Sources of Underachievement

There could be many factors responsible for child’s underachievement such as home, school and environment. Is child himself responsible for his underachievement? 
Let’s look at all of these factors one by one. 

Family Factors Influencing Underachievement

• Family dysfunction
• Stressed relations with family members
• Problems with siblings including rivalry
• Conflicting role models and value systems in the family
• Negligible paternal academic supervision, assistance, and expectations

School Factors Influencing Underachievement

• Improper early curricular experiences in elementary school
• Dearth of opportunity to develop proper school work habits
• Negative interactions with teachers
• Unsatisfactory curriculum in middle and high school
• Problematic counseling experiences

Personal Factors Influencing Underachievement

• Behaviour problems and disciplinary issues
• Problems with unstructured time
• Confusing or idealistic expectations
• Inadequate determination and low self-efficacy
• Improper managing strategies
• Poor study habits
• Avoid hard work and comfortable with easy tasks
• Dislike challenges
• Negative reaction from relatives that discourage hard working

There could be more and diverse reasons for underachievement in different context. Nevertheless, any child is not born underachiever it is a learned behavior therefore, could be unlearned. Parents and teachers with join efforts surely transform a child and develop as achiever.  

Practical Strategies for Teachers to Facilitate

 Under Achievers

Teachers often complain that though they plan well before entering the classroom however, some students usually show non serious attitude towards studies and score poor grades in tests. Hence, they start believing that these students could never perform well academically. Whereas according to Davis Rimm and Siegle,

“Children are not born underachiever. Underachievement is the learned behaviour: therefore, it can be unlearned”.

Here I am listing some simple and practicable strategies to motivate such students and allow them to explore their concealed capabilities. 

Boost Confidence: 

• Know your students. Identify their competencies and areas of interest to work upon and strengthen those.
• Involve in classroom discussion. Give them maximum opportunities to ask and respond the questions in the classroom discussions and activities.
• Give descriptive feedback. Give them comments in detail specially for writing tasks in order to praise and to highlight the area of improvement. 
• Move from easy to complex. Initially give easy assessment so they have more chances to pass and develop sense of achievement.

Create Learning Opportunities: 

• Be innovative. Avoid teaching monotonously since it create boredom. Teach via various pedagogies and integrate Information Communication Technology in your lessons.
• Be supportive and kind: Be kind and helpful for your students and let your students trust you to share their fears and interests openly. 
• Be flexible: Slow the teaching pace and repeat or reframe the instructions where necessary.    
      
• Provide additional support in small groups. Make small groups so the individual needs could be fulfilled. Teach the lesson/concept in easy manner and allow them to share their understanding.                                      

These are few simple yet effective strategies. tryout!