Report cards … A time for high-fives or a time to set new goals? Either way, it’s a time to pause, reflect and perhaps re-set.
It’s hard to believe but this is the 3rd school year that has been affected by the pandemic. There’s likely been a lot of change in what your child’s education has looked like over the last few years
In a recent survey of parents and teachers, both groups agree that students have fallen behind in school. And, both parents and teachers think that tutoring could help kids catch up!
Amidst all of this, we need to continue to put forth positive thoughts around learning for kids. And let them know that continued learning is necessary to help keep up the momentum for this school year.
It can be overwhelming to try and figure out how to approach this and to create a game plan to move forward, so, we talked with our education experts and compiled the top tips for taking this all in stride!
Here’s How to Handle Report Cards This Year
1. Breathe and keep perspective.
It’s important to keep the perspective that report cards this year may not give you the full picture of how your child would have performed in normal circumstances, and more importantly, of your child’s full potential. This is a time to allow for grace and understanding.
2. But … Set expectations and goals.
It’s important to balance understanding with also being firm with your expectations. Make sure your child knows there will be a real conversation about school every evening—not just a half-hearted attempt at discussion and one-word answers.
And a continued, “How are you tracking to your goal?” will help your child stay focused on their goal. An important thing to remember if you want to continue to help motivate your child is that encouragement is equally important.
Make sure to give your child praise for areas that are going well. Positive affirmation from parents is a great way to build your child’s self-esteem and can lead to more success down the road.
3. Stay in touch with your child’s teachers and school counselor.
The link between home and school is vital. So make sure to keep an open line of communication with your child’s teacher(s), even outside of just the scheduled parent-teacher conferences. This will ensure you stay on top of how your child is tracking and avoid any report card surprises.
Your school’s counselor can request periodic progress reports between grading periods, and set up conferences with teachers, parents and students when necessary.
Explore other resources offered by the school, such as tutors, homework centers, classes outside the normal school day or online subject support.
4. Evaluate home and school routines.
What’s working and what’s not? Creating set routines for homework, study time, bedtime, family time and curfews are a great way to keep everyone in check, but it’s OK to monitor and adjust if you realize a child needs more time for something and less for something else. And, we could all use more sleep, so maybe earlier bedtimes would help with focus and mood. Don’t forget reasonable rewards and consequences. They work!
5. Get help immediately if you see a problem.
Don’t fall prey to your child’s promise to do better. Kids may not be able to correct certain issues without help from the adults in their life.
More Report Card Tips (for Each Grade!)
Each year of school brings new challenges.
Check out these 10 Tips for a Great Elementary School Report Card!
Get these 5 Tips to Help You Understand the Middle School Report Card!
Learn How to Talk to Your High Schooler/Secondary Schooler About Report Cards!
Sylvan is a great resource for families when a student needs a little extra help.
Our experts are available for Report Card Consultations. Yes, that means you can come in with your child’s report card and get REAL advice with SOLUTIONS!
Of course, every grade and year of school is different. That’s why we sat down with our education experts and got specific report card tips for each age group!