https://www.oxfordlearning.

com/causes-of-school-stress/

11 THINGS THAT COULD BE CAUSING YOUR CHILD STRESS AT SCHOOL

1. Upcoming tests

Many students worry about getting a good grade or simply making time to study if there is more than

one upcoming test. Test stress doesn’t just affect struggling students, either—high-achievers usually

experience a lot of stress about doing well on tests.

2. Too much homework

When your child is overwhelmed or frustrated by homework, it makes it harder for him or her to

complete assignments. This can cause a stressful cycle where homework piles up and your child doesn’t

have the time or energy to complete it all—leading to even more stress.

3. A heavy workload

Whether it’s advanced-level classes or the amount of studying required, a heavy workload can be a

major source of stress for students. This is especially common for older high school students as they

start making their post-secondary plans.

4. Lack of organization

Students with poor organizational skills tend to experience more stress in school. This is usually

because they aren’t properly prepared with the tools or the understanding needed to learn. If those

organization skills don’t improve they may continue to fall behind, leading to more stress and

frustration about school.

5. Too little “down time”

Students with busy schedules can quickly become overwhelmed because they are left with no free time

to relax. As your child progresses from elementary school to high school, the amount and difficulty level

of schoolwork increases—and students without good time management skills can experience even

more stress.
6. Poor sleep schedule

Not getting enough sleep makes it difficult for students to concentrate and learn effectively. This can

lead to feelings of stress for your child when he or she isn’t able to perform well in class or on

assignments. In fact, studies have shown that students who don’t get the required 8-10 hours of sleep

each night are more likely to feel stressed than students who do.

7. Participating in class

For many children, the thought of getting called on in class and speaking in front of their classmates can

be terrifying. This can be particularly true if your child struggles to keep up in a subject or area

(common examples are math and reading).

8. Lack of support

A lack of support from parents or teachers, even if it’s only perceived, can add a lot of stress to

students. They may feel that a lot is expected of them, but that they don’t have a strong enough

support system (whether emotional or practical) to achieve their goals. This is another cause of stress

can affect high-achieving students in particular.

9. Transitioning to a new environment

Making a major move can be a stressful time for many students, whether it’s starting at a new school or

making the transition from elementary school to high school. New classes, new teachers, and new

routines can all be stressful for students, and take time to adjust to.

10. Classes that are too hard

As they progress through school and start taking more advanced classes, the increased difficulty can

cause stress for students. This is very common for teens entering their high school years. As classes get

harder, it’s important to address challenges early so your child can catch up before he or she falls too

far behind.
 11. Changes to routine

A routine including dedicated homework time and a consistent sleep schedule helps guide students

through their day. When changes to the usual routine start to happen, your child may find it more

difficult to manage his or her time, leading to more stress.

https://www.brightmontacademy.com/blog/9-things-that-cause-stress-at-school

We typically assume that the academic requirements may cause students stress at different times of year as
they complete large projects or encounter unfamiliar content that takes longer for the student to master.
Teachers are trained to present new concepts and material using different formats and methods to engage all
types of learners and facilitate comprehension of the curriculum without frustration. School includes multiple
factors beyond the academics that cause stress, sometimes even debilitating stress for individual students, that
parents and educators should consider when working with students of all ages.

1. Unstructured Time

Unstructured time such as lunch and passing periods can be sources of intense anxiety for students. In the
classroom, it is clear when to talk and questions are often posed, but there are times when few adults are
present and some students may find it difficult to interact with each other without the structure of class guiding
their conversation. If you know a child who is severely impacted during unstructured times, talk with a teacher
or school administrator to add some structure by giving the student a job to do during lunch or allowing him or
her to eat in a classroom with a teacher instead of the cafeteria.
2. Transitions

Getting from class to class on time, especially for middle and high school students who may have different peers
in each class, causes some students to experience anxiety. Lockers, which do help reduce the amount of
textbooks a student has to carry, also pose a significant issue for many students who perseverate on whether or
not they will remember the lock combination or have time to get there and back. Practice, practice, practice is
the key to ensuring the student is confident opening both the lock and the locker. It also doesn't hurt to hide the
combination (perhaps written in code!) somewhere in the student's backpack or purse as a reassurance that
even if they forget, there will be a way for them to access the combination and retrieve the materials they need.

