What Makes a Great Orton Gillingham Tutor?

Not all reading tutors specialize in Orton Gillingham tutoring. Finding the right tutor for your child is key. When searching for tutoring in Manhattan, look for these qualities:

Orton Gillingham expertise

The right Orton Gillingham tutor for your child should have expertise with the Orton Gillingham approach and extensive experience using this approach for reading tutoring sessions, especially with students at your child’s grade level.

Individualized Instruction

Effective reading intervention in Manhattan should always begin with an initial evaluation that should be performed prior to the start of tutoring. An individualized instructional plan should then be created based on your child’s needs, and lessons should begin at your child’s current reading level and advance as they master new skills.

Multisensory Tutoring

The Orton Gillingham approach builds reading and spelling skills by engaging visual, auditory, and tactile-kinesthetic learning modalities. During structured literacy tutoring lessons, tutors may use tools such as magnetic tiles, shaving cream, colored sand, and mini white boards to help students learn and master new concepts.

Progress Communication

Tutors should provide regular updates on your child’s progress with their reading tutoring in NYC and share strategies and activities you can use at home to reinforce skills between sessions. Consistent practice at home often helps students make faster progress.

Experience Working with Learning Disabilities

Look for a tutor for your child who has experience teaching students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other language-based learning disabilities. Because students with these learning profiles often require individualized support, it’s beneficial to work with an Orton Gillingham tutor who has experience teaching students with similar needs and provides dyslexia tutoring in NYC.

Why Manhattan Families Choose EBL Coaching

For over 20 years, EBL Coaching has provided Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan for students in prek-12, helping them develop stronger reading, spelling, and writing skills.

Our reading intervention programs in NYC are designed for students who struggle with reading, spelling, and writing, including those with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. Before the tutoring sessions begin, each student is assessed to identify their current skill levels and specific areas of need. Based on the results of this assessment, we create a personalized Orton Gillingham instructional plan tailored to the student’s specific challenges. Through structured, multi-sensory instruction, our Orton Gillingham tutoring program helps students develop stronger phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing skills, leading to improved confidence and long-term academic success.

At EBL Coaching, we specialize in helping students who have:

• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• ADHD
• Language-based learning disabilities
• Reading difficulties
• Spelling challenges
• Executive functioning weaknesses

Our personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring sessions incorporate research-based, multi-sensory teaching methods to strengthen the skills students need to succeed, including:

• Phonemic awareness
• Decoding
• Reading fluency
• Reading comprehension
• Spelling
• Writing
• Vocabulary

If your child is struggling with reading or has fallen behind grade level, early intervention is important. Reading difficulties often become more challenging as academic demands increase in school. Individualized Orton Gillingham tutoring can help strengthen your child’s core reading and writing skills, build their self-confidence, and help foster their long-term academic success.

Why Early Intervention is Key

Reading difficulties generally do not resolve on their own. As academic demands increase, students who struggle with reading often see their grades decline, their confidence decrease, and their overall academic performance suffer, since reading is essential across all subject areas.

Early intervention with Orton Gillingham tutoring can:

• Improve reading skills
• Strengthen spelling skills
• Build stronger writing skills
• Improve self-confidence
• Reduce frustration with homework
• Improve overall performance at school

The earlier students begin Orton Gillingham reading instruction, the more likely they are to achieve long-term academic success, making early reading intervention in Manhattan an important step in supporting your child’s future success.

Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan

Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan is a systematic, multi-sensory approach to reading instruction designed to help students build stronger skills in reading, spelling, and writing. It is often used to support struggling readers, including students with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges, by providing explicit, systematic, and individualized instruction customized to each student’s needs.

Why Families Choose EBL Coaching in Manhattan

Families choose EBL Coaching for Orton Gillingham tutoring in NYC because we provide:

• One-on-one tutoring
• Research-based Orton Gillingham instruction
• Initial assessments prior to tutoring
• Individualized learning plans
• Flexible scheduling
• In-person tutoring in Manhattan, at our learning center, or at your home
• Online tutoring options
• Tutoring in NYC for students in grades prek-12

We create customized learning plans for each student based on their individual needs, resulting in highly effective tutoring.

Schedule Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan

If your child needs Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan or a reading tutor in NYC, individualized Orton Gillingham tutoring can make a significant difference in their academic performance. EBL Coaching offers personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan designed to strengthen reading and writing skills while helping students become confident, independent learners.

Our tutoring program uses evidence-based, multi-sensory instruction that is customized to each student’s unique needs and overall profile. Contact EBL Coaching today to learn more about our Orton Gillingham tutoring services in Manhattan and to find the right tutor for your child.

Learn more about how to find the best reading tutor in NYC for struggling readers at Best Reading Tutors in NYC for Struggling Readers – EBL Coaching.

Frequently Asked Questions about Orton Gillingham Tutoring in NYC

What is Orton Gillingham tutoring?
Orton Gillingham tutoring uses a structured, multi-sensory approach to help students develop stronger reading, spelling, and writing skills through explicit, systematic instruction. Research shows it is highly effective for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.

