Why does my bright child struggle in school? There is no easy answer to this question. There may be any of a number of reasons. However, I think one possible answer concerns this thing called executive functions. A child may show strong cognitive abilities in an intelligence test and yet present him/herself as disorganized, unmotivated, oblivious to time issues, and unable to successfully fulfill classroom expectations.
I suggest to parents that the goal is to help their child be a self-regulated, independent learner, which is something different from intellect. While the intellect may be completely intact, the ability to sustain attention, concentrate, and exert mental control over learning can not be assumed. Disorganized classroom patterns are clues that your child has not yet grown into his full capacity to govern his learning behaviors…in other words, “to get his act together.”
Don’t think this is purely a matter of getting the child to show “self-control”. It is not entirely within his/her ability to do so. Simply, the brain and its neural circuitry don’t fully mature until perhaps the early 20s. Sometimes, parents choose rigorous schools or classes that match the child’s intellect but are a poor match for his yet developing executive functions leading to poor performance and parental frustrations. The child/learning-environment interface is very important! When choosing schools or classes, consider not only your child’s ability to process information, but also your child’s ability to perform in an academic environment. Does he/she have the self-regulated, independent skills to fit the learning demands? A child/school mismatch can be emotionally harmful.
The good news is that Executive Functions (EFs) mature. Often with very bright children, the intellect outpaces the EFs…for a while.
EFs can be enhanced by a learning environment where goal-setting, planning, organizing, flexibility, and self-monitoring are explicitly taught and practiced, not just assumed. Educational therapists can skillfully teach strategies that help bright children grow into their potential as self-regulated, independent learners.