How to offer flexibility when a student is struggling

Sometimes you can really help a struggling student by offering them some flexibility. This does NOT mean ignoring responsibilities or lowering expectations. Flexibility means making small, temporary adjustments that help school feel more manageable while a student is going through a difficult period or struggling with a specific issue. These adjustments can reduce stress and help students stay connected to learning, instead of feeling overwhelmed or giving up.

Why flexibility helps

When students are overwhelmed, anxious or emotionally drained, their ability to concentrate, remember information and regulate behaviour can be reduced. Flexibility helps by:
  • Lowering immediate pressure
  • Increasing a sense of safety
  • Helping students stay connected to school
  • Preventing disengagement or shutdown
  • Feeling seen can decrease stress
Small adjustments can keep a student included, rather than pushing them out.

How to apply & evaluate

Flexibility works best when it is intentional and temporary. Here is a simple way to use it thoughtfully:
  1. Choose one small adjustment Don't change everything at once. Pick one flexibility idea that fits the student and your classroom.
  2. Explain it to the student Let them know what you’re changing, for how long and what you still expect from them.
  3. Try it for a short period
  4. Check in and reflect together Ask: ‘Did this help you?’, ‘What feels easier?’ and ‘What still feels hard?’
  5. Decide what’s next You can keep it for longer, adjust it, slowly return to normal or involve support staff if needed.

Types of flexibility

Flexibility with time

This can help students who:

  • feel overwhelmed or stressed
  • feel rushed or pressured by deadlines
  • are having issues with concentration
  • get stuck when they have to work fast
  • are mentally tired
  • are anxious about finishing on time
  • are behind due to things happening outside of school

How to:

  • Give extra time for assignments or tests
  • Split deadlines
  • Work in time blocks
  • Allow work to be handed in over several days
  • Offer a later moment to continue

Important:

  • Adjust the pace, not the goal
  • Agree with your student to check in and reflect
Flexibility in task and workload

This can help students who:

  • have low energy
  • have trouble starting
  • are falling behind due to distress
  • feel exhausted
  • feel emotionally drained
  • feel overwhelmed by the amount of work
  • are behind on tasks

How to:

  • Prioritize essentials (must-do) vs. extras (nice-to-do)
  • Reduce quantity, keep learning goal
  • Offer a minimum requirement first
  • Spread work across the week
  • Focus on progress rather than perfection

Important:

  • Keep the learning goal clear and reachable, but see what can be skipped to still get those goals.
Flexibility in participation

This can help students who:

  • feel anxious about speaking publicly
  • are socially overwhelmed

How to:

  • Let them listen instead of speak
  • Reduce pressure to participate publicly
  • Offer written answers instead of speaking
  • Offer one-on-one check-ins
  • Small groups instead of group discussions

Important:

  • Avoid permanent opting out
  • Supporting them to slowly re-engage
Flexibility in predictability and routine

This can help students who:

  • feel anxious when they don’t know what’s coming
  • get stressed by sudden changes
  • struggle with unclear instructions
  • need structure to feel safe

How to:

  • Write the lesson plan on the board
  • Explain what will happen next
  • Give warnings before transitions
  • Give instructions step by step
  • Let them know about changes in advance

Important:

  • Predictability can help students feel safer and more in control
Flexibility in environment

This can help students who:

  • feel overstimulated
  • get distracted easily
  • feel emotionally overwhelmed

How to:

  • Allow flexible seating
  • Offer a calm corner
  • Allow short time outside the classroom

Important:

  • Keep it discreet so they don’t feel singled out
Flexibility in reset breaks (calming moments) 

This can help students who:

  • feel emotionally overwhelmed
  • close to exploding or shutting down

How to:

  • Short water break
  • Two slow breaths together
  • Short walk with permission
  • Sit in a calm space

Important:

  • This is support, not punishment
Flexibility in communication 

This can help students who:

  • find talking difficult
  • shut down in conversations
  • feel pressured when questioned

How to:

  • Let them write instead of talk
  • Ask: ‘Do you want to talk now or later?’
  • Use a scale (1 to 5) to ask how they’re feeling

Important:

  • Don’t force sharing
Focus on safety, not details