Is Orton Gillingham only for students with dyslexia?
No. While the Orton Gillingham approach was originally developed for students with dyslexia, many students who struggle with reading can also benefit from Orton Gillingham instruction in Manhattan.

How often should my child receive Orton Gillingham tutoring?
The frequency of Orton Gillingham tutoring varies based on each student’s individual needs and profile. Students with mild reading challenges may benefit from two sessions per week, while those with more significant difficulties, including students with dyslexia, may benefit from more frequent sessions.

Should my child receive Orton Gillingham tutoring over the summer?
Yes. Summer is an ideal time for Orton Gillingham tutoring and targeted reading intervention in NYC. Research shows that many students lose 17–28% of their literacy gains over the summer months. Instead of falling further behind, students can use this time to close learning gaps and build their core reading and writing skills through structured, multi-sensory tutoring.

Learn more about Orton Gillingham summer tutoring and reading intervention benefits at Orton Gillingham Summer Tutoring: Why Summer Is the Best Time for Reading Intervention.

How long does it take to see results?
The time it takes to see results varies by student. However, with the right tutor, approach, and frequency, many students begin to show progress within the first month of Orton Gillingham instruction in NYC.

Can Orton Gillingham tutoring improve spelling?
Yes. Students who struggle with decoding words often also struggle with spelling. Orton Gillingham tutoring provides structured, multi-sensory instruction in sound-symbol relationships and the structure of the English language, resulting in improved reading and spelling skills.

Does EBL Coaching offer Orton Gillingham tutoring in Manhattan?
Yes. EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one Orton-Gillingham tutoring for students in grades preK–12 throughout Manhattan. Each student begins with an initial evaluation, after which a customized tutoring plan is created based on their individual needs. EBL Coaching offers sessions at its Manhattan learning center, in students’ homes, and online.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with specialized learning needs build their reading skills with Orton Gillingham tutoring over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan for Dyslexia & Reading Success appeared first on EBL Coaching.

By learning more about dyscalculia, you can identify early signs and seek intervention for your child. With the right specialized instruction, students with dyscalculia can improve their math skills and become much more confident in their abilities.

Students with dyscalculia often benefit from specialized instruction. If you are seeking dyscalculia tutoring in NYC, working with a tutor who understands learning disabilities can make a significant difference in your child’s progress.

Learn more about finding the right support in our guide to special education tutoring at Special Education Tutoring Near Me: How to Find the Right Tutor – EBL Coaching.

What Is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects a student’s ability to understand numbers, develop fluency with math facts, perform math calculations, and solve word problems. It is sometimes called “math dyslexia,” but it is very different from dyslexia, which affects reading and writing.

Children with dyscalculia often struggle with number sense, or the understanding of how numbers work and relate to one another. Struggling with number sense can make solving math problems more challenging.

Dyscalculia is considered a specific learning disorder in mathematics and is unrelated to a student’s intellect or capabilities.

What Causes Dyscalculia?

Research indicates that dyscalculia is related to differences in how one’s brain processes numerical information. It can be genetic, like dyslexia, often running in families.

Dyscalculia is not caused by:

• Poor effort
• Low intelligence
• Lack of motivation

Students with dyscalculia are often bright and excel at other academic skills, including reading and writing. They may also be creative and artistically talented.

Signs and Symptoms of Dyscalculia in Children

The signs of dyscalculia can vary by student. However, some common signs include:

Trouble Learning Basic Math Facts

Students with dyscalculia may struggle to learn and become fluent in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts even after extensive practice.

Poor Number Sense

Students might have poor number sense, including trouble understanding which number is greater, estimating quantities, or recognizing numerical patterns.

Difficulty Counting

Some students with dyscalculia may skip numbers, lose track when counting, or have trouble counting backwards.

Trouble Solving Word Problems

Word problems require students to move from language to arithmetic and back to language. This multi-step process can be very challenging for students with dyscalculia.

Difficulty Understanding Time and Money

Students with dyscalculia may have difficulty telling time, calculating change, understanding schedules, or estimating how long a task might take to complete.

Trouble Learning Math Procedures

Math problems with multiple steps, including multi-digit multiplication, long division, adding fractions, and solving algebraic problems can be particularly challenging for students with dyscalculia.

Math Anxiety

When a child struggles consistently with math, they may develop low self-esteem, increased frustration, and anxiety surrounding math.

Signs of Dyscalculia by Age

What are signs of dyscalculia by age?

Preschool

• Difficulty recognizing numbers
• Trouble learning to count
• Struggles with understanding quantities
• Challenges sorting objects

Elementary School

• Trouble developing fluency with math facts
• Difficulty understanding place value
• Challenges with solving math word problems
• Struggles with multiplication and division

Middle School and High School

• Difficulty understanding fractions, decimals, and percentages
• Struggles with solving algebraic equations
• Difficulty estimating time
• Avoidance of math tasks

Dyscalculia vs. Math Anxiety

Dyscalculia and math anxiety can look similar, but they are actually very different issues.