3. Social Pressure

Even when a class is small, students compete with each other for a teacher's attention. They also work both
collaboratively and competitively with peers at different times of year as friendships solidify as well as retract.
Students who are preoccupied with social activities that do or don't include them are often distracted in the
classroom. While some students are naturally out-going and easily connect with their peers, other students
experience social awkwardness ranging from shyness to a true disability with understanding conversation and
body language.

4. Organization

If a student is prone to lose items, keeping papers and backpack organized can be a task accompanied by a great
deal of stress. This factor can be easily observed when a student keeps rifling through the same stack of papers
without finding the appropriate one. Organization can be a significant frustration for many students who may
need outside help from a family member or tutor to learn and implement strategies for staying organized.

5. Class Participation

So many students suffer incredible anxiety at school because of a constant fear about whether or not they will
be called upon to answer a question they don't know the answer to. Even when points are awarded for class
participation, there are some students who purposely choose to forfeit those points rather than speak aloud or
ask a question in front of other students.

When a student's grade or health is suffering over a fear of class participation, please talk to the teacher about
arranging a private signal or making an agreement only to call on the student if that student volunteers. Just
knowing that they won't be blindsided encourages greater participation from those students who prefer a lower
profile. In addition, some teachers are willing to assign a question in advance so that reluctant learners are able
to participate. For example, if the teacher shares that she'll call on the student to share his answer for question
number 2 at the end of class, the student then has all night to practice and prepare a response to that question.
Also, he will be able to relax, listen, and learn for questions 3 and higher. Such accommodations can be written
into a 504 plan or IEP to ensure that the arrangement that works can be continued in future years.

6. Supplies

Some students forfeit points or refuse to turn in homework that doesn't exactly meet the specifications the
teacher has given. For example, if a report should include tabbed dividers to separate each section, the student
who has forgotten the dividers should still be encouraged to turn in the report and get at least partial credit for
the work she has done. In trying to be clear, teachers are sometimes unaware of the stress caused when
students miss a particular color of pen or other supplies that they believe, sometimes mistakenly, that they
must have for class.

7. Change in Routine

Once adjusted to the regular school schedule, events such as fire drills and assemblies that interrupt that routine
can become disruptive to a student's confidence as well as their schedule. Try to announce known changes in
advance, or at least acknowledge from time to time that something unexpected may happen so that it's not so
alarming when it does.

8. Homework

While homework by definition should occur at home, students who struggle to complete homework
assignments may then become embarrassed when they don't have anything to turn in on the due date. Their
shame and frustration can be compounded in classrooms where papers are exchanged for peer grading.
Teachers can reduce the additional anxiety that students experience by creating a designated drop-off location
for homework rather than collecting through publicly-visible methods. The benefit of giving a reminder to turn
in completed homework by asking students to "pass homework forward" can still be achieved by providing a
reminder at the end of the class, "If you didn't turn in your homework on the way in, please leave it in this
basket on the way out."

9. Extra-Curricular Activities

Many students are motivated to attend school because of the extra-curricular activities, including sports, music,
arts, and a variety of clubs. Many of these activities are very competitive, requiring years of practice for
participation at the high school level and constant commitment to coaches and teammates. Many sports require
on-going training and conditioning even in the off-season, so students are rarely allowed a complete break.
When Malcolm Gladwell writes in the book Outliers that approximately 10,000 hours needed to develop a high
level of skill, it is worth noting that many of those hours occur during childhood and adolescence.

These students experience stress not only because they constantly push themselves to be the best but also
because their performances are often very public events. Athletes who miss an important play may be blamed
for the team's loss. Artists who display their work are instantly open to criticism and misinterpretation. The
stress sometimes causes talented students to withdraw from activities they enjoy, or to suffer academically
when their time and attention are focused on their extra-curricular activity.

Summing It Up

School includes so many non-academic situations that can contribute to a student's stress level. Parents and
teachers can help mitigate the impact when they understand what factors are causing anxiety and think of
creative solutions. Our overall goal is to remove as many barriers to learning as possible so that all students gain
the benefit of learning and growing as efficiently as possible.

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-starting-school/moving-up/high-school-stress
Kids with learning and attention issues can feel more anxious than their peers during every school transition. But
moving through high school can bring a whole new level of stress. Increased workloads and the prospect of life
after high school can loom large for teens.

Here are common reasons for high school stress—and how to help.

