It's hard to say who stresses more at report card time - the parent who knows it's going to be another disappointing grading period or the child who's struggling to do better, but just not able to make the grade. Report card time doesn't have to be a source of mutual frustration and unhappiness for you and your child. As a parent, you have the power to help your child bring home a report card that will make you both proud of her progress and accomplishments.
Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring services to children of all ages and skill levels, offers a few tips to ease the stress of a poor report card and help your child improve his grades the next time around.
Handling a Poor Report Card
- Set expectations. Not every child will earn all A's, but that doesn't mean your child should strive for anything less. Discuss expectations before the school year starts. Let your child know that he doesn't have to bring home straight A's, but he does have to try his hardest and ask for help when he needs it.
- Communicate. Don't wait until a poor report card comes home to talk about school and grades. Have the conversation nightly and weekly. Ask how she is doing in school and what subjects she finds challenging.
- Talk to your child's teacher and/or guidance counselor -- they are your allies in your campaign to help your child succeed in school. Your child's teacher can pinpoint the areas where he's having difficulty and suggest ways to help him improve. Guidance counselors can provide progress reports between report cards or help set up parent-teacher conferences when necessary.
- Set realistic improvement goals. No matter how hard she works, if your child is currently a C student, expecting her to make straight A's might not be realistic. Instead, have her work toward more attainable improvement goals you set for each subject.
- Create a study plan with your child. Help him make a schedule of classes, assignments and important dates. His schedule should include time for studying, projects and extracurricular activities.
Some kids may need more attention than their teachers can reasonably give them. Consult with your child's teacher to see if he or she thinks outside tutoring might help. Whether your child is struggling in school or just needs help learning how to study, tutoring can benefit every kind of student. Sylvan Learning is a leader in tutoring, with more than 30 years of experience helping more than 2 million students discover the joy of learning. In learning centers and online, their personalized approach builds the lasting skills, independent work habits and positive attitudes that students need to succeed in school and in life.
You can help your child turn a poor report card into a great one with the right help from Sylvan Learning. Visit SylvanLearning.com to find a center near you today and get started for as little as $95. Copyright © ARAnet, Inc.
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