Math anxiety is an emotional reaction that leads to stress and fear when faced with math-related tasks. Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that affects one’s ability to process and understand math.

Students with dyscalculia often develop math anxiety after extensive challenges with math. Oftentimes, both issues occur together.

Dyscalculia vs. Dyslexia

Dyscalculia and dyslexia are both learning disabilities, but they affect different skill areas.

Dyslexia affects reading, spelling, and writing, while dyscalculia affects math, including number sense, math reasoning, and math calculations.

Some students have both dyslexia and dyscalculia, while others have just one of these disabilities.

How Is Dyscalculia Diagnosed?

Dyscalculia is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation competed by a trained professional.

This comprehensive evaluation may assess:

• Math reasoning abilities
• Calculation skills
• Number sense
• Working memory
• Processing speed
• Executive functioning

Through this evaluation, the evaluator can determine if the student has dyscalculia. Parents in New York City who suspect their child may have dyscalculia often begin with a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation to better understand their child’s math skills, academic profile, and overall educational needs.

Following a dyscalculia diagnosis, many parents seek specialized dyscalculia tutoring in NYC to develop skills including number sense, math reasoning, and problem solving. Early intervention can help students build stronger foundational math skills and improve their performance at school.

How to Help a Child with Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia never “goes away”, but specialized instruction can help students make significant improvements in their math skills.

Effective dyscalculia tutoring often includes:

Multi-sensory Math Instruction

A multi-sensory approach, which integrates the visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic modalities, helps students with dyscalculia build a stronger understanding of math concepts.

Explicit Teaching

When tutoring a child with dyscalculia, concepts should be taught directly and systematically with clear explanations. Students should also be given ample practice with each concept before moving onto new ones.

Manipulatives

Math manipulatives, including number lines, counters, base-ten blocks, and fraction models, help make abstract concepts more concrete and easier to understand for students with dyscalculia.

Individualized Tutoring

One-on-one tutoring using research-based, multi-sensory techniques that is customized to the specific areas of difficulty for a child with dyscalculia is key. An initial evaluation prior to the start of tutoring can help identify which aspects of math the child needs the most help with. For students in New York City, individualized dyscalculia tutoring can provide customized support that they may not receive in a traditional classroom setting.

Developing Number Sense

Effective math tutoring programs should focus on helping students understand relationships between numbers, not just memorizing procedures for solving problems.

When evaluating tutoring options, it’s important to ask about a tutor’s experience working with students who have learning disabilities. See our guide on questions to ask before hiring a tutor at What Questions Should You Ask Before Hiring a Tutor in NYC? – EBL Coaching.

Can Students with Dyscalculia Succeed in School?

Yes! Students with dyscalculia can absolutely succeed in school.

Many highly successful adults have learning disabilities, including dyscalculia. With specialized tutoring, appropriate accommodations, and research-based instruction, students with dyscalculia can make significant progress in their math skills and develop stronger confidence in their abilities.

It is important to recognize the signs early and identify the right specialized tutoring for your child to help them thrive.

Where to Get Help for Dyscalculia

If your child is showing continued math difficulties despite consistent effort, they may have dyscalculia. Early intervention with the right math support can make a big difference.

At EBL Coaching, we provide specialized dyscalculia tutoring in NYC using evidence-based, multi-sensory instructional methods. Our individualized math tutoring program helps students strengthen their foundational math skills and achieve greater success in school.

Dyscalculia Tutoring in NYC

Students with dyscalculia typically respond well to specialized, one-on-one tutoring that targets number sense, math reasoning, math facts, and problem-solving skills. Unlike traditional tutoring or homework help, dyscalculia tutoring should use research-based, multi-sensory instructional methods customized to each student’s specific needs.

If you are seeking dyscalculia tutoring in NYC, you should look for tutors with experience working with students who have learning disabilities and who use evidence-based math intervention techniques.

At EBL Coaching, we specialize in providing research-based, multi-sensory math tutoring designed to help students with dyscalculia build their core math skills, improve their confidence, and achieve academic success.

Learn more about our private tutoring Services in NYC at How to Find the Best Private Tutor in NYC for Your Child – EBL Coaching.

FAQs About Dyscalculia

What are the main challenges associated with dyscalculia?
The main challenges associated with dyscalculia are difficulties with understanding numbers and math concepts. Students with dyscalculia often struggle with learning math facts, number sense, and word problem solving.

Is dyscalculia a form of dyslexia?
No. Dyscalculia and dyslexia are different learning disabilities. Dyslexia affects reading and writing skills, while dyscalculia affects math skills. Students with both dyslexia and dyscalculia, however, tend to respond well to a multi-sensory approach to teaching.

Can dyscalculia be cured?
Dyscalculia cannot be cured, but specialized tutoring can significantly improve a student’s math skills and overall performance at school.

How common is dyscalculia?
Research indicates that dyscalculia affects approximately 3% to 7% of the population.

