When I received Tyler’s report two weeks ago, there were no surprises. I knew already that he had made all A’s because the honor’s program was held the day before. But for those parents who don’t know in advance what their child’s grades will be, report card day can be a time of fear and worry. How do you respond to your child’s grades? I subscribe to a newsletter called Family Education and in the current issue they offer these tips on how to respond to your child’s grades.
(1) Accentuate the positive- No matter what grades they bring home, focus on positive aspects of the report. This might mean praising a perfect attendance or any other accomplishment that’s not related to a less than stellar grade. When you start on a positive note, you show your children that you care about all their achievements.
(2) Ask the right questions- Don’t overreact to bad grades, instead ask questions that will help your child plan for the future. For instance, ask if the work was too hard or if the pace of the class was too fast. Also find out if your child felt lost in class.
You should also find out about homework assignments and whether your child is completing and turning them in on time. Of course, you should already be checking homework assignments but I understand for parents with older kids, you may make them responsible for their own homework. In Tyler’s case the parents have to sign the homework each night and we’re supposed to check their folder daily to see if they have any. I check before I leave the school because once Tyler left his on the desk at school and I had to go back and get it.
(3) The last tip is to create a plan that will maximize success for the next reporting period (and thereafter). You should help your child set realistic and attainable goals. You can set up a reward system each time the child reaches one of the goals.
Finally, remember that too much emphasis on making all A’s and B’s may put too much stress on a child who is unable to reach your established goals. The main emphasis is on making sure your child performs to the best of their ability.
See also:
Responding To A Bad Report Card