Raise the Grade on Report Cards
By Richard E. Bavaria, P.H.D.
Report card day is often one of the school year’s most stressful
times for parents and students; yet parents can take simple steps to
eliminate report card surprises and set the stage for their child’s
year-round academic success.
It’s typical for children to be a little nervous about bringing home
their report card. However, children should never be afraid or
anxious to show their grades to their parents. By communicating,
setting goals and tracking progress, parents can help their children
achieve report card success and reduce both parent and child
anxiety.
Report cards enable parents to assess their child’s academic
progress and assess his strengths and weaknesses. They also provide
parents with an opportunity for further insight into their child’s
progress in school.
When report cards come home, parents should discuss their child’s
progress and any changes from previous terms. A report card is a
communication tool and a reminder for parents to stay involved in
their child’s education
Sylvan Learning Center offers the following tips to parents to help
parents avoid report cards that don’t make the grade:
- Maintain open lines of communication. Set aside time to
discuss her performance in different subject areas, as well as her
strengths and weaknesses, and those subjects that excite her most.
As report card time nears, talk about the grades she expects to
receive in each class.
- Set goals with your child. Take time to set academic goals
with your child at the beginning of the school year, and review or
modify them each month or each term. When he receives his report
card, review his grades and discuss whether or not he met his
goals.
- Organize your child’s academics. To help ensure academic
success, it's important to help your child stay organized both
inside and outside of the classroom. Create a master calendar to
track all of your child's homework assignments, tests, chores and
extracurricular activities. Set up a special place in your home
for your child to complete homework and study for tests. Make sure
the area is well lit, free from distractions, and that all of her
supplies and study materials are close at hand.
- Regularly track progress. On a regular basis, track your
child's progress against the goals you created together. Regular
progress-checks with your child will help him stay on track. Keep
in mind that if he's having trouble meeting some of his goals, you
may need to modify them. If he's surpassing his goals, set new
ones to encourage him to strive for even greater success.
- Identify academic trouble spots. By maintaining open lines of
communication with your child and reviewing each term's report
card, you can help recognize areas of difficulty before it's too
late. Talk about school together with your child and find out if
there are any subject areas your child doesn't enjoy or finds
difficult.
- Get to know your child’s teacher. Your child's teacher has
direct contact with your child each school day and can offer
valuable insight into his academic progress and abilities. Don't
wait for report card time or parent/ teacher nights to talk to the
teacher. Develop a relationship with your child's teacher and talk
regularly, either by phone, by email or in person, about how your
child is doing throughout the year.
- Celebrate success. Celebrate your child's success, whether she
consistently earns good grades or has made an improvement in her
performance. Be particular when you praise your child. Talk about
a specific academic subject or a particular extracurricular
project. Don't just look for improved grades. If your child has
committed to regularly handing in homework on time and has reached
that goal, then recognize this success as well.
Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D. is Vice President of education at
Sylvan Learning Canter. Sylvan Learning Centers offer a free online
report card guide for parents with seven key pieces of advice for
communicating with their children to help them achieve academic
success. The “You and Your Child’s Report Card” is a free parents’
guide available at
www.educate.com/tips. It provides parents with numerous
tips and suggestions to turn report card day into a day of
achievement and celebration. |