Can a child be gifted and have dyscalculia?
Yes! Dyscalculia is unrelated to intelligence. In fact, many students with dyscalculia have above-average intelligence and excel in many other skills, including reading, writing, science, and art.

Does ADHD cause dyscalculia?
No, ADHD doesn’t cause dyscalculia. However, ADHD and dyscalculia can occur together. Students with ADHD often have attention and executive functioning challenges, which can impact their math learning.

Students with ADHD often have attention and executive functioning skills challenges that can impact math learning at What Are Executive Functioning Skills? A Simple Guide for Parents – EBL Coaching.

What type of tutoring helps students with dyscalculia?
Students with dyscalculia typically benefit from one-on-one, multi-sensory math tutoring tailored to their specific areas of weakness. Families seeking dyscalculia tutoring in NYC should look for tutors who have experience working with students with learning disabilities and who use evidence-based instructional approaches.

Where can I find dyscalculia tutoring in NYC?
When looking for dyscalculia tutoring in NYC, try to find a tutor who has experience working with students with learning disabilities and who uses evidence-based, multi-sensory instructional methods for the tutoring sessions. Effective dyscalculia tutoring should focus on developing number sense, strengthening math reasoning skills, building fluency with math facts, and teaching strategies for solving multi-step math problems.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students in New York City develop their math skills through specialized tutoring programs over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies for Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post What Is Dyscalculia? Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Children appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Missing two or three topics, in math especially, creates a chain of gaps that quietly builds into a significant lag. Kids rarely confess they need help. Fortunately, there are subtle “litmus tests” or signs that your kid needs tutoring that show up long before the report card does. Here are seven worth paying attention to.

Sign 1: Grades Are Slipping Despite Real Effort

Sometimes you can clearly see that your child is really trying to learn, but the test grades or the report card show the opposite — that’s a sign of hidden barriers to learning. The reason may be a temporary struggle or a real skill gap. How to recognize it?

Temporary Struggle

• Triggered by a specific event: illness, family stress, etc.

• Bounces back within 1-2 weeks.

• Child performs well once they’re fee-ling better.

• Errors are different each time.

• Mood improves after a break or extra support.

Real Skill Gap

• Persists for weeks regardless of how much effort the child puts in.

• The same type of mistake keeps re-peating.

• Child struggles even when genuinely trying.

• Homework takes longer than it should.

• Avoiding certain subjects.

If the second column feels closer to home, don’t ignore it. Here is what Dr. Emily Levy, expert Learning Specialist, Founder and Director of EBL Coaching, says about the lack of knowledge:

“The child struggles to learn new concepts because they have gaps in their foundational skills.”

There are signs that may indicate that the child has a real skills gap. The child struggles to learn new concepts because they have gaps in their foundational skills. For example, if a child never mastered addition facts, they will likely have difficulty solving double-digit, multi-step addition problems.

Sign 2: Homework Takes Much Longer Than It Should

According to homework researcher Harris Cooper from Duke University, the “10-minute rule” is the guideline for how much time kids should spend on their homework: 10 minutes of homework per grade level, per night. That is, if a child is in the 5th grade, this is 50 minutes per day, for the 2nd grader, it is only 20 minutes.

Becky Ward, Education Experience Specialist at Tutor Doctor, emphasizes that how your child works is as important as what they know:

“Effort without progress is the signal to look closer.”

A temporary struggle usually has an obvious cause and a quick recovery. A real skill gap looks different. It persists across weeks, it shows up even when your child is trying. The biggest tell is in subjects like math that build on themselves, where today’s lesson depends on last month’s foundation. If ‘I just don’t get it’ is replacing specific confusion, or your child is spending far longer on homework with little to show, that’s usually a gap, not a bad week.

More often than not, these are the first signs a child needs a reading tutor or math tutor.

Sign 3: The Same Gaps Keep Showing Up

The other marker is the fact that the same mistakes come up again and again. On the one hand, the kid is studying; on the other hand, they keep getting the same things wrong on tests and exams.

These repeated “holes” usually point to a gap in the foundation. The child simply has nothing to build a new topic on. If addition didn’t stick, subtraction and multiplication will fall apart. If sounding out syllables is hard, reading difficulties can snowball, and then understanding a textbook paragraph becomes a whole other difficulty. That’s why it’s worth figuring out which topics are weak and fixing them.

Sign 4: Your Child Suddenly Doesn’t Like School

Have you ever heard something like “I don’t want to go to school, it’s boring”, “I’m not doing my homework”, “I don’t care about lessons”? That “boredom” often implies gaps in knowledge. The child sees that things aren’t working out and makes the most logical move: avoids whatever makes them uncomfortable.

When a child is consistently lost in class, every single day becomes a bit stressful. It’s easier to say that school is bad than to admit that they haven’t understood the last few topics, and asking feels embarrassing. So treat a sudden dislike of school as a signal to ask yourself: does my child need extra help with school?

Note: If your child doesn’t want to go to school, first make sure it’s not because of conflicts with classmates or teachers!

