You know that your student or child is gifted; however, they are not achieving at the level you would expect. What is reason for this discrepancy in their achievement level and known capability?

There may be several different reasons for this behavior such as family problems, emotional stress or peer pressure. In other situations, it may be due to boredom and the lack of challenge with the current classroom instruction and activities.

Environments that can lead to underachievement:

• lack flexibility

• lack respect for individual students' strengths and weaknesses

• have an undue emphasis on errors and failures

• have a teacher-center environment

• consist of a bland curriculum

Compare where a child is succeeding in school and where she/he is not.

Using a positive and proactive approach, determine conditions in which the child succeeds.

The underachieving child needs to be acknowledged for attempts, not just successes.

Encourage students/children by acknowledging that an assignment might be challenging. Be available to answer their questions and stop to provide encouragement and support for their progress throughout the assignment.

Get away from questioning "who's at fault" for underachievement and work towards revolving the situation where no one loses.

Make it a priority to have honest conversations about what is working and what is not working.

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