Disabilities and Chronic Conditions Learning Disabilities What to Do When Children Show Signs of Trouble in Fifth Grade Setting goals and peer relationships may be difficult in this grade By Amanda Morin Amanda Morin Amanda Morin is a freelance writer specializing in child development, parenting, and education. She has 10+ years of experience working with children. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 17, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn LinkedIn Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print Tim Hall / Getty Images Your child may have successfully completed the grades that preceded fifth grade, only to now be showing signs of trouble as they prepare for middle school. Difficulties in fifth grade often revolve around goal-setting and peer relationships. If your child is showing some of the following signs of trouble, it's time to speak with their teacher, guidance counselor, or pediatrician about some extra support in the academic or social arena. Potential Signs of Trouble in Fifth Grade By fifth grade, children should have accumulated a variety of skills. Specifically, they should be able to work with other students to complete projects or in-class assignments and write coherent, logical sentences and paragraphs. They should also be able to remember and make sense of factual information, give oral reports or informally speak about what they have learned. Moreover, they should be able to read non-fiction. Signs of Learning Disabilities in Fifth Grade Some fifth graders not only have academic struggles but may need evaluation for developmental delays or learning disabilities. Students who exhibit a number of signs may need special education screening. Parents and teachers should take note if fifth graders cannot identify their academic or social strengths and weaknesses. Adults should also be concerned if students do not attribute academic successes or failures to their own efforts but to outside influences. For example, the student might say, "The teacher is out to get me." The student might also remark, "I got lucky, that's why I did well on the test." Parents and teachers should also be alert if a student makes careless mistakes because they aren't paying attention to their assignment or is rushing through their work. They should be just as concerned if a child proves easily distracted during class and forgetful about completing everyday tasks. A student may complete their homework but repeatedly fail to bring it to class, for example. Additional Causes for Concern A number of other signs are cause for concern as well. Speak to a teacher, counselor or pediatrician if a student displays any of the following behaviors: Has trouble learning their way around or gets lost easily in new places (Has a poor sense of direction) Has difficulty completing tasks or playing games that require them to judge speed or distance Cannot interpret charts, graphs or maps Is unable to listen to the teacher and make notes at the same time Does not fully develop their ideas when writing. Their writing may lack details, be very short or seem unfinished Struggles to recall basic multiplication facts and have difficulty learning multi-number multiplication Is unable to master long division Continues to have messy writing, with cross-outs, uneven spacing, misspellings, letter reversals or trouble staying on the line Doesn't organize their time well or doesn't seem to have a good sense of time Has trouble maintaining (but not necessarily making) friendships Cannot set realistic social or academic goals Struggles to deal with peer pressure, to the point of avoiding other students Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Smart J. Disability across the Developmental Life Span: for the Rehabilitation Counselor. New York: Springer; 2012. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are some signs of learning disabilities?