Sign 5: Frustration or Tears During Homework

Frequent homework tears or anger are a clear signal that the material exceeds your child’s current skill level. Surely, it’s completely normal when something doesn’t click the first time, but if you stepped in (e.g., caught up on the topics together, took a break, gave them a little push) and it has worked out, it’s a perfect sign.

But if homework sessions regularly end in tears or anger, that’s a red flag. For many children, especially neurodivergent learners (those with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia), emotions are not just a reaction. This is a signal that the load is too high, and the material hasn’t caught up with their skills yet.

In that case, broader academic support is needed. It’s worth learning more about ADHD and reading challenges, as well as the ADHD and math relation, and looking into the best reading programs for dyslexia support. On our end, Brighterly’s dyslexia tutors work with kids who struggle with focus, making sure lessons are genuinely engaging, informative, and above all, at the kids’ own pace.

Sign 6: Low Confidence in One Subject Specifically

Pay attention to whether your child says something like “I’m bad at math”, “I hate reading”, etc. Listen for that shift as Claire Smizer, Brighterly Educational Advisor, says:

“A child who’s started narrating themselves as someone who can’t is in a different kind of trouble than one who’s behind a unit or two.”

Confidence and competence move together — when one slips, the other follows. And the worst thing a well-meaning adult can do here is agree: ‘I wasn’t good at math either.’ That hands the kid permission to quit.

What’s even more important is that the feeling that something is beyond their abilities can actually shape low self-esteem, both within school walls and throughout life. And that will affect how a pupil performs in other subjects as well. So if your child is struggling with one subject, stay careful, maybe that’s exactly why your child needs extra help in school.

Sign 7: You Keep Thinking “They’ll Catch Up on Their Own”

No, most likely your child won’t catch up on their own. Especially if the learning gaps happened in foundational knowledge, particularly in math and reading. These subjects get harder practically every week and are built on what kids have already learned. To avoid a snowball effect, the wiser move, and honestly, the cheaper one is extra support.

Spotted the first warning signs? That’s exactly when to get a tutor for your child.

What to Do When You Spot These Signs

Talk to the Teacher First

Your child’s teacher is your ally. It’s worth sitting down with them and asking what they’ve noticed that’s working, where the struggles are, which subject has taken a hit, and how your child feels during lessons. Are they engaged or checked out? Teachers notice patterns parents don’t always see at home. This conversation alone can help you figure out what to do next.

Don’t Wait for the Next Report Card

It’s tempting to hope that the next semester will just go better on its own. But it’s still smarter to act now and actually see the results in the next report card. Otherwise, there’s a real risk that school performance will only keep sliding.

What to Look for in a Tutor

One solid solution is to find a professional tutor who knows each pitfall of the school curriculum. If you already have someone in mind, great. If not, our reading tutoring and math tutoring are here.

A few things that make Brighterly work:

• Our one-on-one tutoring puts all the attention exactly where it should be — on your child.
• Math and reading require a sharper eye than most subjects, and that’s exactly where we focus.
• We know the methods, and we’ll find the right fit for your child from K-12 grades.

Conclusion: How Do I Know if My Child Needs a Tutor?

The warning signs from this article don’t appear for no reason. If you’ve noticed something from this list, then keep your finger on the pulse. And when it’s no longer just one or two bells ringing, the best thing you can do is accept the situation and fix it as quickly as possible for your child’s peace of mind and confidence.

If “does my child need a tutor” keeps coming back to you, Brighterly is at your service. You’re welcome to book a free lesson and get to know us.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Does Tutoring Help Kids with Dyslexia or Reading Difficulties?
Absolutely! Individual tutoring is one of the major ways to help kids with dyslexia specifically. It works because a dyslexia reading tutor works with the child at their own pace, ensuring the child gradually masters phonics, decoding, and fluency without pressure or comparisons to others. However, it’s important for the teacher to be qualified and understand the specifics of dyslexia and reading challenges.

What Are the Signs My Middle Schooler Needs a Tutor?
In the case of middle school, the most revealing signal is low grades, especially when they drop suddenly in one specific subject. Add to that a child who refuses to do homework, avoids a particular class, or starts comparing themselves to classmates (“everyone gets it but me”), and that’s a clear sign it’s time to look closer.

Does My Elementary Child Need a Math Tutor?
Here it’s necessary to check whether your explanations help and your child isn’t falling behind at school curriculum. If you notice that new topics are weighing on them, it’s better not to wait for better and react quickly. Elementary school is exactly where the foundation is built, the one that every new arithmetic rule gets layered onto later.

At What Grade Level Should You Start Thinking About a Tutor?
There’s no particular rule about what grade you can start hiring a tutor for; teachers work with kids from K through 12. What matters more is tuning into how your child is feeling: are they managing school tasks on their own, or is it already getting hard without extra help?

Can Online Tutoring Work as Well as In-Person for Kids Who Are Struggling?
Whatever the format, the key thing is to check whether teaching is of high quality and the teacher is seasoned. The in-person format has many advantages. However, online lessons can keep a child engaged through animated exercises and a more dynamic pace. On top of that, it’s more convenient, especially for families who don’t have the time or ability to drop off and pick up their child. Bonus is the schedule, which is flexible too.