1. Fear of Failure

Kids who’ve struggled in school for many years often come to high school with a history of setbacks. Past
failures can make the demands of high school feel even greater.

What you can do: Remind your child about his strengths and about the strides he’s already made. Talk
about resilience and his ability to use past failures to actually move forward. You can also:

 Get an expert’s advice on how to overcome failure in school.

 Explore tips to help him cope with test anxiety.

2. Tougher Academics and More Responsibilities

The academic demands increase with every year of high school. Even if kids have made great strides in middle
school, they know the work will get more challenging. At the same time, they’re increasingly expected to self-
advocate for what they need.

What you can do: Remind your child of the supports he has—both at school and at home. Encourage him to
reach out to teachers for help. If he has an IEP, he can reach out to his IEP case manager too, and even ask about
having self-advocacy goals included in his IEP. You may want to look into tutoring options. You can also:

 Help him find the right mix of classes and activities.

 Work with him to develop strong study habits and learn to slow down on homework.

3. Social Pressures

Social situations can also be a source of stress for teens. They can feel pressure to fit in, to be popular and to
have a lot of friends—whether these are real friends or not. And as teens become more independent, they may
find themselves in new and possibly risky situations where they need to make tough choices.

What you can do: Read about dating hurdles your child may face, along with common issues at parties. Role-
playing can help. You can also:

 Find ways to help him handle school cliques.

 Get tips from experts on when to let teens face the consequences of their actions.

4. Uncertainty About the Future

In high school, kids have to start thinking about what kind of career they want to pursue. They also have to
choose a path: college, work, vocational training. If your child has an IEP, he’ll go through a formal process to
plan that transition. But that alone may not lessen the stress.

What you can do: Assure your child that feeling unsure or worried about the future is normal. Remind him that
there are many ways for him to find success and happiness in life. You can also:
  Talk about different paths kids can take after high school and career options—including careers for kids
who don’t want to sit at a desk.

 Encourage your child to watch the documentary Being You. It’s about three young people with learning
and attention issues who travel around the country to explore what the future may hold for them. You can
even watch it together and have a conversation using the Being You discussion guide.

5. Concerns About College

Just thinking about college can be stressful for kids with learning and attention issues. But the process of getting
there can create specific stressors. These include college entrance exams, filling out applications and choosing a
school.

What you can do: Talk about types of colleges and how they differ. If he’s eligible, let him know that you’ll work
with his case manager to get him college testing accommodations, and that you’ll help him find colleges that are
a good fit. You can also:

 Give him a sense of control by discussing which might be better for him: the SAT or ACT.

 Explain to him why it’s important that he take the lead in choosing a college, and share realistic tips to
help guide his choice.

It’s natural for kids with learning and attention issues to feel stress about high school. But ongoing stress can
build and sometimes may lead to mental health issues. Know the signs of anxiety and depression. Don’t hesitate
to reach out to your child’s doctor if you have concerns.

Keep in mind that stress isn’t always bad. Learn about the difference between good stress and bad stress for
kids with learning and attention issues.

Key Takeaways
 You can help your child build resilience and see failure as a way to develop strengths.

 It can help to tell your child that feeling unsure or worried about the future is normal.

 Ongoing stress can lead to anxiety and depression, so it’s good to know the warning signs.
https://openaccesspub.org/jcbt/article/706

Academic environments can be highly competitive, and students must rely on their coping abilities to handle
school-related stress successfully. High school students experience stress in many situations. Adolescence is a
critical period full of changes, and it must be carefully managed if teenagers are to develop properly . Although
some of the problems of adolescence do not originate in the school environment, they may still impact students’
academic performance . Williams maintains that we must attend to the social, physical, and psychological needs of
teenagers to prevent the possible negative effects of adolescent stress on health and academic performance 

https://www.livestrong.com/article/137914-common-causes-stress-among-students/

Stress is the body’s natural response to challenges. When a student experiences high levels of stress or chronic
stress, regardless of her age or grade, it can interfere with her ability to learn, memorize, and earn good grades
-- as well as lead to poor physical, emotional and mental health. By learning about common stressors, a parent
can help to mitigate negative or chronic stress in a child’s life.

