How do you talk to a child about being held back a grade?

Your child may struggle to understand why they can't be in the same class with their friends or why they aren't in the same seat as last year. You can say things like, “You're going to have so much fun with {teacher's name} this year!” or point out exciting things in the classroom.

How do I talk to my child about repeating a grade?

If your child gets held back a grade in school, it's important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. You can reassure them that everyone learns and progresses at their own pace, and that it's okay to take the time they need to fully understand the material.

Can you move up a grade after being held back?

It can happen and occasionally does. Sometimes a student is retained for one reason or another and then gets up to speed and they are at the level of the next grade level. So they will bump the student back up a grade if the school and parents agree upon it.

How do you deal with being held back a grade?

Don't be too hard on yourself.

Try your best not to feel bad about yourself because of it. If you have a good attitude about it and use it as motivation to do better in school, being held back may actually do you a lot of good. Being held back does not mean that you are stupid or a bad student.

What grade do most kids get held back?

Most retentions occur in elementary school. Historically, roughly 5 percent of students in the first through the third grade repeated their grade, according to Child Trends.

Is Holding Back Your Child Fair?

What causes a child to be held back a grade?

The reasoning behind grade retention may be based on maturity, behavior, absences, academic performance, or any number of factors. Getting held back is not a reflection of intellect. Your child is not “stupid” because they need to repeat a grade. Make this apparent with every discussion.

Is retaining a student a good idea?

Answer: Yes. Several recent studies have found that retention in elementary school can be beneficial for students in improving middle school outcomes when the students most likely to benefit are identified and retention is paired with appropriate instructional supports.

How does being held back affect students?

In adolescence, retained students are more likely to experience problems such as poor interactions with peers, disliking school, behavior problems, and lower self-esteem.

Why repeating a grade is bad?

Repeating a grade―also known as "grade retention" ―has not been shown to help children learn. Children won't outgrow learning and attention issues by repeating a grade. In fact, repeating a grade may contribute to long-term issues with low self-esteem, as well as emotional or social difficulties.

When should a child repeat a grade?

Kids who've missed a lot of school due to illness, emotional trauma or a move may benefit from repeating a grade. A child who's just been absent often is already at higher risk for dropping out of school. Repeating a grade increases the risk.

Is it beneficial to hold a child back a grade?

1. Students who are held back experience negative academic, social, and emotional outcomes over time. In general, students who are retained score better on math and English standardized tests during the year they repeat a grade and sometimes up to four years after.

What is it called when you get held back a grade?

Grade retention or grade repetition is the process of a student repeating a grade after failing the previous year.

Should struggling students repeat a grade?

Repeating a grade can damage students' confidence and subject them to bullying. Sometimes it can help academically, but those gains quickly fade. Some studies show that holding elementary students back can work, but only if they get key supports, such as tutoring, summer programs, or high-quality teachers.

Can my parents make me repeat a grade?

Generally, parents can ask for children to be held back, but the final decision is up to principals, who make decisions based on factors including academic progress. California and New Jersey also passed laws that made it easier for parents to demand their children repeat a grade, although the option was only available ...

Can a school force a child to repeat a grade?

Most often, schools consider holding students back if they haven't developed the academic skills necessary to succeed in the next grade. In fact, some states have passed “third-grade retention laws,” that require third-grade students who can't read at a certain level must be retained and repeat the grade.

What percentage of students repeat a grade?

Seven percent of U.S. kids between age 6 and 17 had repeated a grade. In 2015–2016, 7% of U.S. kids between the ages of 6 and 17 — 3. 4 million children total — had repeated one or more grades since starting kindergarten. The likelihood that students are held back varies by location.

Why students should not be retained?

Most children do not "catch up" when held back. Although some retained students do better at first, these children often fall behind again in later grades. Students who are held back tend to get into trouble, dislike school, and feel badly about themselves more often than children who go on to the next grade.

Does grade retention make a difference?

Still, the researchers found that students who were retained had higher grade point averages and took fewer remedial courses in high school than students who had similar reading abilities but weren't held back.

Should students be held back if they fail?

For later grades, the research is fairly clear. Multiple studies have found that holding back middle schoolers increases their odds of dropping out of high school. “The evidence on retaining students in the later grades — I think that's unambiguously negative,” said Winters.

How many kids get held back a year?

Nearly 450,000 first through eighth graders are retained each year.

What are the long term effects of grade retention?

Critics contend that retention detaches students from their peers and subjects them to social stigmatization and stress, which might negatively affect self-confidence, motivation, and interpersonal relationships (Anderson et al., 2005; Goos et al., 2021).

Should students be held back pros and cons?

In the last 40 years, multiple studies indicate that grade retention does not fix academic deficiencies. Academic achievement of kids who are retained is poorer than that of peers who are promoted. Repeating a grade prior to entering high school increases the chance of a student dropping out.

What are the disadvantages of holding a child back from kindergarten?

A large body of research has indicated that holding a child back in school is associated with poorer academic outcomes and little social-emotional benefit. While some studies have found short-term social and academic benefits of grade retention, many of these effects fade after a few years.

How do you help students with retention?

What is the a grade student syndrome?

The syndrome (or the complex) of the A-grade student – is a psychological term. It refers to the psychological characteristics of a person in which a person seeks to achieve high results and earn the opportunity to be praised by others. That involves doing everything perfectly.