The post 7 Signs Your Child Needs a Tutor: How to Know When to Get Help appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Summer learning loss is a decline in kids’ academic skills and knowledge that happens during summer break due to children going without regular learning practice. You can help your kid avoid this decline by using expert-backed strategies, ranging from simple daily reading and use of worksheets to taking trips and joining summer camps.

How Much Time per Day Does It Take to Prevent Summer Learning Loss?

The average minimum time that is enough to prevent summer slide or learning loss is 20 minutes of structured learning practice per day, at least 5 days a week. However, this doesn’t apply to kids in grades K-2, when learning should be based on conversations and explanations rather than on independent practice.

Backing up the minimum study time data, Dr. Emily Levy, a Founder and Director of EBL Coaching at EBL Coaching says:

“During the summer, students should do academic work for at least 20 minutes per day, ideally every day, but at a minimum, 5 days per week.”

This work should include a combination of reading, writing, and math skills.

And while agreeing with the 20 minutes minimum per day learning duration, Claire Smizer, Brighterly Educational Advisor, adds about how it’s different for younger kids, using reading practice as an example:

“The ’20 minutes of independent reading’ advice applies to older kids who already decode.”

For the youngest learners, the work is conversation and exposure. Read everything. Read it out loud. Talk about what it means.

Essentially, devoting roughly 20 minutes a day to learning can be enough to help your kid avoid forgetting roughly 17-34% of school material in summer, which is the estimated learning loss percentage for kids in grades 1-8, according to the most recent NWEA MAP Growth report covering this issue for July 2020.

How to Prevent Summer Learning Loss: 10 Strategies at a Glance

1. Work With a Tutor Over the Summer

Best for: Students who struggled during the school year or did great and want to retain their knowledge and learn more.

One of the solutions for preventing summer learning loss is hiring an online or offline tutor — a skilled professional in a particular subject. A tutor provides the structure and accountability that the kids usually lack in summer due to not attending scheduled classes and having no homework.

Speaking on the importance of structure for a child’s brain, Claire Smizer, Brighterly Educational Advisor, also advises adding something predictable to a child’s summer routine:

“A summer that’s pure unstructured time can feel like a vacation in June and a regression by August.”

The fix isn’t a rigid 9-to-5 academic schedule. It’s a loose rhythm: a predictable morning, some quiet time for reading or a project, time outside, time for play, maybe one ‘thinking’ activity a day.

Apart from someone who provides structure, a professional tutor is also someone who is inherently interested in your child’s progress. To ensure this progress, private educators usually create highly personalized and focused study programs. If needed, they may also incorporate games, quests, and challenges to make learning more fun. That’s the answer to all those who fear turning their kids’ holidays into a constant academic marathon.

For example, our summer learning loss tutors at Brighterly build a learning process in a game-like way to make it fun for the students. We have an online math program and an online reading program for kids in grades K-12, where our professionals teach your kid in a one-on-one format.

Both math and reading programs align with the U.S standards, but our tutors tailor the curriculum according to your kid’s learning style, level of knowledge, and summer learning goals.

2. Use Worksheets and Practice Tests

Best for: Learners who like quick, structured tasks.

By regularly completing worksheets that take around 20 minutes on average, children reinforce what they already know and stay mentally engaged, which helps them effectively avoid summer learning loss.

Spending the same 20 minutes on practice tests can help a child perform a quick knowledge check and assess their current performance easily. When they see incorrect answers, they know what topic or concept they need to pay extra attention to.

If you think just 20 minutes may not be enough, Kaitlynn Blyth, Founder & CEO of Happy Day Play, Inc., says “Twenty minutes a day is plenty”, clarifying that consistency is what really matters in learning:

“The mistake a lot of parents make is assuming more equals better, when consistency is what actually holds learning in place across the summer.”

A child who reads ten minutes every single day retains more than one who crams a workbook in August.

Free Brighterly Worksheets to Try This Summer

We have both tests and worksheets on our website that you can access for free. The theoretical section has a lot of materials and can be great for summer knowledge revisions, while knowledge-checking tests help assess how well a child remembers specific materials. And our math worksheets have plenty of math tasks that you can do online or print for extra practice and convenience.

3. Join a Summer Camp

Best for: Kids who like a social element in learning.

Summer camps introduce a strong social element to learning. They promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, while letting kids have fun through gamified experiences. In summer camps, your child can not only learn and grow academically, but also find new friends.

Apart from socialization and fun experiences, summer camps with special summer programs can provide another important thing — a daily learning routine. And consistency in learning is one of the most reliable factors against summer brain drain.

With camps, you don’t have to worry about inconsistency — the camps have programs and schedules that kids follow. For example, our summer math camp and summer reading camp run online, which means a child can have scheduled lessons and consistent study time even without disrupting your family’s summer plans.

