Ask a Teacher |
| Q: It is report card time again. How can I help my child not be so stressed out during this time? A: Report cards are a set of goals. The grades are a reflection of your child’s past achievements, work habits, and “Needs Improvement” areas. When looking over the report card with your child, focus first on the strengths shown. With some children that may only be “Perfect Attendance." You want your child to feel ownership for his/her grades in the academics and in citizenship. Go over each grade given with your child. If the grade was good, ask how the material was mastered. If the grade was poor, ask questions to help your child prepare for the future. Examples might be: What can you do to improve in this subject? Was the material too difficult? Was the pace of learning too fast? Were you bored? Did you always complete your assignments? Did you always return homework? Once you have the answers to these questions, start planning how you all might change homework time. Is the location where the studying is being done quiet enough? Are there many distractions? Is there a table or desk to work on? Do you have the appropriate school supplies … pencils, erasers, paper? Is it too late when the homework is being started? Start studying for a test days in advance so the night before the test is used for review. Some teachers will give the spelling list and/or vocabulary words on Friday instead of waiting until Monday. This provides some extra days of studying by using the weekend. Set some short term goals with a reward attached. If your child’s math grade was low, decide on a percentage you would like your child to get on the next quiz. Let your child make a list of things he/she likes to do. Pick something off the list when a goal is met. Not every child can make A’s and B’s. Encourage your child to work to the best of his/her ability. Be realistic. Report cards are a means of letting the child and parent know what direction to go in to help the child become a productive person. |
Nancy has been an educator for 30 years and is
currently a special education teacher. She is the former
Center Director of LearningRx in Little Rock, Arkansas.
She has received local, state, and national recognition
for her development of Downfeld Phonics, a
multi-sensory reading program. Nancy also wrote
curriculum for an educational technology company.
Nancy is a single mother of three children: one with
learning differences, one gifted, and one who has to
work for his grades. Not only does she know what it is
like to teach all these different learning styles at school,
but she has the experience of dealing with all aspects of
each twenty-four seven.
She is the co-author of The Grand Connection: 365
Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart.
currently a special education teacher. She is the former
Center Director of LearningRx in Little Rock, Arkansas.
She has received local, state, and national recognition
for her development of Downfeld Phonics, a
multi-sensory reading program. Nancy also wrote
curriculum for an educational technology company.
Nancy is a single mother of three children: one with
learning differences, one gifted, and one who has to
work for his grades. Not only does she know what it is
like to teach all these different learning styles at school,
but she has the experience of dealing with all aspects of
each twenty-four seven.
She is the co-author of The Grand Connection: 365
Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart.
Copyright © 2011 Nancy Downing. All rights reserved.
Photo © Marko Palm | Dreamstime.com
| Report Cards |
| by Nancy Downing |
