Some past students I have taught for a few years have shown consistent difficulty with learning. Through continuous tutoring, sometimes individuals still display struggles with in their marks, struggle with study habits or study effectiveness, struggle to understand content, and do not enjoy certain subjects or school as a whole.

At this point, it is important to be aware that some students may have learning disorders that may severely impact their learning in a negative way. Sometimes parents, the school or students may not be aware of this. As a tutor, we play a very large role in their formitive years and it is important to support the child to the best of our ability. As we speak with, teach and interact with many children over the years, we develop a pattern of understanding how children and teenagers grow and learn.

Through these many observations, it is important to trust our gut and if a student is having an overly difficult time changing their study habits, having extra difficulty in focusing or being attentive in tutoring or school, we consider that they may have a learning difficulty that heavily impacts their learning.

Through speaking with teachers who have been a part of gifted and talented programs, intervening and identifying a student who may have a learning difficulty is extremely effective at in improving their participation in school.

Identifying they may have a learning disability can lead to their parents communicating with a local gp and other support services, and pottentially provide them with the differentiated learning support or medical support they need to thrive in their learning.

The slowly decreasing stigmatisation of learning disorders and mental health difficulties has been a fantastic way at supporting these students who may have low self esteem, high anxiety and frustration about school, and provide them with a positive pathway towards adulthood.

I have realised that being aware and looking out for signs of students who struggle extra with their learning, and opening up to fellow tutors as well, can overall produce drastic improvements in the lives of our students

Sebastian Zois