In addition, AERA July 2022 research data proves that summer camps effectively help students maintain their past knowledge and make academic progress. In some regards, camps are even better than traditional classrooms, as they blend learning with fun activities, keeping kids mentally active without the pressure of scores.

4. Get Creative with Learning Activities

Best for: Kids who don’t like traditional, formal learning experiences but enjoy learning with a creative element.

Effective learning can happen even when kids are having fun and are not aware they are learning at all. To help your child enjoy learning, you can take creative, fun activities your kid already loves and build learning around the academic skills hiding inside these activities.

Creative Activities That Keep Kids Learning

Examples of activities you can offer your kid to make their learning engaging and fun include storytelling (for working on writing and reading skills), arts and crafts (for working on motor skills), science experiments (for refreshing science-related knowledge), and educational games (for refreshing knowledge across different subjects).

• Storytelling is what helps kids fall in love with writing and reading, while also enhancing vocabulary memorization and creative thinking.
• Arts and crafts activities help kids develop fine motor skills, while also letting children express themselves and relieve stress.
• Science experiments can help kids refresh science-related past knowledge and build new ones on it.
• Educational games for refreshing knowledge can be built around different subjects and are always conducted in groups, which makes them ideal options for quality family activities or friend time.

Just like camps, creative activities help kids perceive learning as an enjoyable process, while also helping them build confidence, develop curiosity and independence.

5. Take Educational Trips

Best for: Curious, hands-on learners who prefer real-life-based learning to traditional classrooms.

Museums, science centers, historical landmarks, or nature parks are all great knowledge reserves where you can take your kid for an educational trip to help them grasp new facts, ideas, and perspectives. Additionally, visiting such places is practical for improving memory retention — when kids actually see and feel what they have to learn, they understand and remember it much more easily.

This method of summer learning loss prevention is also a great way of spending quality family time. For example, Helen Neale, Therapeutic Counsellor and Parenting and Neurodivergence Expert at KiddyCharts, shares how such educational trips can help with both studying and family bonding:

“Educational trips are definitely the way to go – and they can be totally free.”

Just get the kids out enjoying the sunshine. My Dad taught me about wildlife on our photography walks – I now know a shed load of names for all the common butterflies out there in the UK.

To see how important educational trips are, you can look at the COVID-19 times. It was a period of limited trips and interactions, and also the time when school education struggled significantly. That’s when a new condition, known as pandemic learning loss, emerged. Limited social contact, no new impressions, and a lack of real-world interactions — all these factors combined to cause children to forget their past academic gains.

6. Set Clear Learning Goals for the Summer

Best for: Kids who do better at learning when they have clear goals they’re trying to reach.

Set clear study plans and goals for your child to follow so that the summer months don’t just pass by with the best intentions but no real progress. Make sure that these plans and goals are very specific, not something vague like “get better at math” or “improve reading”. For example, if you want your child to stop summer learning loss through reading, make sure to discuss and agree with them on an exact number of books they’ll need to read during the school break. You can break the task even further and turn it into a fun competition. For example, you can establish prizes for each book or chapter read to keep your child more motivated to move on.

If your kid doesn’t like reading, try to make this habit more attractive and even inevitable to follow. Create an encouraging environment to make reading a cool and consistent habit. Also, think of the perfect moment in your summer schedule to open a book together.

That’s the key recommendation on this point from Neeru Khosla, the Creator of CK-12 educational platform:

“Make reading enjoyable and accessible.”

Let children self-select text, create cozy reading spaces, and make books available. Have them set a reading goal or get involved in a local reading “competition” from libraries. Also, there are lots of summer camps focused on practicing reading along with writing, math, and creativity skills.

After setting the goal and planning everything, remember to support your kid even if they struggle while trying to reach this goal. The process matters even more than the end result. That’s what Daniela McElhaney, Head of Ivybrook Academy, also believes in:

“It also helps to pay attention to the process rather than the outcome.”

Instead of commenting on whether an answer is right or wrong, notice the thinking, effort, and persistence behind it.

7. Use Educational Technology

Best for: Kids who love technology.

To prevent a tech-loving kid from summer loss of learning, you can ask them to practice with interactive apps, online platforms, coding games, or virtual field trips. The best thing about all these tools is that they easily adjust to the kid’s current level and offer personalized practice.

You can also implement all those tech tools from an early age, when your kid starts using gadgets. Plus, all these tools can foster digital literacy, creativity, independent learning habits, and allow your child to learn anytime, anywhere, whether on vacation or in a car.

However, don’t forget to manage screen time carefully so that the technology supplements the outdoor play, reading, and other summer activities rather than replaces them. Also, make sure technology is used for learning, not just to fill the time.

To make sure your kid has a structured experience with tech-based learning, you can try looking for a special educational online platform that offers a scheduled program with short 15-30 minute sessions, so you can control how much your child spends there.

8. Turn Hobbies into Learning Opportunities

Best for: Kids who are motivated by what they’re passionate about.

