For the last several years, my mother has been an assistant to a teacher that supervises a program meant to help students that are behind their grade level in math and reading.

While this government-subsidized agenda has gotten some students back on track, there are many more who continue to lag behind, which can damage their educational prospects for years to come.

If your son or daughter is behind in school, no matter what the subject, you are bound to feel stressed. If it has gone on for several quarters, semesters, or even years, there probably will have been arguments--even severe screaming matches. The fights need to stop--today.

Children of any age will not respond to disputing of this kind, especially if there is some underlying trouble that is causing them to neglect their studies. A major disruption like changing schools/moving, divorce, or death in the family can induce a downward spiral in adolescents.

If such an occurrence has cropped up in your family recently, you may want to get your son or daughter into counseling. Many schools provide counseling services, but this often involves pulling the student out of class, which sometimes just exacerbates the issue.

Family counseling and one-on-one counseling outside of school should be investigated. But you should also just be open to having frank conversations with your child. There may be other reasons for their struggles that can be accounted for if you just talk to them.

Get involved and get interested. Don't just sit back and order your child to do their homework. Keep in contact with your child's teachers to find out what they are being assigned and when those assignments are due.

Set a time each evening when you can assist your son or daughter with their homework. Talk to them actively about it. Try to apply each concept to their real life. Teach them why they should care.

As parents who have usually been out of school for awhile, we can have a tough time with homework help sometimes. Don't be afraid to investigate tutoring services in your area that will specialize in one-on-one help in the areas in which your child needs the most help.

Use praise, encouragement, and rewards to push forward your child's academic progress. This does not necessarily mean monetary payment; in fact, money will not create a lasting commitment to excellence. Instead, allow them extra time doing wholesome extracurricular activities or cook them their favorite dinner when positive progress shows.

Remember, this challenge isn't about you as a parent. You need to be supportive through these difficulties if you hope to get through them together.