Our Support Cases
for Students with
Various Needs and Challenges
Do any of these concerns sound familiar?
- My child lacks motivation and won’t study no matter what I say
- They don’t understand questions or their teacher’s instructions
- They don’t know how to study
- I wonder if my child is falling behind
- I’m worried about their future
The issue may not be your child’s ability, but rather their approach.
Here are three representative cases where ITO successfully helped resolve these concerns.
“Is my child just unmotivated? Should I be worried?”
― A case where we identified the reason behind a “lack of motivation”
This is the case of a 10th-grade boy living in the U.S., attending both a local (IB) school and a Japanese school.
| Grade level | 10th grade |
| School | International Baccalaureate (IB) / Japanese school |
| Language Level | Native in both Japanese and English |
| Lesson Format | Online |
Before
- Stayed up late playing games with friends and failed to submit homework
- Went to school sleep-deprived
- Frequently argued with his mother about his lifestyle
- Dismissed praise, saying, “You’re just saying that to be nice”
His mother struggled with how to approach him
Support
We understood his mindset as follows:
“I don’t want to do things just because my mom tells me to”
“I want to think for myself. I want to be left alone”
“But I don’t know what to do, so I end up drifting”
We believed it was essential for him to set and follow his own rules, so we supported him as follows:
- Set rules together (bedtime, when to stop using his phone, when to start homework, etc.)
- Checked regularly whether he was following those rules
- Accepted his ideas and approach without dismissing them
After
- “He is now trying to follow his rules every day and living a more structured life” (parent feedback)
- “He wants to continue lessons with Mr. Ito and work harder on math”
- Maintained A grades or above in all subjects
- Became more proactive in asking questions and enjoys lessons
For Parents with Similar Concerns
We often see cases where children don’t listen to their parents but are open to guidance from a third party.
At ITO, we build trust with each student, work together to find solutions, and support their emotional growth.
If this sounds familiar, please feel free to try a free trial lesson.
“Is it a reading comprehension issue?”
― A case where the problem was how instructions were interpreted
This is the case of a middle school student attending an international school in the Kanto area.
| Grade level | 8th grade |
| School | International Baccalaureate (IB) |
| English level | Beginner |
| Lesson Format | Online |
| Note | Diagnosed as being on the ASD spectrum and receiving support services |
Before
- Misunderstood or misinterpreted teachers’ instructions
- Struggled to memorize formulas and terminology
- Easily distracted
- Had difficulty figuring out how to solve problems independently, often appearing to “freeze”
Due to his developmental characteristics, he sometimes misunderstood instructions in questions.
For example, he might write answers in the wrong sections because he misinterpreted numbering in diagrams.
Support
We determined that he struggled with processing ambiguous information and supported him as follows:
- In the example shown, I gave clear and specific instructions to prevent confusion, such as: “Enter the answer for question 4 (angle 1) in the box labeled ‘4’ in the Answer column.”
- Clarified where he was in the task and what he needed to do next
- Assigned small, consistent homework using Haese Mathematics during summer break to build fundamentals
After
- Increased ability to think independently and proceed with tasks
- Reduced misunderstandings of instructions
- Became able to independently write structured essays
- Mother’s feedback: “My son can now follow his math classes at school much more smoothly.”
For Parents with Similar Concerns
You may worry that your child lacks comprehension skills.
However, in many cases, once they learn how to process and organize information, they can think and act independently.
At ITO, tutors with experience in special needs education provide tailored support to help students develop independent thinking and action.
If this sounds familiar, please feel free to try a free trial lesson.
“My child doesn’t know where to start or how to study”
― A case where the student learned how to study
This is the case of a 9th-grade student who was at risk of not advancing due to poor grades.
| Grade level | 9th grade |
| School | Japanese private school |
| Lesson Format | Face-to-face |
Before
- Worked at his own pace with no sense of urgency
- Unable to plan and execute study independently
- Particularly weak in English and unable to follow lessons at all
- Negative attitude toward studying
- Left materials in his locker, unable to complete homework or prepare for tests
His mother would often express her frustration toward him.
Support
We identified that his internal “rules” were unclear and that he lacked experience in thinking independently:
- Initially gave detailed, structured instructions for test preparation with clear reasoning
- Gradually encouraged him to think by asking, “How do you think you should study?” and provided feedback
- Rebuilt his English foundation from 7th grade level using original materials during summer
- Led lessons through questions to encourage independent thinking
After
- Consistently submitted homework and improved daily performance scores
- Improved in English to above class average
- Passed Eiken Grade 3
- Began to understand school lessons and showed a brighter attitude
- His mother became more relaxed and positive seeing his steady progress
For Parents with Similar Concerns
When a child says, “I don’t know where to start” or “I can’t act unless told,”
it may seem like a motivation issue.
However, in many cases, it is not about motivation, but a lack of method and decision-making criteria.
At ITO, we teach students how to study and why, gradually helping them become independent learners.
If this sounds familiar, please feel free to try a free trial lesson.