According to the article published in the Reading and Writing journal in March 2020, writing is one of the subjects suffering the most during the summer holiday period. The authors also highlight that seeking activities that are creative and appealing to a child, such as journaling, storytelling, or blogging, is most effective in overcoming the struggle.

The same approach applies to any other subject. For example, cooking, specific board games, and LEGO challenges can all be used to learn something.

• Cooking teaches measurement skills, fractions, and the following multi-step instructions in a specific sequence.
• Building with LEGO teaches spatial reasoning and basic engineering thinking.
• Playing chess develops strategic planning and pattern recognition.

The key is noticing what your child loves to do and using this activity to teach them something new or reinforce knowledge they already have. Plus, including favorite activities in learning shows the child how book knowledge applies to real life.

9. Volunteer as a Family

Best for: Low-income students and kids from socially active families who value their social impact.

Volunteering may seem like an unusual strategy for stopping summer learning loss, partly since the learning feels invisible. However, when kids help at a food bank, animal shelter, community garden, or a local library, they practise authentic reading and math skills when reading safety instructions, measuring ingredients or quantities, writing notes, tracking numbers, etc. So, even though volunteering is not a formal or traditional form of learning, it can still help reinforce the academic skills built during the school year.

Additionally, volunteering can help kids develop a sense of community. Just like summer camp, it implies communication and cooperation, offering a chance to make new friends. But two things are different between the two activity types — volunteering is completely free of charge and offers a feeling of being a valuable member of society.

You can start from your local library — many run volunteer programmes for children and teens over the summer, often linked to their free summer programs. As for food banks, animal shelters, and community gardens, they usually welcome family teams for shorter, single-day shifts, which can involve your whole family, rather than being a solo activity for the child.

10. Read Every Day

Best for: Kids who love reading.

If your goal is to target summer reading loss specifically, reading every day is the best strategy. However, reading not only improves reading skills and reading comprehension, but also helps build vocabulary and develop critical thinking — skills paramount for steady progress in practically any knowledge field, from math to the arts. Once kids develop a strong reading habit, they can explore specific topics they like, at their own pace and without external motivation.

Even if your kid can’t read on their own, you can incorporate this activity into your daily routine. Dr. Emily Levy, Founder and Director of EBL Coaching at EBL Coaching shares how:

“For reading, they should either read independently or, if they are unable to read, have a parent or another adult read to them and ask them questions about the story, plot, and characters.”

For writing, kids can write in a journal about their daily activities or do everyday writing tasks, like writing out a grocery list or a list of activities they want to do on vacation.

Also remember that all reading counts. Graphic novels, digital texts, magazines, audiobooks, well-written game narratives, and even life-related things like simple manuals or recipes all add to the child’s reading volume.

For example, Kaitlynn Blyth, Founder & CEO of Happy Day Play, Inc., advises reading whatever your child is curious about in their surrounding:

“I tell families to start with and protect a few small habits.”

>Read together every day, talk through one real-world problem (like splitting a recipe during dinner time or reading the map at an amusement park), and let your child lead something they’re curious about.

Another option to encourage consistent reading is to get your kid into one of the summer reading programs, most of which offer rewards.

Conclusion

Preventing summer learning loss doesn’t have to mean turning the school break into a continuation of the school year. The right strategy depends entirely on your child — with a hands-on learner, you can try educational trips and science experiments, while with a social kid, summer camps and family volunteering can be good options.

For tech-savvy kids, you can offer educational apps and interactive platforms, while if your child is a passionate reader, encourage this practice and join them. And for kids who need more guided learning support, struggled during the school year, or want to stay ahead, working with a tutor can be an option.

Whatever strategy you choose, remember that consistency beats intensity. Just around 20 minutes a day the whole summer is enough to avoid losing the knowledge received during the school year and even learn something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Different Types of Summer Learning Loss?

Summer learning loss can be divided into three main types: math skill loss (forgetting math facts, multiplication tables, etc), reading skill loss (reduced reading speed, comprehension, and vocabulary), and motivational loss (losing the learning habits built during the school year).

According to NWEA April 2026 data, math and reading skills are the ones kids lose the most in the summer.

Can Summer Learning Loss Be Fully Recovered Once School Starts?

Yes, most students can recover learning skills they’ve lost during the summer within the first few months of the new school year. However, it all depends on how much knowledge the child has lost and how much the child is invested in regaining this knowledge. Essentially, the earlier families notice and address summer learning loss, the bigger chance of recovery the child has.

Does Summer Learning Loss Get Worse as Kids Get Older?

There is no clear data proving that summer learning loss gets worse as the kids get older. For example, NWEA April 2026 data show that summer slide usually happens in grades 3–8 on average, but point out there are other factors (like income and race) that influence learning loss in different students.

Do Summer Homework Packets Actually Help?

Summer homework packets can help with summer learning loss, but it all depends on whether a child actually completes the packets throughout the course of summer, whether the packet’s content matches the child’s current knowledge level, and whether the parent is involved to guide a kid if necessary.

The post Prevent Summer Learning Loss: Simple Strategies to Keep Kids Learning appeared first on EBL Coaching.