How To Deal with Report Cards - Six Tips

The first report card of the school year is a very important milestone for students—it represents the first formal check up on how they have been doing so far this school year.

Therefore it should not be surprising that the first report card can be a very stressful time for families.

For a child, poor report card grades can mean punishment or restrictions on their activities. For parents, poor grades are a source of worry—is their child facing an educational roadblock that could put their dreams for the future on hold?

Another factor contributing to the stress of report cards is the report card language itself. Changing curriculum and reporting standards mean that the report card is filled with jargon and terms that mean essentially nothing to a parent.

It is important that parents and children discuss report card, especially if there are issues about poor grades that need to be addressed. Oxford Learning Offers several helpful tips on how parents and children can have a successful report card discussion.

Six Tips To Talk to Kids About Their Report Card

Sit down and review together. Make sure that there are no distractions so you can focus on one another and the conversation.
Don’t get upset. If you’re upset or angry about grades, hold the discussion until you can speak calmly and rationally.
Start with empathetic and positive comments. Highlight something positive about the report card, no matter how trivial. For instance, “we are pleased with your spelling grade.”
Listen to your child. Recognize your child’s struggles. School can be tough. It is helpful to students to know that someone is listening to their concerns and complaints.
End with a plan. Be optimistic and identify any next steps before you leave the table.
Keep it in context. Remember that this report card is but a single snapshot of a child’s progress up to this point—it’s not the complete picture of a child’s potential and there is still plenty of time to make necessary changes to get better grades.