Learning Center

Education insight for parents

What’s the report?

Here’s what you need to know – whether the grades are good or not-so-good

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 important to note that the move to virtual, or some form of hybrid schooling, for most schools this past year created significant changes to classroom management. You can also expect to see some changes in how your child was scored.

Although times are tumultuous, and there’s likely been a lot of change in what your child’s education has looked like this year, we need to continue to put forth positive thoughts around learning for kids. Your child has worked hard to reach this point of the school year, so let him or her know that you appreciate their effort but that continued learning is necessary to help keep up the momentum.

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. It is likewise a time for you to trust your own parenting instincts. Expectations have, in some instances, been lowered to address the reality of virtual learning. That doesn’t mean that you need

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to lower your expectations as a are going well. Positive motivaparent. If your sense is that your tion from parents is a great way child isn’t where they should be, to build your child’s self-esteem don’t be afraid to ask the teacher and can lead to successful grades or outside services to confirm down the road. by Patrick McNamara whether your child is truly learning what they’ll need to know for next year. A response that amounts to “We’ll take care of that next year” should give you pause, and Those conversations can start with “How was today/this week at school?” but they also need some directed questions and online check-ins. The following are all questions that can lead to an actual conversation about your child’s schoolwork: it may strongly suggest • How are you tracking progthat you need to do some- ress to your goal? thing additional this year (or • What is the hardest part of over the summer). your day/week? Set expectations and goals. • Who is your favorite/least It’s also important to balance understanding the struggles of favorite teacher, and why do you like/dislike them? this year with being firm about • Why do you think you did your expectations. Make sure well/poorly on the test? your child knows there will • What is the most challengbe a real conversation about ing piece of schoolwork schedschoolwork on a regular basis uled for tomorrow/this week? (every evening if there seems to be a problem, perhaps weekly if things seem to be going OK). At first, you might get oneword answers or rolled eyes, but if those conversations become Setting both short-term goals part of your family’s routine, throughout the quarter and and you approach the discussion 2021 Ages 3-12 long-term goals for the quarter or end of the school year will help those conversations. Helppositively as an expression of real interest to help and not just an introduction to criticism, you ing your child stay focused on will find that more than occagoals can help to motivate him sionally your child will open up

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