Academic Pressure
In preparation for standardized tests, more and more teachers are assigning homework to children who are as
young as six years old. In the "CQ Rearcher," professor Wendy A. Patterson shares that education professionals
suspect the state and federal academic standards placed on schools and teachers to be the cause of an increased
amount of stress experienced in the classroom throughout elementary, middle and high school. According to
Denise Clark Pope in a February 2005 Stanford University report, the pressure that students feel from parents
and schools raises stress levels so high that some teachers regard student stress to be a "health epidemic." To
cope with the pressures, Clark Pope explains, some high-achieving students resort to cheating or "finagling the
system."
https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/academic-stress-schools-causes-
management/

stress is a pressure or worry or strain or tension, resulting from mental or social or physical or
emotional distress, difficult circumstances etc.  It arises due to the demands on students from
outsides sources, such as family, school, friends, jobs and also from within.  Stress affecting
students can be categorized as academic, financial, time or health related and self-imposed.  All
these brew up a perfect storm of stress in their minds and create an inability to meet them. The
students cannot go through life in a happy-go-lucky fashion. Through stress our body tells us
something is going on wrong and if it is significant and frequent or does not go away, that’s
when it is time to seek help. Academic stress is a mental stress because of some anticipated
frustration associated with parental pressure on high performances; tough class load; worry
over grade competitions; sports etc.  Consequently, it puts an enormous amount of stress on
children which may lead to wrong decisions or lead to use of suitable copying strategies like
alcohol, drug etc. and it could be too late to recover.  In the context of Nepal, a high-grading
from school is considered as a passport for higher studies, especially in the fields of Medicine,
Engineering, Computer Science, Management etc.  Thus, in every step of their academic career
our students are stressed and depressed by success-obsession. Winning a scholarship for MBBS
is a matter of prestige and a huge relief of financial burden, too.

School, family, society and environment are considered major causes of academic stress, which
threaten to disrupt students’ daily functioning.  In school too much home-works, pressure of
exams, poor academic performance, grade competition with friends, poor interpersonal
relationship with teachers and friends,  heavy contents to master in a limited time, unscientific
academic evaluation procedure, imbalanced curriculum and extra-curricular activities, high
student-teacher ratio, non-conducive physical environment of classrooms, unhealthy teacher-
student interaction, irrational rules of discipline, ineffective teaching methodology, indifferent
attitude of teachers, over emphasis on weaknesses rather than strength of students, poor
reading habits and time management of students, lack of the student’s interest in a particular
subject, the teacher’s corporal punishments and high expectations of teachers, parents and
student himself/herself are agonies for students. It is true that parents and schools play a
significant role in the cognitive, social and emotional development of children through
socialization, cultural and societal norms and values that can prepare them for tomorrow.  They
are, therefore, supposed to be aware of their children’s behaviors, interests, abilities, and
emotions.

They must build trust with their children; pay respect to their interests with love and care;
encourage them to express their feelings; give them good emotional responses; encourage
them to maintain healthy and diverse friendship; teach them problem solving ways in difficult
situations; make them aware of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol before
experimentation begin; teach them various methods of stress management techniques like
Yoga, meditations; inspire them to read extra books and newspapers; help them engage in
sports, recreational activities etc. that can have therapeutic effects on children.  The more
students share their problems, feelings, interests, issues and desire with parents and teachers,
the better opportunities they get to progress without any stress.

Our students can reduce stress if they could manage time wisely with goals setting; being
always organized; eating healthy food, keeping a healthy mind and enough sleep; creating a
good study environment, knowing their strength and weakness and their learning style and
skills well; developing optimism; doing regular exercises – Yoga, meditation; sporting and
recreational activities; surrounding themselves with supportive people and stop comparing with
others learn to be assertive and stand up for themselves.

It is true that high aspirations and negative attitudes lead to mental disorder, depression, stress
and even suicide among students. Therefore, parents and schools should let the children go
ahead as per their interests and abilities without imposing their interests on their minds.

It is not the load that may break students down, but the way they’re carrying it.  Like any other
problem, stress also requires a strategic approach to conquer or at least to manage.  Students
must be strong enough to handle their challenges skillfully, wise enough to find solutions to the
problems, and capable enough of doing whatever are needed to be done.

They must reconnect to what makes them happy that brings them joy and should not let the
outside world determine it for them.  Students are not robots. If the students are guided and
encouraged by parents and teachers as per their abilities, interests, and aptitude, there is no
doubt, they would naturally make their academic dreams come true without any stress, and our
support can act as a buffer against stress.