Understanding Shut-Down Learners

Throughout preschool and her early elementary grades, Emma was sunny, confident, and engaged in school. Now in Grade 6,  Emma seems to shut down when she enters the classroom or sits down to do homework. Her parents and her teacher want to help, but they're frustrated and confused.

Understanding Shut-Down Learners
By Richard Selznick, Ph.D

Comments from Emma's teacher paint the picture of a shut-down learner:

Emma enters class pleasantly and she seems to get along nicely with the other kids. During class, however, Emma never participates and it seems that her mind is elsewhere. Emma’s work reflects a general lack of effort.

Jacob, age 9, loves playing with Lego toys and other hands-on materials. Building elaborate cities and complex scenes, he is confident and very capable. In class, though, Jacob is unenthusiastic. An observer would probably think Jacob’s “light bulb” was dim. In fact, he often looks pained in class—particularly during writing assignments.

While these two children are quite different, both show signs they have become shut-down learners. To help kids like Emma and Jacob, it’s important to understand how they become discouraged and disconnected from school over time. A few main factors are usually at work, and luckily, parents can address all three:

FACTOR #1: Cracks in the Foundation
Cracks in a child’s learning can usually be identified as early as preschool and kindergarten. Does your child have trouble learning letter names and their sounds, for example? By first grade, is your child taking steps toward blending sounds? In middle to upper elementary school, is writing a laborious, often agonizing process for your son or daughter? If the answer is “yes” to these questions, it does not necessarily follow that your child will become a shut-down learner. Still, it is best to address these academic weaknesses before they expand further.

HOW TO HELP: Trust Your Gut
If your child is struggling in school, don’t wait, and don’t fall for reassurances like, “You know how boys are” or, “She’ll grow out of it.” Act on your feelings—even if your child has been deemed ineligible for school services. Consult a trustworthy, competent person outside of school to assess your child.

FACTOR #2: Lack of Understanding
In my evaluation of shut-down learners, I have found that many receive work on a daily basis that they simply cannot handle, causing them unnecessary frustration. Too often, parents and teachers do not understand the skill deficits that are causing a child difficulty.

I recently tested a fourth-grader who struggled to read certain words presented in a text, including “porcupine,” “passage” and “amazement.” Since most fourth-graders read silently to themselves, her teacher and parents mistakenly believed that the student had a comprehension problem; she was actually experiencing difficulties with word-reading and decoding. Additionally, many children who struggle in school simply do not have problems deemed “severe enough” for special education. Those families may need to seek outside tutoring to identify and close basic learning gaps. 

HOW TO HELP: Know the Real Objective and Get Help
Chances are, an area of your child’s reading skills needs addressing. Commonly, a child either has trouble decoding words and reading fluently, or the child can read fluently, but experiences great difficulty understanding what he or she has read. Get clear on the exact issues that you hope to resolve, so you can be really effective in helping your child.

FACTOR #3: Strained Family Communication
Homework battles are stressful for everyone in the family, and heated conflicts at home can actually contribute to a child’s shutting-down.

HOW TO HELP: Turn Down the Heat at Home
Automatic as it may be, yelling and nagging never lead to positive change. (Rarely do we hear kids say, “Thanks for screaming, Mom. I see your point, and now I’m ready to learn!” Right? Never happens.) Your kids are probably already feeling overwhelmed by their schoolwork. Instead of adding to their stress, look for ways to minimize it.

Kids need emotional fuel to tackle their school challenges. Look for the small things that your child is doing well. Statements like, “I like the way you took out your work tonight without my asking,” can really mean a lot to a child. Try to help them find someone at school who can encourage them too.

Finally, try not to let school problems set the tone for your whole family life. Spend plenty of time having fun with your child. Play games your child likes, take walks, or do a project together. Connecting with your child’s natural strengths and letting your child know that you are both on the same team can make an enormous difference.

Dr. Richard Selznick is a child psychologist and the author of The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child (ShutDownLearner.com).