In a new book, educators Roger Stark and Betsy Hill argue that the common advice to struggling students to "try harder" is often misguided. Their work, Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents, published by Seabiscuit Press, is designed for parents of children who face academic challenges despite putting in effort.
Stark, CEO of BrainWare Learning Company, and Hill, its President and COO, contend that effort alone is insufficient when a child lacks the underlying cognitive skills required for effective learning. These skills include attention, memory, processing speed, executive functions, and auditory and visual processing. When these are weak, students may work hard yet still underperform, leading to frustration and declining confidence.
The book addresses a common scenario: a child studies extra hours, receives tutoring, and still falls behind. Another child may grasp concepts in conversation but struggle with reading, writing, or organizing thoughts on paper. In both cases, the issue may not be willingness but a missing cognitive foundation.
To help parents move beyond pressure, the authors propose a five-step framework aimed at understanding the child's unique learning profile, building specific skills, and providing guided support. They emphasize that confidence is integral to learning; repeated failure despite effort can make children believe they are not smart. By understanding the real barriers and seeing progress, children are more likely to persist.
The book also questions temporary workarounds like accommodations. While these can be important, Stark and Hill urge parents to consider whether such supports help build long-term learning capacity or merely offer short-term relief. The goal, they say, is to help children become confident, independent learners.
Published in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats, the book serves as a practical guide for families ready to move beyond the simple instruction to "try harder." Its message is direct: struggling students need more than pressure; they need parents and educators to understand how they learn, identify barriers, and provide the right kind of support.
For more information about the authors and their work, visit [BrainWare Learning Company](https://www.brainwarelearning.com) (rel="nofollow" target="_blank").
