1. Cognitive Deficits: Is the child struggling to understand new ideas and information because of an organic brain impairment of some kind? Children can have areas of strength that cover up areas of weakness, creating the impression that the child "should be doing better". This is something that needs to be evaluated by a professional who is trained in cognitive assessment: a school psychologist usually does these assessments as part of an initial evaluation for special education services. Parents can choose to have their children evaluated outside of school, but will have to foot the bill.
2. Learning Disability: Some children are intelligent but struggle with the processes involved in learning because of other issues. Some examples include dyslexia and auditory processing disorders. These challenges also require professional diagnosis for accurate identification, usually by the school's educational specialist or by an outside provider. Once the problem(s) have been identified, plans can be developed to support the child in school.
3. Social-Emotional Difficulties: For some children, social and emotional behavior interferes with learning. Children who are not able to regulate their emotions, who struggle with appropriate peer interactions, or who behave in ways that are disruptive of the classroom will have a tough time in school. Schools can provide social groups or counseling services, but additional support outside of school is often the best way to support children who struggle in this area.
4. Attention/Executive Function: I agree with the author that this area of struggle is not well understood in today's schools. Supporting students who have a tough time paying attention in school is not a simple task; the reasons for their struggles can be complex and have multiple causes. Medication treats symptoms, but it is essential to look more closely at the child's life in and out of school to understand the root cause and provide support that will last.
5. Stress: This category includes issues arising outside of school--health problems, family conflict, trauma, identity, being overscheduled--and impacts all areas of a child's life. The good news is that helping children manage stress effectively will open doors for success in all areas of a child's life as well. Often initial school difficulties that go undiagnosed will lead to stress, which further limits the child's performance. Positive communication can go a long way towards modeling healthy ways to manage stress.
