One of the central motifs in literature is that everyone is different.
Some, like the Greek hero Heracles, are born with god-like strength.
Others characters, like Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, possess a gentle demeanour and sharp intellect.
Elizabeth Bennet, from Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, displays amiable tenacity, individuality and intelligence in the face of a male-dominated society.
Like these classic characters, all teenagers are different too – unique and talented in their own way.
While some may excel in English class, others find the concepts and coursework challenging.
How do you, as a parent, help your teenager when they struggle with English class?
Unlike other courses, like mathematics or history, the coursework in English doesn’t always have cut-and-dry answers; rather, the curriculum is geared toward students honing their critical thinking abilities and finding their creativity.
In this post, let’s explore a few ways you can help a teen struggling with High School English.
Make Reading a Family Activity
Reading is an essential facet of High School English.
You can think of reading as exercising an important muscle.
The more you read, the more adept you become at grasping themes, internalizing complex rhetoric, and accessing your own imagination.
Therefore, a fantastic way to help your kid with English class is to create a culture of reading around the house.
Go to the public library together, share what you are reading with one another, and incentivize your kid to read more books.
You may even try reading the same book as a family, either aloud or individually.
To establish a more personal connection with the reading, try applying the book’s themes to your teen’s life. Is the main character also working through a dilemma or adjusting to a recent change?
Literature is chock full of themes that teens can relate to!
Suggest Online Summer School
Often, it is the pressure of keeping pace in a classroom that causes kids to struggle.
They may be distracted by their peers or disheartened by their (perceived) inability to keep up with their classmates.
If this is the case, consider enrolling your teen in ENG4U or another grade-appropriate online English class.
Online learning allows students to work at their own pace on a flexible schedule.
They can take as much time as they need to work through the coursework and concepts, aided by a professional teacher and 24/7 tutoring support.
This provides a safe, tailor-fit environment for exploring the rich world of English.
Encourage Them to Keep a Journal
Communication is another crucial component of high school English.
Students are taught how to communicate effectively, both in a creative and academic capacity.
Like reading, writing takes practice. Encourage your kid to keep a journal in which they can practice their writing.
The journal does not have to be a formal exercise; it can be as imaginative or factual as they wish.
They can write splashy fiction or simply recount their day in plainly stated reportage.
And no one needs to see their journal either – it is purely a playground for them to practice communicating.
Unlike math class, there is no calculator to help with English.
Instead, English requires continual practice, open-mindedness, and imagination.
Enroll your teen in an online course, make reading a family activity, and encourage them to express themselves in writing.