School mid-term examinations are around the corner and there are always students who perform below the required expectations. That is expected because like several other factors, a change in the school environment can drastically affect a student’s grades.

Low performers are negatively perceived by teachers and this may result in further deterioration of their performance.
In any normal student population, there is always uneven distribution of the weak, average, and brilliant students.

That is to say, weak students cannot be avoided, but they can be accommodated and meticulously integrated into the learning community.

The first step in dealing with weak students is trying to find as much information as possible about them. When a teacher understands learner’s challenges, it becomes easier to teach them.

One of the rules of helping weak students is to plan. Have extra class hours and focus your teaching on the needs of your learners.

Look at a positive point for each student. Even the most undisciplined students in a school have strong points. Some are very good at sports while others are very good opinion leaders. Make the students feel good about their talents. That helps to boost their confidence.

Teachers should be very consistent at checking homework. Many students deteriorate in performance because there is no follow up on their homework. Consistent checking and correction of homework enormously boosts performance.

More importantly, parents as education stakeholders should be informed about the progress of their children. This helps to come up with more inclusive solutions of dealing with students’ poor academic performance.

Additionally, the use of successful teaching techniques helps to fill the gap between what students know and what a teacher teaches. Different teaching methods directly impact student’s understanding.

Ends